10/7/08

Zara Opens in Skokie

Euro Fash

Few affordable stores inspire the devotion of Spanish-based Zara (Old Orchard, Skokie; 847-329-0808, zara.com). A steady stream of those who have shopped the brand in Europe or the coasts have poured into the Old Orchard store since it opened on Sept. 25th, expressing mostly the same sentiment: “Finally.” The excitement over the opening rivaled that of the Marc by Marc Jacobs in Bucktown, with a decidedly more pocket-friendly assortment of merchandise. And...

9/30/08

Shoes in Lincoln Square

A Shoe In

The Dressing Room Shoes (4657 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-878-7400, thedressingroomchicago.com), the recently opened specialty outpost from the same owners of three-year-old Lincoln Square shop The Dressing Room, is located just down the street from its sister store and carries both affordable and swanky kicks. On the casual side, find mom-friendly Crocs and adorable lace-up rain boots from Dav ($80.50), as well as...

9/23/08

Adidas Arrives at Water Tower

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...

9/16/08

A New Stop for Denim

Tracing Jeaneology

The Lincoln Park shop DNA 2050 (2122 N. Halsted St.; 773-525-8004) stocks a mix of established and emerging brands for men and women in casual and dressy styles. Find pajama-soft tops from Sportmax Code, separates from Just Cavalli, dresses from Bread and Butter, among others. For women, we loved the William Rast pea coat ($409), a silk chiffon halter dress ($399) from Julie Haus, and a yellow cashmere sweater from Knitwit ($145). For men, there is a mix of preppy, work-appropriate attire such as...

9/9/08

Where to Watch Tailors

Suit up

Those who tromp around the financial district may have noticed the recent addition of tailors working in a storefront of Richard Bennett Custom Tailors (175 W. Jackson Blvd.; 312-913-1100). The “tailor in a fishbowl” concept is the centerpiece of the shop’s new space, meant to demystify the custom-tailoring process and show customers craftsmen at work. A city fixture since 1929, the tailor shop...

9/2/08

Oh, Canada

Fashion Forward, Eh?
Canada has given us hockey, Michael J. Fox, and now Aritzia (Water Tower Place, 3rd fl.; 312-867-9230, aritzia.com), a trendy shop carrying boutique brands that range from comfy tees ($18) to a double-breasted gray overcoat ($350). The 4,300-square-foot shop is the Vancouver-based brand’s fourth store in the U.S. Brands include BCBG Generation, Citizens of Humanity, Ella Moss, Habitual, Nudie, Talula, Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, and...

8/26/08

Accessories Boutique in Lincoln Park

A Little Something Special

New Lincoln Park accessories boutique Aberle (1101 W. Webster Ave.; 773-477-1101) carries all the elements to complete an outfit: jewelry, shoes, and handbags. Co-owners Kira Price and Joy Koziol have chosen luxury accessories, filling the store with “brands we love and can never...

8/19/08

Glamorama Time

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Tickets are still available for Glamorama at The Chicago Theatre (175 N. State St.; 312-902-1500) on Aug. 22nd at 8 p.m. The ‘80s-themed show, called Pop Candy Arcade, features performances by Cyndi Lauper and the rapper M.C. Hammer (back from bankruptcy)—so bust out the purple eye shadow and tease up those rooster bangs. The runway fashion show features Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan Collection, CNC Costume National, Just Cavalli, SportMax, Tibi, and Tommy Hilfiger, among others. The after-party—as always on the 7th floor of Macy’s (111 State St.)—will feature music videos from...

8/12/08

Lincoln Park Teen Destination

The Teen Age

At a time when boutiques shutter every month, never underestimate the spending power of the Millennials. A new Lincoln Park teen and tween store Frankie's on the Park (2322 N. Clark St.; 773-248-0400) is slated to open August 14th. The brand new, two-floor space (conveniently located near the Latin School and Francis Parker) runs the gamut from casual wear and denim to special-occasion dresses and suits for boys and girls age 8 to 18. Co-owners Lisa Rolfe Burik and Mary DeRose Carter spent a year and a half...

8/5/08

Mid-century Decor in West Town

It’s a Mod, Mod, Mod World
The popularity of mid-century modernism seems on par with that of pizza and beachfront real estate. Everybody likes it, and demand drives up prices. But Angela Finney-Hoffman and Barkley Hoffman, the husband-and-wife owners of the West Town shop Post27 (1819 W. Grand Ave.; 312-829-6122), have infused affordability into the...