Fashion Democracy

A new website is shaking up the fashion scene, making a notoriously competitive market easier to break into for new and talented designers—and it’s based right here in Chicago. Stock Mfg. Co. (stockmfg.co) officially launched last week with a simple mission: to produce high-quality, American-made fashion at the lowest possible price. To accomplish this, Stock collaborates with emerging designers to feature a pre-sale of their designs on stockmfg.co. In Kickstarter-like fashion, the consumer decides if the item will be produced or not. Only when enough people purchase the item during the presale will Stock finance and manufacture it in their Garfield Park factory and ship it (for no additional cost) to the buyer.

Currently, the site showcases a women’s printed silk de chine blouse ($95) by Chicago designer Kristine Campbell of Black Cap & Bib (facebook.com/BlackCapBib). On deck is designer Shelby Steiner (shelbysteiner.com), another up-and-coming local who does her own sketching, pattern-making, and sewing. Stock also designs and manufactures its own line of men’s shirts ($85–$115), bowties ($40), and neckties ($45), all available for immediate purchase.

 

Top Sales This Week

P.O.S.H. (613 N. State St., 312-280-1602, poshchicago.com) holds an online sale through Thursday. Save $5 on purchases of $50 or more with code COLLECT5; $15 on purchases of $100 or more with code COLLECT15; and $30 on purchases of $150 or more with code COLLECT30.

Receive an exclusive gift bag filled with deluxe beauty samples when your fragrance or cosmetics purchase totals $125 or more at Neiman Marcus (737 N. Michigan Ave., 312-642-5900, neimanmarcus.com). Bag the deal Thursday through March 3.

 

The Best of the Rest

  • Once a month, Edith Hart (1917 N. Damen Ave., 773-252-3350, edithhart.com) hosts Babes & Bagels, a brunchtime shopping soiree with carbs, champagne, and personal styling. From noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, shoppers will get a first glimpse at new items from 2 Bandits, Wildfox, Otis & Maclain, and Keepsake. In honor of National Heart Health Month, 15 percent of proceeds from the event will go to the American Heart Association, and one lucky (and soon-to-be fitter) attendee will win a free one-month membership to CorePower Yoga.
  • Hubba-Hubba (2040 W. Roscoe St., 773-477-1414, hubbahubbachicago.com) holds a Girl’s Night In shopping event on Thursday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Stylist Katie Schuppler of KS Style Consulting will be dishing out fashion advice along with glasses of bubbly and goodie bags. Click here to purchase your ticket ($15).
  • Vive La Femme (2048 N. Damen Ave., 773-772-7429, vivelafemme.com) partners with NARS Cosmetics for a Bright, Bold, and Beautiful event on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. New spring plus-size styles will be 20 percent off and NARS will provide complimentary touch-ups for shoppers.

 

Openings

Last weekend, former Harpo Studios stylist Vivian Arpino opened the doors to her new suburban blow-dry bar, BloOuts (1872 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park, 847-681-9180, bloouts.com). During the shop’s grand opening week (now through February 24), score 15 percent off your first blow-dry (normally $35).

Luxury women’s clothier Peruvian Connection (peruvianconnection.com) has opened its first Chicago location at 925 West Armitage Avenue in Lincoln Park. The brand is known for eclectic pieces designed from materials imported from the Andes (and other far-flung locales), including alpaca yarn and Peruvian pima cotton.