Okay, so we’re not New York, Paris, Milan or even LA. But Chicago does have a killer style scene with a crop of up-and-coming designers who could easily go toe-to-toe with their coastal counterparts. These burgeoning neophytes, as well as the city’s treasured vets, finally take center stage during Fashion Focus Chicago, our midwestern version of Fashion Week. Sponsored by the City of Chicago (thanks, Mayor Daley!) the event-filled week features shopping tours, industry seminars, fashion installations and a series of runway shows designed to showcase all design aesthetics, from avant-garde to eco-friendly.

As a true style-phile (and someone who dreams of sitting front row at New York Fashion Week), and a member of the press, I’m an (overly) active Fashion Focus participant, taking my seat along the runway for every single show (thank you, press pass!). My mission is clear: to bring Chicago talent to the masses (aka, Store Adore blog readers), and help you scoop up these utterly chic looks for your own wardrobes. After all—what’s cooler than saying you were wearing a designer before she got big?

The premiere event of FF Chicago is the Gen Art Fresh Faces show (which is why it gets it’s own post). Credited with helping to discover Zac Posen and Rebecca Taylor, Gen Art has a history of identifying designer gems. It was no different at it’s Chicago installation this year, where Gen Art showcased some of Chicago’s most buzzed-about young talent. Here are some of the highlights.

First up: Sophia Reyes. Her looks are perfect for the feminine yet unfussy girl; the kind who wants to throw on a comfortable dress before she dashes out the door (and lookas good at the girl who spent hours in front of the mirror).

Find her easy, breezy women’s dresses at Tangerine and Gray, where’s she’s both stores’ “Designer Spotlight” for the month of October.

Next, Frei Designs—the brainchild of designer Anne Novotny, showed that eco-chic doesn’t have to equal wicker-y looking hemp pieces. Her eco-friendly line is smart, sophisticated and combines both a tailored and relaxed aesthetic.

Reduce your carbon footprint by stocking up on dresses, tops and pants from Frei Designs, available at Robin Richman and Pivot.

We also liked Shorty’s showed off princess-worthy frocks in in girly shades and prints.

Shorty Clothing is so new it’s they’re not even sold in stores yet. Talk about exclusive. Stop by the line’s website to scoop up that perfect New Year’s Eve dress.

The only menswear designer in the show, Canadian Philip Sparks piqued the attention of the men in the room with a preppy collection that Chuck Bass would covet. With a light, almost summery look, he had Chicagoans already longing for drinks by the lake (as they held their fall coats on their laps).

Just like Shorty, Philip Sparks is hard to find. While the line is available in many boutiques across Canada, if you don’t have a trip North planned, you can still find his tailored clothing at his impressive website.

Elise Bergman has been on many Chicagoans’ radar for some time now, and her Fresh Faces debut was eagerly anticipated by the industry. Bergman designs classy, elegant women’s clothing with a youthful vibe. Her dresses and skirts range from workday wedding-appropriate.

Find Bergman’s creations—fit for any fete this season—at Roslyn and Entendre Couture.

Local boutique Eskell sells both a multitude of vintage pieces and a smattering of looks from independent designers. Plus, nearly an entire wall of this Wicker Park boutique is devoted to it’s in-house line. Created by Kelly Whitesell and Elizabeth Del Castillo, the vintage-inspired collection features bold patterns and quirky details.

Shop Eskell’s unique designs at their in the store or online.

Coming up next week: The best of the best from the city-sponsored shows.

Photos provided by Monique Jones Public Relations.

Nikki Dalrymple, a former television producer, had always been a design junkie. After a year as a manager at Good in Beacon Hill, she’s opened up her own shop in the North End, Acquire. It’s a soothing space of creamy whites and dusty blacks, with pops of color here and there. (This season, aubergine and teal are prevalent, but the colors change depending on the season.) Nikki has a great eye, blending vintage items, like flea-market find glass, with contemporary pieces created by cutting edge artists. Antique chairs and lamps are rehabbed and updated, while soft furnishings like pillows and blankets are of the finest threads.

I love the overall aesthetic (not to mention the price points), and I even purchased three vintage milk glass vases for myself, in different heights and patters, for $15 apiece. While there are only one of those left at the moment (sorry!) I did snap some shots of other treasures, which I think you’ll adore as much as I do:

1. Rewired vintage lamp, circa 1960s, with a prickly black vase and modern shade ($350)

2. Beehive vase in violet by contemporary glass artist John Pomp ($215)

3. Ecospheres containing live plants and brine shrimp (yes, sea monkeys!), developed by a NASA scientist ($65 to $325)

4. Antique Louis XIV style chair, repainted in glossy black, upholstered in a fanciful cotton print ($995)

5. White earthenware bottles by Laura Zindel, featuring elegant insects, inspired by the contents of Victorian curio cabinets ($35)

Other items I found and love include distressed leather pouches by Barbara Wiggins ($65), vintage diamond point Indiana glass black glasses ($55), white, hand-thrown vases and bowls with crackled glazes by Lois Aronow ($45 to $165), hand-embroidered pillows by Judy Ross ($200), astrological candles by Soalar Therapy ($35), Emporium soap bars by Marco Cosmetics ($18) and vintage spreaders with black resin handles ($5).

