Need an Outlet?

The owners of Madison and Friends (43 E. Oak St., 312-642-6403; 720 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield, 847-236-4131) and The Denim Lounge (2004 W. Roscoe St., 773-935-2820; 43 E. Oak St., 312-642-6403) have replaced the standalone Tween store in Lincoln Park with a new Madison and Friends Outlet (1963 N. Halsted St.; 312-943-0436). Co-owner David Shelist says out-of-town customers, who were less willing to make the trip up north, were disappointed that the tween clothing had moved from the Oak Street store. “We had to make a change for our customers, and with the economy being what it is, the outlet was the way to do that,” Shelist says. The outlet carries sale merchandise, sample sizes, and limited edition items leftover from manufacturers for both The Denim Lounge and Madison and Friends. “It’s the same brands,” Shelist says. “It’s a good mixture of current season, end of season, and consignment [from manufacturers]. It’s not picked over, and it’s all of our name brands, not items we bring in just for an outlet store.” Find children’s lines such as Flowers by Zoe, Joe’s Jeans, and True Religion and adult clothes from Serfontaine, Hudson, and Ed Hardy. New pieces will arrive every ten days, and are marked 30 to 90 percent off original prices. For instance, a La Rok top is marked down from $257 to $64.25, and girls’ dresses are discounted from $43 to $10.75. All outlet items are final sale. Through the end of March, the store will be open seven days a week; starting April 1st, the store will be open Wednesday through Sunday. The company has also restocked the Gold Coast location with tween clothing, so Madison and Friends on Oak Street now carries girls and boys clothing from infant to size 16.

Top Sales This Week

Gen Art’s shopping event Shop Chicago brings together 80 local designers and boutiques such as Erin Gallagher Jewelry, Wrath Arcane, and Haji Couture, under one roof with music, complimentary cocktails, free makeup applications and hair makeovers, and new this year, wardrobe consultations from Personal Vogue. The event is March 29th from 4 to 8 p.m. (VIP shopping is 3 to 4 p.m.) at Great Hall at Union Station (210 S. Canal St.; 312-229-1701). VIP tickets are $40 (available only in advance) and general admission is free. Reservations are required at genart.org.
 
The International Vintage Poster Fair runs March 29th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 30th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with more than 10,000 original posters available from 25 international dealers at the Chicago Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph St.; 800-856-8069, posterfair.com). Exhibitors are from the United States, China, Israel, and Western Europe, offering original vintage posters from the 1890s to the 1980s, including food and liquor advertisements, World War I and II posters, film, travel, transportation and sporting events. A $15 admission is good for the weekend.

The Best of the Rest

  • It’s like a Project Runway challenge: Fleurotica, a floral fashion show at the Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave.; 773-638-1766 x13), includes work from florists and students from the Millinery Department of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago who created floral fashion from clothing to hats with flowers, plants, and leaves. It runs March 28th from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $100 for general admission. Reservations are required.
  • Jake (939 Rush St., 312-664-5553; 3740 N. Southport Ave., 773-929-5253; 565 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, 847-501-5253) hosts a trunk show of garments from Sari Gueron, known for her celebrity gowns, on March 27th from noon to 3 p.m. at the Winnetka location and March 28th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Gold Coast location. Preview her designs at sarigueron.com.
  • No need to tune into the NCAA tournament to get into the spirit. Hubba Hubba (3309 N. Clark St.; 773-477-1414) holds a March Madness sale through March 31st, where customers shoot hoops for discounts. Each customer gets five attempts: make one basket to take 15 percent off the entire purchase or up to five baskets, which earns 50 percent off one item.
  • Two Fish Art Glass (7401 Madison St., Forest Park; 708-366-6800), which carries glass gifts, garden accessories, and lighting in the Prairie, Mission, and Arts and Crafts styles, puts its entire store up for sale from March 27th through April 6th. Receive 20 percent off purchases, and bring in a coupon from its Web site, twofishartglass.com, to receive an additional five percent off. Enter the raffle to win a stained glass lamp.
  • Click Shoes (3729 N. Southport Ave.; 773-244-9141) celebrates its first anniversary on March 29th from 7 to 10:30 p.m., offering 15 percent off spring shoes, and free appetizers and drinks.
  • Another shop celebrates its anniversary this week: Florodora (330 S. Dearborn St.; 312-212-8860) throws an anniversary party on March 28th from noon to 6 p.m., with music, wine, and a trunk show with local, eco-friendly designer Lara Miller.
  • Swap-O-Rama-Rama (no, that’s not a typo) sets up in Chicago on March 29th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the AV-aerie (2000 W. Fulton St.). Bring at least one bag of clothes or linens to swap, and be ready to dive into the pile to find your own. Take ‘em for free, and then attend a DIY workshop or the sewing stations to make them your own. (Materials are supplied, so leave the Bedazzler at home.) Tickets range from $9 to $19 at swaporamarama.org.
  • Garden center City Escape (3022 W. Lake St.; 773-638-2000) hosts a spring party on March 29th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free, all-day event includes workshops, cooking demonstrations, and a book signing with Bill Kurtis, author of The Prairie Table Cookbook.
  • Left Bank Jewelry(1155 W. Webster Ave.; 773-929-7422) holds an in-store jewelry event called “Veils and Cocktails” with Toronto-based wedding accessory designer Laura Jayne Patterson, who creates jewelry and veils, on March 29th and 30th from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Appointments are suggested.
  • Robin Richman (2108 N. Damen Ave.; 773-278-6150) hosts a trunk show featuring the spring and fall collections of Turkish designer Umit Unal, in his first visit to America. The show is March 27th at 7 p.m. RSVP is requested, but not required.
  • Shoe lovers, stop by the Shoe Diva event at area Macy’s (111 N. State St., 312-781-1000; Old Orchard, Skokie, 847-329-2700; Water Tower Place, 312-335-7700; Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, 630-684-2400; Northbrook Court, Northbrook, 847-509-5100; Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg, 847-706-6000; Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills, 847-918-2700). The event is March 27th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the State Street location, March 28th from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Old Orchard location, and March 29th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the remaining listed locations.
  • Fly Bird (719 Lake St., Oak Park; 708-383-3330) holds an OhNo!Doom art show, featuring the work of the art and design label and gallery space in Logan Square that features the work of five creative friends who make graphics. The opening is March 29th from 7 to 11 p.m.; art remains up until April 30th.