More on Chicago Shopping: Vive La Femme Review

Vive La Femme = Fabulous

Vive La Femme is a store in Chicago that is changing wardrobes and lives of “full figured fashionistas” through out the city and around the country (some items are available online). The store proves that trendy, cute and flattering clothing is not just for the skinny girls. It is refreshing to find a store that understands plus sized clothing does not need to be frumpy and unflattering.

Yes there are stores like Lane Bryant and Avenue, but most of their clothing is cut for one body shape. If you are not built like a linebacker, their clothes will not look good on you. On occasion, you might find something worth buying. However, there is a lot of effort involved.

This is not the case with Vive La Femme. You will find something you love every time you go into this store. There are a variety of styles available that flatter many different body types. If you have narrow shoulders, you can find items that fit. Your clothes should not look like a tent. They even carry accessories to complete your look.

Probably the best thing about Vive La Femme isn’t the clothes or the selection, it is the staff. Going shopping for clothing in regular stores is sometimes a nightmare. It is easy to feel judged by the sales staff or uncomfortable about coming out of the dressing room. The owner Stephanie Sack, and her two accomplices Brooklyn and Bess make every customer feel like a rock star. They give you tons of personal attention, their honest opinion and they make you feel comfortable. They are able to help you pick clothes that are going to look best on you based on your body type, size and your personality.

The store also has special events and networking opportunities for young professionals. These events enable their customers to build social and business relationships as well as introduce them to new products and to just have fun. Notices for these events usually go out via the store’s mailing list. You can join the list on their website.

If you do not live in the Chicago area, you can always shop online at http://www.vivelafemme.com/. Granted, you will not get the excellent one on one service, but you can still browse through the selections and if you have any questions about sizing or other issues you can e-mail the staff through a link on the site.

Vive La Femme is located in Bucktown at 2048 N. Damen. The store is open Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00-6:00, and Sunday 11:00-5:00.

San Francisco Shopping Tip: Shopping Tour of SF

Shopping Fun

San Francisco is wonderful city to visit. It has a rich history, great architecture and a diverse culture. Another thing the city has is some great places to shop. Some of the places are more common, others are a little off the beaten path, but still worth the trip.

The most common place to go shopping is in Union Square. Here you can find more traditional stores like Macy’s, Urban Outfitters, The Gap, Banana Republic and H & M. You will also find a Betsey Johnson store and other little boutiques. You could spend a whole day exploring all the stores. While this is the most common shopping area there are many other neighborhoods with many other options.

Another place to shop is in the Haight. While this is sometimes relegated to a touristy area, there are many great places to buy clothing, accessories, and even music. AS you walk through the Upper Haight (Haight-Asbury area) you will find every thing from thrift stores to trendy boutiques to The Gap (much to the locals’ dismay). If you are looking for more mod/goth/alt culture items, you will have great luck at stores like NY Apparel and Daljeets. If you are a music junkie, Amoeba Records will be your Mecca. It is at the end of Haight Street just before you get to Golden Gate Park. It filled with CDs, records, DVDs, imports, out of print and other hard to find items.

No shopping trip in San Francisco would be complete without a stop in Chinatown. Chinatown is filled with great little shops. You can find great items for great deals. Of course you need to check the quality of the item before you buy. Some stores carry low caliber products, but many other stores carry items that are durable. If you want to avoid tourist traffic and shop where the locals shop, go up Stockton. You will avoid the foot traffic on Grant and you will find some great stores.

The Mission district is often over looked as a great place to shop. Valencia Street is home to many thrift stores and boutiques. You will also find many bookstores along this stretch of Valencia. One of those bookstores is called Borderlands. Borderlands specializes in sci-fi, fantasy, and horror books. If you want an autographed copy of Christopher Moore’s newest book, this is where to find it. Borderlands also carries prints by Alan Clark and some great jewelry. The highlight of the store is their (hairless) store cat Ripley.

If you do not have car, don’t worry all of these locations are easily accessible by public transit (specifically MUNI). You can pay each fare as you go, or you can get a multi-day pass and save some money. It can take a day or two to get to all the stores, but it is well worth it.

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Chicago Shopping: How to

One of the many reasons I love Chicago is the shopping. There are so many places to look, and so many stores to try…but here is a little guide to help you

Here are some general tips too:

Being a Goth, Punk, or any other slightly off-the-mainstream subculture, in the Midwest has its challenges. One of those challenges is finding affordable clothing that fits your personality and style. Sure, you have Hot Topic, but that usually is targeted at a younger crowd. Plus, good luck finding work clothes there. In most cases, you are pretty much forced to order your clothes online. Well, that is unless you are in Chicago.

First, you have the Magnificent Mile. Now, before you go on a tirade about how the Mag Mile stores are too mainstream, take a few things into consideration. Being part of an alt subculture doesn’t automatically make you a walking fashion crisis. It does not mean you cannot partake in popular brands. Not wearing all black will not get you kicked out of the club. There is a bumper sticker out there that reads “Corporate Goth…because nice boots are expensive.” Many people in alt subcultures have very normal jobs with very normal dress codes. Not to mention those “mainstream” stores have some pretty cute things from time to time. I know. You could go the Banana Republic back home. However, the stores in Chicago seem to have better selection than some of the stores in smaller cities and towns.

Next, you have the Bucktown/Wicker Park neighborhood. This part of town is home to many great stores and boutiques. Yes, many of these places carry more trendy clothing, but once again do not judge a store simply by its label. These little stores can have many things with tons of potential. If you are looking for Plus Size clothing, there is a great store called Vive la Femme on North Damen. It carries some really great items in larger sizes, and it has a nice selection of accessories as well.

Hungry? Stop by Toast (just a few doors down from vive La Vemme) or Penny’s Noodle Shop (right under the Blue line Stop) for a quick bite!

Finally you have Clark and Belmont. This is where many of the more eclectic stores are located. The Alternative Shopping Complex carries everything from Leather and Chains to more New Age-inspired clothing. There are shops that are focused on the 80’s. One of the best stores in the area is a store called Nevermind. The store itself is a bit trendy, but the accessories and shoes they sell are amazing. Not to mention the prices are great, and the sale prices are even more impressive.

Also be sure to check out:

NeverMind

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