While you’re in the North End, don’t forget to stop by our other favorite boutiques!

1. The Velvet Fly - Vintage (Pucci, anyone?) and new dresses, tops, and accessories (Kensie, Soda Blu, Plastic Island). Plus, fab costume jewelry like grandma has buried in her attic.

2. In.jean.ius - The only place to shop for jeans. They’ll find the absolute best pair to make your bottom look delectable. There are SO many brands to choose from, but the atmosphere is intimate and the shop petite.

3. Twilight - Party dresses galore (Besty Johnson, Nicole Miller), plus day dresses, tops and pants too, from popular designers (Rachel Pally, Corey Lynn Calter, Gypsy).

4. A Matter of Face - A tiny slice of beauty heaven with makeup and skincare lines like Skin Alison Rafraele, Paula Dorf, Susan Posnick, Darphin and Caudalie.

5. MODA - Owned by the girls of North End Yoga, this new shop carries yoga clothing by labels that you won’t see everywhere else (Samamama, Victoria Keen, Hard Tail, Anjaly), plus Lululemon staples, and Kappa soccer jerseys for the guys.

6. Shake the Tree - So many cute items you’ll wish you had more friends to buy presents for. Coffee table books from exotic locales, silver jewelry by local designers, cute tops and dresses by Susana Monacco and Ell Moss, plus wonderful notecards and a smattering of ceramics and lamps.

Finding a place to get away from your hectic and chaotic life can be a challenge. That’s where Chicago’s Ruby Room comes in. More than just a boutique, Ruby Room is a two-building urban oasis where frazzled and frizzled city dwellers can soothe both their interiors and exteriors and emerge brand new. The ground floor of this beauty and spirituality complex, which houses the beauty salon and cosmetics boutique, stays in touch with the bustling city with bright lights, trendy beats and plenty of mirrors—perfect for sampling the array of beauty products and accessories for sale towards the front. Here, hair care from Aveda and Bumble & Bumble, makeup from Bare Escentuals and Susan Posnick, bags of all sorts and sparkly jewelry help ensure that your makeover is truly head-to-toe. Want to match your newly revamped outer shell with some inner peace? Head to the second and third floors of the main building, as well as the building next door. There, you’ll find a spa, apothecary, color consultation room, yoga classroom and shop, healing sanctuary, crystal bar and herb bar. Not enough time to absorb it all in just one visit? Book an overnight stay in one of eight (TV free!) guest rooms, where you’ll have ample opportunity to recharge for more than just a few hours.

The exterior of Ruby Room

The outdoor relaxation lounge

crystal bar

stairs to the yoga lounge and overnight guest rooms

yoga studio

Ever stumble upon an adorable new boutique, only to discover that every cute top and flirty dress inside was made for the skinny minnies? “Not for your real girl body,” the sales gals seem indicate with their looks. Ouch. Sometimes the truth hurts. But not at True Boutique, named as such because the shop’s mission is to encourage its clientele to be true to themselves and their bodies, whether they happen to come in a size 0 or a size 16.

Owner Katie Campbell, a Hollywood transplant who worked for many years in production for events, music and TV, believes that any gal should be able to dress like a starlet—even if the paparazzi doesn’t happen to be her most prominent accessory. Opened in the spring of 2008, Campbell’s Nolita boutique stocks jeans to fit every body (and booty) from figure-flattering lines like Beija Flor, James and Jordache and displays them along an entire wall. Apparel from not-seen-everywhere contemporary brands like Cloak & Dagger, Dallin Chase and Vandelbourne, plus a private label collection of plush knitwear, lines the racks on the opposite side of the cozy shop.

Uh-oh … That new pair of wide legs a little too long? The new pencil skirt gaping at the waist? Campbell guarantees a perfect fit by employing an in-house tailor, who does free alterations on any item purchased in the store. Now that’s a girl who is always True to her word.

