2 N. LaSalle, (312)346-0333, sydjerome.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Men’s suits, outerwear, clothing and accessories. Designers: Big-name Italian labels like Armani, Canali, Isaia Napoli, Trussini and Ermenegildo Zegna stock the shelves. Owner: Sid Shapiro celebrates the store’s fiftieth anniversary this year with his son and co-owner, Scott. Vibe: While the clothes scream upscale and modern, the store itself has a vintage feel with its stuffed shelves and assorted racks. Price Range: Expensive-Luxury. The Look: Polished, yet fun. The suits are all nicely tailored and constructed while the dress shirts range from classic solids to neon plaids. Shopper’s Perks: During non-sale events, Syd Jerome offers customers free custom alterations for life on their purchases. The store also offers the luxury of fur without the guilt, supporting more animal-friendly shearing practices.

Syd Jerome

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

330 S. Dearborn, (312)212-8860, florodora.com (1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for women; also home goods, stationery and candy. Designers: Dresses and separates from Twinkle by Wenlan, Nougat London, Sita Murt, Sofada and local designers Lara Miller and Frei Designs. Owner: Michael Blossom opened Florodora in the Monadnock Building, where his grandmother worked as an office girl in 1917. He named the store after the famously beautiful chorus girls in “Florodora,” a musical comedy from 1899. Vibe: With silk, tasseled lamps, a red-velvet chaise lounge, floors shellacked in floral paper and a display of sweet-smelling soaps perched in an antique sink, the shop feels like it could be the apartment of a turn-of-the-century temptress. The Look: The clothing selection—defined by silky, touchable fabrics, dainty bits of lace and velvet and fine tailoring—is perfect gear for a modern Florodora girl. Shopper’s Perks: Preferred customers are privy to special discounts. Get discounted alterations on Florodora merchandise at the dry cleaners across the hall. The Thing for Spring: Dresses abound at Florodora, with creations by Anni Kuan and Twinkle standing out in a crowd.

Florodora

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

Akira Men

Akira (Men)

Akira Shoes

Akira (Shoes)

Akira Lakeview

Akira

Akira Lincoln Park

Akira

Akira Loop

Akira

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008