Clothes Optional

“The vintage look is my favorite, but I am not cool enough to pull it off myself. To say I get overwhelmed at thrift stores is an understatement. That’s why I adore Clothes Optional. It is filled with awesome finds that are easy to spot. If that weren’t enough, the incredibly lovely staff are cool enough to pull off the vintage look and patient enough to help me do the same!” 
~ Vanessa Bayer

Look the Part
 
We love the vintage look but thrift stores make us sneeze, snooze, and scram. What’s a stylish gal to do? 

Enter Clothes Optional, an adorable and ultra-chic used clothing store in the heart of Lakeview. You’ll find hip, previously-loved denim (figure-flattering high-waisted jeans—oh, we love the 70s!), imaginative hats, quirky gloves, and our personal fave, an array of printed, striped, patterned and downright fabulous scarves. If you’re lucky, you may even find a pair of retro boots or an 80s messenger bag. And men and women alike will love the assortment of vintage tees offered at reasonable prices. New to the used-clothing scene? No problem, the friendly staff is incredibly helpful, and can give anyone that hipster “I hang out in Wicker Park and know a lot about music” look. 
 
Don’t miss the basement, which offers even more retro stuff. And the fun (or should we say, “sass”?) doesn’t stop there—the owner often features local artists in shows and parties at the store. Now all we need is a boyfriend in an emo band!
 
Clothes Optional 
2918 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60657
773.296.6630
www.myspace.com/clothesoptionalchicago

Aritzia

“Finding clothes as a 5’1 ½ inch adult, (and yes, I count the ½ inch!) isn’t always the easiest task. So the first thing I noticed upon walking into Artizia? The xxs sizing! Not only was everything in the store my style, it was also my size. And as every fashionista knows, the right fit can make or break an outfit.” ~ Nicole Briese

Love Bites
  
The one thing we know for sure about love is that it's tricky. It's all-consuming. And yet, utterly and magically wonderful!

And yes, we are old-school romantic fanatics. We believe in
"The One" and all that other fairytale garbage. And well, we think we may have just fallen. We have fallen hard, deep, and fast
for the loveliness of Aritzia. There it was—everything we could’ve ever hoped for in a boutique. We couldn’t help it, really. The colors. The trends. The styles! The brands, like like Wilfred, Kensie Girl, See by Chloe and Community Organic Cotton... we were hard pressed to find something we didn’t like here. In fact, if we had our way, we would’ve loaded up the entire lot of lightweight sweaters, long jackets and t-shirt dresses and never looked back.
 
Alas, Aritzia isn’t a one-woman kind of store. We begrudgingly acknowledge that ours will be an open relationship. We’re 
not usually so swinger-cool, but in this case we’ll take what we can get!    
  
Aritzia
Water Tower Plaza
835 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611 
312.867.9230
www.aritzia.com

Le dress

“Le dress is the crème de la crème of stylista finds. I adore their great prices, funky ambience, and of course, the dazzling variety of gorgeous gowns for any and all occasions. Their one-stop-shop offerings make them my secret weapon for playing dress-up.  
~ Bethany Kovar

Love Struck
 
Ringing bells, floral processionals, champagne toasts to awkward best-man speeches, and all-night dance parties to classics like “Baby Got Back”…oh yes, we’re full-throttle into wedding season. And while the whole world has the bridal bug, we have a case of what-should-I-wear-that-everyone-hasn’t-seen-yet hysteria!
 
Thankfully we found Le dress, a trendy and thoughtfully organized (think day-casual to evening-elegant) dress haven. Amidst funky chandeliers and hot pink walls are racks of designer duds waiting with bated breath to be our true love. (Hey, at least something is!) We loved the floral patterns by
Trina Turk, the sexy strapless dresses by Shoshanna (more evidence that it pays to date a celeb), and casual sundresses
by Hills star LC.  We shamelessly coveted the belted cocktail dresses by A.B.S. and the sophisticated satin gowns by Issue.
Le dress even sports its own label, making affordability a non-issue. And because every ensemble needs a wrap, a clutch,
and of course, a bit of Hollywood Tape, Le dress hosts a small selection for our leisure. Keep on match-making, Cupid… we’ve found our paramour! 
 
Le dress
1741 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60622
773.697.9899
www.ledresschicago.com

Minx Parlor 

“This Pick was my fave of ’08 because it encompasses all that Chicago Picks means.  Without getting too lofty, Minx Parlor symbolized a certain amount of forward-thinking mentality with a healthy amount of je nais se quoi, of course! It is fun, flirty, and pushing boundaries. I love eclectic. I love interesting and thought-provoking—and to me that’s exactly what Minx Parlor is all about.”
~ Abby Yemm

Oui, Oui, Mon Cherie
  
One thing we have always been is monogamously in love. For better or worse, it's part of that whole (you + me = meant to be) fairytale thing. But we also have a hussy, come-hither side to us. (Shhh! It’s a secret.)
   