True Boutique

278 Mott Street, New York, NY

212-431-7709

The first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word Tuscaloosa? The University of Alabama? Football? Sunshine and southern accents? All that and more…but probably not shopping. As a fashion-obsessed student—and one of three equally enamored sisters, whose closets I have the benefit of sharing—I make it my mission to stand out from the blue-jeans-and-a-polo clad crowd. Though I’m a master at scouring the malls and I take occasional trips to the boutiques in Birmingham, I still long for more options when it comes to shopping. That’s why I was particularly excited for the summer. Not only would I be in New York, where there’s a sweet little boutique to discover on every corner, but I’d also be interning at Store Adore, the ultimate authority on shopping. After weekends spent trolling the streets of Manhattan and afternoons browsing the site (hey, it’s work), I found a few new favorites. Here are my top five:

1) LF

The pages of a teen mag come to life at LF, a chain of retail stores aimed at youthful women with a freewheeling style. Filled with unknown and up-and-coming designers, LF’s merchandise feels fresh, with an emphasis on layering, eye-catching accessories, and mixing unexpected colors and patterns. I visited the Spring Street location, and was thrilled with the rainbow of options and the laid-back customer service. Since the LF site is ecommerce (bonus points for browsing options according to press, bestsellers, trends, and celebs), I can shop from home for undone looks like the one below.

2) Giving Tree Jewelry

What better way to get inspired or send good energy to a loved one that with jewelry with an uplifting quote or message of love or good wishes? Giving Tree Jewelry, a comprehensive jewelry site that also boasts a gallery and shop in Cape Cod, devotes an entire section to jewelry with meaning. I love the quotes on these Jeanine Payer pieces: The necklace ($330) reads “Nothing is worth more than this day” and the ring ($550), which has pieces that move, reads “Keep not standing fixed and rooted. Briskly venture, briskly roam.” Best of all, Store Adore shoppers get up to 20 percent off everything on the site.

3) ABC Home

When my mom came to visit me here, the first thing on her to do list was to go shopping for the New York apartment that she and my dad just purchased. I found ABC Home on Store Adore (natch), and I adore the eclectic selection (a different design theme on every floor!). We browsed classic bedroom sets, organic bedding, Persian carpets, and handmade baby toys.

4) Pink Olive

Calling all mommies! A shop that serves both babies and grown-ups with adorable gifts and personal must-haves seems so obvious, but is surprisingly hard to come by. Owner Grace Kang set up her store, which has locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn as well as an e-shop, according to three categories: Baby, Gifts (candles, jewelry, stationery, and knick knacks), and Getaway (bikinis, books, coverups, spa products, and anything else you need from some me-time, even if you never leave your house). That means I can shop for my little girl (see the two of us below at the Store Adore party at Big Drop), get presents for my friends at home, and scoop up a little something for myself. I would love to see my girl in this cheecky tee ($38) and to get her this antique pedal car ($200). Store Adore shoppers save 10% on everything at Pink Olive too.

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5) Revolve Clothing

Any girl, but especially a college girl, needs her annual supply of jeans. Well the world revolves around denim at this extensive site, which boasts brands from Diesel to Antik Jeans to J Brand, plus the tops and tees (sports logos, Ed Hardy graffiti, to retro Mickey Mouse Club and more) to match. Even better, much of the site is on sale right now. While my closet is filled with Lucky, BKE, and Silver , what I’m craving right now is this pair of Ed Hardy with the colorful tattoo design ($198, on sale for $99) The white Diesel pair ($114, on sale for $57) also caught my eye also because I have been looking for a pair of hot white jeans all summer long. Revolve Clothing also offers work appropriate pieces and going out looks to round out a wardrobe, and from those my picks are the dress below by Joy Han ($283) and these super sexy pumps by Giuseppe Zanotti ($925)…

If there’s one thing we’re jealous of, it’s our friends who always manage to throw together effortless-looking yet totally unique outfits—a scarf from here, an antique appliquéd sweater from there, a pair of jeans, and still look impossibly chic. Well, their secret is out. We know where they shop.

Just-opened e-commerce and catalog shopping mecca Peruvian Connection has launched its flagship store smack dab in the middle of downtown DC. Housed in an elegant corner location and across from both fun shopping (Zara, West Elm and H&M) and prime tourist destinations, (Madam Tussuad’s, the Spy Museum) Peruvian Connection’s first full-line store stocks everything from laid-back pima cotton tees to hand-woven floor rugs.

When you enter the shop, floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with natural light, highlighting the warm wood of the floor, reclaimed from an 18th century barn. Soft olive tones coat the walls, and antique furnishings are scattered across the store’s two floors. Clothing (think hand-embroidered sweaters, delicately be-ribboned skirts, and luxuriously soft knit dresses) are artfully draped throughout, providing a vibrant mix of colors that “pop” amidst priceless antique vases, plates and bowls collected during the owner’s many trips to Peru.

