Sure, you might see the same new-build buildings and a few new restaurants, but each Denver neighborhood carries its own distinct history and has its own style. So in order to celebrate the changes and the history behind each unique part of the city, we’ve crafted a style guide that will be continued through the following weeks for each Denver neighborhood, starting with the Highlands.
The Highlands
Located in the northwest part of Denver, the Highlands is comprised of three major areas: Tennyson Street, Highlands Square, and the Lower Highlands ( aka LoHi). Each area has become a bustling area for shopping, art and food. With so much to do, and so many places to see, we’ve picked out a few things you could do.
If you’re going to…grab some ice cream.
If you read our most recent guide to Denver’s favorite Ice Cream parlors, you know that Little Man Ice Cream is located in LoHi. But if you’re planning a visit to this ice cream shop, you’re going to want to keep your outfit simple because the lines are known for being long, and ice cream tends to spill.
For the girls, go for a chic bohemian look: Wear a colorful short or skirt and pair it with a simple tee or tank. To polish your look, ladies, add a unique necklace and a fedora, and your look will be perfect for this neighborhood. For the guys, pair a comfortable short with a classic button up and you will not only withstand the lines of Little Man but the tests of time.
If you’re… going out to Dinner
As many natives know, the Highlands is originally the area that housed large populations of hispanic and Italian immigrants, which means that you can find some of the best locally owned restaurants. The neighborhood may be evolving, but what hasn’t changed is the great food you can find in this part of Denver.
So when grabbing a bite to eat in this neighborhood, stay traditional with your look. Ladies, take a classic cut dress and pair it with a leather jacket, a great necklace and good pair of heels. And gents, pair a sturdy pair of jeans with a traditional button up. We promise your outfits will be as delicious as some of the eateries you can find in the highlands.
If you’re going to…walk the neighborhood.
One of the greatest things about the Highlands is that it’s comprised of three really unique areas that are constantly evolving, so the best thing you can do is to go on a walk. Whether you’re walking LoHi, Tennyson street, 32nd or just exploring, it’s important your outfit be as unique as this Denver hood.
Ladies, dress up your casual blue jean shorts and Converse by adding a statement necklace. This look not only can transfer from day to night but from summer to fall. Gentlemen, try color blocking with the same color: Pair different hues of blue or green for a unique look. And then polish your look with a great backpack and pair of shades. Your outfits will not only be comfortable enough to explore this Denver neighborhood by foot, but they will be a great high fashion look that can be worn in the highlands.
Clothing Provided by Armitage & McMillian and Inspyre Boutique
Models: Nathan Springs, Nxt| Model & Wendy Benitez, Barbizon
Photography By Elisha Knight, Styling by Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
I would like to see the next one go beyond the surface level… 🙂
I would like to see the next one go beyond the surface level… 🙂
Also… shouldn't you just dress like yourself? If I feel like I need to dress a certain way to be anywhere, that would be an area for me to avoid. Is that truly the vibe that this area gives, is that you need to dress specifically for it? Bummer.
Also… shouldn't you just dress like yourself? If I feel like I need to dress a certain way to be anywhere, that would be an area for me to avoid. Is that truly the vibe that this area gives, is that you need to dress specifically for it? Bummer.
so corny.
You know what this really lacks? Culture. Life. Being Lilly white and cookie cutter doesn’t mean you’ve arrived. It simply means you’ve either lost touch with your heritage and culture or you lack any to begin with.
Horrible article this person obviously has no idea what they are talking about. The suggestions are sub par but ridiculously white washed. You need some culture girl!
Terrible article written by a clueless proponent of gentrification.
Very poorly thought out editorial, 303. Take a minute. Have a discussion. Think something through. It's almost like your very jobs are to curate and present content to a world that contains, you know – the world. Like, "context" and "history."
Terrible article. I like the beginning, neighborhoods that used to be avoided, by who, the people that lived there for a hundred years, the hispanics and Italians? But now that its yuppified and lost it’s culture you can go there now. 303 used to be a good mag between 2000 until 2006, now its a yuppie rag
Super lame guys. Really?!?
So basically, I shouldn’t go up there? Now that it has “evolved” from the shady, seedy Hispanic/Italian neighborhood it used to be? Oh boy..
This is disgusting. The only thing worse than souless gentrification of an entire neighborhood is the glorification of that whitewashing.
