Here’s my list of places I’d recommend to go shopping in Chicago, and I’m a 29-year-old electronic musician / DJ / nerd / biz-geek with no kids who visits clubs and bars on a regular basis. I’ve left off a few places that I occasionally stop into but wouldn’t recommend wholeheartedly (Urban Outfitters & Crossroads on Milwaukee, and The Alley at Belmont & Halsted, for instance. While I can sometimes find an interesting pair of shoes at The Alley, for the most part it caters to suburban teens [ala Hot Topic] and Fetish-ists / Goths / Punks and Rockabillies. *yawn*) Here are some photos of me in clothes I’ve bought from the following places: [1] [2] [3] [4]
Wicker Park: Milwaukee Ave.
G-Star Raw (Women / Men)
1525 N. Milwaukee Ave.
“The New Diesel†and my new favorite store (when I can afford it), it has crazy streetwear that will definitely get you noticed. The jeans are pretty expensive but just OK–they don’t have the distinctiveness of their other pieces.
BRANDS: G-Star Raw only
Una Mae’s Freak Boutique (Women / Men)
1422 N. Milwaukee Ave.
“Eccentric†is a good word for this place. There’s quite a bit of vintage and / or “reconstituted†vintage, there are a great deal of local designers represented, but there are also new pieces in the mix. There were a lot knitted goods when I was there, and many of their pieces seem to have ta handmade quality about them.
BRANDS: Gentle Fawn, Syrup, Dollhouse, Epoch, Steady, Dragonfly, Autoura, Dying Orchid, Mary Larkin
Another Level (Women / Men)
1420 N Milwaukee
Back in the early-to-mid 90s this was a place on the South side where you would get tickets for raves, and while you were there, pick up phat pants, t-shirts and vinyl. They’ve since expanded to a number of locations out in the suburbs, but the music culture overlap is still there–albeit at this point it’s of the shiny-shirted mainstream, likely-lame variety. Still, the clothes are pretty trendy and most of them are definitely for wearing out to clubs.
BRANDS: Ben Sherman, Skinny Minnie, Headline, Glamhead, Monarchy, 1921, Affliction, Edward Dada, Pathway, Bleeding Star, Chii, Nexo, Aqua VI, Sinful, Drifter, One Life
I’m never shopping at Another Level again. Check out the review I wrote on Yelp.
Belmont Army (Women / Men)
1318 N Milwaukee Ave.
Downstairs you’ll find real army surplus, but upstairs is where it’s at. Everything is trendy, unique, and pricey, but it has one of the most unique clothing collections in the city
BRANDS: Kitchen Orange, Spiewalk, Ben Sherman, Triple 5 Soul, Onitsuka Tiger, Fornaria, Tsubo, Saucony, Diesel, Converse, Paul Frank, Miss Sixty
Futurgarb (Women / Men)
1359 N. Milwaukee Ave.
This tiny boutique has some funky excellently urban-trendy clothes, and their clearance rack has some real finds. Sunglasses at around 15-20 bucks are of-the moment.
BRANDS: Groggy, Caffeine, 7 Diamonds, e-division, Industry, Groggy, Ezekiel, Split, Stussy, Gentle Fawn, Billabong, Tank Farm, Zinc, Love Nico, Chrome Industries, Dollhouse, Drifter, Buffalo, RZST
Wicker Park: North Ave
City Soles (Women / Men)
1566 N Damen Ave
City Soles sells trendier, more casual and affordable styles while it’s roommate, Niche sells seriously upscale yet funky footware
BRANDS: Fornarina, Puma, Tsubo, Cydwoq, Yin, Jeffery Campbell, Ted Baker, Kenneth Cole
Untitled (Women / Men)
1941 W North Ave
Another former rave-era outfitter, this one has gone the way of trendy and pricey, but there are still cool pieces about. These days it reminds me of walking around in East Village in New York. The men’s section is definitely bigger, but there are more women’s shoes. Saturdays they bring in a DJ to spin while you shop..
BRANDS: Triple 5 Soul, Diesel, Fornarina, Gravis, Nooka, 555 DSL, Fresh Jive, J. Lindeberg, Adidas, Paul Frank, Penguin, Puma, Ben Sherman, Modern Amusement, Fred Perry, True Religion, Gsus
TK Men (Men)
1909 W. North Ave
They have free beer on tap in the back of this super trendy men’s boutique. It’s all incredibly pricey, but outstandingly original. You’ll see lots of trendy suits and blazers in the front and as you move back you’ll see more of the casual collection.
BRANDS: 9 Lives, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bacco Bucci, Cadillac Hammer, Buddhist Punk, Cashlords, Edward Dada, J. Lindeberg, King Baby, Loser, Love Nico, Mezlan, Super Real, Uppercut
Akira Shoes (Women)
1849 W North Avenue
Fabulously trendy yet affordable, when you find a shoe you love in your size, buy it right away or you’ll be out of luck when the next person in your size snags the same pair. Akira also has its own line, which is quite cheap although not very sturdy.
