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Robin Richman
Chicago
You'll feel like you're poking through a big, antiques-filled closet as you browse around this airy Bucktown storefront. The walls are adorned with balls of string, vintage diaries, and artful handmade wire hangers. While Richman carries an assortment of men's and women's separates (mostly loose, unstructured pieces) -- as well as a great, funky jewelry selection -- the big draw here is her exquisite sweaters.You'll feel like you're poking through a big, antiques-filled closet

Saks Fifth Avenue
Chicago
Saks Fifth Avenue might be best known for its designer collections -- Valentino, Chloe, and Giorgio Armani, to name a few -- but the store also does a decent job of buying more casual and less expensive merchandise. Still, the mood here can be somewhat chilly, and the high-fashion clothes on display seem geared toward the super-skinny. The men's department is located in a separate building across Michigan Avenue. Don't forget to visit the cosmetics department, where Saks is known, in particular, for its fragrance selection.Saks Fifth Avenue might be best known for its designer

Salon Buzz
Chicago
This hip hair parlor, operated by wizardly stylist Andreas Zafiriadis (who has wielded his scissors in Paris, Greece, New York, and California), is the choice for young women in creative professions.This hip hair parlor, operated by wizardly stylist Andreas Zafiriadis

Salvage One
Chicago
Like Architectural Artifacts, this sprawling space stocks everything and the kitchen sink -- literally: There's an entire room filled with vintage sinks. You'll find hundreds of one-of-a-kind pieces for the home handyperson, including doors, mantels, tubs, stained glass, and antique chandeliers.Like Architectural Artifacts, this sprawling space stocks everything and the

Sam's Wines & Spirits
Chicago
Believe it or not, this football-field-size warehouse store evolved from a modest packaged-goods store. Today, the family-owned operation is the best-stocked wine and spirits merchant in the city and offers pleasant, friendly service. It also features a superb cheese selection in the on-site Epicurean shop.Believe it or not, this football-field-size warehouse store evolved from

Sawbridge Studios
Chicago
Craftsmanship is the driving force behind this inviting River North shop. Exquisitely handcrafted furniture, tabletop accessories, lamps, mirrors, and paintings have a timeless quality; the pieces here are original enough to feel special but classic enough to look like family heirlooms rather than of-the-moment fads.Craftsmanship is the driving force behind this inviting River North

Scoop NYC
Chicago
A hot spot for trendy young things with plenty of spending money, this loft-life space in Bucktown was the first Midwest outpost of the popular New York clothing boutique Scoop NYC. You'll find a mix of major fashion names (Marc Jacobs bags, Jimmy Choo shoes) along with the requisite selection of designer denim, flirty dresses, and seemingly simple T-shirts that will make you do a double-take when you check out the price tags. (The store stocks men's and kids' clothing, too.) Even if you're not planning on blowing your paycheck on a pair of artfully distressed jeans, it's fun to browse for a quick overview of the hot looks of the season, and the in-store cafe is a good place to people-watch while sipping a latte.A hot spot for trendy young things with plenty of

Seminary Co-op Bookstore
Chicago
A classic campus bookstore located near the University of Chicago, this shop has extensive philosophy and theology sections and is one of the premier academic bookstores in the country.A classic campus bookstore located near the University of Chicago,

Shopgirl
Chicago
Lincoln Park 20- and 30-somethings flock to Shopgirl for the latest looks from trendy lines such as Blue Cult and Free People. It's a girly gathering 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. The same owner runs a maternity store and kids' clothing shop across the street.Lincoln Park 20- and 30-somethings flock to Shopgirl for the

Spa Space
Chicago
Located in the up-and-coming West Loop, this trendy spa offers the latest skin-care treatments in a stylishly modern building that feels like a boutique hotel. The gender-neutral decor and specialized menu of guy-friendly treatments (including a massage designed for golfers) has given this spa a far larger male clientele than other local spots.Located in the up-and-coming West Loop, this trendy spa offers

Sports Authority
Chicago
The largest sporting-goods store in the city, Sports Authority offers seven floors of merchandise, from running apparel to camping gear. Sports fans will be in heaven in the first- and fifth-floor team merchandise departments, where Cubs, Bulls, and Sox jerseys abound. Cement handprints of local sports celebs dot the outside of the building; step inside to check out the prints from Michael Jordan and White Sox slugger Frank Thomas.The largest sporting-goods store in the city, Sports Authority offers

Stitch
Chicago
A favorite gift-shopping spot for savvy local fashion experts, Stitch stocks an almost unclassifiable mix of merchandise including candles, luggage, and bed linens. Unlike the stereotypical, overly cutesy "gift shoppe," the selection here is fresh and contemporary; whatever you buy here is pretty much guaranteed to be cool.A favorite gift-shopping spot for savvy local fashion experts, Stitch

Stuart Weitzman
Chicago
Strappy high-heeled sandals from this shoe seller make regular appearances on the red carpet at the Academy Awards and other A-list celebrity events. Go to Stuart Weitzman for shoes that make a dramatic impression -- on your feet and on your wallet. You'll find lots of special-occasion heels here, as well as some lovely knee-high boots.Strappy high-heeled sandals from this shoe seller make regular appearances

Sweet Thang
Chicago
If you're bopping around Wicker Park, don't miss Bernard Runo's Euro-style cafe for a tasty treat. Runo, a classically trained pastry chef who studied in France and has worked in the city's best hotel kitchens, imports most of the ingredients for his croissants, cookies, tarts, and other pastries from across the pond. The cafe has a laissez-faire atmosphere, with red distressed walls covered with abstract art and Parisian-style tables and chairs that are set outside in warm weather. If you're bopping around Wicker Park, don't

