Hanig’s Slipper Box, 2754 N. Clark, (773)248-1977, Hanig’s Footwear, 847 W. Armitage, (773)929-5568, 875 N. Michigan, (312)787-6800, 1627 Sherman, Evanston, (847)864-3268, hanigs.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s shoes.  Designers:  Beautifeel, Wolky, Ecco, Kenneth Cole, Merrell, Mephisto, Johnston & Murphy, Keen.  Owner: Serving Chicago since 1944, Hanig’s is owned by Peter Hanig, son of founders Irv and “Billie.”  Vibe: Extremely well-lit and roomy, with plenty of seats for shoe sampling, and an overall All-American appeal. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Comfortably chic. While all the shoes are designed with function in mind, fashionable details are incorporated into the designs. Shopper’s Perks: Service—with plenty of friendly staff members around, you’ll be taken care of from the moment you enter to the moment you leave. Comfort also tops the bill, and your feet won’t be able to thank you enough.

Slipper Box-Lakeview

Hanig’s Slipper Box

Lincoln Park Store

Hanig’s Footwear

Michigan Avenue Store

Hanig’s Footwear

Evanston Store

Hanig’s Footwear

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

3740 N. Southport, (773)929-5253, 939 N. Rush, (312)664-5553, shopjake.com (1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for men and women. Designers: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Barbara Bui and Erin Fetherston for women; Band of Outsiders and Tim Hamilton for men. Owners: Lance Lawson, an attorney, keeps the business pegs in place while Jim Wetzel applies his merchandising background to the biz. Vibe: Clean and chic with a lodge-in-Aspen edge—small antlers decorate the walls and a cowhide rug rests on the wood floors. The staff doesn’t do the snooty thing, and they know all the regulars by name. Price Range: Expensive-Luxury. The Look: A tasteful, impeccably pulled-together look that blends megawatt and off-the-beaten path designers. Outfits for uber-exclusive cocktail parties or for sipping wine in your Nate Berkus-decorated living room. Shopper’s Perks: All the salespeople have a background in luxury retail. On-site trunk shows offer shoppers the chance to mingle and sip champagne with fashion-world stars. The Thing for Spring: The vibrant colors in Chris Benz’s women’s line.

Lakeview Store

Jake

Gold Coast Store

Jake

873 N. Rush, (312)587-1000, ikram.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for women. Designers: Proenza Schouler, Narciso Rodriguez, Junya Watanabe, Rick Owens, Alexander McQueen, Christopher Kane, Lanvin, Thakoon and Jonathan Saunders. Owner: Ikram Goldman has run her eponymous Gold Coast boutique for more than five years. A famous champion of emerging design talent, Goldman’s killer eye earns her frequent mentions in the pages of Vogue. Vibe: Serene and upscale. A series of arches in the walls, swatches of gold and ornately carved wooden screens create the feeling of a haute fashion temple. Price Range: Luxury. The Look: Sophisticated fashion editor. Italian movie star. Jet-setting heiress. This woman has a weakness for glamour and a keen, intellectual understanding of fashion. Shopper’s Perks: Despite her status as couture queen of Chicago, Ikram Goldman is warm, open and charismatic. She lavishes attention and expert sartorial advice on each of her clients—plus, she throws the most fabulous parties in town.

Ikram

72 E. Oak, (312)440-1718, gbani.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s and men’s clothing, shoes and bags. Designers: Patrizia Pepe, Roberto Cavalli, Giuseppe Zanotti, Rocco P, DSquared, Diego Dolcini. Owners: Husband and wife duo B.J. and Trevian Kutti operate this 10-year-old boutique and manage two showrooms in Europe. Vibe: Buzzer-operated doors and the sales staff’s careful-what-you-touch attitude stir up an air of exclusivity. The room is upbeat and glam, with pop music and plenty of shimmer and sparkle on the racks. Price Range: Luxury. The Look: Sexy, sexy, sexy. Towering high heels. Shimmery tops. Tastefully plunging necklines. Set to down pomegranate martinis at SushiSamba Rio. Shopper’s Perks: Champagne and caviar events are not only held when new lines drop, but for simple client appreciation as well. Plus, it’s worth dropping by to see the politically inspired window displays. The Thing for Spring: Look for the debut of the store’s signature couture line, designed by the owners in collaboration with one of the top factories in Italy.

G’bani

67 E. Oak, (312)943-8880, daisyshop.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s couture resale clothing and accessories. Designers: Carolina Herrera, Givenchy, Jil Sander, Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, Prada; purses by Judith Leiber, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Moschino and Bottega Veneta; vintage costume jewelry by Kramer, Weiss, Eisenberg and Schreiner. Owner: Barbara Nell founded the shop thirteen years ago. Vibe: Tucked away on the sixth floor of an Oak Street walkup, the store feels like a well-organized fashion archive; the knowledgeable staff acts like designer docents. Expect to find estate jewels, hats and handbags. Price Range: Moderate for couture, the prices are what the staff refers to as a “relative bargain.” Shopper’s Perks: Everything in stock is authenticated. Join the Daisy Fresh Pix club to receive flyers about newly arrived designer merchandise before it hits the Web.

