With Bated Breath
 
One of our friends recently told a client that she is an avid golfer. She is now terrified he will see through the trendy golf outfit to her beginner’s swing.  Another told Hot Guy in Bar #495 that she was a stellar fisherwoman. She even she fishes “all the time.” Sometimes it seems like all we have to do is put the bait on the hook, and in come the fish!
 
Wolfbait & B-girls has that same sassy-girl-with-moxie appeal. It’s named after a 1950’s guidebook defining “Wolfbait” as girls who move to the city looking for success, and B-girls as what they sometimes turn into (b-side or a bad girl). Owners Jenny and Shirley’s store features local designers as well as their lines, Bruiser & Brazen Judy. Plus the designers set their own prices, keeping their shop totally affordable. They get new items every day, with cool choices from Vika Brown, Palesa Nicolini, Lidia Wachowska, and more, and don’t miss the handmade jewelry and eclectic accessories in this charming Logan Square shop! 
 
They bring a mission to girls who lie about fishin’.

Wolfbait & B-girls
3131 W. Logan Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60647
312.698.8685
www.wolfbaitchicago.com

To Become an Adult
 
Our friends have started having babies, which is a total mystery to us. Not the “how did that happen?” mystery (duh!), but more the “how to care for a little person” question. So, strolling, sans stroller, back to our apartment from yet another happy hour (no breeding friends in attendance), maternity curiosity got the better of us when we saw Grow.
 
Contemporary and calming, Grow is a parental port for all necessary (and adorable) children’s items. We felt at ease and even a bit envious looking at all the hot-to-trot decorations modern babies boast: gorgeous Dwell crib bedding in cowgirl themes, bunny wall-art, and hypnotic wood mobiles. We found nursery items galore, including baby bottles, bibs, and blankets, and delighted at the Kate Quinn clothing (sized 0–6 years) that actually had us looking forward to future shower gifts. We even saw the coolest three-piece stroller set, a creation of Orbit Baby that included a car seat, stroller, and a base (still working on the WiFi)!
 
Thankfully, Grow provides nurture-purchase therapy, and even convinces us that shopping for little people rocks! 
 
Grow
1943 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60622
773.489.0009
www.grow-kids.com

It’s Delightful

Our roots are a tad gnarly at the moment. We hope it’s giving off the whole Madonna-mussed-up-on-purpose look. And though our black-meets-blonde roots are edgy, our actual roots are very traditional. As in: old fashioned names, marriage before chillibeans, and no drinking until 5 pm on weekdays. 

Which is one reason that we like Florodora. It’s named after the owner’s grandmother, Florence, which we find quite lovely. Located in a historic building in the South Loop, Florodora is loaded with soaps, candy, wrapping paper, and interesting vintage-inspired fashions from Shin Choi, Twinkle, Michelle Tan and more. Plus, they carry the eternally posh collection of handbags from local designer Joelle Nadine. The shop is full of modern yet romantic pieces, creating more than a few quirky and fashionable looks, and Florodora keeps both vintage and new items in stock, as well as darling stationery and lovely trinkets for gifting. Don’t miss the stock of vintage hats, which pair perfectly with a classic leather clutch! 

Whether you’re a friend or foe of traditional garb, you will find all sorts of choices at de lovely Florodora!

Florodora
330 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60604
312.212.8860
www.florodora.com

The Midwasteland
 
What do you get when you pair a street-style conscious Midwest maven with a digicam and a blog? You get the fresh, forward-thinking take on all things fashionable in our pretty city by the darling entrepreneurista, Monica Dimperio. Dimperio keeps tabs on happenings around town, reporting on fashion looks that are sure to inspire and wedge a little more Midwest love and pride into every Middle American’s heart.

www.themidwasteland.com

Vintage Vixen
 
We’ve experimented with ripped jeans, flannel shirts, bell bottoms, platform wedges, 80’s bangs, and countless other trends over the decades. Moral of the story? Trends work in a circular motion. It all comes back!

But we love the playfulness of pairing the old with the new. Just like jewelry from local designer Jill Alberts. Her inspiration comes from vintage works, antiquing, and flea-market finds. It’s simultaneously retro and forward-thinking. Decidedly complicated and risky. Just like us.

www.jillalberts.com

Alice in Winterland

Living in a city tundra means investing in some serious winter protection. By that, we mean imbibing lots of wine, and having lots of pieces to layer stylishly.

Local artisan Alice Berry creates fanciful scarves, shawls, wraps, window treatments and jackets that will literally transform the wearer into a snow-flaked muse. Based on the relationship between color and light, Berry’s luxurious pieces can easily migrate north to your closet for the winter!

www.aliceberry.com

Between the Buttons
 
Lately our fashion sensibilities have matured. We like the idea of wearing a silver miniskirt paired with a Rolling Stones tee, but it doesn’t fit into our world of editor glasses and gray cardigans.
 
We’re not ready to trade our years of fashion maven expertise for a pair of pleated khakis and a polo shirt, but we’re def craving something more refined and modern. If you’re going through a similar crisis, check out totokaelo—we guarantee you’ll be happy we shared our new secret with you!
 
www.totokaelo.com

 
McCormick & Schmick’s
Orange Brandy Cooler
 
We love a good cocktail every now and then, so when we heard about McCormick & Schmick’s new infused cocktails we just had to give them a try! Our absolute favorite was the sophisticated yet simple Orange Brandy Cooler (right in time for Halloween).  And because we knew you would enjoy it just as much as we did, we are going to share the recipe with you—our lovely readers!
 
Orange Brandy Cooler
1 ½ oz. House-Infused Orange Brandy
½ oz. Simple Syrup
Juice of 1 Lemon

1. Prepare the simple syrup: Combine equal parts water and sugar in a saucepan and cook over medium heat. Allow the mixture to boil for 2–3 minutes. Let cool.
2. Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.
3. Shake and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with a sugar rim and fresh orange peel.

Debonair's Dank Bash
 
Catch the Rapture (NYC) and Urge Overkill (Chicago) at the always fashionable fete hosted by and for Wicker Park's Debonair Social Club. Kilo Kai cocktails will be served during the reception as live performances take place all night long! Dress in costume if you'd like and come party with your friends at one of Wicker Park's best spots to nightcrawl. 
 
What: Debonair Social Club’s 2nd Anniversary
When: Friday, Oct. 31, 9–11 pm (invitation-only reception RSVP to attend: rsvp@debonairsocialclub.com.);
11 pm–2 am General Admission
Where: 1575 N. Milwaukee
Cover: $10
Call: 773.227.7990
Visit: www.debonairsocialclub.com

Budget with Basic
 
It’s cold. We don’t always want to go outside. So we’ll shop fall sales from the cozy comfort of our apartment in our Uggs and faux animal-print blanket! Check out markdowns on devilishly gorgeous pieces from Madison Marcus, Castle Starr, and Alexander Wang, from Basic, one of our fave online boutiques.

What: Basic Boutique Fall Sale
When: Now–winter
Where: www.basicboutique.com
Call: 1.866.348.7197

Local Holiday Fare
 
View local stationer Snow & Graham’s 2008 holiday collection while sipping champagne and enjoying truffles. Peruse Virtu’s collection of gifts and fine crafts and get started early on your yearly holiday cards with their gorgeous selection of handcrafted cards.  Plus 10% of the sales will be donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository!

What: Snow & Graham collection at Virtu 
When: Saturday, Nov. 1, 10 am–6 pm 
Where: 2034 N. Damen 
Call: 773.235.3790 
Visit: www.virtuchicago.com