1452 W. Chicago, (312)243-3100, dovetailchicago.com
Goods: Men’s and women’s vintage clothing, shoes and accessories. Designers: Cole Haan, Cortina, Joseph Magnin. Read the rest of this entry »
UPDATE: YELLOW JACKET VINTAGE IS NOW CLOSED IN CHICAGO (2-14-09)
2959 N. Lincoln, (773)248-1996, yellowjacketvintageclothing.com
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.
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008
855 W. Belmont, (773)549-1038; 1318 N. Milwaukee, (773)384-8448, belmontarmy.com 
(6 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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Goods: New and vintage clothing and shoes for men and women. Designers: Ben Sherman, BB Dakota, Nice Collective, B. Son, Common Projects, Cheap Monday, Fiber & Fellow, Frye, Nike, Converse, Vans, Gravis, New Balance, Shades of Greige, Schmoove, Insight, Levi’s Capital E, Lifetime Collective. Owners: Chang Yoo, Tae Yoo, Tony Lee and Craig Scholla moved the legendary Belmont store over to the West Side when the Brown Line expansion forced the closing of the original location. They’ve reopened on Belmont as well, near the original spot. Vibe: The upstairs stock is completely new, while the vintage goods are in the basement. The clothing (yes, even the vintage) is neatly arranged and the staff is completely hands-off (unless you need them, of course), which makes for a totally no-pressure shopping experience. Price Range: Inexpensive-Expensive. The Look: Trendy hipster upstairs, thrift-store devotee downstairs. The person who shops on both floors has a personal style that is completely their own, and thrives on blending pieces to create a unique look. Shopper’s Perks: Massive amounts of both new and used clothing in one location. Perfect for fashionable friends with dueling shopping styles.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
Lakeview Store
Wicker Park Store
2639 W. Fullerton, (773)772-2007 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s designer resale and vintage clothing, jewelry, hats, shoes, coats and gift items like soaps and lotions. Designers: Marc Jacobs, Prada, Franco Sarto, Armani and dozens of vintage labels. Owner: Maria Morales took her personal collection of vintage items and filled a vacant storefront in her Logan Square building. Vibe: The hundreds of items are displayed in an organized clutter. Gorgeous pieces pull your attention from all corners, but Morales helps narrow the search for those on a mission. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Like you just stepped out of a 1940s fashion magazine. Head-to-toe vintage makes a splash at a cocktail party, while an old-time purse or necklace is eye-catching anywhere you go. Shopper’s Perks: Morales takes consignment.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
4617 N. Lincoln, (773)293-2903 (3 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)
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Goods: Vintage and contemporary clothing and shoes for women and a dazzling array of new purses. Designers: A bevy of higher-end designers supply the must-have purses that could easily fit in at Anthropologie. Owner: Carmen Mooses’ friendly demeanor has turned her vintage store into a neighborhood staple—friends come to peruse her latest handpicked finds or just stop by to chat. Vibe: The true definition of vintage, this tiny store is chalk full of timeless furniture lined with gently used designer swag. Price Range: Inexpensive. The Look: Perfect for grad students or aspiring actors: this shopper knows how to stand out in a crowd while on a budget. Shopper’s Perks: The secret in this closet? Walls of affordable, stylish purses that seem to have found their way off Madison Avenue.
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008
3744 N. Broadway, (773)975-8199, kreativesoulsbypilar.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Shoes, tops, dresses and skirts for women; jeans for both men and women; vintage and handcrafted jewelry. Designers: Most of the clothing is vintage, and the jewelry comes from owner Pilar Audain-Reed’s own line. Owner: Audain-Reed walked away from her career as an epidemiologist to open this store and design jewelry. Vibe: Not a spot in this store is empty, but instead of feeling cluttered, it’s as though you’re being embraced by the universe. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. The Look: Chunky amber necklaces. Sheer blouses with sequined spider webs. T-shirts with positive life messages. Mellow and gorgeous. You could hang out any place across the globe and be the hippest person there. Shopper’s Perks: Pilar handcrafts jewelry for her clients while they wait; she also dispenses life-wisdom that will give you goose bumps.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
2918 N. Clark, (773)296-6630, myspace.com/clothesoptionalchicago (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: This vintage resale shop features goods from the 1950s-1980s, including clothing for men, women and children alongside home goods. Designers: Polyester disco shirts, Levi’s bell-bottoms, Members Only jackets, “plaid anything and everything.” Local designers are included on a rotating basis. Owner: Jamie Owens owns up to an “obsession” with items from the fifties through the eighties and opened the boutique over six years ago to “create a nostalgic flashback into time.” Vibe: Swag lights and disco balls hang from the ceiling, dangling over well worn mannequins, while oldies waft from the speakers.Owls—the store’s signature motif—show up everywhere. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. The Look: Casual, funky and retro-flavored. Shopper’s Perks: Originality, of course. Be the only person at the party with a Twiggy-esque mod shift dress, or an old- school Donna Reed shirt dress.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
1472 N. Milwaukee, (773)772-4296 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Vintage clothing for women and men, vintage home accessories, jewelry and shoes, as well as modern home-decor pieces, candles and lotions. Designers: The array of designers is vast, as consignment clothing and accessories come from estate sales. New arrivals come in every day. Owner: David Ginople opened this high-end vintage clothing store over six years ago. Vibe: store B is eclectic and busy, with displays that keep your head constantly turning with new things to see. With a welcoming and enthusiastic staff, you’ll want to spend all afternoon pillaging the mint-condition clothing. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Take your pick: Audrey Hepburn, Sandra Dee, Mary Tyler Moore or Farrah Fawcett. Shopper’s Perks: Clothing is cleaned and repairs are made before the items are put out onto the floor.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
1459 N. Milwaukee (furniture and housewares), (773)489-5576; 1323 N. Milwaukee (clothing and artwork), (773)384-4300, lennyandmechicago.com
Goods: Vintage clothing and accessories for men and women, along with home design items. Designers: Expect to find a well-curated array of vintage and consignment items on offer, with a range of name-brand designers on display at any one time. Owner: Naming the boutique after her oldest son, Mexican-born immigrant Ana Camino set up shop in 1999. Vibe: After a brush with death last fall, the store ended up moving into larger digs just a few storefronts away. Price Range: Inexpensive. The Look: Considering the constant merchandise makeover, the look is decidedly eclectic, from a St. John straight skirt to a metallic-green eighties prom dress. Except a handful of contemporary pieces, the store specializes in women’s fifties and sixties garb; men’s picks include track jackets and fedoras. Shopper’s Perks: In their effort to support the local community they have dedicated space for some of Chicago’s best handmade goods and feature fine art by local artists.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
1528 N. Milwaukee, (773) 276-7002 (2 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Goods: New and vintage clothing, jewelry and shoes for men and women. Designers: Insight, Zuriick, Penfield, Blank, Tulle, Gentle Fawn, Shades of Greige, Lifetime Collective. Owner: Nancy Becker expanded this Wicker Park staple to bigger, better digs. Vibe: Head shop goes upscale and elegant. Staff is willfully quirky. Price Range: Moderate The Look: Fit for the aspiring Jane Birkin. Shopper’s Perks: A friendly, non-abrasive shopping experience.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
