Bridget Maiellaro

It’s in the Bag A few years ago, Debbie Jagel looked around at the bags and purses women were carrying and sensed opportunity—a need for purses that more deftly complemented...

Party On Three years after working together as event planners at the Merchandise Mart (222 Merchandise Mart Plaza; 800-677-6278 mmart.com), Stephanie Hlinak and Myca Smith wanted to take consulting services...

A Milan Icon Comes to Town Piazza Sempione (34 E. Oak St.; 312-280-1129, piazzasempione.com) recently opened on the Gold Coast, bringing more cachet to Oak Street’s prestigious shopping strip. Located...

Hair and Wake Up Combining her love for style with her passion for going green, Jamie Bushman opened The Circle Salon (2135 W. Division St.; 773-715-1026, thecirclesalon.com), a new environmentally...

Sofia So Good After years of working in Los Angeles, Chicago native Ashley Zisook returned home to discover that she was unsatisfied with the city’s vintage shops. So, the veteran...

Loan Sharks Chicago natives Teonna Ingram and Bree Lara understand how difficult it can be to stay fashionable without spending lots of money on designer clothing. Earlier this month, the...

A roundup of June’s sales, store openings, and shopping news

Similar Style, Lower Prices Marc Engel moved to Chicago in 1996 and within weeks of his arrival open Chasalla (106 E. Oak St.; 312-640-1940), a high-end designer boutique. Upon its...

Not the First, Not the Last After years of gaining popularity across the United States through her designer sample sales, Colleen Schmidt opened the Midwest’s first permanent Thread Lounge (918...

At Home with Ani Afshar When the local jewelry designer Ani Afshar closed her eight-year-old Lincoln Park boutique in March, she already had a back-up plan in place: The collection...