The Daisy Shop

106 E. Oak, (312)640-1940 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for men and women. Designers: Valentino, Gaultier, Versace Jeans Couture, D&G by Dolce & Gabbana and Just Cavalli by Roberto Cavalli. Owner: Marc Engel stocks goods from the younger, slightly-more-affordable lines of high-end designers. Vibe: Minimalist, yet cozy. The simple interior gives the clothes some extra showcase room, while the friendly staff adds an extra dose of warmth. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: These style-philes may not be making their millions yet, but they’re not going to let a little thing like money stand between themselves and the runway. Shopper’s Perks: The pieces at Chasalla aren’t going to be found at your local department store; these items are fashion forward and straight from the runway. The Thing for Spring: Bright colors sparkle through the store, and Engel is excited about the beautiful bright tops from an array of designers.

Chasalla

900 N. Michigan, (312)266-1545, alternativeshoes.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s shoes and accessories. Designers: Most of the shop’s stock is its own label, but the store prides itself on carrying a few other designers that they are sure you’ve never heard of, all from a variety of small Italian factories. Owner: Sandro Ciurcina left Florence to be with his wife, a native Chicagoan. Using knowledge he gained from his father’s shoe factory in Tuscany, Ciurcina has kept Chicago customers happy for the last twenty years. Vibe: This longtime inhabitant of Rush Street moved into the 900 Shops complex last year, and uses a bright red carpet to stand out from the other stores. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Everything from super-pointy stilettos to peep-toe heels are represented, but only the fashion forward will have what it takes to pull off these looks, which have a decidedly quirky flair. Shopper’s Perks: Because of Ciurcina’s close relationship with the designers and manufacturers of his shoes, conversations with customers often show up in the next season’s line.

Alternatives

114 E. Oak, (312)787-1171, ultimo.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. Designers: Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Roberto Cavalli, Nancy Gonzalez, Christian Lacroix and Josef Statkus. Shoes? Almost entirely Manolo Blahnik. Owner: Sara Albrecht—artist, designer and Hubbard Street Dance Company director—continues the thirty-year tradition of one of Chicago’s most established high-end boutiques, originally owned by Joan Weinstein. Vibe: From the rich colors to the plush carpets, the soft lighting to the metal sculptures, this store is lux-u-ri-ous. But don’t let the impeccably dressed staff fool you—they’re welcoming, attentive and willing to go the extra mile. Price Range: Luxury. The Look: The society pages. Flip through In Style and see your new shoes on the red carpet. Shopper’s Perks: Best selection of Manolos in the city. The boutique’s four hand-drawn sketches, made by Blahnik himself, demonstrate the close relationship Ultimo has with the designer. The Thing for Spring: The soft pastel colors in Blumarine’s collection.

Ultimo

34 E. Oak, (312)944-0885 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: Organic, Michael Stars, Ella Moss, James Perse, jeans by James and J Brand. Owners: Husband-and-wife duo Jeffrey and Leslie Gersten opened this Gold Coast staple thirty-three years ago. Vibe: Techno beats pulse in the background of this bright and cheery storefront. The sales staff is knowledgeable yet unobtrusive, and the racks of clothing are neatly organized, making it easy to spot your favorite fall sweater from across the room. Price Range: Expensive. The Look: Classic pieces with a trendy edge. Run errands all day, meet your guy at Avenue M and look classy, fresh and fabulous all the while. Shopper’s Perks: The Gerstens’ priority is educated service—they’re constantly ensuring their staff is in-the-know by educating them on the best designer for each body type. The Thing for Spring: Bright t-shirts from a variety of designers.

Sugar Magnolia

64 E. Walton, (312)951-5383, samanthachicago.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing, lingerie, swimwear and accessories for women. Designers: Milly, Smythe, Kenneth Jay Lane, Ya-Ya, Vince and Genetic denim. Owner: Samantha Mittelman opened the California-cool boutique in an effort to infuse the Midwest with West Coast style. Vibe: Samantha channels Barbie’s dream house with a white ostrich-skin couch, slick pink chairs and shaggy pink rugs. The walls are dressed in a girly flower print and mod white lamps illuminate the space. Price Range: Expensive. The Look: Trend-driven and youthful. Beach babe by day, party girl by night. Gold Coast girl with California dreams. Shopper’s Perks: Starlets love this place, so you may just have a celebrity sighting. Also, the store’s Web site allows for online shopping. The Thing for Spring: LNA’s perfect-fit crewneck and v-neck tees, and the staff raves about the double-breasted schoolboy blazer by Smythe.

Samantha Chicago