The Denim Lounge
2004 W. Roscoe St., 773.935.2820
Monday 11 to 6, Tuesday – Wednesday 10:30 to 6:30, Thursday 10:30 to 7
Friday 10:30 to 6:30, Saturday 10 to 6 Sunday 11 to 5
thedenimlounge.com
This locally owned and operated blue-jean emporium stocks its shelves with the best of the best: The store carries roughly 20 denim brands including Paige Premium Denim, Joe's Jeans, Hudson, Fidelity, Rich & Skinny, J Brand and Henry & Belle, just to name a few.
COUNT ON FINDING: A stellar fit. Boasting 15 years in the business, The Denim Lounge employs some of the best denim-fitting specialists in the city. Not entirely convinced? Check out all of their picks in the store's famous "butt cam"—a high-definition plasma screen that projects your behind out into the store to ensure they've got it just right.
WHAT'S NEW? Nondenim trends, like cargo pants (available in a surplus of army greens and gray-blues), round out the store's selection this winter, along with tops from the likes of Ella Moss, Splendid, Qi and Free People.

Dog-A-Holics
904 W. Armitage Ave.
773.857.5787
Monday – Friday 10 to 7, Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 10 to 5
3608 N. Southport Ave., 773.857.7600
dog-a-holics.com
A hot spot for haute dogs and their owners.
COUNT ON FINDING: A huge bakery case filled with fun frosted foods that often appeal to even the human appetite, according to owner Candace D'Agnolo. For the truly pampered pooch, a special birthday section of cakes and treats allows for customization, given a few days' notice. Also expect to find plenty of leashes, collars and matching apparel for the entire family.
WHAT’S NEW? This season, look for Cubs-themed merchandise, as well as an updated selection of breed-specific items. Humorous tee shirts with sayings such as “Man of the House” and “I'm on MySpace” allow your pup to make a fun fashion statement.

Millionaire rejects
1009 West Armitage Avenue
1009 W. Armitage Ave., 773.857.3105
Monday – Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday noon to 5
773.857.3105
www.millionairerejects.com
Interior designer and entrepreneur Carol Brody launched her upscale consignment furniture store, Millionaire Rejects, last year without any signs, fancy walls or floor décor. Nine months later, high demand compelled her to expand her Lincoln Park storefront, which was packed to the brim with new, gently used and vintage furniture culled from interior designers and high-end homeowners. In her now-doubled space on Armitage Avenue, Brody takes these overstocked and "rejected" pieces and offers them at fabulously discounted rates.
COUNT ON FINDING: Hidden gems at a great price. Armoires, chairs, couches and crystal occupy nearly every inch of her ever-expanding showroom. Brody also takes custom orders from local craftsmen, so she can get you the table or bed of your dreams for a steal—fans include CEO and founder of Rockit Ranch Productions, Billy Dec.
WHAT'S NEW? Don't miss the recently expanded half of Brody's storefront, which she has dubbed Billionaire Rejects. While the first half of the store is good, the other is great—where one offers quality, the other screams luxury.

M2 Boutique
3527 N. Southport Ave., 773.248.9866
Monday – Friday 11 to 7 , Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 11 to 5
mboutiquechicago.com
This hip and trendy Lakeview boutique is the perfect shop for the fashionista on a budget: M2 is chock-full of affordable jewelry, handbags and accessories. Owner Melissa Nelson expanded last year with a new clothing and accessories store for men, M4 Men, so guys can get in on the fun as well—without the sticker shock. Known as the spot "where the accessory inspires the outfit," M2 makes it easy to be stylish and savvy.
COUNT ON FINDING: Any adornment your outfit could possibly require. Find fashionable pieces from jewelry brands like Taolei and Brazil's MGold and coveted leather handbags from Tano. Every item in the shop is hand-selected for its flair and functionality, so you'll be hard pressed to find something you don't want to own.
WHAT'S NEW? Customer favorite Tano will begin releasing more limited-edition runs of its handbag designs, perfect for those who prefer a more distinctive look. Also check out new styles from Shiraleah in hot fall colors like navy, cobalt and cool gray.

New Discoveries
2236 W. Roscoe St., 773.360.8564
Monday and Tuesday by appointment
Wednesday – Friday 11 to 7, Saturday 11 to 6, Sunday 11 to 5
art-artisans-you.com
One part gallery, one part boutique, this colorful storefront features home décor, housewares and jewelry from more than 50 independent artists and artisans hailing from the United States and Canada, several of them local.
COUNT ON FINDING: One-of-a-kind, handcrafted works of art including ceramics, paintings, photography, metalwork and more. As the company's website notes, "all work is handcrafted by the artist, or artisans working for them. As such, each piece is unique and tells its own story."
WHAT'S NEW? For winter, owner Laura Davis brings in picturesque vases inspired by the countryside from Ed and Kate Coleman; fused-glass plates from The Appalachian Shed, perfect as spoon rests or small snack trays; and raku-fired collectible animals (buffalos, horses and bears) from One Hundred Horses. Shop for it all on the company's new website, shopnewdiscoveries.com.

