The Vintage Bazaar Pop-up Shop at the Congress Theater (2135 N Michigan Avenue)
The Vintage Bazaar, a flea market pop-up shop, will be at the Congress Theater on Sunday from 12-7pm. Shop a multitude of vendor, and enjoy free admission.

Share and Shop at The 900 Shops (900 N Michigan Avenue)
Join The 900 Shops this weekend for a shopping event to benefit Dress for Success Chicago, Share Your Soles and The Glass Slipper Project. Shoppers receive a 15% savings pass for each gently-worn donation.

Spring/Summer Bag Sale at Madison and Friends/The Denim Lounge (2004 W Roscoe Street)
On Friday from 10:30am to 6:30pm, Madison and Friends & The Denim Lounge are running an All-You-Can-Shop Clothing event. Purchase a bag for $225 and keep whatever you can fit in it. Seriously!

Metropark’s Fall Fashion Event 2010 (all Metropark locations)
On Friday from 5pm to close, all Metropark locations will offer a free gift bag with every purchase of more than $100. Additionally, customers can get up to $100 off their next purchase.

Dress Up Summer Blowout Sale (1937 N Damen Avenue)
Now through the end of August, Dress Up Boutique invites you to shop their Summer Blowout Sale. Enjoy up to 90% off new and already-marked-down styles.

11 Years of LILL (904 W Armitage Avenue)
LILL celebrates 11 years of business through the month of August and is having a sale to celebrate. Take 11% off everything in-store, online and at LILL on Location handbag parties. Some restrictions apply.

Image courtesy of The Vintage Bazaar

Aviation is an unexpected platform from which to launch a career in fashion. Halli Mulei, however, did just that. Now the owner of Local Lookbook (1211 W Wester Avenue), a new boutique in Lincoln Park, Halli is a 14-year veteran pilot with a clear understanding of style. With this new endeavor, she offers a selection of clothing and accessories that puts Chicago designers at the forefront. With local labels such as Evil Kitty, Zamrie, Marisa Swystun, jlee silver, TZEN and Objets D’Envy, the boutique sells some of the most popular fashion brands owned and operated right here at home. Other labels include Crystal Wells, caro and Elizabeth Smith, which creates a well-rounded inventory in a charming, Parisian-inspired shop.

It’s a lovely thing when local fashion fosters local fashion.

By Meghan Turner

Image courtesy of Local Lookbook

Everyone has his/her favorite neighborhood joint. Maybe it’s the corner bar, the local deli or the coffee shop that has your latte ready before you order. Well, my favorite spot serves a different kind of deliciousness altogether. Pump Shoes and Accessories (1659 W Division Street) is a retail wonderland where I find respite in a tempting selection of footwear and the promise of unsurpassed customer service.

Upon entering, it’s apparent that though the shoes are perched like mini pieces of art, the boutique is unpretentious and cozy. A gigantic, plush ottoman sits beneath a twinkling chandelier, beaconing shoppers to plop down and try on a pair (or two or three…). The boutique carries styles ranging from casual to formal by labels including Dolce Vita, Hunter, Calvin Klein, Jeffrey Campbell (“a bestseller,” according to owner Maureen Longua Bueltmann) and many more. In addition to the impressive shoe collection, Pump sells accessories galore: handbags, jewelry and hats worthy of the Kentucky Derby.

Pump has provided fabulous accessories to Wicker Park’s shoe addicts since 2004. When asked why she only sells shoes and accessories Maureen replies, “You never have to suck in your gut to wear them.” Unlike trying on clothes, shoes come without consequence and the need to lose five pounds. Guaranteed happiness!

Besides the irresistible selection, much of the shop’s 6-year success is rooted in Maureen’s commitment to her clientele. “As cliché as it may sound, they come here for the experience, and we come to work for the same reason,” she says. “I love what I do because of the customers.” As a cult follower I agree, and weirdly enough, my boyfriend does too. While on an agonizing search for my birthday gift, he wandered into Pump. In 10 minutes, the staff helped him find the best present I’ve ever received. They knew my name, knew my wish list and, craziest of all, knew my shoe size. The result was a luscious pair of over-the-knee brown leather Jeffrey Campbell boots.

