2959 N. Lincoln, (773)248-1996, yellowjacketvintageclothing.com (1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Goods: Clothing and footwear for women and men. Large selection of multicolored wigs, accessories, clothing patterns and vintage artwork. Designers: While brand names aren’t the deal, there is an impressive stock of comfy Levi’s, Jordache and Wrangler jeans. Owner: Jennifer Rau opened Yellow Jacket’s first location in Milwaukee’s trendy Brady St. district in 1993. Four years ago, she brought her retailing expertise and thrifty eye to Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Vibe: Classic hardwood floors and vintage playhouse seating play an attractive yet understated backdrop to the racks of vibrant and funky clothing and accessories that steal the show. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate The Look: 1960s, 1970s and 1980s streetwear. Shopper’s Perks: The stylish staff is friendly and complete with advice and the four changing rooms and ample space allow perusing without tapping boots.

Yellow Jacket Vintage

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1944 N. Damen, (773)292-0510, grasshopper510.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Colorful, classic jewelry created out of recycled items like phone cards and hairclips; artwork made from recycled street signs; body lotions, shower gels and candles; cute clutch purses made from recycled candy wrappers; baby bibs and books. Designers: Jewelry from Toby Pomeroy and Prismera; Colette candles, Entermodal clutches; home décor from Russell Johnson and OneEighty Design. Owners: Jean Taylor and husband Michael Roberts opened this eco-friendly boutique after years of brainstorming “green” entrepreneurial ventures. Vibe: The brightly lit shop fuses a modern-art-museum vibe with a cozy living room. Grasshopper 510 uses the elegant store fixtures, mirrors and the cash wrap from the previous boutique, sticking true to the “reduce, reuse, recycle” philosophy. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. The Look: Eco-chic, quirky and utterly original. The accessories here are as much conversation pieces as wardrobe essentials; and since most items are easily gift-able, this is the store for people who don’t like to show up empty-handed. Shopper’s Perks: Every product in the store is made from organic, recycled or sustainable materials, so your eco-conscience remains clean. Need we say more?

Grasshopper 510

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

3350 N. Lincoln, (773)477-2670, eyespyoptical.com (1 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
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Goods:  Men’s, women’s and children’s prescription frames and sunglasses.  Designers:  Anne et Valentin, Lafont, ic! berlin, Persol, Francis Klein, Christian Roth. Owner:  Alissa Fields has been selling specs in Lakeview for ten years.  Vibe:  Retro. With funky chairs and decorations adorning the turquoise, bird-muraled walls, the scene is totally groovy.  Price Range:  Moderate-Expensive.  The Look:  Retro.  The store features exactly what you would expect from its décor—loud, plastic and uniquely shaped frames galore.  Shopper’s Perks:  An in-house doctor makes the store a one-stop shop with prescriptions and exams readily available.

Eye Spy Optical

UPDATED 2008

3729 N. Southport, (773)244-9141, clickshoes.net (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Shoes, shoes and more shoes for women. Designers: Oh…Deer! Franco Sarto, Seychelles, BCBGirls, Sam Edelman, Reef. Owner: The former owner of Chicago Shakers Social and Adventure Club, Paula Eisen left the event-organizing business to pay retail homage to her shoe obsession. Vibe: Lighthearted and upbeat: original artwork covers the walls, a comfy couch offers try-on ease, and shoes of all shapes and styles cover every spare inch of this small shop. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. The Look: Low-maintenance yet fun; grab coffee across the street at Café Avanti, a movie at the Music Box and some post-flick Dairy Queen. Wherever a Click shopper goes, she portrays her personality through her shoes. Shopper’s Perks: The variety offered here isn’t characteristic of most shoe stores—Click has something for nearly every style palate. Also, Eisen and her crew host events and shoe parties regularly, including occasional fundraisers for neighborhood organizations.

Click

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1821 W. North, (773)486-4434,viafirenzi.com (1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s clothing and shoes. Designers: Ginger Goff, Martinez Valero and Via Uno.  Owner:  Having taken over in July, new owner Kortnee Doss has big plans for the store, which will soon take on the new moniker ‘Verse Chicago.’  Vibe:  With a remodeling scheduled for January, Doss plans to give the boutique a more polished look with dark wood, a black-and-white palate and old family photos. Price Range: Moderate.  The Look: European. A travel-savvy shopper whose wardrobe boasts bits from Spain, London, Europe, Sweden and France .  Shopper’s Perks:  New designers are encouraged to showcase their work every Thursday night from 5pm to 7pm.  Doss also has deals in the works for a Fair Trade program with the Peace Corps.

Via Firenzi/Verse Chicago

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

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

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

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

2108 W. Roscoe, (773) 244-3100, shopfixture.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Jewelry, handbags, candles, wall art, stationery, home décor and other perfectly giftable items. Designers: Handbags by Hobo, Latico and Big Buddha; bath goods by Thymes; jewelry by Deana Rose, Prima Donna, Dogeared and Ayala Bar; artwork by Heather Gentile Collins and Tamara Hensick. Owner: Former wholesaler Patti Carr originally opened her gift-filled shop in Logan Square, but moved to quaint Roscoe Village three years ago. Vibe: Energetic, cluttered and colorful, with upbeat worldwide music from Putamayo causing a few spontaneous dance moves as you shop. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: The gal who has the perfect gift for any occasion. Whether it’s a housewarming, a baby shower or a birthday party, her perfectly wrapped present is always tailor-made for the recipient. Shopper’s Perks: Fixture carries an array of gifts that can be easily monogrammed or personalized, and they offer complimentary gift wrapping, for those who grab their gifts on the way.

Fixture

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008