Need a Kick?

Sometimes adidas (845 N. Michigan Ave., 4th fl.; 312-867-1640) actually makes shoes for athletes. Whereas the adidas Originals store on Rush Street stocks the brand’s fashion and retro heritage shoes, the new Water Tower store is the first athletic-shoe shop for the brand in the Midwest, carrying sports gear and shoes for tennis, running, basketball, soccer, and golf. The real draw is the “miadidas” set up, where customers can have their feet  scanned while running; shoes (sneakers, soccer cleats, or basketball shoes among them) are then custom made with extra cushioning where each foot hits the ground, pumped up with different technologies, and, of course, cloaked in a variety of colors. Finished shoes arrive in three weeks or less.

Fashion Shows This Week

Chicago’s Fashion Focus kicks off on Oct. 1st. Sales Check will preview the events in next week’s edition, but in the meantime, a full schedule is online at chicagofashionresource.com, which also has an RSVP function for many of the runway shows.

Fashions from student designers from Columbia College Chicago, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and The Illinois Institute of Art, among others, in the Apparel Industry Board’s runway show, Chicago Is . . . Red Hot! on Sept. 26th from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Northerly Island (1300 S. Linn White Dr.; 312-836-1041). Tickets start at $75.

Akira hosts the 5th annual Garden of Eden Fashion Show “Paradeisos,” benefiting the not-for-profit Imerman Angels, at Galleria Marchetti (825 W. Erie St.; 312-274-5529) on Sept. 28th. The cocktail reception starts at 4:30 p.m. with a silent auction, manicures, and hand massage; the runway show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door, $15 in advance at imermanangels.org.

The Best of the Rest

  • Designer and Chicago native Kay Unger makes a personal appearance at Saks Fifth Avenue (1849 Green Bay Rd., Highland Park; 847-681-5100) on Sept. 26th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Take up to 70 percent off summer designer wear for men and women at Chasalla (106 E. Oak St.; 312-640-1940), while merchandise lasts.
  • Robin Richman (2108 N. Damen Ave.; 773-278-6150) hosts four fashion designers on Sept. 25th from 5 to 8 p.m. with local designers Anne Novotny of Frei Designs, Jacki Holland, Tania Bowers, and Ryan Davies. Meet the designers, drink a cocktail, and the shop will pay your sales tax.
  • The Near North Side boutique Havilah (869 N. Larrabee St.; 312-202-0012, shophavilah.com) opens a second location on the North Shore at 728 West Elm Street in Winnetka on Sept. 26th. An opening day celebration goes from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with refreshments and gift certificates with purchase—spend $250 for a $25 gift certificate, $500 for a $50 gift certificate, and $750 or more for a $100 gift certificate.
  • Bring in a clean, wearable pair of jeans to be donated to charity to The Denim Lounge (43 E. Oak St., 312-642-6403; 2004 W. Roscoe St., 773-935-2820), and receive 25 percent off new jeans through Oct. 5th. Kids’, men’s, and women’s jeans accepted; one discount per customer.
  • Project Runway season 3 winner Jeffrey Sebelia hosts the fall fashion show for Wicker Park boutique Bonnie & Clyde’s (1751 W. Division St.; 773-235-2680) at lumen (839 W. Fulton Mkt.; 312-733-2222) on Sept. 25th. Doors open at 9 p.m.
  • p.45 (1643 N. Damen Ave.; 773-862-4523) hosts a Chicago designer trunk show this weekend, featuring Abigail Glaum-Lathbury on Sept. 27th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Lara Miller on Sept. 28th from noon to 5 p.m.
  • The Randolph Street Market (1350 W. Randolph St.; 312-666-1200) returns Sept. 27th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sept. 28th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $10. The special feature this month is Adrienne Astrologo, an expert on vintage and couture handbags who is bringing her collection to the market, including purses from Chanel, Hermes, Dior, and Gucci.
  • Jewelry designer Saundra Messinger makes a rare public appearance at Art Effect (934 W. Armitage Ave.; 773-929-3600) on Sept. 27th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Hubba-Hubba (3309 N. Clark St.; 773-477-1414) offers 25 percent off sweaters from Sept. 26th through 28th from brands such as Free People, Tulle, and Young At Heart.
  • The Wicker Park stationery shop Anjenu (1747 W. Division St.; 773-469-2212) celebrates its second anniversary on Sept. 27th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sept. 28th from noon to 5 p.m. with mimosas, baked goods, and 20 percent off everything in the shop.
  • The Dream Home at the Merchandise Mart (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza; 800-677-6278) opens to the public on Sept. 25th and features nine rooms created by Chicago designers. Open through Dec. 20th; a $5 donation benefits the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Women’s Board.
  • Elizabeth Grace (2438 N. Clark St.; 773-477-9830) offers 20 percent off personalized holiday cards and party invitations through the end of September. In October, take 10 percent off personalized cards.
  • Original Penguin (901 N. Rush St.; 312-475-0792) holds 101.9 FM’s “Night of Style” hosted by Eric Ferguson and Kathy Hart, on Sept. 24th from 6 to 8 p.m., during a two-hour shopping event with a 25 percent discount storewide and prizes awarded every 15 minutes. To attend, please visit the 101.9 FM “MIX Insider” at www.wtmx.com and register to win VIP passes.
  • On Sept. 27th, the Lake View location of His Stuff (3162 N. Broadway; 773-281-6111) holds a trunk show with the cuff links, watches, necklaces, rings, and bracelets from Tateossian; trunk show purchases are 10 percent off that day.
  • Red Dog House (2031 N. Damen Ave.; 773-227-7341) celebrates its second anniversary by offering 22 percent off the entire store from Sept. 26th through 28th.
  • The Shop at Equinox (900 N. Michigan Ave., 312-254-2500; 799 Central Ave., Highland Park, 847-681-7777; 1750 N. Clark St., 312-254-4000; 200 W. Monroe St., 312-252-3100) now has limited edition T-shirts at their shops designed by Pink Floyd, Stella McCartney, The Rolling Stones, and Heidi Klum, to help whateverittakes.org raise money for charity.
  • The Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe St.; 312-422-1336) opened its Spa Chakra on Sept. 22nd as part of its renovation project. The menu includes full spa services, complimentary valet parking, and complimentary after-treatment makeup refreshers. Spa services range from $210 to $420.