The Meteoric Rise of Designer Wes Gordon

“He’s got the talent behind him and the money,” says Kelly Golden, owner of Neapolitan, of Gordon. “It’s a winning formula.” When the promising young designer Wes Gordon launched his fashion line in New York in 2009, it wasn’t long before his elegant, finely crafted clothes caught the eye of buyers from Saks Fifth Avenue … Read more

Budget-Conscious Boutique Hits Wheaton

The Price is Right
Kathleen Kirk had a dream about opening a boutique with her daughter, Angela Skurka. Months later, the mother-daughter duo launched Two Shopaholics (125 W. Front St., Wheaton; 630-682-0377), a store for women’s apparel, jewelry, handbags, and accessories—with an average price of $30 per item…

Free People Opens Store on Southport

Third Time’s a Charm
Topshop wasn’t the only big-name retailer to launch a new spot in the Windy City last week. On September 7, Free People (freepeople.com) opened its third Chicago-area store in Lake View at 3447 North Southport Avenue (773-472-6157)…

Topshop Opens in Chicago

British Invasion
After months of anticipation, Topshop (us.topshop.com) opens its Chicago location at 830 North Michigan Avenue at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 8…

Former Photographer Opens Lincoln Park Flower Shop

Flower Power
After stints in other industries, including fashion photography, Nancy Krause opened Nancy Krause Floral Design & Garden Antiques (1101 W. Webster Ave.; 773-248-1516, nkfloraldesign.com) earlier this month. In the 1990s, Krause shifted her focus from photography to flowers when she opened two floral boutiques in downtown Chicago…