Shop around the corner

An island of fashion on Lake

On an industrial stretch of Lake Street in the West Loop, one block is not like the others

By Amy Williams-Bernstein

If you cross over the Kennedy Expressway on Lake Street and continue west under the El, you’ll pass meat-packing houses, grocery wholesalers, lumber distributors and buildings for lease. Then, you’ll come upon a surprising find. One block, between Morgan and Carpenter, is a fashion oasis, with a women’s clothing boutique, an accessories store, a jewelry designer and a sneaker boutique.

Bess & Loie
1015 W. Lake Street
(312) 226-2247
www.bessandloie.com
Gregarious owner Allyson Holleb makes this handbag and accessories store a welcoming place. Among what must be hundreds of bags on racks, tables, chairs and shelves, she’s glad to point out her favorite items and those that are big this season. For spring, she told me, oversized clutches are the trend. But her favorite among the purses she carries just might be an oversized mahogany patent leather doctor’s bag by MS by Martine Sitbon.
“I think designer bags can get a bit ridiculous in terms of price,” Holleb says.

In choosing merchandise for her store, she says she looks for great design and quality materials without a pricey designer name. She currently carries only one bag over $600, and the rest are under $550.

Holleb also stocks accessories, such as woven silk ties by local designer Lee Allison, who favors funky patterns such as sliced oranges and skulls and crossbones. And she’s currently carrying chunky, colorful jewelry and umbrellas and floppy summer hats.

On April 10, Bess & Loie will be one year old, and Holleb plans to have a birthday celebration at the store.

Erin Gallagher
1017 W. Lake Street
(312) 492-7548
www.egjewelry.com
This store’s specialty is custom jewelry. Owner and designer Erin Gallagher created 12 necklace styles and nine coordinating earring styles that are easily customizable by choosing the stone and chain. Stone and chain options are all on display in the rear of the store, but she can also whip up a design from scratch based on a person’s needs or specifications. Gallagher says she often works with brides or bridal parties looking to create the perfect jewelry for the big day.

In the front of the store, five cases hold Gallagher’s premade designs, some of which are statement pieces, such as a gold chain hung with multiple large pieces of labradorite, a grayish, semi-precious stone that reflects blue and green tints ($770), and a necklace made with 278 champagne pearls draped in layers ($750). Gallagher says she uses only conflict-free diamonds and favors lab-created gems, such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds. A small selection of her jewelry is available in Nordstrom and small boutiques around the city.

Koros
1019 W. Lake Street
(312) 738-0155
www.korosartandstyle.com
You might say Koros started a trend. It was the first store to open on this block in June 2005. Owner Kristen Skordilis says she chose the location because it reminded her of New York City. She says the mixture of industrial buildings and the occasional art gallery or photographer’s studio made for “a lot of creative energy.”

From the beginning, Skordilis has sought to carry designers and styles that aren’t available elsewhere in Chicago. She describes some of the pieces she chooses as “avant-garde,” but she says she only chooses clothing that is “easy for a person to wear every day.” She’s currently carrying a few foreign brands, such as Hoss, from Spain, and Strenesse, from Germany. Both lines include sophisticated jackets and dresses in natural materials and mostly neutral colors for around $300. One local line Skordilis is bringing in for spring is by shoe designer Ifeanyl Chuku. His designs, which are priced around $400, include a merlot suede peep-toe platform pump and a zebra-print pony hair flat.

Skordilis is also excited about being part of the resurgence of Members Only. “You know, the jacket brand from the ’80s,” she reminded me. They’re coming out with a line of leather jackets, and they’ve chosen to launch the line in only 20 stores around the nation. Koros will host a launch party for the brand at the end of April.

Self-Conscious
1021 W. Lake Street
(312) 633-4000
They describe themselves as a “lifestyle store,” but their specialty is definitely sneakers. The first thing I noticed upon entering was a wall of Nike shoes in every color combination imaginable. Next, I noticed the brick walls with graffiti-style signage and the pumping hip-hop music.

The store opened only a couple of months after Koros and has been so successful that owner Percy Gibson opened a second location, called Encore, in Wrigleyville.

“Sneakerheads know about us,” store manager Cliff Castillo told me. That’s because they carry shoes that are limited editions, such as Nike Quick Strikes, and they’re one of only five stores in the U.S. that carries the Adidas Consortium line. This exclusivity doesn’t come cheap, and like many high-end boutiques, there are no price tags on the merchandise. When I asked to see the most expense thing he’s got, Castillo allowed me to hold a $2,000 Nike sneaker in brown crocodile and Italian leather with real gold accents. But most of the merchandise, he said, sells for around $120.

The store also carries some clothing — mostly men’s — by brands such as Cavi and Crooks & Castles, including jeans that are meant to be worn low and logo T-shirts. A wall of Adidas merchandise includes some women’s track jackets. On Friday and Saturday nights, the store is open until midnight, and the booming music creates a party atmosphere.

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