Posts Tagged ‘Amber Warren’

Boutique Spotlight: Veruca Salt

Wednesday, March 17th, 2010

“I want the world. I want the whole world. I want to lock it all up in my pocket,” says the bratty Veruca Salt in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” Many women share Veruca’s want-it-all mentality (in a humbler way, of course), especially when it comes to shopping. When we find that perfect boutique with a vast must-have selection, we want to lock it all up in our closet. That’s precisely the type of boutique Amber Warren had in mind when she opened Veruca Salt here in Chicago.

Previously a fashion merchandiser and now a stylist, designer, and owner of two Veruca Salt locations, Amber has more than dabbled in the fashion industry. In 2006, she opened her first boutique in Bucktown (1921 N Damen Avenue), and in 2008, the River North store (520 N Kingsbury Street) opened. Since then, both have grown into a favorite for locals and travelers who love labels and love to shop. And, with the advent of Veruca Salt’s popular e-commerce site in 2008, shoppers around the US and the world gained access to Amber’s highly edited selection of clothing and accessories.

What attracts Veruca Salt’s vast clientele is the store’s mix of “funky LA and chic New York,” as Amber describes it, and its attention to customer service. This fusion aesthetic separates the boutique from other Chicago stores, and the level of service–including styling how-tos, honest feedback on fit, filling special requests, and all-around friendliness—makes the shopping experience more fun and more efficient. “I truly believe that selling something just to make a sale never works,” says Amber. “It’s so important to help people find things they actually look and feel great in.”

A selection of Veruca Salt’s F/W 2009 selection. Top image: Veruca Salt’s River North store (left) and the Bucktown store (right)

With a selection that includes James Jeans, Susana Monaco, Kyumi, Rachel Pally (all best-sellers), and English Muffin (Amber’s own line of comfy loungewear), Veruca Salt’s inventory is selected with women of different lifestyles, tastes, ages and sizes in mind. This, combined with the Amber’s gravitation toward “designers who give a lot more bang for your buck,” has helped these two stores weather an economy preying on Chicago boutiques.

Veruca Salt’s clear-cut mix of interest-adding basics and statement-making garments reflect how women shop right now. They want something that’s fresh, something that wows, and something that flat out works for them. By supplying a range of designers that together cannot be defined as one particular style for one particular woman, Veruca Salt has captured a market that’s growing and, frankly, real.

*Mention Style Admirer and get 20% off your Veruca Salt purchase!

By Meghan Turner

Images courtesy of Veruca Salt

Tags: Amber Warren, Chicago Boutiques, Chicago Fashion, Chicago Shopping, Veruca Salt
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Slam Dunk

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Layup? Point guard? Bank shot? I don’t speak basketball, so March Madness is one of the last things on my radar. This month, though, March Madness is taking on a new meaning. The very posh Tocco (1266 N Milwaukee Avenue) is hosting March Madness for the Fashionista, a month-long series that features four Chicago boutiques: Koros, Sarca, Veruca Salt, and Havilah. Tocco emptied its in-house window display so each boutique can present a weeklong fashion installation of their favorite spring items. Presented in the aforementioned order, each boutique’s designated week will feature a special event in its honor. In addition, when shopping at these stores this month, you will receive a 10% discount to Tocco. If you’ve never been to the chic Italian eatery, you’ll immediately see why the venue is a complementary setting for such an event, and these boutiques—some of my favorite in Chicago—are sure to present some impressive garments. Eating while you window shop. That’s a winning concept in my book.

Here’s a look at each boutique’s event being held at Tocco this month:

KOROS

Koros (1039 W Lake Street) is currently on display at Tocco and features its sensational spring collection (shown above). The reception will be on Thursday, March 11 from 7 to 9:30 pm. Koros radiates the joy of style and offers must-have basics and to-die-for collections, all hand picked by owner Kristen Skordilis. With an innate sense of style, Kristen’s selection includes designers from across the world and close to home.

SARCA

Sarca (710 N Wabash Avenue) will make its Tocco debut the week of March 15, 2010. The reception will be on Thursday, March 18 from 7 to 9:30 pm and will feature internationally acclaimed fashion label Sass and Bide. This new Gold Coast boutique founded by Alexis Cozzini is packed with exclusive lines from all over the world,  catering to women who appreciate exquisite and unrivaled clothing and accessories.

VERUCA SALT

Veruca Salt (1921 N Damen Avenue, 520 N Kingsbury Street) will show off its latest fashions at Tocco the week of March 22, 2010. The reception will be on Thursday, March 25 from 6 to 9 pm, with a trunk show featuring owner Amber Warren’s signature English Muffin line that combines high fashion and everyday wear. Veruca Salt thrives on carrying items customers truly love to wear, including emerging and established designers.

HAVILAH

Havilah (869 N Larrabee Streeet) will be showcasing its finest spring fashions at Tocco the week of March 29, 2010. The reception will be on Thursday, April 1 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Havilah’s selection is as unique and fresh as the boutique’s name, which is a biblical reference meaning abundance of blessings and precious jewels. Shoppers find comfort in Havilah’s selection and welcoming atmosphere.

By Meghan Turner

Tags: Alexis Cozzini, Amber Warren, Chicago Boutiques, Chicago Fashion, Chicago Fashion Events, Havilah, Koros, Kristen Skordilis, March Madness for the Fashionista, Sarca, Sass and Bide, Veruca Salt
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