As a born an raised 30 year old Denver native I’m disgusted with this article. Do you have any idea the actual history of this neighborhood? Generations of families where forced out by rising costs and piece of shit “high density” housing. Thanks for bringing to light how shallow people are and the depressing gentrification thats euthanizing the soul of the city I loved.
Once again Denver's media outlets prove that they know nothing about the pulse of the city.
An open letter to 303 Magazine and all of the other publications, city officials, and wallet weilding posers so desparate to "spruce the city up" aka gentrify and erase / reshape it's indiginous culture. GET BENT. The article is poorly thought out first, and second LAME. You can change the names (I guess) but the push to redifne sections of town flew past old a long time ago… it's now firmly planted on solid disrespectful and offensive ground. You cannot create culture especially in lieu of that which already exists. But I guess that matches the M.O. of the founding of our great nation. Move into an inhabited area… erase the existing norms, replacing them with a "new way of doing things" (but that's old milk spilled under a fridge long removed from the remodeled kitchen huh? I digress). Culture gows naturally over time… the "facelift" given The Northside, Eastside, Five Points, and Park Hill may have happened "overnight"… the changing of the culture will not be as easy… because the love for our originals cannot be bought, sold or written about in some lame ass attempt to be stylistic. I'm fairly sure that 303 Magazine has never written an article highlighting the Northside before wallets changed the name like it was some football stadium or something (Q: Why not the Xcel Energy Highlands… ya know kick it up a notch). A word of advise… stay in your lane or lanes as it were… which I believe (outside of the occasional Breakers pool party) is traditionally somewhere between 1st Avenue and 6th… University and Steele… also known as Cherry Creek. Did I say GET BENT already? Oh yeah… covered that.
THIS!!!!!!!!
Get em
That neighborhood you speak of is actually called the Northside. That's where I lived most of my life and it's pathetic what is happening to it now. People like this author have turned it into an over priced hipster hell. Thanks for ruining something that wasn't broken.
Check the locations for Inspyre Boutique… 2 of the 3 located in Highlands ranch and Cherry Creek… So I guess they had to get official with a 3rd on 32nd & Umatilla… Racey! (https://inspyreboutique.com/contact-us/)
Also… can one of my Northside fam familiar with the shopping layout over there help the hipsters find a pendelton that doesnt cost $136 at Armitage & McMillian? The hood's been sportin those for the gang and if the new inhabitants are feeling sporty I'm sure they can get fresh for far less. A question: What's a $136 pendelton woven out of anyway? Unicorn hair and angel tears? (http://armitageandmcmillan.com/collections/tops)
Jasmine Fox Sullivan can go fuck herself and shove this dumb fuckin article up her jabroni candy ass
I smell what you’re cookin’
Well thank god when the Hispanic populated evolved out, they left their restaurants. They still own them, they just pay out the ass or have to commute now while the rest of thr gentrified.population enjoys their walking score. Way to go 303
Well thank god when the Hispanic populated evolved out, they left their restaurants. They still own them, they just pay out the ass or have to commute now while the rest of thr gentrified.population enjoys their walking score. Way to go 303
You should leave Denver. You are not welcome here. You are twisting this city to be what you want it to be. This is not L.A.
That's the Northside and it was never a neighborhood I "avoided". I get that your mag is despetately in need of content. Just like your white-washed taste in fashion. I suggest digging a little deeper and talking to the local clothing businesses especially the mom/pop shops on 38th and on Federal. I undertand you're not a journalist and this is a fashion fluff piece but maybe examine how people really live. And how you live.
YES! I love the outpouring of rage in the comments at the end of this piece; people rallying against rich whites and the gentrification of Denver that is so epidemic right now. Blast these basic-ass crackers!
The author should stick to building her jewelry collection…
Really? You should be ashamed.
I’ve only lived here 4 years and I take offense to this. That speaks volumes of what’s going on right now in Denver.
Lawrenceandlarimer.com / conceitedego.com (shameless plug)
These comments below, whoa!!!! Take it easy…. However, valid points….
ACTUALLY THE NEIGHBORHOOD IS CALLED THE HIGHLANDS. HAS BEEN THE HIGHLANDS SINCE THE 1800'S WHEN IT WAS IT'S OWN CITY CALLED HIGHLANDS. THE NORTHSIDE CONSIST OF MANY NEIGHBORHOODS. THE HIGHLANDS IS PART OF THE NORTHSIDE.
THIS ARTICLE IS FULL OF CRAP. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT GIRL DOING WITH THAT SHIRT TUCKED IN THE FRONT LIKE THAT? LOOKS LIKE CRAP THAT WAY.
