Shop crawl designer shoes

January 10, 2008

Along the stretch of stores on Southport, you can find designer shoes for $500 or 5 cents (with the right deal). The boutiques in this Lakeview spot offer something for every pocketbook.

Perchance

Joy Chen heels are $179.99 — then pick out a second pair for a nickel at City Soles.
(Courtesy)

If money isn’t too much of an object, and black-and-white chic is your style, then, perchance, Perchance is for you. Flirty heels in black and brown — from designers such as Stuart Weitzman and Cole Haan — dominate the menu. One rack, largely devoted to cashmere dresses, in the back of the store is all Perchance devotes to clothing. But a $320 cream-colored cashmere sweater babydoll dress had me in a corner doing math to see if I could afford it.

Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; Noon-5 Sunday

M2 Boutique

3527 N. Southport

(773) 248-9866

I could have spent three hours in M2 Boutique — every accessory is here to taunt you from colorful leather clutches to long silver chained necklaces to giant cocktail rings. Silver-painted seashell earrings with gold trim are $28. Plaid headbands a la Blair on “Gossip Girl” are on sale for $5. Fun, kitchsy signs, T-shirts and plaques with sayings such as “Kids Are for People Who Can’t Have Cats” line the walls. Winter items are on sale, so hurry.

Hours: Noon-7 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-6p.m. Saturday; Noon-5 p.m. Sunday; Closed Monday

Southport Grocery and Cafe

3552 N. Southport

(773) 665-0100

www.southportgrocery.com

Eating inside a grocery store sounded pretty lame to me. But it was somewhere between eating the ginger carrot bisque and the burger lovingly topped with caramelized onions and sour cream that I started to think it was a great idea. If your day of shopping allows, sit down, eat and take home something for later. My husband wanted to marry me all over again after I brought home the cheese plate of the day, which the cafe sells inside the store. It includes three cheeses (I’ll hope for your sake you get the manchego), red and green grapes, sugared walnuts and a freshly made baguette for $12.99.

Hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday

Another helping

Two shops are a sequel to others in the city. Here’s how they measure up to the original:

Anthropologie, 3532 N. Southport Avenue, (773) 935-2693: Not emotionally ready to cheat on your beloved Gold Coast Anthropologie with the Southport version? You’re not alone. After a year of remaining faithful, I decided to take the plunge. And yes — I felt dirty. Besides easy parking, the new store doesn’t have much on the old one. Its major downfall? A lousy sales rack. Instead of a breezy, wide open sales rack that makes most of my dreams come true, this store stuffs bargains onto a couple of racks in a claustrophobic room. On top of that, the clothing is mixed with the furniture. I nearly missed a dress hiding behind a display of coffee mugs. The verdict: I say ditch your car and public transport it to the original.

City Soles on Southport, 3432 N. Southport, (773) 665-4233: I won’t waste your time telling you how this offshoot is just as perfect as its Bucktown counterpart. I’ll just say this: It’s 5 Cent Sale time. For every pair of designer shoes you buy (most are between $125 and $180), you get a second pair for 5 cents. Choose from flat booties to two-toned heels to red patent leather flats with brass details. Designers include Biviel, Corso Corno and Joy Chen. Sale runs through the end of the month.

source-http://www.suntimes.com