2027 N. Damen, (773)292-1120, hunnyjewelry.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing, accessories and jewelry for women. Owners: Charyl Witz of Hunny jewelry hooked up with Karen and Jen Nielson of SheShe clothing to open this all-in-one shop. “We like fashion and we like to work together,” says Witz. Designers: Clothing from Sir Alistar Rai, J Brand, Velvet, Fashion Spy, Rebecca Taylor, Alice + Olivia; jewelry from Lulu Frost and Lana. Vibe: The exterior black-and-white sign is a nod to the interior’s elegance. Inside the neutrally decorated shop, jewelry is housed in sophisticated armoires, chandeliers radiate glamor and displays feature combined clothing and jewelry for ensemble inspiration.  Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: A gal who has her act together, she effortlessly combines current trends with classic pieces. Head to Juicy Wine Company for a glass of vino, then Piccolo Sogno for Italian. Shopper’s Perks: Witz and the Nielson girls are abreast of the latest Hollywood trends—many of the items in their shop are regularly seen on celebrity fashion icons.

Hunny/SheShe

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1744 W. Division, (773)227-2728 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for men and women. Designers: Miss Sixty, Beach Bunny, 213 Industry, Noir, Margaret Howell, Toxic Waste. Owners: Sisters Margaret and Aga Jankuc designed their Wicker Park shop to close the gap between high-end and low-end clothes and to offer a range of chic looks. Vibe: Prepped for a night out. The décor is stark, metallic and sleek; beats accompany try-on sessions, while video of runway shows plays in the background. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: Dinner at Hub 51 followed by drinks and dancing at rednofive. Shopper’s Perks: DJs often play at the shop, adding to the charm of the cozy confines, and monthly happy-hour shopping events bring the neighborhood together. Sign up for their email list and stay clued-in about sales, fashion shows and new merchandise.

Strut Boutique

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1741 W. Division, (773)697-9899, ledresschicago.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Dresses, jackets and wardrobe essentials such as Spanx and double-sided tape.
Designers: Betsey Johnson, ABS, Trina Turk, Julie Brown, Wendy Katlen. Owners: Sisters-in-law Eva and Robyn Anderson opened Le Dress because they wanted to provide feminine fashionistas with a mecca for dress shopping. Vibe: As feminine as its namesake frock, this shop is covered in pink walls, chandeliers and dresses as far as the eye can see. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. The Look: From red-carpet events to Sunday brunch, Le Dress allows you to flaunt your feminine wiles at almost any occasion. Looks run the gamut from classic pieces to off-the-runway trends. Shopper’s Perks: While accommodating a multitude of style palates, Le Dress also provides monetary variety. Dresses range from $40 to $500.

Le Dress

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

2211 W. Roscoe, (773)248-1110, itsacoolerplanet.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Organic clothing made from chemical-free fabrics, shoes made from recycled car tires, eco-friendly housewares; messenger bags made from recycled bicycle inner tubes. Designers: River Blue Canoe, Under the Canopy, Simple Shoes, Oscar + Belle, Pixel Organics, Maggie’s Organics, Ag bags. Owners: Heidi Bailey and Krista White opened A Cooler Planet after they realized that many eco-friendly products were hard to find, and they wanted to help uncover beautiful, sustainable items. Vibe: Bailey says she hopes to create “a positive place for positive change.” That energy radiates through, as after one visit, you’ll embark on at least two “Save Mother Earth” missions. Price Range: From $2.50 for an organic chocolate candy bar to $1,500 for an organic mattress. The Look: Comfy-looking and eco-conscious blankets, soft organic towels, eco-friendly cleaning products and more make going green seem logical and fun—and a cooler planet indeed. Shopper’s Perks: With so many daily items featured here, eco-consciousness is inextricably linked to day-to-day activities.

A Cooler Planet

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

2037 W. Roscoe, (773)281-2210, apiedshoeboutique.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Shoes and accessories for women. Designers: Taryn by Taryn Rose, All Black, Jeffrey Campbell, Corso Como; bags by Joelle Nadine. Owner: Trudy Robinson Foley, owner of maternity boutique Kickin’, opened her shoe shop in mid-May because it was the only wardrobe essential her neighbors couldn’t find in Roscoe Village. Vibe: Mellow, bright, spacious and cozy. Antique Persian rugs and old trunks add vintage flavor to the exposed brick and hardwood floors, while a fireplace and the sonic sounds of John Mayer keep it comfy. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: A style-obsessed city gal who leaves the house at 7am and doesn’t return until 10pm. The shoes are chicly European in their aesthetic yet practical in their form, so you won’t be nursing blisters after your eight-block walk to the El. Shopper’s Perks: Originality all the way. Robinson Foley works with many smaller lines to custom-design shoes, and a few of the shop’s offerings are made exclusively for A Pied.