Venture downstairs to explore a selection of super-soft sleepwear as well as colorfully embroidered pillows, throws and rugs, each handmade by Peruvian artisans.

Sales help is outgoing and engaging, willing to explain the story behind each piece or negotiate prices on any of the antiques throughout the store. Everything is for sale… if you name the correct price!

For those who can’t make the in-person trip, scour the store’s well-known website for your own must-have merch… just don’t expect next day delivery. Since each piece is handmade, that sometimes means long waits while things are manufactured. So really, it’s in your best interest to book that trip to DC today… we promise you don’t want to wait for this stuff!

One of the most exciting things about boutique shopping is that the scene is constantly changing. Not only can smaller stores update their looks and labels more quickly and fluidly than the big guys (chain and department stores, that is) but there are always new boutiques on every block.

This week, we’re spotlighting the new talent. Our expert shoppers have investigated every new store opening in their respective cities, and picked for you the very best new additions–the creme de la creme in new retail. Even if you’re as shopping-obsessive as we are, it’s practically impossible to stay in the loop on every opening, so look out for your city’s new store report coming to the Store Adore blog soon!

Want to elect a new store to add to the list? Email Marissa at Marissa.shalfi@storeadore.com with your favorite!

Pictured above: Handbags in the City, the newest addition to Baltimore’s Harbor East. Check out McLean’s post and meet the five best new stores in the D.C. area!

Upper East Siders no longer need to trek across town (or way across the border into Brooklyn) to score the kind of on-the-mark style that Store Adore favorite boutique Otte is known for. With the opening of a new store on Madison Avenue today, Otte is now a New York trio, adding an uptown location to the ones in the West Village and Williamsburg.

Sometimes an event calls for a look that strikes that elusive balance between natural and glam, edgy and sophisticated, spectacular and comfortable. Whatever the occasion—a gallery opening, a surprise weekend in SoBe, drinks with a power client—Otte has something to help achieve that fashion fusion. The new location is just a touch more polished than the other stores (you have to cater to those uptown yummy mummies somehow) but will maintain the downtown edge for which the store is known. Labels exclusive to this location include Isabel Marant, Ports 1961, Rachel Comey, Lyell, Barron Duquette, Rory Beca, Gradyn, Elijah, Chie Mihara, and more.

Check out the charming store, and come to the opening party on July 31st. (We’ll be there!) Invitation below.

Check out our newly posted profile of Full Circle Studio, a Sterling, VA-based company shows founder Dara Adams came up with the brilliant idea of a little toggle bar and loop that lets you swap out a near-infinite number of charms on a single, all-purpose chain. The concept is simple: choose a chain (there are silver, gold and leather varieties), then choose a charm (you’ll find about a hundred to choose from at any given time, from the simple to the ornate, in materials we love like crystal and vermeil). There are ’literally thousands” of charms waiting in the wings. This one in pewter and coral is a steal at only $32. Read more about Full Circle Studio here, and check out a few other sites we’re totally charmed with right now:

1) Giving Tree Jewelry: Tiny wishes is a to-die-for-adorable line created by Rachel Smith (co-owner of the Cape-Cod-based Shop) and artist Pablo Valencia, an artist whose work is also available at the store. We’re wishing for the entire nature-based collection. Exclusive Store Adore Offer: Save 15 to 20 percent on the entire site.)

2) White Trash Charms: Like a flash of lightning (literally!), hot jewelry line White Trash Charms has enchanted stylemakers and fashion insiders with its offbeat collection that effortlessly embodies both sweet and sassy, A crushed beer can, old school mix tape, skateboard and more are a charm-ing new take on an old time-y style.

3) C.H.A.R.M: “Everyone deserves to be charmed” is the motto of this website, devoted exclusively to 14-karat-gold new and vintage charms. Each absolutely adorable piece in the extensive collection seems fit to be placed in a dainty dollhouse instead of dangling from your wrist or neck. The options are endless, and the prices fair (typically $100 to $200 per charm). This beach chair feels just right for the summer.

4) Imprint on My Heart: Since we put our mark on everything from towels to T-shirts, why shouldn’t fingerprints also be a style statement? Imprint On My Heart designer Kathryn Albers fashions chunky pendants and charms in the shape of hearts, discs or dog tags, imprinted with a thumb or fingerprint.

Bethesda shoppers: Say hello to the new , hotly anticipated store on the block (Bethesda Row, that is)—it’s Urban Chic, one of Store Adore’s favorite DC-area boutique chains for hot contemporary designers. With 1800 square feet full of pretty things from the likes of Rebecca Taylor, Milly, Vince, Karta, Tory Burch, Black Halo, and goods for kids and the home too, it should be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Urban Chic
7126 Bethesda Lane
Bethesda, MD