Chicago Fashion, Part I
Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 6:36 PM 
Image used with kind permission of Ikram
In Chicago this week, we found an hour to explore the city’s thriving fashion scene. For many Chicago isn’t synonymous with fashion, but spend a few days in this beautiful city on the lake, where architectural marvels abound and art deco influences delight – and it’s not difficult to see where one would draw inspiration. Our mini excursion took us to two of the city’s oft mentioned boutiques: Ikram and Maria Pinto.
Read the editor’s notes in any Vogue fashion spread and you’re bound to find Ikram cited. Peruse Style.com and find videos of Ikram Goldman, the boutique’s owner and namesake, commenting on this season’s collections in New York or Paris. Ikram, the woman and the boutique, have fashion influence far-reaching beyond Chicago, so it was with great anticipation that we finally paid a visit to her fabled store.
Located in the Gold Coast, a stone’s throw from the Sears Tower John Hancock Center (thanks Jasmine), Ikram sits in the first floor of a modern stone and glass building on North Rush St. A self-described “treasure trove” the boutique is bursting at the seams with all things covetous. We were first greeted by a small island table decorated with neatly folded piles of cashmere gloves and scarves surrounding a case of jewel encrusted shell rings and other assorted baubles.
Around a corner and into a small cove we discovered a wall of Jimmy Choo heels and Lanvin and Alaia flats carefully displayed on wood shelves like prized heirlooms. As we wandered through the store, enticed by bejeweled Moschino jackets and luxuriously soft tweed Lanvin suits, we longingly wished our bank account was as big as our eyes. In this sea of temptation, there were two garments that really made our heart flutter: a soft, generously cut purple mohair jacket by Hanii Y and an a-line skirt cocktail dress in delicate floral black lace overlay on ivory fabric by Isabel Toledo. Needless to say, our visit to Ikram did not just meet expectations, it wowed.
Check back tomorrow for Part II of this post, when we cover our visit to Maria Pinto’s West Loop boutique.
Reader Comments (6)
Glad to hear you enjoyed your trip, but perhaps you meant the Hancock (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hancock_Center) when you wrote "Located in the Gold Coast, a stone's throw from the Sears Tower"? The Sears Tower is located in the southwest corner of the Loop, closer to more modest State Street shopping like Nordstrom Rack.
And I forgot to say earlier - great recap. Can't wait to read about your Maria Pinto visit.
Oh good. Glad you liked. Part II should be up tomorrow. And thanks for the catch yesterday. I was a bit too eager to get the post up I suppose. Clearly need to brush up on my Chicago architecture.
I'm probably out of the "loop" in speaking up, but I really would like to see Mrs. O in something that would blend in some cultural aspects relating to her African-American heritage. Personally, I'd love to see her in one of those "Goddess" dresses.
what's a "goddess" dress? any links we could view?
A year ago I bought that stunning black velvet Peter Soronen evening gown shown on the mannequin closest to the camera in the above photo at a consignment store. Anyone know what season it was from? Just curious about the mysterious, timeless secondhand garments I own and love :)