2207 W. Roscoe, (773)281-2772, juliangifts.com 
(No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Handbags, home decor and accessories at Julian’s gifts; women’s shoes and clothing at Celia’s. Designers: Julian Gifts stocks mainly European lines from Italy, France and Spain while Celia’s Closet features gently used name brands like Coach, Prada, Guess, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade. Read the rest of this entry »
On an average evening, as dusk settles in across the city, the Chicago History Museum closes its doors to field-trip groups, history buffs and curious tourists, and lies dormant for the night before welcoming them all back again in the morning. But on a recent Tuesday night the museum was the most bustling place in Lincoln Park, brightly lit and swarming with valets as rows of well-dressed folk made their way into the building. On this night, the museum was filled with Louboutains, mini dresses and champagne flutes, as industry members, Nordstrom regulars, press, socialites and fashion-philes gathered together to gear up for cool weather at the Nordstrom Designer Preview fashion show.
The annual event marks the first opportunity to view the new fall collections, which hit the floor at Nordstrom the very next day. Upon arrival, guests sipped cocktails and Veuve, dug into a sushi-filled buffet dinner and chatted excitedly before being whisked into an adjoining tent for the big presentation. The show, divided into eleven different “scenes,” featured collections from a variety of fashion’s heavy hitters: Burberry Prorsum, Peter Som, Nina Ricci, Missoni, Andrew Gn, Marc Jacobs, Tuleh, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Marni and Oscar de la Renta. Strutting out to thumping music amidst lightly colored lighting, the models (donning million-inch high heels from designers like Prada, Lanvin and Jimmy Choo) showed the crowd exactly what’s hot for this fall. Mod silhouettes, 1950s-inspired looks, a dose of sparkle, sleekly tailored coats and garments with plenty of movement dominated the runway. Nearly all the designers showed many neutral colored pieces (brown, grey and camel were popular colors), throwing in one powerfully colored piece—a plum sweater, a red pencil skirt, an iris halter gown—which often seemed to explode off the runway. Purple in all its shades—amethyst, iris, plum—was seen in many collections, and blue, rose and soft pinks also made appearances. A few of the showstoppers: Missoni’s teal cashmere belted minidress, Andrew Gn’s black-and-white tweed coat, Marc Jacobs’ utterly mod sky-blue jersey dress with beaded cuffs and a pebble-lurex-silk-chiffon one-shoulder dress from Stella McCartney. But arguably the take-your-breath-away piece of the night came from Oscar de la Renta’s grand finale. To the tune of Coldplay’s “Viva la Vida,” there emerged a brightly colored, small flower-patterned silk zibeline strapless gown with a flamenco hem. It stood out not only for the bright colors and unique silhouette, but because there wasn’t anything else in the show that even looked remotely like it.
Post-show, the crowd returned to the museum, where mini designer boutiques (and several fitting rooms) had been set up, and guests eagerly scooped up many of the items they’d just seen making a pass on the catwalk. But aside from alerting Chicagoans to the new fall trends and stocking the closets of our city’s fashion fans, the Nordstrom Designer Preview annually serves a greater purpose: to fund the Costume Council of the Chicago Historical Society and their educational and research programs. (Molly Each)
67 E. Oak, 6th floor, (312)943-8880, daisyshop.com 
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Goods: Women’s couture resale clothing and accessories. Designers: Chanel, Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Carolina Herrera, Jil Sander, Yves Saint Laurent, and all significant others; purses by Chanel, Judith Leiber, Louis Vuitton, Salvatore Ferragamo, Moschino, Bottega Veneta, Corem Rose, and others; vintage costume jewelry by Kramer, Weiss, Eisenberg, Kenneth Jay Lane, Schreiner, and others.
Owner: Barbara Nell founded the shop fifteen years ago. Vibe: Tucked away on the sixth floor of an Oak Street deco high-rise, the store feels like a well-organized fashion archive; the knowledgeable staff act like designer docents. Expect to find vintage and current couture garments, estate costume jewelry, hats, belts and handbags. Price Range: Moderate for couture, the prices are what the staff refers to as a “relative bargain.” Shopper’s Perks: Everything in stock is authenticated. Join the Daisy Fresh Pix club to receive flyers about newly arrived designer merchandise before it hits the Web.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
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
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; shop.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, G-Star Raw, J Lindeberg, Paige Premium Denim; dresses by BCBG, Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson; sunglasses by Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Gucci, Ray-Ban 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 style 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 stylists expertly lead you through “one-stop shopping”—they’re happy to grab shoes or accessories from the other stores to completely finish your look.
Akira Wicker Park
Akira Men
Akira Shoes
Akira Lakeview
Akira Lincoln Park
Akira Loop
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
(4.67 out of 5) (4.40 out of 5) (4.37 out of 5) (4.18 out of 5) (3.89 out of 5) (3.25 out of 5)