At a recent party did you show up wearing the same Banana Republic sweater as two of your friends? Sounds like it is time to start shopping for unique clothes that express your individuality - time to go boutique shopping baby!
Visitors come to Chicago time and time again for unique boutique shops seen throughout the city's many diverse neighborhoods. Classic boutique areas include the famed Armitage Avenue in Lincoln Park and the historic Wells Street in Old Town. More recently added to the scene are Division Street, Damen, Milwaukee and North Avenues in the Bucktown, Wicker Park and Ukrainian Village neighborhoods. This shopping area has been all the rage in recent years with the June 2007 edition of Vanity Fair magazine calling this area, "...a square mile pulsing with sassy boutiques."
Maneuvering your way through these varied neighborhoods can be a daunting task. Luckily two shopping guides have come to the rescue. These companies offer knowledgeable guides to point out highlights of each area. These extremely useful services provide customized itineraries that highlight boutiques, designers, hot restaurants and the history of the neighborhood. Luxury transportation options, refreshments, in-store stylists and special store discounts are available depending on the tour you choose.
The Chicago Shop Walk offers tours where you'll get an inside peak at some of the best boutiques and private studios that carry local fashion design collections. One tour includes entry into private studios (not open to the general public), personal meetings with the designers, sample sales and discounts at some of the hottest boutiques. Another tour is customized with the visitor’s neighborhood preferences in mind. Shop the artsy streets of Bucktown for the up-and-coming styles, the edgy boutique collection in Ukrainian Village, or the charming Old Town and laid-back Southport Avenue for fashion finds. You can walk the streets without a map and free your hands for shopping! All tours include exclusive discounts to the neighborhoods' hottest boutiques. Many other tour options and amenities are available depending on the visitor’s needs and desires.
The Urban Shop Guide also provides a tour of Chicago's newest boutiques and neighborhood shopping landmarks in either Lincoln Park or Bucktown. The guides will meet you at a pre-determined location in the neighborhood then embark on a guided walking tour of the best shops or you can arrange for a luxury vehicle to pick you up and take you on your journey. Either way your itinerary and guide will point out the greatest assortments, must haves, special deals and more. This tour is for the stealth shopper who wants to get in, get out, pick up every key piece, and get on with it. This tour focuses on finding the contemporary apparel designers that you need to know and some that you already love. Go on a mission to hit the all-star boutiques, and there are a lot of them. Again, many tour options and amenities are available depending on the visitor’s needs and desires.