Pulchritude: Unique Boutiques
Lissa on Maxwell
By Jenn Ether
Looking for that one-of-a-kind set of trousers to pair with a fun, flirty top or maybe the perfect little black dress for a girl’s night out? Lissa on Maxwell boutique features chic, feminine pieces from emerging, up-and-coming designers.
Located in Chicago’s West Loop, Melissa Shipley left a career in the finance industry to live out her lifelong dream in fashion and opened the upscale boutique in November 2006. With designs from silk organza gowns to a premier line of exquisite jewelry by Chicago designer Winifred Grace, Shipley covets little known designers in their first, second and third season of production. The neutral palettes, comfortable seating area, private dressing rooms and only a handful of sizes from each piece generously spaced in alcoves around the room, provides shoppers with a welcoming, yet private ambiance. There is something for every fashionable woman.
This year’s fall collection includes layered ruffled collar jackets and confetti sleeved tops from Loeffler Randall, silk embroidered necklaces from Laura Kranitz and much more ranging from $100 - $1,000. With new merchandise everyday, Lissa on Maxwell provides every woman a little something extra to accentuate her touch of class.
Lissa on Maxwell
729 W. Maxwell Street
Chicago, Ill.60607
312.563.9470
www.lissaonmaxwelll.com
Soulfly Inc.
By Cicely V. Teal
Fierce and innovative is the only way to describe Soulfly Inc. Shop-n-Lounge. Soulfly (meaning stylish and full of life) is a boutique that carries trendsetting fashion, handcrafted jewelry by four different jewelry crafters, designer cologne for men and Benjamin Banneker premium watches. Urban wear is their niche. At Soulfly, find both local and established designers like PZI jeans for plus-sized women and Olook for men—their most popular items. Most purchases are done online and the price range for Soulfly’s goods range from $25 to $350. “We dress almost any budget,” says Deborah Buggs manager.
But this boutique goes beyond fashion, says Ayana Gray, Soulfly founder whose dream was realizes with the store. “I lived in New York for seven years. The accessibility (of fashion and art) that was there, I wanted to bring it to Chicago,” she says.
Soulfly hosts trade and trunk shows, apparel parties and martini mixers. They also host an event, Second Saturday, where local artists, designers and DJs get together and network. Soulfly is a melting pot for artistic individuals to express their creativity and an overall funky place to shop and to take in entertainment. With spacious dressing rooms, extremely comfortable furniture to make for a sultry environment, music, art, and fashion, Soulfly is more than a boutique; it’s a fashion destination.
Soulfly Inc. Shop-n-Lounge
11614 S. Western Ave.
773-840-3236
www.soulflyboutique.com
www.myspace.com/soulflyshopnlounge
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