It seems black is the reliable bet during this economic crunch. Why should designers pretend it’s not what women go for most of the time? But this is still Paris Fashion Week—we want a little drama, right? Well, the Chanel show yesterday provided a good mixture: a little theatricality with a lot of practicality…
 |
 |
Consignment for the home, edited and plucked—even “re-fluffed” with a designer’s eye? Most finds vintage and antique? Count us in. SG Too in St. Charles is a new division of Scentimental Gardens that sweet spot for one-of-a-kind finds, design ideas, and garden plans. Stop by for the gently used home finds and garden accessories (stylish bargains include a Henredon cabinet circa 1940s in putty grey with a quilted paneled front, an ornate French gilt mirror, a bamboo armoire with chicken wire detail, or a cane topped table with glass insert). Even the cleverly styled vignettes are inspiring. Every quarter the owners will donate five percent of the sales to a charity. Hop on the site or ring to arrange for a consignment appointment.
—BARRI LEINER
Make no payments for six months! It’s a familiar come-on from carpet companies and car dealers. Now one Chicago homebuilder is offering the same deal, but without the hidden interest charges that inflate payments later…
 |
Jill Maremont over at Susan Fredman’s At Home in the City sent over a few fun new items the store is carrying. The Akira dog, 20” x 11” x 15”, is handcrafted of papier mache wrapped in abaca fiber. The porcelain Boot vase by Maxim Velcovsky for Qubus is 10.5 inches high. And the Pigeon Light, by Ed Carpenter for Thorsten van Elten, is made of acrylic and attaches to a wall mount with the clothespin. It’s 9 inches by 9 inches and includes a 25-watt euro-base lamp. Jill has a fun blog, find it here.
—JAN PARR
What’s better than a wine store within walking distance of a favorite BYOB? A great recommendation—under $12 a pop
Stayin’ Alive
Like many businesses this past holiday season, SoKo Fashion (1925 W. Chicago Ave.; 773-592-1089, sokofashion.com) took a hit in sales. As a result, owner Sheri Roney had to make a decision: keep going and possibly take on more debt—or close. Going with the latter, Roney announced her plans to shutter her Ukrainian Village boutique in early February. “If something was gonna happen, it was gonna have to happen fast,” she says. Luckily, the change happened in less than two weeks. “Our inventory was bought out [at 40 percent off] and our sales went…
Also new to the neighborhood, The Lucky Lady opened around the corner from Theory in late December courtesy of Michaels Bisbee and Kaulentis, a.k.a. the guys behind the popular River North hangouts RiNo, Manor, and Stay. “A lot of our patrons said they wished we had an early spot to go to after work,” Bisbee … Read more
A new happy-hour spot in River North bets on the upscale-sports-lounge trend
Insulation muffles el train noise
At The Lumiere, small things are a big deal
