1252 S. Halsted, (312)997-2411, gourmetclothing.com (2 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s clothing. Designers: Salvage, Little Big, Heatherette, Meets the Wizard, Proper Tea, People’s Liberation, Monarchy, BB Dakota and Breathe. Owner: Jabari Jackson reinvented his former high-end women’s boutique, Breathe Clothing Lounge, into a more approachable shop that UIC students could afford—without losing a bit of style. Vibe: Staying true to its name, the store is actually decorated like a bistro, with cloth tables displaying tees and jeans. Furbished with stainless steel, the back room is “the kitchen,” where all high-end items are housed. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive.  The Look: In the heart of University Village, the store caters to the college crowd with a super trendy appeal. Embellished tees, premium denim and bold hoodies stock the shelves. Shopper’s Perks: Keep your eyes peeled for their “Gourmet Sampler” events, featuring live DJs, wine, cheese and sweet discounts.

The Gourmet Clothing Company

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1142 W. Taylor, (312)265-6647, capridolce.com (2 votes, average: 1.5 out of 5)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: More than 200 European-inspired designers are featured, including Ed Hardy, Grass, 575 Denim, Meltin’ Pot, Affliction and Sinful, as well as the store’s own Capri Dolce (Chicago Roma) red label. Owner: Marian Cotor brought his European style to University Village a little over three years ago. Vibe: Hip and trendy. In the heart of Little Italy, the influence can be seen in Italian flag murals and ‘Mafioso’ graffiti. Price Range: Moderate. The Look:  Rocker chic. Details like shredded sleeves, lace, jewels and gems give the clothes a serious edge.  Shopper’s Perks: With their own tailor, Capri Dolce offers free alterations on jeans, saving you the hassle.

Capri Dolce

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1167 W. Madison, (312)226-6677, shop2sisters.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: Tulle, Miss Me, Sirali, Sugar Lips, Lucca and denim by Vigoss. Owners: Sisters Gina O’Donnell and Elaina Bonacci opened up a Chicago outpost of their successful Park Ridge boutique. Setting up shop in the exciting, up-and-coming Near West neighborhood was a no-brainer. Vibe: Friendly and totally unpretentious. Gina and Elania’s clientele include many regulars (they amazingly remember names and client info), and the owners are often heard conversing with customers about family and work while helping them pick out a gorgeous leather clutch. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: No loud patterns or complicated detailing here. Instead you’ll find pieces that catch the eye with their flattering cuts rather than their bright colors or added extras. Shopper’s Perks: Sign up on their Web site to receive info on their sporadic, any-occasion sales.

2 Sisters

1021 W. Lake, (312)633-4000 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s footwear; baseball caps, zip-up hoodies and tees. Designers: Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Timberland shoes; LRG, Artful Dodger, Adidas, Rock & Republic clothing. Owner: Percy Gibson helms this West Side boutique in addition to his North Side sneaker shop, Encore. Price Range: Expensive-Luxury. Vibe: The store is tricked-out bachelor pad meets upscale boutique. The front is filled with high-end footwear displayed like art, a big-screen TV, couches and a well-kept bar waits in back. The Look: Sneaker-head heaven—the walls are even decked out in autographed hip-hop photos. Shopper’s Perks: The store is open until midnight on the weekends, and a party vibe permeates the shop as the night goes on. Also, Self-Conscious is one of five stores in the Midwest to have a quick strike account with Nike, meaning that highly coveted shoes show up out of nowhere.

Self-Conscious

1101 W. Fulton Market, (312)243-4754, pivotboutique.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s clothing, bags and jewelry from eco-conscious labels. Designers: Bahar Shahpar, Linda Loudermilk and Ashley Watson are just a few of the designers collected for the shop. Owner: Jessa Brinkmeyer left a career in fashion journalism when she saw the quality of material and design in green fashion. Vibe: Even the fixtures in the store are made from recycled materials, but Brinkmeyer refuses to sacrifice design. The “tree-hugger” shop has no problem fitting in with the hip stores and restaurants in the area. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Most of the clothing falls into the twist-on-a-basic category, which means hipsters, yuppies, hippies and preppies can all find something green to fit their wardrobe. Shopper’s Perks: Brinkmeyer is extremely knowledgeable about fabrics and production, and while entirely unpretentious, she is very willing to explain what makes a piece special.