A Pied

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

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

Skinny. Boyfriend. Bootcut. Flare. With so many different styles of denim in today’s day and age, finding the perfect pair of jeans can be downright daunting. Throw in elements like wash and fit? The task becomes nearly impossible. Say hello to Lincoln Park’s latest, DNA 2050. Following on the heels of launches in both New York and Virginia, the boutique comes to Chicago specializing in premium denim and items that can be worn around it.

“When a customer comes in looking for a pair of jeans, we take a lot of time to figure out how the jeans fit and what the jeans are good for, like a bigger backside or a smaller waist or a petite person. We just help them find the perfect fit for their body,” assistant manager Kristin Wolfel says. “We have so many different types of jeans [that] it’s pretty easy.” And with tailoring services available at a minimal charge, the fit is practically guaranteed.

With an average price tag of about $300, the perfect pair may cost you a pretty penny, but Wolfel says the quality of the denim speaks for itself. “They’re gonna last for a really long time,” she says.

Look for brands like G-Star, Rich & Skinny, Bread & Butter, Justin Timberlake’s William Rast, Adam, Sport Max, Kooba purses and Frye shoes, some of which are rather obscure. “There’s obviously a lot of boutiques and a lot of competition, so we wanted to carry things that people haven’t seen,” Wolfel says.

Housing enough draping, flowing designs to make the entire cast of “The Hills” drool with envy, the women’s section could easily clothe and cater to the individual styles of Lauren, Audrina and Whitney. As for the men, selections go from funky coats and blazers to dress shirts to loungewear.

So far, DNA 2050 feels right at home in Lincoln Park. “We didn’t want to go downtown ‘cause it’s more touristy people,” Wolfel says. “Here is more of a fashion-conscious customer—they know what they’re looking for, and they know what they want to wear. I love Lincoln Park.” (Nicole Briese)

DNA 2050, 2122 N. Halsted, (773)525-8004

At first glance the interior of designer Maria Pinto’s West Loop boutique looks simple and chic, with a neutral color palate, an unfussy layout and minimal decor. But upon closer inspection the space is covered in details. The hand-painted charcoal gray mural on the walls is actually an enlargement of a lace pattern from Pinto’s collection. Pillars around the room are covered in Bisazza mosaic tiles. The entrance to the fitting-room area is draped in chain mail, and a Louis XIV-style leather chair, dipped in bright gold latex, sits regally in a fitting room. The aesthetic is “opulent minimalism,” a phrase that also accurately describes Pinto’s luxurious yet wearable women’s clothing.

Pinto’s new store is the latest addition to the bustling West Loop, an area that Pinto targeted immediately after starting her space search in early 2007. “I like the energy,” Pinto says of the neighborhood. “It’s industrial but there’s this sophistication as well. It has a nice community feeling.” Once inside the doors of the boutique, the neighborhood fades away. From entrance to exit, clients of Maria Pinto are treated to a shopping experience. Milan-made chairs provide comfort, mellow music soothes the soul and fitting rooms the size of a small bedroom make the try-on process utterly divine.

“I hate when you have to step out to be fitted,” Pinto says. “I want people to be able to decompress, to have their husbands or friends come in.” The extra space is perfect for sampling Pinto’s line, which combines classic silhouettes with playful, ornate detailing (think perfectly placed cut chiffon, feathers and sequins). But it’s not just Pinto’s collection that is featured in the boutique. “I’m also carrying things that I use in my own closet, things that complement the collection,” she says. Belts by Farenheit and jewelry from India are featured alongside sweaters from Nepal. Pinto even provides for the gents with a small array of Pinto-designed cummerbunds, ties and bowties.

Sure, a client list that includes Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey might intimidate even the most confident shopper. But the vast new space allows for a variety of price points. “Within the collection you can easily find pieces for under $300,” Pinto says. (Molly Each)

Maria Pinto is located at 135 North Jefferson, (312)648-1335, mariapinto.com.

Chicago’s expansive young fashion empire, Akira, officially opens its Lakeview store tonight (July 31) with a “Girls Night Out” celebration. In addition to 15 percent off all purchases during the event (5pm-10pm), look for the usual Akira circus:

Makeup consultations and gifts from Stila Cosmetics
Hair styling and consultations, as well as massages by Zazu Salon
Complimentary manicures provided by Nailbar
Threading by The Spot
Hors d’oeuvres catered by Moe’s Cantina and sushi by Kamehachi
Chocolate fountain fondue by The Melting Pot
Summer vodka cocktails and FUZE drinks
A striptease and pole dancing fitness class
Live auction of Chicago Machine lacrosse players

Of course, the merch itself will be the main attraction in this, the largest (6,000 square feet) Akira store so far. Look for the following lines: Betsey Johnson, Greyhound, Salvage, Meiko Mellucci, Nellie, BCBG Max Azria, Citizens of Humanity and Hudson.

643 West Diversey, (773)649-9257