Pearls and Cake
2212 W. Roscoe St., 773.857.7325
Monday noon to 6 , Tuesday by appointment, Wednesday – Saturday 11 to 7, Sunday noon to 5
pearlsandcake.com
Photographs of iconic women in pearls line the walls of this small and cozy boutique, lending an immediate air of old Hollywood glamour. Specializing in oyster shell and freshwater pearls, Pearls and Cake offers affordable styles that allow women of every budget to find their inner starlet.
COUNT ON FINDING: Everything you'll need to complete the old adage, "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." Owners Betty Gilbert and Cherie Lambourne both travel the world as flight attendants, bringing back handmade jewelry and trinkets hailing from a host of designers; their finds include elusive vintage baubles as well as the large show pearls favored by politicians like Nancy Pelosi.
WHAT'S NEW? Scheduled trips to Beijing will expand the store's small—but certainly noteworthy—selection of beautiful beaded handbags. And don't miss the magnetic oyster pearl necklaces and bracelets in fall-appropriate grays and pale browns, which can be mixed and matched in sets or combined to form single longer pieces.

Quinlan’s
2211 N. Elston Ave., 773.394.3433
Monday – Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 11 to 4
For those looking for unique pieces of furniture or hoping to breathe new life into a dated piece, this Lincoln Park mainstay has specialized in restoring or custom-building furniture for more than 40 years.
COUNT ON FINDING: Shoppers can expect plenty of help from a highly trained staff of talented furniture restorers, along with designer fabrics from Kravet and Robert Allen. Look, too, for retro-chic colors and innovative shapes that are pop-art perfection à la Andy Warhol.
WHAT’S NEW? If you want brand-new, Quinlan's also does custom work from sofas to ottomans; headboards to lavish window treatments.

Spare Parts
2947 N. Broadway St., 773.525.4242
Tuesday – Friday noon to 7, Saturday 11 to 7, Sunday noon to 5
shopspareparts.com
This fun and funky arts and accessories boutique truly lives up to its name. Its appealing and wide-ranging assemblage of covetable items includes bags, jewelry, candles and art and hand-painted greeting cards by co-owner Donte Mearon.
COUNT ON FINDING: A great bag for the guy or gal on the go. Highlights include masculine ballistic-nylon bags from RO New York and women's bags from the über-popular Hobo International line. Also find lightweight designs from indie brand Highway, Burton backpacks for the back-to-school set and new Skip Hop diaper bags.
WHAT'S NEW? New "it" watches from Ion come in an assortment of 25 colors (one of which glows in the dark). Safe even for showering and washing dishes, the virtually indestructible watches are perfect for any time, anywhere. Sports fans will love authentic baseball-skin cuff links made from actual game balls; the designs include a serial number that designates the exact game in which the ball was used.

Stinky Pants
844 W. Armitage Ave., 773.281.4002
Monday – Friday 10 to 7, Saturday 10 to 6, Sunday 11 to 5
stinky-pants.com
Everyone's happy at this stroller-friendly shop—your little one gets to ride on the outdoor carousel or play inside while you peruse the latest in kid’s clothing, toys and tees.
COUNT ON FINDING: Fashion-forward pieces such as rock-inspired tees by Junk Food and Rowdy Sprout to fit infants to size 14. From stylish Banana Cabana swimwear for girls to a wide variety of children’s footwear (including child-sized versions of Converse All-Stars and Vans), this Lincoln Park store is a one-stop shop for your tot.
WHAT’S NEW? This summer check out trendy looks from the newest designers including flouncy princess tutu dresses by Ooh! La, La! Couture and fun pieces from Purepensee.

Village Paperie
2217 W. Roscoe St., 773.348.7785
Tuesday – Wednesday 10 to 7
Thursday 10 to 8, Friday – Saturday 10 to 7, Sunday noon to 5
villagepaperie.net
Specializing in personalized stationery and gifts, this family-operated boutique is a must-stop shop for event invites, cards, announcements and more. Sisters Frankie and Johnnie Andrae expertly walk their customers through tricky situations, like invitation etiquette, and offer budget-friendly options for nearly every occasion. What's more, they do it all with a uniquely personal touch.
COUNT ON FINDING: The best gift—or the best invitation—money can buy, whether it's for a wedding, a baptism, a birthday party or otherwise.
WHAT'S NEW? Deck your tree with personalized ornaments from Coton Colors, and then surround it with gifts for everyone from your best friend to Fido. Village Paperie offers great personalized notepad gift sets (available in three sizes and 200 paper styles) and new pet stamp kits from PJ Invites that will immortalize your favorite pooch (or feline!)
pawprint in ink.


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