Akira Women

Myriad red awnings dotting North Avenue stake the claim of the Akira retail empire. This storefront is the Bucktown women's headquarters, which moved a block down North Avenue to this new, larger space in fall 2007. Grab a bottled water or energy drink from the cooler near the door -- you'll need it to navigate this large space. Think Forever 21 with a designer spin: Loosely organized by color, clothing jams the racks as far as the eye can see. The price range is expansive, from $8 earrings and $10 camisoles to three-digit designer dresses.

Step into the pink circular room on the west wing of the store to find frocks from fashionista favorites such as Jill Stuart, Anna Sui and Robert Rodriguez. The walls of the central dressing rooms remind us of a sorority house bulletin board, plastered with photos of staffers and customers posing in their fabulous threads. In the east wing, you'll find more designer denim than you could feasibly wear in a year. Throughout, look for cute personal hints from staffers, such as articles clipped from magazines on how to best wear the latest trend.

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Bucktown/Wicker Park stores, Chicago stores, Chicago stores