BRANDS: BCBG, Diesel, Oh-Deer, Jessica Simpson, Chinese Laundry, Nicole, Puma
Akira Men (Men)
1922 W North Ave.
Many excellent t-shirts can be found here, the men’s version of Akira for Women.
BRANDS: Heavy Rotation, Puma, English Laundry, Le Tigre, Hummel, Ben Sherman,
Black Hearts Brigade, Blend, Blue Law, Brooklyn Industries, Brown Sound, Buffalo, Caffeine,
Capital Mercury Apparel, Dekker, Division E, Dragonfly, Drifter, Hard 8, Hendrix, Joseph Alexander, Junkfood, Live Mechanics, Modextil, Hendrix, Monarchy, New Leaf, Parasuco, Pathway, Paul Frank, Polo, Print House Inc., Roar, RVCA, Spray Graphics
Akira (Women)
1837 W North Ave
Incredibly trendy with pieces at all price levels, although the super cheap ones will probably only last as long as they are in style. They also have a loyalty card program to encourage you to feed your addiction.
BRANDS: Kitchen Orange, Gentle Fawn, Paul Frank, Akira, 213 Industry, 949, B-B-Dakota, BCBG Girls, Ben Sherman, Burn N Violet, Dolce Vita, Free People, Gentle Fawn, Hazel, Jedidah Clothing, Junkfood, Kenzie, Le Tigre, Made U Look, Monarchy, Spray Graphics,
Bucktown: Damen Ave
p.45 (Women)
1643 North Damen Avenue
Stocking up and coming local designers, this small boutique has clothes you likely won’t find any where else in the city.
BRANDS: Development, Phillip Lim, Beaumenay Joannet, Bing Bang, Chip&Pepper
HIM / HER (Women / Men) [CLOSING as of 5/29/2007]
1653 N Damen Ave
A teeny litle boutique that’s stylish and has free beer and Playboys for perusal.
BRANDS: J. Lindeberg, Diesel, Raw-7, Rock & Republic, Ed Hardy, 7 Diamonds, Serfontaine, English Laundry
Ukrainian Village / West Division St
Casa de Soul (Women | Men)
This teeny shop has modern soul as its inspiration, along with funky accessories, purses, jewelry, and clothing. There’s often a mildly rasta theme that’s often seen on accessories or in colors choices.
BRANDS: DDP, Shmack, Rockers Worldwide, Caffeine, Petro Jeans, LTB jeans, Klozhorse, Hussy Jr, Vintage red, Blu Law, Rzst, Dubwise, Ubiquity, Soul Rebel, Sudaca, English Laundry, The People Have Spoken, Drifter, Sworn Virgins, Soca, Sweet and Toxic, Anna Fong, Ori by Cyndi Chan, Heroine chic, Hussy Jr, BB Dakota, Double Zero, Miss Me, Catch A Fire (By Cedalla Marley), Petro Jeans, LTb Jeans (By Little Big), Bartak Denim, Split
Steelo (Women) [CLOSED]
1850 West Division Street
BRANDS: Pink Studio, Pajar, Baci, Detny, Poetic License, Mizmooz, On Your Feet
Penelope’s
BRANDS: APC, April/May, Anzevino & Florence, Built by Wendy, Charlotte Ronson, Spiewalk, We Clothing, Wrangler 47, Xgla
Espace
1205 N Milwaukee Ave
I have yet to browse the racks here but it looks cool.
Thr3ee
1632 W Division St
Pick a t-shirt or a hoodie, then flip through one of the design books to apply your decoration of choice.
Koi8 [CLOSED] 1927 W. Chicago Ave
Lots of graphic-designer tshirts–very funky and trendy and not too spendy.
Lakeview: Belmont and Halsted
Ragstock (Women / Men)
812 W Belmont Ave
This small midwestern chain has piles and piles of affordable clothes, hand-picked vintage & thrift, and all kinds of costumes and accessories. There is a smaller store over on Milwaukee i Wicker Park but this one is far superior.
BRANDS: various
Pink Frog (Women)
905 W Belmont Ave
This is a great little spot for cheap sexy heels & boots as well as funky casual shoes. Right now since flats are in they have two racks devoted to all sorts of variations on the theme, from skull-n-bones printed modified Chuck Taylor-esque snearker/flats to more traditional choices you could wear to work.
BRANDS: Rocket Dog, Soda, Chinese Laundry
DSW (Women / Men)
3131 N Clark Street
If you didn’t find anything at Pink Frog, head around the corner to this chain featuring last season’s shoes (thousands of them!) at a steep discount.
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