Luckily for us (and all other women both classy and saucy), we have Minx Parlor, a boutique that debuted over the summer. Tucked into a row of galleries in River North, their mix of all art and accessories makes us feel like the femmes fatales we really are. From the avant-garde, European shoe selection (by trendsetters like Baldinini, Pura Lopez and Gigi Favella) to the handbags and jewelry (pieces by Jenny Bird, R. Raven and Nikki Vain share the same posh-meets-promiscuous aesthetic), to the Summerscent perfume (smells like endless summer), every piece you choose is ready to spark a flirtatious conversation.
   
Stop in and add some luxe spice to your life! Tell them Chicago Picks sent you and receive 10% off your purchase. 
   
Minx Parlor 
750 N. Franklin St. 
Chicago IL 60610 
312.643.5333
www.minxparlor.com

Sage Accessory Boutique 

“This is still my favorite pick of the year. There is nothing you can't find at Sage, and it’s perfect for those mid-afternoon runs when you're getting ready for a party and discover you're missing the right pair of earrings. It has just the right mix of standard items and artistic pieces, and best of all, they've never disappointed me when I'm looking for the right bag to match shoes. Their collection covers everything!” ~ Emily Zanotti

Embellish at Sage
   
We would love to be able to spend our whole week shopping for a wardrobe of perfect accessories. We would then stand out at all weddings with ex-boyfriends in attendance, or at least at bars on Saturday nights. But given that we're expected to work real jobs (and rely on Chicago public transportation, to boot), it’s impossible without one of those nifty Harry Potter time-traveler thingies or a stand-in doppelganger for the office.  
   
At least it was impossible—until we discovered Sage Accessory Boutique in East Lakeview. It’s a brand new jewelry and accessories boutique that promises to outfit the "total woman" with every accessory she could ever imagine… all in one location. And that's not an understatement, it’s their goal! Plus, The Everywoman can afford it—prices range from low to high. One bus ride, you're there, and you're outfitted and ready to prove to the world that yes, you finally stopped wearing your grandma's Bakelite.  
   
And if you're riding that bus because you're eco-conscious, Sage has a fantastic selection of vegan bags. Yes, vegan. We told you it was fantastic! 
   
Sage Accessory Boutique 
3127 N. Broadway St. 
Chicago, IL 60657
773.248.3388

Strut

“I absolutely love fashion! The epitome of the industry is the runway show with the models floating by wearing the latest fashions. What girl hasn’t had that night when she has on the perfect outfit, glam accessories, the bomb makeup to top it all off, as she floats down the street? Well I can say I’ve had plenty of nights like that thanks to Strut in Wicker Park. Chic tops, curve-hugging jeans, fierce heels, and a glam bag to match—Strut has it all!”
~ Aramide Esubi

Strike a Pose
 
When it comes to hair color, commitment isn't our strong suit. When it comes to Top Model, we're practically married. From Tyra schooling Tiffany to Bre's missing breakfast
bars, we've been through it all—never missing a botched
Cover Girl take.  
 
Although we're about eight inches short of runway-model-walking-requirements, we know a little about swagger. Since discovering Strut, the new sway in our step would make even Miss J proud. Sister act Margaret and Aga Jankuc opened the boutique with the goal of bringing out the model in all of us everyday gals. The space is stocked with clothing, shoes, and bags that range from uber edgy to ultra girly. Fave goods include a treasure trove of attire from the always popular Miss Sixty, rocker-chic tees from House of the Gods, and funky Jack Rabbit belts and handbags.  
 
Being the strolling models we are, Strut plays to our VIP status. On the first Friday of the month, they offer a happy hour complete with musica, drinky drinks, and a 10% discount—so stop teetering and start strutting!  
 
Strut
1744 W. Division St. 
Chicago, IL 60686 
773.227.2728

Bin Wine Café 

“I do love shopping. But to shop I need Grade-A fuel to run this engine! Bin Wine Café never fails to please, and tucked into the ever-growing row of boutiques in Wicker Park, it always does the trick for a mid-shopping break of mouthwatering appetizers and a yummy glass of wine.”
~ Beth Hannon

So Much Wine, So Little Time!
  
Nothing makes us smile more than a few glasses of wine and snacks with our girlfriends. It is all a Chicago girl needs to melt away the stress of traffic, and the next week's approaching deadlines. And with the bustle of the holiday season quickly approaching, it can be tough to find a place that's not too crowded, but not so empty that you won't get a wink from the cute guy across the bar tossing back a few with his boys.  
  
When we first walked into Bin Wine Café, it was love at first sight, smell, and taste. We were warmly greeted at this cozy neighborhood restaurant, and without missing a beat, we were asked which of the glasses (out of 36 bottles, to be exact) we would be starting out with. After choosing a rich, dark red Malbec, we complemented that delicious tongue-staining nectar of the gods with a rich yet perfectly creamy goat cheese—one of the 20 organically focused cheeses we had to choose from.    
  
And c'mon, organic cheese and liquefied grapes? A Friday happy hour can't get much healthier then that!  
  
Bin Wine Café 
1559 N. Milwaukee Ave.   
Chicago, IL 60622  
773.486.2233 
www.binwinecafe.com