Exceptional Craftsmanship Rejoice, fans of the popular Renegade Craft Fair. The fair, which happens next month on September 15th and 16th along Division Street, in conjunction with the Do Division Street Fest, has spawned a permanent extension-a new store called Renegade Handmade (1924 W. Division St.; 773-227-2707) that carries high-style, handmade items from 60 designers, … Read more
Saving Grace Bolstering the recent trend of independent shoe retailers in the city, Grace (1917 N. Damen Ave.; 773-384-7223) in Bucktown opens on August 10th. The beautiful new minimalist space will carry 15 shoe brands and handbag lines, from both established and emerging (mainly European) labels. Owner Kristi Ryan, who recently shuttered her own recruiting … Read more
Fancy Free Famous brands are taking the city by storm, the splashiest of which include Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, and Nanette Lepore, all planning to open boutiques in October. Free People (1464 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-227-4871), a brand of affordable, boho comfort clothing, joins the trend with a new Wicker Park shop. The brand splits … Read more
Spoiler alert: we’re about to tell you which local indie designers got the nod from Macy’s.
So, let me just get this out of the way. I could never do the whole fashion design thing. I can’t sew together a paper bag. I don’t have the patience to dry my hair in the morning, much less affix tiny little buttons or adjust hemlines. My favorite article of clothing is a T-shirt from high school that says Planned Parenthood of Alabama. It has a picture of a rabbit popping out of a hat. My mother always tries to throw it away when I visit.
Street Sweep Maybe it’s August’s approach, signaling the beginning of the end of summer, or maybe we’re just overdue for our share of turkey legs alfresco. Whatever the reason, street-fest season seems to reach fever pitch this weekend, with enough options to suit any summer-loving Chicagoan. Here, three of our top picks: For Music Junkies: … Read more
Even I could feel the intensity. Thirty or so local clothing designers (when you count accessories, there were 70 in all) had trucked their wares up to the 9th floor of Macy’s in the hopes that they’d get picked up by a major department store. By "picked up," I mean that Macy’s had set aside budget money to add pieces by local designers to their collection. This is huge, seeing as how Marshall Field’s (and later Macy’s) used to buy on consignment only. Now they were going to buy entire “lots” up front—a purchase that could make an indie designer’s year…
Stephen Naparstek’s eclectic background is reflected in his personal style and in his new retail venture, Bonnie & Clyde’s, a rock-’n’-roll couture boutique in Wicker Park.
Live from New York, Scoop brings its first superstore for fashion-savvy shoppers to Chicago
Out on the town—fit for a princess or a sophisticated lady
The new bohemian detailing—jump back to macramé, crochet, chunky shoes, and dangling jewels