Tangerine
Chicago
You can't help but smile when you enter this cheery Bucktown shop. Huge windows fill the place with light, and the colorful clothing selection -- from designers such as Tocca, Nanette Lepore, and Trina Turk -- is feminine and fun. (You will, however, pay a fair amount for these cute looks -- most pieces start at $100 and up.) The sales staff has an upbeat attitude to match.You can't help but smile when you enter this cheery

The Daisy Shop
Chicago
A significant step up from your standard vintage store, the Daisy Shop specializes in couture fashions. These designer duds come from the closets of the city's most stylish socialites and carry appropriately hefty price tags. Even so, paying hundreds of dollars for a pristine Chanel suit or Louis Vuitton bag can still be considered a bargain, and well-dressed women from around the world stop by here in search of the perfect one-of-a-kind item.A significant step up from your standard vintage store, the

The Oprah Store
Chicago
Can't snag a coveted ticket to the most popular show in town? Across the street from Harpo Studios -- where The Oprah Winfrey Show tapes -- you'll find this celebration of all things Oprah. If you've got a mom or aunt who tunes into the show faithfully, this is a good place to pick up O-logo gifts, from T-shirts and hoodies to teapots and baby clothes. There's also a nice selection of handcrafted home accessories made in South Africa (site of Oprah's school for girls), as well as books by Oprah-approved authors including Dr. Oz and Maya Angelou. Tucked discretely toward the back is a closet where a small selection of designer outfits and shoes worn by Oprah herself are offered for sale at far less than retail (although you can still plan on shelling out hundreds of dollars for these special items). Even if you're a bit put off by the overwhelming "O"s that fill the store, try to stifle your inner Scrooge: All profits go to the nonprofit Angel Network.Can't snag a coveted ticket to the most popular show

The Second Child
Chicago
This self-described "upscale children's resale boutique" may not look all that upscale -- it's basically one long, dark room on the second floor of an Armitage Avenue town house -- but take a look at the labels on these kids' clothes (Ralph Lauren, Lilly Pulitzer, and the like), and you'll see that they come from very fashionable closets. There's also a nice -- if limited -- selection of maternity clothes.This self-described "upscale children's resale boutique" may not look all

The Shops at North Bridge
Chicago
The anchor of this development is a four-story Nordstrom. The rest of the mall is bright and open, thanks to high ceilings and a wide central walkway -- but it can also feel somewhat deserted compared to the bustling street outside. The stores are a mix of clothing, jewelry, and bath-and-body shops (in a midrange to upscale price bracket). Distinctive stores that are worth checking out include the high-style chocolatier Vosges Haut-Chocolat on the second floor and the LEGO store on the third floor (tel. 312/494-0760), which features a mini re-creation of the Chicago skyline. The third-floor food court is a good stop for lunch, with a food station run by Tuscany, a local Italian restaurant, and other stands that offer Japanese tempura, grilled wraps, and Chicago-style hot dogs. The anchor of this development is a four-story

The T-Shirt Deli
Chicago
For a new twist on custom clothing, stop by this cozy Bucktown storefront, where you can order up your own personalized T-shirt creation. Browse through the entertaining books of vintage iron-on patches, and you'll find everything from '80s icons such as Mr. T to '70s-style "Foxy Lady" logos. Choose a design (or create your own message), and your shirt will be printed up while you wait. When it's done, the shirt is packaged in a paper bag with a side of potato chips -- just like a real deli.For a new twist on custom clothing, stop by this

The Watermark
Chicago
Chicago socialites come here to order their engraved invitations, but this stationery store also carries a good selection of handmade greeting cards for all occasions.Chicago socialites come here to order their engraved invitations, but

Tiffani Kim Institute
Chicago
Occupying a modern three-story building in the heart of River North's art-gallery district, the Tiffani Kim Institute has to be seen to be believed. This sanctuary for women provides salon, spa, wellness, and cosmetic surgery treatments -- not to mention a fashion and bridal boutique. Treatments include such faves as a detox seaweed body wrap, Asian ear candling, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, and the "Serenity Stone Massage," a Tiffani Kim specialty in which smooth stones are warmed in a thermal unit to 135°F (57°C) and then used as tools in a Swedish-style massage.Occupying a modern three-story building in the heart of River

Tod's
Chicago
Characterized by detailed workmanship and top-quality materials, this upscale Italian footwear line is known for its moccasin-style driving shoes, but the shop also stocks high-heeled sandals, ballerina-style flats, mules in various colors, plus their fabulous trademark handbags.Characterized by detailed workmanship and top-quality materials, this upscale Italian

Truefitt & Hill
Chicago
Women have their pick of hair and beauty salons, but men don't often come across a place like Truefitt & Hill, the local outpost of a British barbershop listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest barbershop in the world. You'll pay a steep price for a haircut here (about $50), but the old-world atmosphere is dead-on, from the bow-tied barbers to the antique chairs. Services include lather shaves, manicures, massages, and shoeshines. Up front, the apothecary sells imported English shaving implements and toiletries.Women have their pick of hair and beauty salons, but

Ultimo
Chicago
The grande dame of local boutiques, Ultimo is known for carrying high-profile (and high-priced) designers, as well as up-and-coming names that have yet to show up in department stores. The store's warren of rooms, decked out in luxurious dark wood and red velvet, feels more like a spectacularly well-stocked private collection than a shop. The grande dame of

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