Made in the USA

In the old days, it was easy to find fashionable, high-quality guys’ clothes, shoes, and accessories that were made in the US. Today? Not as much. But this Saturday, the men’s pop-up market NorthernGRADE rounds up apparel, footwear, and other goods—all domestically produced, and most with pure Americana appeal—at Open Secrets Studio (401 N. Racine Ave.). Brad Bennett, the local blogger behind the ethically minded fashion site Well Spent, helped bring the traveling annual event, headquartered in Minneapolis, to Chicago. A few of the items Bennett’s particularly fond of: Waxed-cotton backpacks by Oregon’s Archival Clothing, jeans sourced from a North Carolina mill by Tellason, and boots designed in Chicago and constructed in Maine by Oak Street Bootmakers. “All of the items are on-trend, first-world made, high quality, and sanely priced,” says Bennett. That makes us feel downright patriotic.

NothernGRADE opens for business Saturday, October 27 at 10 a.m. and closes at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free—and so is Stumptown coffee, brews by Half Acre Beer Company (starting at 3:30 p.m.), and a few other treats from sponsors Haberdash and Penelope’s.

 

Top Sales This Week

The shops on Evanston’s Central Street (1900 through 2100 Central Street, just west of Green Bay Road) host a Retail Therapy Night on Thursday, October 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. Stop by for special discounts, such as 20 percent off all purchases at the accessories boutique Notice (2112 Central St., 847-905-0947, notice-this.com) and 15 percent off everything at The Spice House (1941 Central St., 847-328-3711, thespicehouse.com).

Head to the women’s shop Karen Millen (900 N. Michigan Shops, level 3, 312-867-1760, karenmillen.com) on Thursday, October 25 for a fall and winter trunk show featuring limited-edition pieces—plus champagne, desserts, and 20 percent off full-price purchases from 6 to 9 p.m.

 

The Best of the Rest

  • Chicago’s own interior design star Nate Berkus signs copies of his new book, The Things That Matter, at Jayson Home (1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-248-8180, jaysonhome.com) this evening—Tuesday, October 23—from 5 to 8 p.m.
  • Meet the New York-based fashion designer Derek Lam—and view his spring 2013 women’s collection—at Neiman Marcus (737 N. Michigan Ave., second floor, 312-642-5900, neimanmarcus.com) on Wednesday, October 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • The Bucktown location of Scoop NYC (1702 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-227-9930, scoopnyc.com) introduces an AG Jeans shop-in-a-shop on Wednesday, October 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. Scope AG’s collection of casual separates ($75–$235), sip cocktails, and enter your name for a chance to win a free pair of jeans.
  • The local wedding blog Be U Weddings (beuweddings.com) hosts a free event for brides-to-be—including a bridal runway show, drinks, and snacks—at Room & Board (55 E. Ohio St., level 2) on Wednesday, October 24 from 6 to 8 p.m.
  • Snowbird Vintage (snowbirdvintage.com), a vintage clothing boutique on wheels, sets up shop in the parking lot of Schubas (3159 N. Southport Ave., 773-525-2508, schubas.com) on Saturday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Openings and Closings

Following Blowtique’s lead, a new blow-dry salon hits the Windy City. Blow by Blow (67 E. Oak St., 312-867-0332) is open and taking appointments for blow-outs ($35) and up-dos ($70).

In Bucktown, DavidsTea (1645 N. Damen Ave., 773-697-9737, davidstea.com) is now brewing exotic flavors of loose-leaf teas including Chocolate Chili Chai, Toasted Marshmallow, and Strawberry Ginger.

Last week, the online men’s retailer Bonobos opened the doors to Bonobos Guideshop (313 W. Superior St., 877-294-7737, bonobos.com), a brick-and-mortar, appointment-only showroom in River North.

The eco-conscious fashion boutique EmBo. (3432 N. Southport Ave., 773-360-1501, shopembo.com) closes shop—for good—on Saturday, October 27. Until then, the store holds a blowout sale, with 50 percent off all remaining inventory.