1024 W. Armitage, (773)880-8061, shopsheboutique.com 
(No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing, shoes and accessories for women. Designers: Raven, Frankie B, Ya-Ya, Grey Ant, Jill Stuart, Mint, KushCush, Thayer; shoes by Ruthie Davis. Owner: Fashionistas Nicolette Karney and Lindsay Madigan opened She after noticing it was harder to find boutiques that were fashion forward and offered a blend of comfort and style. Vibe: The cool, sleek, mostly metallic room is warmed up by background beats, TVs showing music videos and the cheerful, quick-to-help employees. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: She is an acronym for “she has everything,” and the shop lives up to its motto. Whether you’re suiting up for a first date at the movies or a black-tie benefit, She can outfit you in perfectly crafted clothing that is on the cutting edge of style. And the fashion-loving staff is happy to help create the perfect ensemble. Shopper’s Perks: They offer in-store tailoring, and will track down and order any wardrobe piece if they don’t carry it. The Thing for Spring: She brings sleek style to the ‘burbs with the opening of a new Hinsdale location.
2252 N. Clark, (773)477-4537, panachechicago.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for women. Designers: Kania, Qi Cashmere, Drama, Nancy Rose, Cynthia LaMaide. Owner: Lynne Barnett’s boutique has been a Lincoln Park staple for twenty-five years. Vibe: Detailed silver molding around the doors and mirrors is elegantly classic, while modern touches—like a leopard-print blanket on an ottoman—bring modern touches. Clothing and accessories decorate the room in a delightfully cluttered manner, inspiring new pairing and wardrobe ideas. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: Panache is filled with clothing that is working-woman chic, and mixes modern trends with classic must-haves. Shoppers here are always tailored and appropriate (but decked with fun accessories), and can move from work to dinner to home and look classy the whole way. Shopper’s Perks: In impossible-to-park Lincoln Park, Panache provides one-stop shopping. You’ll find outfits here that are perfect for everything from work to play to wedding.
2956 N. Clark, (773)248-3758, pandlchicago.com 
(2 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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Goods: Women’s and men’s clothing, caps and bags. Designers: Cop, Copine, Shades of Greige, Le Coq Sportif, Dex, Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. Owners: Paul Chiemmongkoltip and Leena Thairuammit wanted to work in a place that would allow them to raise their baby boy Aubrey, as well as permit travel back and forth to Bangkok, where Leena used to live. Cutie-pie Aubrey is two months older than the shop, which opened in October, 2007. Vibe: The employees create a warm, friendly and welcoming feel in the clean store; it’s hip but not in an intimidating or pretentious way. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. The Look: Sporty and urban chic in an everyday, versatile kind of style. Comfy hoodies, T-shirts, tank tops, jeans and sweaters flatter figures and have reasonable prices. Shopper’s Perks: The shop hosts events featuring art, clothing and more each month.
2150 N. Seminary, (773)322-2944, mintboutique.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Locally made gifts, apparel and accessories for women. Designers: Cuff Luv cuffs, Alexis Drake jewelry, cards by La Familia Green. Owner: Melissa Tierney, a former art-school owner, is creator of the clothing lines Melissabrit and Grateful not Greedy. Vibe: Sun flows into a tiny space filled with mint green and sunflower yellow walls. A sparkly chandelier and eyelet-trimmed curtains are quaint decorative touches. Price Range: Inexpensive-Expensive. The Look: Fresh, feminine, funky, full of youthful joy and storybook charm. Anyone who shops here has tons of city pride and a desire to support local artists. Shopper’s Perks: Onsite classes can be self-designed—just let Tierney know what you want to learn. Mint also offers custom jewelry services and can help out with bridal sets. The Thing for Spring: “We’re as green and as inexpensive as can be,” says Tierney. Scope out the English Retreads bags constructed from inner tubes and MiMo fine leather bags, which run from $75-$120.
824 W. Armitage, (773)281-5655, lorisshoes.com (1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Goods: Women’s shoes and accessories. Designers: Heels by Calvin Klein, wedges by Jeffrey Campbell, flats by Sam Edelman; handbags by Pietro Alessandro, clutches by Hobo and jewelry from Gorjana and Pieces of a Girl. Owner: A self-confessed “shoe addict,” Lori Andre opened Lori’s Shoes in 1983. Her business policy: customers must leave as friends. Vibe: Open, spacious and stocked with more shoeboxes and sparkly accessories than Cinderella could dream of. The store is always bustling with shoppers and shoe-fueled energy. Price Range: Inexpensive-Expensive. The Look: With pastel wedges, patterned pumps and kick-around running shoes, Lori’s stocks a pair for a gal’s every mood. Shopper’s Perks: Lori takes biannual shopping trips to Europe, so she’s always ahead of the curve on trends. Check her Web site for detailed info on what’s kicking in the world of shoes—she even has a blog!
