The Haute Closet

Koros

Something’s special when David Anthony’s shooting editorial for your store’s interior. And it’s very exciting for us to find kindred spirits in Chicago. KOROS owner Kristen Fredericksen-Skoridillis is lauded for her closet prowess and her store is a small, well edited boutique carrying French goodness along with local talent and well-known designers like Vivenne...

22 August 2010

Sarca

Hello, jackpot. SARCA is for the woman who loves fashion, isn’t afraid to wear color or splash out on the season’s must haves. Totally of the moment, the siren song of the store is super high heels with pulled together, uptown going downtown looks. Texture, volume, color and structure characterize the buy. Well-edited, you’ll leave...

22 August 2010

American Apparel

The Get: Cotton Basics Get your cotton on. Seriously, just about everyone can find an essential wardrobe staple at American Apparel – you might find the Deep V or Organic Jersey to be your most favorite t-shirt ever. In a million colors. We also love the selection of tights. And leggings. And the bodysuit...

22 August 2010

GAVIN

Don’t let the website turn you off. Gavin is a great little addition to Central Street in Evanston, just a short jaunt away up LSD. Serving a clientele that trends a little fun, you’ll find casual and party-going pieces while easy jackets, not-so-basic t-shirts and simple dresses take up most of the rack space....

22 August 2010

Vintage Adrienne

Not the easiest duo to track down, but, when you do, definitely worth it. Known to Chicago as Vintage Adrienne for a decade or two, the new gen is coming up (as in Tracey, Adrienne’s daughter) and shaking things up … and we couldn’t be happier. Going by the new moniker NOV (and trying...

18 August 2010

Kokorokoko

We love vintage. We love great people. We love a good score. Kokorokoko is a happy addition to the Chicago vintage scene, a spot unabashedly awash in the vain glory of the 80s, 90s and ‘aughts. It’s a tiny shop, well merchandised, but not for someone that can’t appreciate a pack of MC Hammer...

18 August 2010

Finding a Flattering Cocktail Dress

Stylist and Chicago fashion maven April Francis strips down the basics of body types and spotlights what cocktail dresses we should be wearing to enhance our greatest assets.

18 August 2010

Online Shops We ♥

Because They’re Nice … and Easy We’re known for wearing our heart on our bracelet length sleeve. And we’re also known for knowing exactly what’s up when it comes to shopping. You’re familiar with our Guide to Shopping, no? We’re a major critic of retailers and when we’re promoting someone you know they’re good....

18 August 2010

Lucky Right Now

Check out our favorite girls from the fest – the Australian DJ duo known as NERVO – above and loads more of our Lolla style coverage on Lucky Online here, here, here and here.

18 August 2010

Wild Style at Lollapalooza

Luckily, our favorite, multi-talented girl-about-town, April Francis, captured the Windy-City's annual 3-day event with an awesome photo-diary of the musical namesakes backstage.

18 August 2010

Andreas at Salon Buzz

April Francis alerted us to Zafiriadis via Twitter. “His style is completely sophisticated without a touch of pretension,” says Francis, who’s been a client for about four years. She not only has praise for the stylist (“His technical skill is unmatched”), but also his entire staff.

18 August 2010

Fashion Rehab

Style expert April Francis, founder of The Haute Closet, is one-stop Chicago shopping for fashion rehab. She edits, refines, recycles, reorganizes and most definitely shops.

18 August 2010

Time-Saving Services

On the last page of Real Simple's 10th Anniversary Issue, April 2010.

18 August 2010

LuLu’s at the Belle Kay

If you need something fabulous – and understand hands on attention and the precious nature of vintage dressing – go see Laurie Demma Davis in her fabulous salon. This woman danced her way through Studio 54 and has the archive of gorgeous pieces to prove it. When you walk in you’ll be asked to...

18 August 2010

Lenny and Me

Since moving into a space that quadrupled their size, Lenny and Me, a decade-old purveyor of all sorts of home goods and no-name to big-name vintage clothing, is a clearing house for anything-goes vintage in Chicago. You never know what you’re gonna get, so I highly recommend making regular trips down to this major...

18 August 2010

Knee Deep

With a pair of the most passionate owners I’ve ever met, this place is thick with mens, womens and home goods having that slick vintage sheen. These two guys travel all over the USA to bring back truckloads of choice finds – fantastic party dresses, yummy flannels, and superb vintage boots not to mention...

18 August 2010

The Daisy Shop

Wisdom gleaned from our first trip to The Daisy Shop: wearing a full length fur in Chicago is totally gauche. It’s good to be in the know. Servicing the woman looking for some serious designer clothing, Barbara and her help sure know their merchandise and definitely go the distance when it comes to attentive service....

18 August 2010