Helping Handmade

This isn’t the usual Oscar de la Renta, Dolce & Gabbana, or Escada trunk show scene at SAKS Fifth Avenue (700 N. Michigan Ave., First Floor, 312-944-6500, saksfifthavenue.com). On Thursday and Friday, November 1 and 2, SAKS hosts an ethical shopping event with jewelry by Same Sky (samesky.com), a trade-not-aid initiative that employs African women living with HIV and AIDS. What started in 2008 as a team of four has grown to more than 75 women in Rwanda and Zambia, trained as artisans to create and sell hand-crocheted necklaces and bracelets. Shop the collection—which includes hand-blown glass beaded bracelets and necklaces ($160 – $400), prosperity seed bead bracelets ($60 – $110), fabric wrap bracelets ($30 – $40), and cufflinks ($100)—during the trunk show. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and a cocktail reception with Same Sky’s founder, Francine LeFrak, takes place Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.

 

Top Sales This Week

Score up to 80 percent off linens, pillows, housewares, and more at the annual fall warehouse sale at Unison (2000 W. Fulton St., 877-492-7960, unisonhome.com). This weekend’s event runs Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Head to the store’s back entrance (off Carroll Avenue) for access.

Trillium (1744 W. Division St., 773-698-8162, trilliumchicago.com) fêtes its second year in business with good news for non-Wicker Park residents: The boutique, which carries brands like Cynthia Vincent, 360 Cashmere, and Dannijo, launches worldwide with an e-commerce site (trilliumchicago.com) on Friday, November 2. To celebrate, everything in the store will be tax-free and online purchases will ship for free until November 9.

 

The Best of the Rest

  • Things are about to get festive around here. Macy’s on State (111 N. State. St., 312-781-1000, macys.com) lights up that great big tree on Saturday, November 3 at 12 p.m. Holiday-ready or not, see it in the Walnut Room on Level 7 and catch a performance by Chris Mann from NBC’s The Voice.
  • All six suburban Hot Mama boutiques (shopmama.com for locations) host a fall clearance sale beginning Thursday, November 1 through 11, in-store and online. Take an additional 25 percent off previously marked down merchandise. With brands like Hudson, Joe’s Jeans, and AG included, it’s not a bad time to stock up on premium denim.
  • Vintage dealer Alex Hosler appears at Hazel (1902 W. Montrose Ave., 773-769-2227, hazelchicago.com) on Saturday, November 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a one-day sale of her vintage jewelry, clothing, bowties, purses, and shoes. Treats and libations will be served.
  • Comfort Me Boutique (701 W. Armitage Ave., 312-255-1412, comfortmeboutique.com) wants to help cut de-clutter your closet. Professional organizers NEAT Method (neatmethod.com) appear at the boutique for an in-store event on Thursday, November 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. In addition to offering 20 percent off NEAT’s organizing services, everything in the store will be 10 percent off (to fill the holes in that freshly cleaned closet).
  • Art Effect (934 W. Armitage Ave., 773-929-3600, shoparteffect.com) throws a monogram jewelry and gift sale next weekend, November 9 through 11. Those nameplate necklaces ($75 and up) and monogram pendants ($48-$300) you’ve been eyeing at full price will be 20 percent off.
  • Spex (2154 W. Roscoe St., 773-525-2022, spexchicago.com) hosts an Art+Vision event on Thursday, November 1 from 5 to 8 p.m. with light bites and drinks. The day’s agenda combines a trunk show of French handcrafted eyewear line Beausoleil with pop art paintings from local artist Amanda Shell.

 

Openings

Chicago becomes home to the first Zaharoff (110 E. Oak St., 312-285-2100, zaharoff.com) flagship store when the luxury menswear retailer opens its doors on Saturday, November 3. The tri-level space, filled with tailored suits and sports jackets, emits an old-world fashion house vibe, complete with an atelier on the top floor.