The comments give me hope that people are paying attention.
Completely disregarding the history of a place and ‘white washing” it of it’s culture are extremely destructive. We get it, the Highlands are gentrified. Maybe write an article about the impact of this on the people and the neighborhood.
Don’t waste an article on how to dress like an asshole. Also the writing, good god. Felt like I was reading a middle school newsletter.
Where to begin. This is a horribly written, insulting, corny, piece of shit “article”. Full of back-handed compliments to the Northside, or what it used to be, anyway. Trying to put a “fashionable” spin on the gentrification of North Denver is not only offensive to the very people who made this neighborhood what it is, but is downright laughable. 303, you should be ashamed of the quality of writing, styling, and content of this piece. But, then again, your target market is generic trust-funders with no real style or substance, let alone any appreciation of what used to be a neighborhood rich with ethnicity and a sense of community. That sense of community is long gone – and articles like this only make the problem worse by promoting the very aspects that have driven it into extinction.
Gag puke on you 303 its North Denver folks move on and get the heck out of our neighborhood.
Who/what the hell is this? I would have commented earlier but it took me about 30 minutes to clean up the projectile vomit I spewed all over my laptop after I got through the first paragraph of this piss poor excuse for a magazine “feature”. Really? This is a FEATURE on your website? Slow day at the office, have we?
Where to even begin with this ridiculous nonsense?
This is the most laughably absurd piece of sh!t attempt at an article I’ve read in a long, long time, which is saying a lot considering today’s tabloid trash media. Shame on every single person who participated in this garbage, from the writer, to the two pseudo-vintage hipster jokers and whomever did their makeup, the photographer, the clothing stores, and the editor of this horrific rag. You people make me ashamed to be a human being and embarrassed to call Colorado my home. Thank GOD I bought a house in Aurora and don’t have to watch Denver deteriorate into this cacophony goblin and orc infested Middle Earth on a daily basis.
I am sure I speak for everyone else who commented on this page when I say that we are all embarrassed FOR you, which is a good thing since you all clearly have no shame, yourselves.
Granted, I do think this article is a useful illustration for the average person to begin to understand gentrification and trendy, media-driven fake culture, on a micro scale. Denver might just be the perfect social experiment in American magazine cover consumerism and au curant culture gone ugly and insane, and this article is a prime example of said ugliness. Fortunately, as most of the comments here illustrate, not all of us are easily subject to cultural and emotional media manipulation which in this case hides behind the guise of a “fashion piece.”
Newsflash – Those outfits are atrociously tacky, especially the girl with the zombie makeup. I would have left them in the mid-90s where they belong. Surely, you cannot be serious putting that goofball in those tacky boots with his jeans tucked into them in 94 degree weather while he sports that hideous backpack with nothing in it, just because it supposedly matches? Why didn’t you just go all out and put him in slippers to complete the ensemble? Jorts aren’t cool or sexy and neither are fake platinum blonde underage jail-bait children dressed up like socialites eating ice cream, with weirdo male sexual predator vibe gawking at them. Honestly, anyone who actually thinks about what they should wear when it’s time for ice-cream should be dragged out by their fake hair and punched in the face. I would actually be willing to be punched in the face myself, a thousand times, if in turn I can punch the faces of the two people in these photos, once each, and one for the author and editor of this worthless, pathetic excuse for a magazine.
Really though, what are you people selling with this article? It’s not really fashion, is it? I’m guessing it’s the self satisfaction that comes from the adoration of groupthink, conformist lemmings (like yourselves) who have never had an original thought, idea or creative production in their lives and who yearn for the sweet smell of smug, social superiority based on nothing but overpriced, clown-like outfits and without all of the baggage of actually being superior in any measurable way whatsoever, certainly not spiritually or intellectually.
With this article, you have shown us all that you lack any sense of awareness regarding self or the world around you. The fly that I spotted in my kitchen this morning has more self awareness than all of you combined. The turd I left in my porcelain shrine this afternoon has a higher IQ than your entire staff combined. I won’t even insult the cockroach I saw yesterday by comparing him to you. At least he knows how to think for himself and what to wear without having to consult his cockroach clan. You should have seen the stylish hat and cane he walked out with … priceless. Leaps and bounds more interesting fashion-wise than anything mentioned in this joke of an article.
