"This shop has been supplying Lincoln Park tastemakers with the finest jewelry, women’s clothing, home decor, stationery, and gifts since 1984—all at a range of price points and styles. Today, those items include the works of jewelry designers like Jamie Joseph, Avindy,AdinaReyter, and Freida Rothman; apparel brands and designers like Velvet, Johnny Was, Michael Stars, and Bella Dahl; and houseware and lifestyle names like Michael Aram, Rifle Paper Co., S’well Bottles, andJonathan Adler. Those seeking the perfect present needn’t look any further—a host of fun cards are on offer, as is gorgeous,ready-to-go gift wrap at checkout."

"A Plethora of Plaid at Brimfield Brimfield specializes in antique glassware, vintage signs, custom upholstered chairs and plaid blankets, pillows and furnishings of every conceivable style and design. The owners began collecting antiques in the UK in the late 1990s and opened their shop in Chicago about 8 years ago. Brimfield continues to be family owned and operated and they promise unique finds to all their customers."

"This Bucktown lifestyle boutique carries everything for the home, closet, and beyond—and at an affordable price point to boot. Owner Emily McKenney curates an inventory focused on Chicago designers (Le Coeur, Sophia Reyes, Ali's Collection, Production Mode), though she also has an eye for international must-haves, like pillows and handwoven baskets sourced from India, Turkey, Thailand , Ghana, and Guatemala. Other home essentials include beautifully crafted candles, blankets, soaps, and lotions, in addition to plenty of decorative items (macramé, tribal prints, original paintings, and terrariums, to name a few). A selection of greeting cards and small add-ons are sold by the register, too, ensuring you’ll have plenty of gift-buying inspiration."

"Chances are you’ve seen Maria Pinto’s works at some point in recent years—she’s known for dressing the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Brooke Shields. That fan base is only growing with the opening of her West Loop Style Studio, where women can shop M2057 by Maria Pinto, a ready-to-wear collection inspired by urban architecture and design. Created for the time-pressed but fashion-forward woman, Pinto’s pieces marry runway ideas with a low-maintenance aesthetic (the upscale fabrics might be imported from Italy , but they’re also machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant—perfect for travel). In addition to plenty of day-to-night options like dresses, skirts, tops, and pants, the boutique also carries belts and jewelry by outside artists, curated by Pinto."

"Tricia Tunstall opened the doors to this Bucktown boutique back in 1997, which makes it a pioneer in the neighborhood for its upscale and diverse design lineup in women’s apparel. That roster features tops, dresses, bottoms, shoes, jumpsuits, and accessories from the likes of style heavy hitters like 3.1 Phillip Lim, Derek Lam 10 Crosby, Calder Blake, Creatures of Comfort, Jill Platner, and Rachel Comey. Chicago designers also put in appearances, with pieces like the 10K-gold Lucky Charm earrings or 18K-yellow-gold spangle studs from jewelry genius Sarah McGuire, and Anna Brown's reclaimed-denim staples like the Harriet vest and Two Penny jacket."

"Founded by a husband-and-wifeteam in 2002, this Wicker Park boutique specializes in goods crafted by independent creators, with both local and international viewpoints represented. The styles areattractiveand accessible, with an emphasis on quality construction and materials, as well as smart design. The men's, women's, and children's apparel sold often feature funky geometric patterns,bold stripes, eye-catching color blocks, and plenty of nods to the '80s. The inventory, reflecting bothclassic silhouettes and modern-day cuts, comes from tastemakers like Sessun, Gitman Vintage, Our Legacy, Lacausa, and Des Petit Hauts."

"A Bookstore Among Bookstores Brimming with all things pulp and ink, and oozing the olfactory enjoyment that is 'old book smell,' Powell's Bookstores are a Chicago institution. Focusing on academic and scholarly works for the past four decades and counting, their three locations are your literary oasis in the bustling city of Chicago. From newly written works, to those hard-to-find tomes, Powell's is steeped in a plethora of choices guaranteed to please all. The Lakeview location pictured above is staffed by incredibly knowledgeable folks, and even has a sitting area in front for reading, or that random game of chess that may break out at any time because of the pre-populated board that is always at the ready."

"Collectible Comics at Quimby's Quimby’s says they specialize in “unusual publications, aberrant periodicals, saucy comic booklets and assorted fancies” and if that description doesn’t grab you, then this isn’t your kind of place. However, if this is your kind of place then you know you can get bizarre zines, obscure graphic novels, independent comics and self-published books by local authors. There are chairs tucked into small nooks so you can savor your merchandise before you buy and you can even document the experience with a trip to their photo booth (of course there are props, why are you even asking?). Quimby’s isn’t large but their selection is mighty and they’re open every day of the week with author readings and events in the evenings."

