2104 W. Roscoe, (773)281-2466, cinnamonboutique.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: Jeans by Mavi, Kasil, Red Engine and James Jeans; dresses by Liquid, pieces from Free People. Owner: A former school social worker, Emily Helfrich dreamt of opening her own boutique for years before finally taking the plunge. Vibe: Amidst the deep pink walls and sea of wooden hangers, you’ll find plenty of classy staple pieces and enough colorful creativity to keep your heart rate up. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: These sleek and stylish basics will let you head straight from the office to a meal at Green Zebra. Shopper’s Perks: Cinnamon features four local jewelry designers, including Dana Wadas Reed and Ulia Carella.

UPDATED May 2009

Cinnamon Boutique

4164 N. Lincoln, (773)388-2626, stellar26.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing, shoes and accessories for men and women and a small selection for babies. Designers: Free People, Spicy, Roxy for women; Penguin, Billabong and Quicksilver for men; flip-flops by Reef. Owner: Carrie Bowers designed this shop to mimic the stress-free, beachy feel of her South Haven upbringing. Vibe: Comfortable, laidback and easy—just like the clothing. The eclectic displays give it a vintage-store vibe, while the folksy music in the background contributes to the no-stress shopping experience. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: The perfect blend of comfort and style. Just right for the shopper who wants to look good but doesn’t want to spend hours getting there. Take a walk down one of the boulevards, hit up the Double Door for a concert and finish off the night next to the fireplace at Moody’s Pub. Shopper’s Perks: Carrie and crew offer a really laid back atmosphere.

UPDATED May 2009

Stellar 26

3309 N. Clark, (773)477-1414, hubbahubbachicago.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: Tops by Michael Stars, jeans by Red Engine and Level 99, jackets and sweaters by Tulle, sweaters by Free People and dresses by Hype, Voom, Weston Wear, Three Dots, Lily and Bailey 44. Not to mention purses by Big Buddha, Deux Lux, Maruca and Chinese Laundry; and jewelry by La Vie Parisienne and Liquid Metal. Owner: Julie Schneider opened Hubba Hubba in 1988, with the aim of creating a unique atmosphere filled with romantic outfits. Vibe: A sunny, dress-heavy boutique, bursting with ribbons. The fragrance from loose rose potpourri travels throughout the shop. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Classy-romantic, headed to a high-school reunion or friend’s wedding. Shopper’s Perks: Shoppers get twenty percent off during their birthday month. Even better—sign up on their Web site and receive a loyalty card, which entitles the bearer to ten-percent off all the time.

UPDATED May 2009

Hubba Hubba

1837 W. North, (773)489-0818 (women’s flagship store), 1910 W. North, (312)423-6693 (men), 1849 W. North, (773)342-8684 (shoes), 2357 N. Clark, (773)404-5826; 122 S. State, (312)346-3034; 643 W. Diversey, (773)649-9257; akirachicago.com (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Goods: Women’s and men’s clothing, accessories and shoes. Designers: Rock & Republic, Citizens of Humanity, 7 for All Mankind, Max & Cleo, DKNY, Salvage, Ben Sherman, Free People, Kensie, Kitchen Orange, Mieko Mellucci, French Connection; dresses by BCBG, Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson; sunglasses by Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Gucci and Dior; shoes by Ted Baker, Creative Recreation, L.A.M.B., Chinese Laundry, Schutz, Adidas and Converse. Owners: College friends Eric Hsueh, Jon Cotay and Erikka Wang began their North Avenue domination with the Akira women’s store in 2002. Now Akira encompasses several different stores all over the city, and 20,000 square feet of retail space on a single street in Bucktown. Vibe: The atmosphere mimics the clothes—it’s young, poppy and vibrant. Clothing is organized by color and designer so you don’t have to mess around. Price Range: Inexpensive-Expensive. The Look: With so many designers, there are so many looks. But a youthful energy shines in feminine prints, bright colors, current trends and designer denim. You can score everything from denim-focused, kick-it gear to an ensemble perfect for sipping martinis at Enclave. Shopper’s Perks: The store’s personal shoppers expertly lead you through “one-stop shopping”—they’re happy to grab shoes or accessories from the other stores to completely finish your look. They carry many limited-edition shoes.

Akira Wicker Park

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UPDATED May 2009