Additionally, to the person who wrote this rubbish – you’re an EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT at 303 magazine? That’s hard to believe, considering that it seems like you couldn’t even bother to get a B in basic English. Your grammar and style are almost as bad as your sentence structure and use of tired cliches (“popping up left and right?” you couldn’t come up with something more creative than that???).
“Each area has become a bustling area for shopping, art and food.” Redundant clown is redundant.
“With so much to do, and so many places to see, we’ve picked out a few things you could do.” Thank God, what on Earth would I do without you telling me the cool places I COULD eat and shop!
Also, ice cream doesn’t tend to spill you idiot, it tends to melt.
You state that certain neighborhoods once would have been avoided and are now the prime hangout spots. Avoided by whom? White folks? Too many brown people in those hispanic and Italian immigrant infested neighborhoods in past years? The neighborhood is “evolving” ? Meaning more white people are coming in, or what exactly? I guess the Highlands is a cool place to be now because you can eat all of that ethnic food without actually being forced to interact with the ethnic people.
Also, please … for the love of all things decent in this world … please STOP ENCOURAGING WOMEN TO WEAR HEELS! That’s the tackiest fashion statement you can make and certainly not good for anyone’s feet, spine or general posture. If you want to wear heels, go to Cherry Creek and take that douche in the photo with you. Maybe he can buy you an expensive pair of trashy jorts to match your ugly Converse All-Stars.
Really you’re going to “dress up your casual blue jean shorts and converse (which should be capitalized, btw) by adding a statement necklace” ??? The only statement that necklace makes is the one that says – I am a trashy, young, white mainstream urbanite with no self-esteem and a cold, dead, black heart. Maybe nobody will notice if I cover it up with this gaudy necklace.
“…the best thing you can do is to go on a walk.” You mean go FOR a walk? Puke.
Oh, how funny that the best you could do was find a Barbizon model for this photo shoot. HAHAHA!
Also, hey guy with the “Oh so white-boy” hair, your puke green shorts are wrinkled, might wanna get that steamed before you pickup your shallow girlfriend.
Honestly, what’s next? Is there a fashion statement to be made about what color and type of ice-cream we should eat so that it matches our ugly outfits? Because white tank-tops and button-down shirts are SOOOO CREATIVE!! I really want to know how long it took you all to choose that ice-cream flavor that just happens to match her hat oh-so-perfectly. Did you think we wouldn’t notice how contrived your entire photo shoot looks? Couldn’t find an old rusted car to put in the background? Blech.
It’s a$$holes like you that have driven up the cost of that plate of bread in the last photo to $15 and lengthened the wait to get that ice-cream to well over 30 minutes thanks to the long line of loud, hipster wanna-be’s taking up the entire sidewalk. When I first moved here, I could grab a tasty, local beer at the coolest bar in Denver for $3. Every now and then, the bartender would buy me a drink. Now I can’t even get in the door without paying $5, and if I decide to fork that over, I’m sure to walk into a bar full of snobby, privileged, attention seeking, fake aristobrats listening to loud music on distorted, blown out speakers without a care in the world, so long as your hat is on straight.
Your disgusting tastes, social attitudes and opinions regarding what’s “cool” are a big part of what is destroying Denver right now. Everything about you sucks, from your makeup, to your shallow “op-editorials”, to your overpriced clothing and pretend “fashion statements” to your loud talking and sh!t taste in music. Please go away. Forever.
PS – Congratulations – I am now more of a d!ck than I was before reading this article, so I guess you did accomplish something.
Honestly, this is the stupidest thing I've read so far today. Oops I mean in my lifetime.
WTF
Terrible. Quite possibly the shallowest article I have ever read. Another Denver publication that doesn't understand Denver and wants it to be Los Angeles.
Honestly, the outfits were bland especially the male models clothing. It seems as though you were trying to go for this serious super model look but got amateur models, I think you could have used them and maybe even the outfits but not gone for the super model look, like what are these poses? Could they look like they were trying any harder? Could they look any more unnatural and uncomfortable? I dont think so. What are you even trying to sell?? clothing? the area? I cant tell and either way this article failed miserably to do either, really disappointing coming from a magazine I read regularly.
"Neighborhoods that once would have been avoided" … This article shows how deeply something that is meant to be a simple fashion exposé can cut into the institutional issues of gentrification. Before it became "a spot for prime hangouts" (read safe enough for the privileged white consumer trend palate) it was never a neighborhood to be avoided, and saying so points out how devalued and discriminated against the legacy of community inhabitants has been. To so many of us, it was home, and an incredibly unique and vibrant one at that. I'm glad the author recognized some of the history of the hood, but it merits way more than a single sentence token restaurant mention. This is not the style of North Denver, or the Highlands, or LoHi or Potter or Tennyson or whatever new label you want to slap on it. It's a generic, whitewashed, slap in the face reminder of the people whose presence and character are being ignored.