"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirts, Members Only jackets, Beavis and Butthead outerwear, Max Headroom sunglasses… oh yes, these are all the droids we’re looking for. Visitors on the hunt for totally tubular leg warmers, an acid-washed jean jacket, and a Michael Jordan bobblehead need look no further than Rad Vintage, supplying all the vintage toys, clothing, videos, and accessories that our inner kids could ever dream about. It’s one of the biggest vintage stores in Andersonville; the merchandise is in spectacular condition, and the prices are reasonable. It’s rad, man."

"Old Vinyl and More at Reckless Records Reckless Records specializes in DVDs, vintage vinyl and used CDs of all kinds from Top 40 music to every obscure band that ever put out an album. The workers at Reckless have a reputation for being the tiniest bit elitist and because of that reputation and the very cool look of the store interior, the producers of the movie High Fidelity (with John Cusack) used the store for background in several scenes of the movie. If you love vinyl, you need to visit Reckless. In the spirit of High Fidelity you should go in, ask for the least popular album of an obscure band and spend the afternoon arguing the merits of its specious obscurity with everyone behind the counter."

"This Lincoln Park destination, besides being one of the only designer-toy shops in the Midwest, has gained a reputation for being one of the best designer-toy shops in the world. It stocks a wildly diverse selection of vinyl figures and pop-culture collectibles from creative brands across the globe, including Kidrobot, Funko, Tokidoki, and Amuse. Still, it’s their "blind box" toys that sell fastest—customers don’t know which toy in a collection or series they’re buying until they open the box post-purchase. The shop’s other areas come with surprises, too: An adjacent gallery houses artwork, and its 1,000-square-foot space is available for private events (when it's not hosting monthly BYOB Drink n' Draw parties)."

"This skin-care sanctuary just opened its doors in Fulton Market’s bustling neighborhood after spending two years in Roscoe Village, where it built an obsessive following for its handmade products. The line was inspired by the cofounders’ mission to create items free of parabens, sulfates, and dyes, and to date they’ve already whipped up soaps, scrubs, masks, and body butters. If that wasn’t enough to keep them busy, the shop also runs several wellness classes a week (including yoga and meditation), along with a six-seat mask bar, where guests can customize their own clay masks with the guidance of skin-care pros."

"The inspiration for this Chicago -based apparel retailer came from the desire to make timeless, hardy menswear at the right price—and in the United States. As such, its pieces range from button-down sports shirts and heavy-duty-denim work shirts to outerwear, bottoms, and leather goods; each and every garment is crafted by hand in America (with most of it produced in the company's very own Chicago factory). Its no-nonsense, quality-first practices have made it the preferred uniform outfitter for some of the city’s notable hospitality establishments: Alinea, Soho House, Momotaro, and the Chicago Athletic Association, to name a few."

"Located just two blocks from Wrigley Field, this apparel fun house has been making a name for itself ever since 1983 for its quirky threads (not to mention a solid inventory of Converse Chuck Taylors and whoopee cushions). Once you’re here, expect to stay awhile—one entire wall is lined with suggested artwork and phrases for custom T-shirts, from caricatures of Neil Diamond and Mike Ditka to an entire selection dedicated to the mustache. There’s also a host of hometown-inspired graphics, like an outline of a Chicago -style hot dog."

"Like most good thrift stores, the Brown Elephant is hit or miss. Sometimes you can find great books, T-shirts, and super-cheap vinyl—other times, nothing appeals, and you just wander around until your feet hurt. This shop is well organized, and most of the home goods are reasonably priced. All of the proceeds go to benefit the Howard Brown Health Center, a great LGBT charity; if you’re waffling on spending a couple extra bucks, just go for it and know that your money is going to help someone who needs it. (The Brown Elephant has three outlets: this one in Lakeview, one in Andersonville, and one in Oak Park.)"

"It’s always been about affordable vintage goods at this Wicker Park boutique, which sells contemporary dresses and tops from Amuse, men’s hats from Brixton, denim from skinny-jean pros Just USA, rompers from Los Angeles–based En Crème, and handcrafted leather boots from Red Wing. The popular shop's homewares and apothecary section is arguably the best place to pick up gifts your friends will love, from grooming and shaving goods to candles, perfumes, and barware like flasks and cocktail shakers."