Experience PARISIENNE » shopping in chicago

On the Verge: Chicago’s Pilsen Area May Be Chicago’s Next Big Thing

Christene Barberich & Piera Gelardi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:30:51 +0000

As soon as we found out one of our PARISIENNE stops would be in Chicago, we went straight to our local sources for tips (thanks Heji!). Funny enough while many of our female counterparts kept urging us to check out the up-and-coming neighborhood Pilsen, a few of the guys deemed it too rough around the edges. Naturally, we sided with the ladies, and we’re definitely glad we did. Amid a mix of authentic Spanish and Mexican shops and eateries, a handful of off-beat boutiques and restaurants seem to fit right into this eclectic, far-flung landscape.

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1. Golden Age, 1744 West 18th Street; www.shopgoldenage.com
Raw wood and white walls create a beautifully simple platform for the graphic limited-run prints adorning the walls here, but it’s all the rare and unexpected zines, artist books, CDs, and periodicals that could have kept us here for hours. Look for titles like The Incredible Journey to Consciousness, Hamburger Eyes 12, and Greek Daddy. Basically, if you’re in the market for some stunning works to make you think, this is your destination.

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2. Knee Deep Vintage, 1425 West 18th Street; www.kneedeepvintage.com
Focusing on ridiculously cheap but good-quality vintage, Knee Deep is a great stop if you need a little retail fix without the buyer’s remorse. Extra Credit: The shop-keeper’s angelic pup Auggie, and the spectacular—but gone by the second—estate pieces like a vintage Anne Klein corset skirt.

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3. Frei Designs, 818 West 18th Street; www.freidesigns.com
Thanks to owner-designer Annie Novotny for keeping her shop open late just for us. To our delight, her soothing boutique felt like an Adirondack oasis amid the big city outside with pretty tree-branch displays and cozy lighting. Of course, the real draw here is Novotny’s sustainable designs (she spent time studying with designer Gary Graham and it shows). Dreamy sheer silk tights and the kind of organic cotton trousers we could wear until the end of time really impressed. In fact we have a pair of those cloudy gray tights on order!

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4. Nightwood, 2119 South Halstead Street; www.nightwoodrestaurant.com
Given our home-city’s concentration for memorable food, we tend to set the bar high at any new restaurant. But our expectations were more than exceeded at Nightwood, a newish spot that’s sure to lure any Chicagoan to this burgeoning ‘hood. Dark woods, clean lines, and huge windows gave the space an elegant Scandinavian feel, while homemade honey biscuits and an impressive lineup of cocktails got things off to a fine start. But the light Superior whitefish complemented by briny olives and crisp cabbage along with the heartiest (and freshest) escarole salad we’ve ever eaten confirmed the hype. Tip: If it’s not too chilly, have your wine outside beside the enclosed fireplace.

Where’s Yvie? Blowing Our Minds With Chic Chicago Shop Girl Kristina Philipova!

Christene Barberich & Piera Gelardi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:57:26 +0000

Name: Kristina Philipova
Occupation: Stylist/sales associate
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
DOB: November 2
Distinguishing Feature: My chill personality
Likes: Meditation, fashion, and good art
Dislikes: Drama, television, and childish men
Favorite Film: J’Adore Paris
Theme Song: “Venus In Furs” by the Velvet Underground
Dream Affair: James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause

Four Boutiques In Wicker Park Making Chicago A Little Extra Chic

Christene Barberich & Piera Gelardi — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:33:53 +0000

After a deliriously long and delicious sleep (The James seriously has some world-class beds!), and with a few extra sweaters piled on, we hopped in a cab and headed straight to Chicago’s Bucktown/Wicker Park area. Although the neighborhood is home to some of Chicago’s coolest boutiques, our shop-hopping had to be super precise (PARISIENNE gals sure do like to edit). So, for a perfect afternoon of Windy City shopping, bundle up, grab a tea, and add these stops to your list.

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1. Eskell, 1509 North Milwaukee Avenue; www.eskell.com
Locals Kelly Whitesell and Elizabeth Del Castillo have managed to pack a whole lot of great taste into their fanciful atelier-style shop. While we love all the feminine treats they consistently have on hand, we’re partial to the duo’s own Eskell line, comprised of flattering frocks and romantic blouses that seem to work perfectly with all our favorite things.

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2. Kokorokoko, 1112 North Ashland; koko-rokoko.blogspot.com
This little vintage boutique specializing in oldies from the ’80s and ’90s might be short on space, but the prized collection of jumpsuits (a khaki Jou Jou number with mesh came home with us) and and some excellent footwear made an impression on these two vintage addicts.

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3. Penelope’s, 1913 West Division Street, www.shoppenelopes.com
This spacious shop offered something quirky and unique for just about anything. The assortment of eclectic stationary and notebooks was almost as good as the shop’s sleek A.P.C wares and adorable black canvas oxfords by Marais (just $88!).

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4. Bonnie & Clyde’s, 1751 West Division Street; www.shopbonnieandclydes.com
Très slick by Chicago standards, Bonnie & Clyde’s offers an edgier mix of wares for guys and girls…think lots and lots of black and toughy accessories like a leather hand-gun change purse and some super-soft fingerless gloves accented with silver chains.

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While you’re in the ‘hood…Get lunch at Birchwood Kitchen, 2211 West North Avenue
With so much to see in only 24 hours, we were more than content to fuel up at a sunny table inside this quaint little sandwich shop. Local ingredients and sustainability are high on Birchwood’s menu, and these principles definitely made the difference. Freshly made lemonade, lentil salad, and a smoky-buttery roasted mushroom sandwich with leeks and piquillo peppers more than hit the spot. That giant toffee cookie as a sweet finale didn’t hurt either.