Is this a fucking Onion article?
the fact that you call this a “fashion piece” is laughable, there is nothing about this piece that makes it a fashion piece. From the amateur models who are wearing bland clothes that arent a “high fashion look” like the article claims, Ive seen more “high fashion” looks at Target, but then again it looks like you could get every single piece featured in this article at Target or Walmart…this article does nothing for fashion….it does nothing to represent Denver or anything in the fashion world. Could these pictures be any more unnatural? The male model especially, I really dont understand any of his poses. Overall I just feel like this is a very low quality piece and shouldnt have been posted anywhere but the writter’s word press or personal blog and even that is a stretch, it honestly gives bad credibility to the magazine as a whole…
It must be an onion article.
It must be an onion article.
Signs point to yes.
Signs point to yes.
Signs point to yes.
Signs point to yes.
It has to be… right? How could someone be so phenomenally out of touch?
It has to be… right? How could someone be so phenomenally out of touch?
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2014/02/spike-lee-amazing-rant-against-gentrification.html
Wow, great way to dumb the area down.. ?
Racist classist bullshit.
“Neighborhoods that once would have been avoided are now the prime hangout spots, ” Avoided by who? People that need 303Magazine’s help telling them how to dress to get an ice cream? GTFO. Not only do I feel stupider for reading this article but angry at the blatant disregard for the community that is NORTH DENVER.
the fuck is this?? im from the highlands and this pisses me off
So "evolving" is code for getting all those lame hispanics and Italians out of the area, but our new Highlands overlords can still enjoy the ethnic cuisine.
Please get the fuck out
Of our neighborHOOD and don’t cry when you get shit talked to
My goal in creating this article was to showcase the places I love in Denver, and to ultimately highlight Denver companies, photographers and models in a local setting. It was in no way meant to insult the people living in the Highlands or the culture/history of the neighborhood. Rather it was intended to be a snapshot of one way a person can enjoy this area of Denver in a specific setting, at specific time. I realize there are many more aspects to this neighborhood and not all of them were represented. Not representing all of those facets in this specific article was not intended to cause offense. However, as a Denver native and a freelance fashion blogger, I appreciate all of your comments and feedback and will take them all into consideration moving forward.
Some awareness here about the history of the Highlands would go a long way. Putting cute young white models prancing around an area where you actually write: “Neighborhoods that once would have been avoided” is about as direct a link as you can get to saying ‘ah now that there are less brown people we can finally feel comfortable’. I recommend taking a hard look at your privilege and what you are choosing to contribute before you keep going on this writing career.
white wash your genes and hit the town.
"we’ve crafted a style guide that will be continued through the following weeks for each Denver neighborhood, starting with the Highlands."
Can't wait to read the Globeville style guide! 😉
Okay i have lived in the highlands my WHOLE life! i have never seen such yuppie like people! are these people on the front of the magazine?! what a false representation.. It should have families, and more couples. This just doesn't look right…. hmmmm
Okay i have lived in the highlands my WHOLE life! i have never seen such yuppie like people! are these people on the front of the magazine?! what a false representation.. It should have families, and more couples. This just doesn't look right…. hmmmm
Apparently only white, twenty-somethings live in the Highlands. To be sure, they're renting and yet, pushing all the unsavory brown people out. Wouldn't want them to interfere with your faux LA style sense. BUT you would want them to clean your apartment. Shit article.
I thought of you when I read this. HORRIBLE. Made me sick.
If you had done your research, you'd find that Highlands were originally called the Scottish Highlands, and did not house just Italian and Hispanic people. Additionally, this is this the kind of fashion I moved to Brooklyn to get away from. Might as well tell people to grab their puffy coat from The North Face and get ready for the winter while you're at it.
If there is a bright side to this article it may be that the couple walking down the street will most likely be taken out by someone texting while driving too fast through the neighborhood…
Nothing is traditional about those outfits…call it gentrification displacement chic. Try and actually connect your readers to true showcases of the areas you are highlighting and their rich cultures. Try and dig deeper than the hipsterdom of these gentrified areas and work to appeal to a greater audience.
Amazing.