1211 W. Webster, (773)296-2141, ekaveri.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s clothing, bags and jewelry. Designers: Tory Burch, Tocca, White + Warren and Edun are only a few of the lines that this well-stocked shop carries. Owner: Kaveri Satpathy, who handpicks everything that’s featured in the shop, opened Kaveri in 2006. Vibe: Modern and warm, with loads of clothes but equally large amounts of space. Indian rugs and handcrafted furniture make the boutique feel like the living room of a well-traveled soul. Price Range: Expensive. The Look: Sleek and fashion-forward, with a splash of Bohemian-chic. Shopper’s Perks: Sales help is not only friendly, but honest—always an asset in the boutique-shopping experience! When stocking her shop, Satpathy focuses on styles that flatter a wide range of body types. The Thing for Spring: Olivia Harris leather handbags, which feature not only excellent quality but an excellent price point, too.
840 W. Armitage, (773)281-2352, shopisabella.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Lingerie, swimwear and loungewear for women. Designers: Cosabella, Le Mystere, On Gossamer, Dessous, La Perla, Wendy Glez, PJ Salvage, Barefoot Dreams. Owner: In 1999, Lauren Amerine came back from a trip to Italy full of inspiration: she realized that Chicago was missing a shop staffed with expert fitters and dedicated to fine European lingerie. Thus, Isabella was born. Vibe: The sun-filled, storefront shop is filled with ruffles, flutters, ribbons and silk. Help is attentive, focused and never pushy. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: This woman understands that underpinnings lay the groundwork for a great outfit. She loves classic style with bits of lace and feminine flair. Shopper’s Perks: Lauren’s innate size-savvy has earned her the title of Chicago’s “bra psychic.” (She can tell just from looking at you; really, she’s a master.) A huge size selection goes way beyond the double D. Another Perk: Join Club Isabella and for every fifty dollars spent, receive five dollars back in store credit every season. Note, at press time, Isabella was in the process of moving from its old location on Webster to this address.
Akira
-Accessories, -Mens Shoes, -Menswear, -Women's Shoes, -Womenswear, Bucktown, Lincoln Park, Loop, Wicker Park/Ukrainian Village 1 Comment »1837 W. North, (773)489-0818 (women’s flagship store), 1922 W. North, (312)423-6693 (men), 1849 W. North, (773)342-8684 (shoes), 2357 N. Clark, (773)404-5826; 122 S. State, (312)346-3034; 643 W. Diversey, (773)649-9257; akirachicago.com (1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Goods: Women’s and men’s clothing, accessories and shoes. Designers: Rock & Republic, Citizens of Humanity, 7 for All Mankind, Max & Cleo, DKNY, Salvage, Gold Sign, Ben Sherman, Free People, Kensie, Kitchen Orange,Mieko Mellucci, French Connection, Serfontaine; dresses by BCBG, Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson; sunglasses by Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana and Just Cavalli; Monarchy, 7Diamonds, Tankfarm, Ben Sherman, Custo Barcelona and Scotch & Soda for men, shoes by Ted Baker, Creative Recreation, L.A.M.B., Chinese Laundry, Schutz, Adidas and Converse. Owners: College friends Eric Hsueh, Jon Cotay and Erikka Wang began their North Avenue domination with the Akira women’s store in 2002. Now Akira encompasses several different stores all over the city, and 20,000 square feet of retail space on a single street in Bucktown. Vibe: The atmosphere mimics the clothes—it’s young, poppy and vibrant. Clothing is organized by color and designer so you don’t have to mess around. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. The Look: With so many designers, there are so many looks. But a youthful energy shines in feminine prints, bright colors, current trends and designer denim. You can score everything from denim-focused, kick-it gear to an ensemble perfect for sipping martinis at Enclave. Shopper’s Perks: The store’s personal shoppers expertly lead you through “one-stop shopping”—they’re happy to grab shoes or accessories from the other stores to completely finish your look. Stop by to pick out an outfit for a night out and receive complimentary club passes.
Akira Wicker Park
Akira Men
Akira Shoes
Akira Lakeview
Akira Lincoln Park
Akira Loop
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008
