07/22/08

The Penguin and the Gold Coast

The March of the Penguin

Retro brand Original Penguin (901 N. Rush St.; 312-475-0792, originalpenguin.com), has revamped, updating its fan base by swapping out Bob Hope for Adam Brody, and opened a stand-alone store in the Gold Coast—a mid-century mod space with the requisite flat-screen televisions showing cult movies. The throwback sportswear includes polos ($59), cashmere sweaters, button-downs, T-shirts, and summer dresses such as...

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07/15/08

Indian Jewelry Store in Schaumburg

East Meets West

India’s largest jewelry store brand, Tanishq, has opened its first U.S. store in the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg (847-240-0166). The shop, from décor to its merchandise, has an organic, holistic philosophy. Unlike most jewelry stores that places a counter between the customer and the staff, the store is very open and inviting, with the jewelry displayed in windows along the...

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07/08/08

Stationery and Gifts in Lincoln Park

Pretty Papers

Since opening last September, Elizabeth Grace Paperie and Gifts (2438 N. Clark St.; 773-477-9830) has quickly become a must destination for brides-to-be and hostesses alike. The quirky gift and stationery shop, located on...

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07/01/08

Two Home Stores in Andersonville

At Home in Andersonville
The new vintage furniture and gift shop Room Service (5438 N. Clark St.; 773-878-5438) specializes in late 1950s and early 1960s furniture and accents, which the owner, Paul Lechlinski, sources mostly through estate sales and auctions in and around Palm Springs in California. “We’re complementary to other specialty retailers on the street,” he says. “We’re parallel and fit in with Scout and

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06/24/08

Baby Furniture in Roscoe Village

Baby Style
Expectant moms—and those who purchase gifts for them—tend to go a little overboard on the pink and blue, the bunnies and ducks, the ruffles and sports-themes. Twinkle Twinkle Little One (3224 N. Damen Ave.; 773-472-3000), a new kids’ home boutique in Roscoe Village, aims to change that with its stylish décor and furniture that...

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06/17/08

Combo Boutique in Bucktown

A Taste of Honey

Hunny/She She Boutiques (2027 N. Damen Ave.; 773-292-1120, hunnyjewelry.com) gets its name from the combination of two boutiques—Charyl Witz (of Hunny Jewelry) joined forces with Karen and Jen Nielson (of SheShe clothing) for the venture, which recently moved from Barrington to Bucktown. The clothing is a well-edited selection of favorite boutique brands such as Velvet, Juicy, Joie, and...

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06/10/08

More Eco Goods in Bucktown

Live Green, Young Grasshopper

Grasshopper 510 (1944 N. Damen Ave.; 773-292-0510), a new lifestyle and gift shop in Bucktown, takes its name from the green insect and pairs it with the wavelength measurement in nanometers for the color green. Each item in the store is made from recycled, repurposed, sustainable, or organic materials. Co-owners (and husband and wife) Mike Roberts and Jean Taylor researched each product, and carry only those that their reduce the world’s...

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06/03/08

New Dress Boutique in Wicker Park

Dress It Up

Who among us hasn’t waited until the last minute to find a dress to wear to an event or wedding, only to run to a department store and opt for the first black frock that fits? New Wicker Park boutique le Dress (1741 W. Division St.; 773-697-9899, ledresschicago.com) may not be able to cure the panic shop, but they do offer a boutique alternative, carrying more than 40 lines of dresses in every style, from day-appropriate to evening wear. Co-owners and sisters-in-law Eva and Robyn Anderson, who both have fashion degrees and have worked with...

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05/27/08

A Taste of Brooklyn

A Store Grows in Wicker Park

Brooklyn Industries (1426 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-360-8182, brooklynindustries.com), recently opened its first store outside New York, offering T-shirts, totes, messenger bags, and other casual threads. The brand has a commitment to eco-friendly materials and limited edition, graphic print tees ($32) for men and women, made in runs of 200. Men’s selections include shorts and pants of the snug hipster variety, plaid short-sleeve shirts ($58), and comfy, everyday wear such as the...

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05/20/08

New Shoes in Roscoe Village

Shoe Me the Way

Newly opened À Pied (2037 W. Roscoe St.; 773-281-2210), which means “on foot” or “by foot” in French, fills a sorely empty niche in Roscoe Village. Owner Trudy Robinson Foley, who also owns the maternity store Kickin’ (2142 W. Roscoe St.; 773-281-6577) down the street, is building her own little empire in the neighborhood. Styled after European boutiques, the space resembles a parlor with...

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