Pivot

1063 W. Madison, (312)421-2799, shopouest.com (1 votes, average: 1 out of 5)
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Goods: Clothing, accessories and a small selection of body products for women. Designers: Sonia Rykiel, Barbara Bui, Rozae Nichols and Vena Cava; jeans by NFY and jewelry by Coco Plumb and Amy Draper. Owner: Kelly Bry became the sole owner in early 2007. Vibe: Sumptuous, cosmopolitan glamour: mosaic tiles cover the floors, the fitting rooms are like private cabanas and a plate of truffles rests on the cash wrap. Despite the high-end mystique, the staff is warm, welcoming and down-to-earth. Price Range: Expensive-Luxury. The Look: Sophisticated and feminine, pretty and Parisian, utterly in vogue. This is the kind of store that the young Catherine Deneuve would frequent. Shopper’s Perks: Alterations and free delivery in the city.

Ouest

729 W. Maxwell, (312)563-9470, lissaonmaxwell.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for women. Designers: Coven, Loeffler Randall, Jarbo. Yeojin Bae and Serpico. Owner: Melissa Shipley (aka Lissa) is a former CPA who’s had a fashion addiction (and a WWD subscription) since she was a kid. She opened Lissa on Maxwell in late 2006. Vibe: The sleek, carefully organized shop makes shoppers feel at home with a comfy seating area; a flat-screen TV broadcasting fashion shows, extra-private dressing rooms, offerings from an espresso machine and Diet Coke-stocked fridge and uber-welcoming and knowledgeable sales staff. Price Range: Expensive. The Look: Impeccably pulled-together. Ladylike and edgy. Oozing chic but never baring brand names. Shopper’s Perks: Lissa tends to showcase designers’ debut collections, so browsing through her collection will acquaint you with up-and-coming fashion-world stars. The Thing for Spring: Lissa loves the unique twists on the crisp, white, menswear-inspired shirts.

Lissa on Maxwell

1019 W. Lake, (312)738-0155, korosartandstyle.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing, shoes and accessories for women, bath and body products. Designers: Hoss, Strenesse, Ports 1961, denim by Jean Shop NYC and 192 Doves, stylish separates by Iro, belts by Justice Bodan, jewelry by Aris Geldis and local designer Tracey Mayer. Owner: Former model and current stylist Kristen Skordilis stocks her shop with handpicked confections from New York, Paris and London. Vibe: Hardwood floors, exposed-brick walls and vintage chandeliers fill the spacious boutique. Antique furnishings include washbasins from a nineteenth-century convent (which Kristen uses to store accessories) and a 200-year-old church altar that’s used as a cash wrap. Price Range: Expensive-Luxury. The Look: Creative, innovative and edgy. Always stands out in a room. A gallery-hopper and upscale-lounge dweller. Shopper’s Perks: Kristen has a passion for undiscovered lines with limited distribution and constantly updates the store’s selection. A rotating art display features painting and photography by local artists; an in-house espresso bar keeps customers energized. The Thing for Spring: The raw yet refined pieces from Gary Graham, Ifeanyi Chuku

Koros

1015 W. Lake, (312)226-2247, bessandloie.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Bags and accessories. Designers: Well-loved labels like Hayden-Harnett, as well as lesser-known designers like Zina Eva; on-site custom lip care from Abbe Silverman. Owner: After years among Paris and New York’s most fashionable, Allyson Holleb decided it was time to come home and run her own business. And there’s no question this is HER business. Only brands she loves make it to the shelves, and Allyson’s inviting personality and extensive knowledge of the industry separate her shop from the crowd. Vibe: The loft-like space is decorated like a grandmother’s living room, complete with vintage sofas, family pictures and chocolate-chip cookies. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: Not your classic bags, but never over-the-top. These are statement pieces, but the statement isn’t about the size of your bank account. Shopper’s Perks: An onsite kitchen stocked with snacks. The Thing for Spring: The patent-leather trend holds over from fall, and bright colors decorate many of the store’s accessories.

Bess & Loie