Chicago Shopping Guide


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Hinsdale

Shoppers from Chicago have been lured out to this quiet, west-of-the-city hamlet by its handful of stellar, on-trend boutiques.

Embrace

Part gourmet restaurant, part upscale gift boutique, this unusual hybrid is well worth seeking out—and half the adventure is actually finding it (it's located in an old theater down a long, romantically lit alley). The retail half of Embrace greets you at the door, and the rustic space focuses on luxury impulse buys: D.L. & Co. scented candles, Bond No. 9 fragrances, Santa Maria Novella soaps, and Jeanine Payer engraved message bracelets, plus weekend-ready clothing like J Brand jeans and T Luxury extra-soft tees. Just beyond the sales floor is the bistro, which has the same warm elegance as the store—slate floors, wide-plank-wood tables, handcarved archways—and offers inventive takes on traditional American dishes.
29 E. First St., 630-325-1996, embraceyourstyle.com

Women's Clothing, Beauty, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

Kate and Company

Situated on the ground floor of a refurbished downtown row house, this accessories store has a laid-back, friendly feel. Much of the stock consists of reworked vintage jewelry crafted by store co-owner Kate Gleason and friend Tracy Herr. Kate's sister and partner Liz Bristow helps source the findings in the States and abroad. Delicate medallions and elegant lockets are found in abundance, and they're all artfully displayed in elegant cases throughout the shop. Also available are handpicked pieces from Thea Grant, Lulu Frost, Padre Vavre, and Paige Sargisson (we're especially fond of her pendant necklaces fashioned from 1920s bone casino chips).
19 W. First St., 630-321-1388

Products: Jewelry
Type of Store: Boutique

Shop 10

Simply arranged except for the dramatically swagged brown velvet curtains (owner Lisa Cox used to design window treatments), this welcoming spot is the go-to place in Hinsdale for everyday-wearable pieces. Tibi dresses, Marc by Marc Jacobs jackets, and Nanette Lepore tops are easy-to-love evergreens, and the denim selection is equally on-point and always exhaustive; the current range of styles includes every popular cut, from Hudson cigarette-legs to Kasil trouser-like versions.
10 E. First St., 630-887-7467

Products: Denim, Women's Clothing
Type of Store: Boutique

Stockholm Objects

Swedish natives Åsa Anden (a former dentist) and Jessica Lederhausen (a onetime pro golfer) opened this airy Scandinavian-goods store three years ago to import merchandise they missed from home. Highly functional, ingeniously designed decor, clothing, and accessories are highlighted, from J. Lindeberg silky knit sweaters and Filippa K perfectly skinny jeans to Iittala tinted-glass tumblers and Design House Stockholm table lamps that look like giant ice cubes.
26 W. Chicago Ave., 630-655-0966, stockholmobjects.com

Products: Women's Clothing, Decorative/Lighting, Gifts/Design
Type of Store: Boutique

Urban Sole

Though only two years old, this footwear purveyor has fast become a local favorite. Its cottage-like environment, with a blue and brown color scheme and cushy ottomans, is warm and welcoming; the sales help is insightful; and the shoes on offer are as stylish as they are comfortable. Bestsellers this season include Corso Como low-heeled Mary Janes, Cordani riding boots, and chic, ultra-comfortable flats by Gentle Souls (each supple deerskin pair has rubber bottoms and breathable flax insoles). Urban Sole has also slowly been adding clothing and other accessories: appliquéd tees by Amy Tangerine, jackets by One Girl Who, plus bags from Hobo and Tano.
49 S. Washington St., 630-323-5023

Products: Shoes, Women's Clothing
Type of Store: Boutique