Maureen’s impeccable taste—as my birthday present proves—and enthusiasm for shoes is contagious. “The Pump customer agrees the process of trying on shoes is as much fun as wearing them for the first time,” she says. In a city as diverse as Chicago, it’s easy to find a store where you can enjoy trying on amazing shoes. But, few stores have Pump’s abundant selection, fair price tags and outstanding customer service—the service that builds relationships with shoppers. It’s hard to find a shop where you feel at home, not swindled into a sale or snubbed. Though you won’t be handed a non-fat vanilla latte when walking through the door, you’ll be greeted with something with far more lasting power: an exceptional experience while perusing delcious shoes and accessories.

By Maia McGinley

Images courtesy of Pump

Last night I made a long-overdue trip to a new boutique I’ve been dying to check out for months. space 519 in The 900 Shops is the latest brainchild of Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel, the former owners of the infamous Jake boutique in the Gold Coast. After Jake’s highly publicized and messy closing, the two opted for a slight change in retail concept. space 519, named after its spot in the mall, took the art, design and fashion worlds and bundled them under one roof.

I shopped the mixture of well-curated books, apothecary, clothing, nail polish, furniture, house wares, jewelry and more, while chatting with Jim as he showed me some of his favorite goods. As we walked around sniffing luxurious candles, fondling cashmere dresses and ooh-ah-ing over a supple leather clutch (that will be mine when it arrives in black!). He described the boutique as “our version of a general store.” It’s definitely a general store for the style-conscious only—those seeking wardrobe and home additions that add a little oomph to their life or someone else’s (the gift ideas are amazing). From the retro-inspired furniture and décor to the J Park drawstring dress, the selection makes this shop anything but ordinary.

By Meghan Turner

Image courtesy of space 519

Mara Hoffman’s mini dress in Pow Wow Grey ($392; available for preorder at She Boutique) not only has a dazzling print but its drapery adds even more interest to the stand-out garment.

In a letter to her shoppers, owner Lindsey Boland wrote, “I am fortunate to have made the acquaintance of so many wonderful customers and talented designers. I hope that my next adventure will be as rewarding as these Habit years.”

We hope that next venture brings more fashion to Chicago.

By Meghan Turner

Chicago jewelry line Damen + Division makes knock-out statement pieces rooted in artisanal glamour and vintage detail. We love these eye-catching “Suki” gold and turquoise drop earrings ($158; Sarca; 710 N Wabash Avenue).

This Friday night (6-9pm), GAVIN Boutique and Lipstick Dinosaur team up for an unconventional fashion preview. The unlikely pair makes an interesting partnership that fuses the contemporary labels at GAVIN and the vintage treasures of Lipstick Dinosaur. The Dana Hotel rooftop bar, the Vertigo Sky Lounge (2 W Erie Street), creates a chic backdrop for a night that displays Lipstick Dinosaur’s vintage necklaces, belts, earrings, brooches, rings and bracelets against GAVIN’s summer and fall selections. Models will roam the lounge donning the fashions that also highlight Lipstick Dinosaur’s month-long pop-up shop in GAVIN. This evening, though, is a celebration of the new and old joining together for a night of complimentary cocktails and fashion eye candy.

By Meghan Turner

Image courtesy of Lipstick Dinosaur

Now all you need is the matching t-shirt.

By Meghan Turner

Image courtesy of Dell

Spring/Summer 2010 opened the door to a bevy of pieces covered in fringe, like vests, bags, shoes, and jewelry. Basically, anything and everything. Any such item is guaranteed to draw attention, so use fringe sparingly for a look that’s current, fresh and distinctly bohemian. Here’s some of our favorites to date:

Clockwise from upper left:

1. American Retro wool fringed dress ($124; theoutnet.com)
2. Oryany white fringe bag ($325 ; Sarca; 710 N Wabash Avenue)
3. Citrine by the Stones “Rio” earrings ($98; Fix Boutique; 1101 W Fulton Market)
4. Dip dye fringe top ($70; Topshop)
5. Fringe and beaded clutch ($169; asos.com)
6. Vanessa Bruno fringe mini skirt ($450; net-a-porter.com)
7. Alexander Wang “Dree” fringe stiletto ($650; shopzoeonline.com)

By Meghan Turner

Images courtesy of theoutnet.com, Oryany, Citrine by the Stones, Topshop, asos.com, net-a-porter.com, and shopzoeonline.com