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We’ve had to say goodbye to slew of beloved boutiques this summer (Hejfina, SoKo and A Cooler Planet, to name a few closures). But there’s some solace for avid shoppers: A brave new set of stores has sprung up everywhere from Pilsen to the Mag Mile, just in time for fall. Make a night of it by stopping for a post-shopping cocktail or bite nearby.
Fix
Go for: Revved-up basics
The scoop: The two 20-something sisters Maggie and Jennifer Gelber, behind this spacious West Loop boutique have stocked up on men’s and women’s gear ranging from $35 graphic tees to $700 leather jackets. Guys can browse long-sleeved henleys, checked button-downs and worn-in jeans. Girls, check out silky tops with punky zipper details and LBDs with mesh insets or feather accents. Also cool: To save paper, they’ll e-mail your receipt.
Fave find: A see-through retro bubble umbrella ($22).
Stop at: Market, for a taste of a new cocktail menu, debuting any day now. The beer garden will be winterized soon with a roof and walls, but now’s your last chance to relish the rooftop deck before the weather cools.
Workshop
Go for: Utterly unique eco-friendly threads
The scoop: Shopping at Annie Novotny’s funky Pilsen store-studio combo is good for your wardrobe and your conscience: She whips up innovative women’s clothing with materials that are fair-trade, sustainably produced and pesticide-free. Besides her own cozy wrap cardigans and quirkily cut jackets, you’ll find woven wool and silk scarves, ’50s stoneware and vintage Danish modern furniture. Shop late (till 9 p.m.) the second Friday of every month during Pilsen’s Open Studios night, and don’t miss the sale rack for $50 finds, a fraction of their original prices.
Fave find: A white copper heart necklace—modeled after the organ, not the lovey-dovey shape—by local line Trapeze Art ($65).
Stop at: Nightwood, for a taste of the fall cocktail list, which unlike the daily changing food menu, will stick around for the next several weeks. Creations such as Concord Punch and Gold Rush Sidecar ($10 each) make use of fruit syrups made from concord grapes and peaches plucked from Green City Market.
DNA 2050
Go for: Denim galore
The scoop: If you can justify just one purchase for fall, it’s a rockin’ new pair of jeans. This denim-centric shop for men and women made a brief appearance in Lincoln Park before permanently setting up shop on the Mag Mile. Browse wall-to-wall shelves stacked high with more than 30 brands of denim ($69-$300 and up), from deep-dark Genetic jeans to bleached-out pairs by Justin Timberlake’s line, William Rast.
Fave find: Infinity scarves (big, drapey loops of fabric with no ends) embellished with chains ($65 and up).
Stop at: The Cedar Hotel, rolling out a handful of comfort food additions for fall, such as doughnuts with dipping sauces.
A’Gaci
Go for: Cheap thrills
The scoop: Ladies, meet the latest entry edging into the disposable clothing market between H&M and Forever 21. This two-level store is the first Chicago location of a Texas-based chain hawking cheap-chic wares, from strappy stilettos to felt fedoras. Most clothing rings in under $30 and some skews teenager-y, but it’s worth a stop for a clubby sequined top, plaid coat or striped sweater dress.
Fave find: Gypsy-style earrings criss-crossed with colored thread ($5.50).
Stop at: Potter’s, around the corner inside the Palmer House Hilton. Time your shopping trip with half-price wine Wednesdays or the $10 beer-and-quesadilla combo on Saturdays to keep the savings going.
Lisa Arnett is the Metromix nightlife and shopping producer. lmarnett@tribune.com
