Shopping - Chicago 2005 - page 231

Marc Jacobs, Theory, and Barbara Bui. Men's and women's clothing
racks are displayed along exposed-brick walls, giving the store an
urban-loft feel.
You can't help but smile when you enter Tangerine, 1719 N. Damen
Ave. ( & 773/772-0505 ), a bright, cheery shop with huge windows and a
colorful selection. The clothing—from designers such as Tocca, Nanette
Lepore, and Trina Turk—is feminine and fun, and the people working
here have an upbeat attitude to match.
Browsing Robin Richman, 2108 N. Damen Ave. ( & 773/278-6150 ), feels
more like poking around a big, antiques-filled closet than shopping for
threads in Bucktown. The walls of this tiny storefront are adorned with
balls of string, vintage diaries, and artful handmade wire hangers. While
Richman carries a small assortment of men's and women's separates
(mostly loose, unstructured pieces), the big draw here is her exquisite
sweaters.
Kim Hiley, the owner of Tribeca, 2480 1 ⁄ 2 N. Lincoln Ave. ( & 773/
528-5958 ), describes her style as “the kind of clothes you might wear on
a date.” While she doesn't eschew the essential blacks and grays, her
racks are lined with pastels, oranges, teals, and flowery, exotic patterns.
The store is bright, cutesy, and essentially feminine, catering more to
the style sensibilities of corporate Lincoln Park 20-somethings than hip-
ster Wicker Park club hoppers. Hiley also has a second location at 1013
W. Armitage Ave. ( & 773/296-2997 ).
Lincoln Park 20- and 30-somethings flock to Shopgirl, 1206 W. Web-
ster Ave. ( & 773/935-SHOP ), to pick up the latest looks from trendy
lines, such as Blue Cult and Citizens of Humanity jeans. It's a girly gath-
ering place (pink walls, glittery chandeliers) with three-digit price tags,
but it still has the feel of a neighborhood hangout, thanks to the
friendly staff.
P.O.S.H., 3729 N. Southport Ave., between Waveland Avenue and Grace Street
( & 773/529-7674 ), offers never-used vintage silver and commercial-grade china
from European and American hotels and restaurants that make for fun, quirky
tableware. Two clothing shops catering to hip young women with plenty of dis-
posable income are Krista K, 3458 N. Southport Ave. ( & 773/248-1967 ), and
Red Head Boutique, 3450 N. Southport Ave. ( & 773/325-9898 ), which both
stock hot newer designers that aren't widely available in Chicago.
WICKER PARK/BUCKTOWN
The go-go gentrification of the Wicker Park/Bucktown area has been followed by
not only a rash of restaurants and bars, but also retailers with an artsy bent that
reflect the neighborhood's bohemian spirit. Mixed in with old neighborhood
businesses, such as discount furniture stores and religious icon purveyors, is a pro-
liferation of antique-furniture shops, too-cool-for-school clothing boutiques (see
the box “Chic Boutiques,” below), and eclectic galleries and gift emporiums.