I admit, Chicago is no New York. We are a city that actually sometimes sleeps, our pizza clearly isn’t everyone’s favorite and we don’t have a cool boutique on every corner. With that said, I love sleep, I prefer Neapolitan style pizza and we just had four awesome new stores open this month. Care to find out who has graced this fine city with their presence?
Name: Citizen Stone
Location: 1440 N. Dayton, #302
Why you should go there: There’s not many places in Chicago where you can purchase a head-to-toe outfit, stationery, a dog bed and a new fragrance but in case you ever need all of those things at once, Citizen Stone’s got your back. They really do have a little bit of everything so you can buy something for yourself or a gift for a friend. Having that “one stop shop” curated with unique items and brands is a nice addition to Chicago’s shopping scene. When you arrive, don’t go looking for a storefront though. This is more of a by-appointment-only showroom kind of place but with their friendly staff you won’t feel the least bit intimidated (although I dare you not to walk out with something…it’s all just too pretty to resist).
A note from the owner: “Part of my inspiration behind the concept are the independent boutiques that you see throughout Europe. These stores are no longer stocking strictly clothing and accessories; they offer a little bit of everything. I wanted to be able to offer that to our market as well. I have always been interested in design and “homemaking” if you will. Typically if you are into fashion, these elements are just part of the natural progression of interest in style in general. Citizen Stone represents a lifestyle concept.” — Alexis Cozzini
My favorites: The Jax & Bones dog beds (seriously I’ve never seen a more stylish place to sleep) and Olfactive Studio fragrances (if you like photography and things that smell good then you have to check these out).
Name: Roam
Location: 1419 N. Wells
Why you should go there: Because their clothes will blow your mind. That’s why. I think I was so impressed by Roam at their opening last week not only because the interior is stunning (and according to the owner is based on a where a rich gay bachelor might reside) but it’s everything I’d want to wear. A lot of leather with pops of color is what I saw so you can imagine that I felt pretty damn good about the buy. Plus, they carry Illesteva…so you know they’re legit. And have you ever seen Anine Bing in Chicago? I haven’t…until I stepped into Roam. SCORE!
A note from the owner: “At Roam, we hope to bring adventurous fashion to Chicago by providing hard to find labels and accessories in one location. Our goal is to provide inspiring pieces for your wardrobe as well as the well worn classics that form the best foundation for any closet.” — Mallory Ulaszek
My favorites: Derek Lam (their buy is just so good) and Daniel Vosovic (watch out Siriano, this is the Project Runway alum to look out for).
Name: Frederick Lynn
Location: 9 E. Huron
Why you should go there: Stepping inside Frederick Lynn is what I imagine a super well dressed (and wealthy) man’s home looks like…one where you can get custom suits made and enjoy truffles on top of an early 1900s Louis Vuitton trunk. I’ve never been all that into menswear but this space makes me want to stare at a closet full of custom suits, touch everything and maybe even sip whisky while doing so (even though I’m no longer a hard liquor kind of gal). The best part about Frederick Lynn is that their pricing isn’t as steep as you’d think. Unless you’re getting a Vicuna jacket (this explained in a minute) you don’t need to pay five digits for a suit. But you know what they say…once you go custom, you never go back. Beware.
A note from the owner: “After 11 years of a direct business seeing my customer in their home or office, opening a destination for my clients to come and not only feel at home, but also be a place they can host an event whether a board meeting or a bachelor party is important to me. Our product, services and environment is designed to give customers a luxury experience in a fun and unpretentious way. For prospects and new clients, I want all to begin and end with Frederick Lynn when it comes to custom apparel.” — Aaron Comes
My favorites: So what really impressed me at the store is this book (which is more like a super awesome coffee table book in presentation form) that has tons of swatches of this super rare material made from a Vicuna. And if you’re animal friendly, this is good news…they only shave the Vicuna, they don’t kill it (they’re pretty rare so that would be kind of shitty if people did that) and let me tell you, they make for an insanely luxurious jacket. The end result is not furry at all, but more like one of the softest materials you’ve ever felt. You have to stop in the store to get the full Vicuna story. It’s worth it.
Name: Purely Pop-Up
Location: 900 N. Michigan, Level 4
Why you should go there: If you like to support local and emerging designers, then you don’t want to miss this. Because this is a pop-up, there’s a limited time to get the opportunity to see these designers and their merchandise in person (plus it’s perfect timing if you’re looking for holiday gifts…and I’m a sucker for anything that uses the words “limited time”). Not only will the pop-up carry both casual and party attire but also handbags, jewelry and even menswear. We all have the brands we love, but why not discover some new ones? (both from Chicago and nationwide!)
A note from the owner: “By opening the Purely Fashion pop-up shop, we are hoping to bring our iPhone app experience to life. Many of the designers we sell on the app do not currently have distribution in Chicago – and many of the designs are exclusive to the #PurelyPopUp. The goal of the shop is to give customers a chance to interact with collections and designers they normally would not have access to. We’ve planned trunk shows almost every weekend and the designers will be present to teach people about what they are creating and the way they are designing and manufacturing their clothing. All in all – we want to bring awareness to our app and give our coveted designers a chance to sell their designs and spread brand awareness.” — Jeremiah Green
My favorites: Designers Samantha Sleeper and Lagi Nadeau.
**Note: Purely Pop-Up will be open during the following days/times. 11/14-11/28 10am-7pm. 11/29 9am-8pm. 11/30-12/23 9:30am-8pm (Monday through Friday), 11am-6pm (Saturday and Sunday). 11/24 10am-5pm.
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Have you been to any of these stores yet? If so, what do you think? And if you don’t live in Chicago…all the more reason to visit (just bring a heavy coat!)
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