Yellow Jacket Vintage closed their Chicago location; no word on Milwaukee, though we’re checking.

The Reader reports that bricks-and-mortars-gone-online-only boutique Language has vaporized completely.

In the department of openings and closings, American Apparel has opened another Chicago location:

American Apparel
Belmont Central
929 W. Belmont Ave.
Tel. (773) 472-0500

Meanwhile, French housewares boutique Porte Rouge has announced it’s closing May 1.

One of Bucktown’s longer-tenured and most visionary boutiques, Saffron (2064 North Damen, 773-486-7753), is calling it quits at the end of April. This one’s not connected to the economy, however. Rather, owner Padmaja Manerikar Maryanski wants to stay home with her young child, and her efforts to find an appropriate buyer have not been successful. “Have had a great deal of interest but have found that most women either do not have the creative ability or the financial optimism,” she writes in an email. “Not sure why, but our business has actually been good this year…even the full price stuff is selling well. I would hold out and continue to try to sell the business but I feel I am missing out on some of the most precious time with my daughter.”

Meanwhile, sales abound at the store until it closes.

UPDATE: As of October 2009, Soko Fashion is closed.

1925 W. Chicago, (773)592-1089, sokofashion.com
Goods: Women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: Customer favorites include Colcci, Kensie Girl, LA made, BB Dakota, Goorin, MissMe and Silver. Owner: Sheri Roney’s background is in nonprofit and business, but she “knows what looks good” and isn’t afraid to share her opinion. “I think people really appreciate that honesty,” she says. Vibe: Comfortable. The store is all about making the customer at ease. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. Almost everything here is $100 or less. The Look: Fun. Roney does all the buying herself, and favors designs from funky youthful lines. Shopper’s Perks: With a new partner on board, the store plans to host monthly events like fashion shows and in-store shopping services—customers will be able to get a mani or a brow wax while scoring sweet deals. Plans to expand the store’s brief foray into online shopping are also in the works.

UPDATED MAY 2009

SoKo Fashion, 1925 W. Chicago

Days away from winding down, Ukrainian Village retailer Soko Fashion has decided to stay open. What happened? Here’s what they emailed their customers:

“Within days of announcing the closing of SoKo Fashion, customers came out in droves searching for answers & of course seeking out some amazing deals.

It was sad to explain to customers that fear had invaded the air and the economy was raining on our parade.

Lucky for SoKo Fashion though – 2 things happened Read the rest of this entry »

The bad bad retail economy has taken down three more independent Chicago boutiques:

SHE Boutique has closed its Lincoln Park location. No word yet on plans for its Highland Park outpost.

Hip Fit Andersonville is closing at the end of this month. Till then, everything’s on sale 50-90 percent off.

Soko Fashion, Ukrainian Village, sent out an email announcing its plans to close (and a sale to expedite it): “With so many people being affected by: a major and continuous crash of the stock market, millions of job losses, and the rising cost of food & gas, it makes perfect sense that people have cut back on shopping. With the owner having a new family to think of, the thought of going into more debt to keep things up and running just didn’t seem to make sense. ”

Need any more incentive to support your local retailer?

Shop Girl has closed up shop. They haven’t responded to our request for details, so we’re just guessing that this godawful economy is the culprit. Another reminder to shop local for the holidays, sadly.

UPDATE: As of January 2012, The Dressing Room Shoes has closed.

4657 N. Lincoln, (773)878-7400, thedressingroomshoes.com 
Goods: Shoes, boots, jewelry and accessories for women. Designers: Naughty Monkey, Blowfish, Roxy, Seychelles Miz Mooz and Jeffrey Campbell. Owners: Sarah Sanchez and Barbara Ruiz opened their fun, upscale store in August 2008 as the sister store to their Dressing Room clothing store. The stores occupy the same happening block in Lincoln Square. Vibe: Bright orange chairs and a white bicycle protrude from the walls, while eye-popping jewelry tumbles from ceramic bowls, glass cubes and wooden frames. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Killer shoes abound for Roxy-loyal teens and their bohemian Moms. Hip gals may go for edgy thigh-high boots. Shopper’s Perks: Splashy throw pillows on seating benches offer a comfy area for trying on shoes. An Etch A Sketch and Lego play-set attract restless kids.

4657 N. Lincoln

UPDATED OCTOBER 2009

Lenny and Me has been saved. Owner Ana Camino reports that the popular Wicker Park shop took over the old Brown Elephant space on Milwaukee Avenue:

“Lenny and Me did not close after all.  We were able to relocate right next door to our old location to a larger space.  We still carry our great vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories and now with our larger space have expanded into home furnishings with lots of vintage and mid century modern pics.”

New deets: 1459 N. Milwaukee,  (773)489-5576.     Open seven days a week, 11am-7pm.