These and many more questions await you, but the polls close at midnight tonight so sharpen your mental pencil and get over to http://newcity.bestofchicago.sgizmo.com to get started!

This past Thursday, the highly anticipated Spanish retailer Zara hit Michigan Avenue in a flurry of champagne, cementing its status as an envoy of chic, accessible, moderately priced clothing for men, women and children. The three-story venue is the first heart-of-Chicago outpost of the international favorite; until now, the only Zara in the Chicago area was in Skokie.

Crafted to give customers a more accessible shopping experience, Zara’s interior is certainly easy on the eyes. Granite tiles sparkle with the soft, flattering light from decorative floating orbs, while plentiful mirrors and even benches leave shoppers focused on their hunt for the perfect addition to their wardrobes, and less on their back pain. Decorated in a monochromatic palette of gray, black and white, the store is at once grand and demure, and like pricier upscale boutiques allows its clothes to take center stage. Read the rest of this entry »

Set amidst a French-inspired garden of perfectly trimmed hedges, sculpted foliage and bunches of soft, white blossoms, Borris Powell’s thirty-three-piece womenswear collection, inspired by the excitement of new love and the advent of spring, is both elegant and youthful in its Fashion Focus debut (October 24). Read the rest of this entry »

Horacio Nieto’s Spring 2010 collections of menswear and womenswear draws inspiration from the past and future, creating two distinct lines that are cohesive on their own, and interestingly complementary together. An infrequent user of pattern, Nieto prefers to communicate his vision through silhouette and broad strokes of color, as exhibited during his fashion show on October 23. Read the rest of this entry »

For stylish low-priced clothing, Chicago women might shop at H&M or Forever 21 downtown. But discriminating value shoppers have a new option: DLR Clothing & Accessories in Lincoln Square. Owner Sandy Veder stocks his boutique with fashionable merchandise that he buys wholesale. “Inventory is held at the actual manufacturer, which is different from most retailers,” he says. With no distributor or large stockroom, the markup is low.

DLR’s reasonably priced brands include Pink Martini, Ark & Co, and Alythea. “We sell Lush—you’ll find it at Nordstrom’s, but ours is thirty percent cheaper,” Veder says. “We have Renee C. at thirty percent cheaper than Saks, and we get it three weeks before they do. Shop anywhere around and you’ll see that a jacket/coat costs $250, but we have it for $129.95.”

Another advantage is the limited quantity offered of each distinctive fashion. Read the rest of this entry »

4703 N. Lincoln, (773)561-5997 (1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Goods: Stylish women’s fashions. Softly-draping sweaters, blouses and tops. Elegant cocktail dresses, tailored jackets/coats. Accessories include plaid scarves, knit berets and oversized handbags. Designers: Lush and Renee C., Pink Martini, Ark & Co., Toska, Alythea. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo by Antone of antonephotography.com

Designer: Agga Raya

Background: Agga Raya never even considered going to school for fashion; she was born into it, with her parents working as designers and manufacturers in Poland. At age 16, she created her first fashion show and, now, ten years later, she’s running her own line, the AGGA B. Collection.

Design Aesthetic: Modern, elegant and sophisticated, with a definite European flavor. “It’s directed to a woman who pays attention to fashion and beauty,” says Raya.

Designer Inspirations: Old-school classics like Valentino and Armani because of their silhouettes, tailoring and attention to detail.

Chicago Inspirations: The Chicago Fashion Incubator at Macy’s on State. Last year, Raya was selected as one of the Designers in Residence, something she says has been a tremendous help. Read the rest of this entry »

Photo by Antone of Antonephotography.com

Designer: Pierre Colorado

Background: New York native Pierre Colorado attended the Fashion Institute of Technology. During his sixteen-year career, he worked for Abercrombie, Levis, Nautica and more before launching his own collection.

Design Aesthetic: Blake Standard is all about simple lines, balanced color and comfort. “I hate overdesigned objects,” says Colorado.

Designer Inspirations: The customer’s lifestyles are the number-one source of inspiration for Blake Standard. “I design into her daily wardrobe needs,” says Colorado.

Chicago Inspirations: “We have a terrific urban landscape, yet I can bike to the park and the lake in eight minutes from my house,” says Colorado. “We have the latest stores and art exhibits, but also have a great deal of independent artists and one-off shops.” Read the rest of this entry »

1747 S. Halsted, (312)733-0407, dvchicago.com (3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
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Goods: Vintage clothing with modern tailoring for men and women, but primarily for women. Shoes and accessories, including hats, jewelry and designer sunglasses. Designers: Dior, Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Oscar De La Renta, St. John and others. Read the rest of this entry »

900 N. Michigan, Level 3, (312)944-0040 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s denim, shoes and accessories. Designers: The store houses thirty women’s denim brands and twenty men’s, including C.R.A.F.T. Denim, Hudson, G-Star, Rebecca Minkoff, House of Harlow, Naked & Famous, Nobody and Grace Sun to name a few. Read the rest of this entry »