Shop Chicago: Tula
Chicago’s fashion and shopping scene has yet to surpass New York City’s, but we still have some spectacular boutiques that negate our Second City status. Tula is one such venue that balances Manhattan’s high fashion with Chicago’s practical style. The Southport Corridor store, owned by mother and daughter duo Sue and Laura Westgate, caters to hip shoppers with a vested interest in quality, timeless fashion.
Tula has an impressive selection of European and American designers that include the big-name labels, like Theory, Vince, and Alexis Bittar, to the lesser-knowns, like Hache and Sue. The clothing and accessories are not trendy, so to speak, but rather chic wardrobe additions that will remain in you closet for seasons to come, while working seamlessly with what you already own. “We choose merchandise that is versatile, well-crafted, and timeless,” says Laura. “We follow our own sense of what will fit well and hold its own in your closet.”
Right: Tula owner Laura Westgate
For as classic and easy-to-wear as Tula’s selection is, it still caters to the season’s popular looks, such as blazers, chunky knits, and white button-up shirts. “Our customer likes to look on-trend but not trendy,” says Laura. “She’s not concerned with fast fashion, but more so with timeless investment pieces.” By paralleling the season’s hottest trends without sacrificing quality for one-season-wonders, Tula provides “effortlessly sophisticated” looks that resonate with Chicago shoppers.
Tucked in a cozy house on Southport Avenue, the shop has an inviting storefront, with a bay window offering a peak at the goods inside. Tula’s polished, earthy interior boasts white brick walls, dark wood furniture, and simplistically arranged clothing and accessories (and some home décor scattered throughout). It’s a charming boutique that’s also accessibly refined and tasteful.
Much of the Tula aesthetic stems from Sue Westgate’s Grand Haven, Michigan, boutique, Panache, which opened some 20 years ago. “I grew up working in the store and going to the shows in New York, and we always wanted to open a store in Chicago.” Upon graduating from Indiana University in 2004, Laura relocated to Chicago. She worked as an editor for a local real estate magazine, but shortly afterward, in 2006, the two ladies opened Tula. Sue continues to run the shop in Grand Haven while Laura manages Tula.
Part of what keeps this boutique’s clientele coming back is the high level of customer service. Using an approach that favors a vested friendship versus fleeting moments of pushy salesmanship, Tula creates a welcoming atmosphere and the fashion finds seal the deal. It’s local boutiques like Tula that help make Chicago’s emerging fashion scene that much more impressive.
Tula; 3738 N Southport Avenue; tulaboutique.com
By Meghan Turner
Be sure to check out Tula’s Warehouse Sale next week!
Tags: Accessories, Alexis Bittar, Boutiques, Chicago Shopping, Hache, Jewelry, Laura Westgate, Panache, Sue, Theory, Trends, Tula, Vince
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January 5, 2010 | 1 Comment
