934 W. Armitage, (773)929-3600, shoparteffect.com 
(No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing for women, jewelry, hair accessories, shoes, belts, purses, wallets, home accents, bath and body products and toys. Designers: Orla Kiely, Hannoh, Michael Stars, jewelry by Alexis Bittar, Jeanine Payer and Saundra Messinger. Owner: Esther Fishman opened Art Effect twenty-three years ago as an outpost for “wearable art.” Vibe: The shop has evolved into a modern-day general store, selling everything from jeans and cowboy boots to espresso machines and knitting kits. Price Range: Expensive. The Look: All dressed up with lots of trendy places to go. Shopper’s Perks: Special orders are available for almost anything, free gift-wrapping. The Thing for Spring: Art Effect is going green! Look for plenty of eco-friendly clothing and housewares.
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 and Weston Wear. 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-Expensive. 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.
3657 N. Southport, (773)525-6870 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for men and women. Designers: Big Star, Joe’s Jeans, Rebecca Beeson, Michael Stars and 525 American. Owner: Jennifer Dulhanty took over the old Shane space after a twenty-two-year fashion-filled career. Past gigs include a sales-directing stint for the Stylemax show at the Merchandise Mart. Vibe: Taking a cue from its name, the vibrant cerulean walls give shoppers an instant uplift. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Comfy and airy, yet still uber-stylish. With a focus on premium denim, Cerulean 1 is a great spot to pick up a new pair of soon-to-be-favorite jeans. Shopper’s Perks: This shop has partnerships with neighboring businesses, meaning a purchase at Cerulean 1 can lead to a discounted mani/pedi or a coupon for a fellow boutique. The Thing for Spring: Novelty tees from Rebecca Beeson and lightweight knits and summer sweaters from 525 American.
34 E. Oak, (312)944-0885 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: Organic, Michael Stars, Ella Moss, James Perse, jeans by James and J Brand. Owners: Husband-and-wife duo Jeffrey and Leslie Gersten opened this Gold Coast staple thirty-three years ago. Vibe: Techno beats pulse in the background of this bright and cheery storefront. The sales staff is knowledgeable yet unobtrusive, and the racks of clothing are neatly organized, making it easy to spot your favorite fall sweater from across the room. Price Range: Expensive. The Look: Classic pieces with a trendy edge. Run errands all day, meet your guy at Avenue M and look classy, fresh and fabulous all the while. Shopper’s Perks: The Gerstens’ priority is educated service—they’re constantly ensuring their staff is in-the-know by educating them on the best designer for each body type. The Thing for Spring: Bright t-shirts from a variety of designers.
1659 N. Damen, (773)489-0101 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for women and men. Designers: Jet Lag, Industry, Michael Stars, Flux, Ichabod, jeans by Hudson. Owner: Stephanie Riley, who’s been in retail since she was 13 years old, and named her boutique after her journalist father. Vibe: Calm, neutral hues and hardwood floors let an uncluttered vibe prevail despite a wall covered in newspapers and scripts from Stephanie’s father. Price Range: Moderate. The Look: Modern classics and easy separates are perfect for warm Friday night happy hours on the bar patio. Shopper’s Perks: New merchandise arrives every week, so shopping’s always a surprise. The back wall showcases one of every t-shirt Riley stocks, making it easy to find and try on the perfect shirt. The Thing for Spring: Men’s denim from Joe’s Jeans and brightly colored clothing for the ladies.
Cerulean 1 on North Southport Avenue may have only been open two weeks, but owner Jennifer Dulhanty has been in the fashion industry for twenty-two years.
“I used to work wholesale,” she says. Later serving as the sales director of Chicago’s Stylemax show at the Merchandise Mart, Dulhanty readily accepted the offer to take over the spot formerly known as Shane. “When he made the decision to sell, he called me, and I bit,” Dulhanty recalls. A wise choice, considering the speed at which items are flying off the shelves.
“All my pieces are all gone!” she exclaims, perusing her own racks. With a built-in clientele of former Shane shoppers, Dulhanty didn’t need to work too hard to gain an instant following. “All [the clients were] familiar with Shane,” she says. And while Dulhanty started with all-new stock, she made the decision to keep some of the same brands. “Why mess with a good thing, as they say?” she asks.
Named for the color, however, Cerulean I’s main attraction is denim—premium denim. “I think that’s important,” Dulhanty says. “Everybody’s wearing denim out for everything.” So which brand is best? “Big Star,” she answers without hesitation. “Their fit is amazing for both men and women.” Dulhanty is also a fan of Joe’s Jeans. “Aren’t they cute?” she asks, holding up a pair of wide-leg drawstring pants.
Also featuring items like 525 America hoodies and Rebecca Beeson tanks, Dulhanty says she considers her store the “most casual on the street,” although she expects to get into more high-end tops for women. “We already have them in men’s,” she adds. For now, Michael Stars is the number-one brand in the store. “Michael Stars’ dresses are fabulous,” Dulhanty says. “[We have them] coming in for fall with metallic threads in them.”
Clearly, the shop swap hasn’t hurt Southport’s style scene one bit. But for those still mourning the loss of Shane, take comfort. Dulhanty says she isn’t really planning on changing much. “Everyone on the street has a niche,” she says. “Mine is the more casual. I see us continuing to be successful.” (Nicole Briese)
Cerulean I, 3657 North Southport, (773)525-6870
