Boutique of the Week: AliKat

AliKat

499 Pennsylvania Ave.

Glen Ellyn, IL

(630) 469-5760

Do you remember the 21st night of September (2006)?  Because that's the day the urban-meets-suburban, super-chic boutique, AliKat, opened its doors for the first time.  The date was just a coincidence, but they all get a kick out of it it looking back.  Owner Sandy Moore had a career in financial services for twenty years.  After taking off a few years to be a mom, she wanted a career that she could invest in while still being available for her family.  Always an aficionado for local businesses, and an avid fashion lover, she opened AliKat.  

For many, a boutique thrives on the idea of potential.  Just the idea of stepping into a little world of retail bliss, searching around and finding something that truly calls to us is enough to keep us going.  Sandy completely relates.  "When we go on vacation, we seek out little boutiques, I love searching for those unique finds," says Sandy.  AliKat definitely provides that exciting sense of mystery with all its amazing detail.  Since recently expanding the store, it offers even more.

In all of its magic, AliKat draws upon a certain impeccable style.  Sandy's friend and employee Didi chimed in: "Sandy's brought her personal style to the business.  She's stayed true to it while she's been here."  Among her style values is the belief in quality denim.  AliKat carries the big names: Hudson, AG, Joe's, Lucky, Miss Me.  In my humble opinion, the jeans area is probably the coolest part of the store!  Sandy's devotion to denim shows. "When you're wearing great jeans every day, it's the best investment you can put into your wardrobe.  I'm sold on the quality of jeans."

Always keeping her ear to the ground, Sandy keeps track of the needs and changes in AliKat's hometown, Glen Ellyn.  Ever since its opening, AliKat has constantly been changing its inventory to meet the needs of the people of Glen Ellyn. After noticing there was no pet store, Sandy brought in (very, very cute) pet supplies.  Also wanting to offer more of an assortment of gifts, Sandy carries great cards and even Uglydolls!  (If you're not hip to the Uglydoll craze, you are missing out!)  "I was trying to fill the void in downtown Glen Ellyn that was missing.  We've evolved and I'm really comfortable with where we are," explains Sandy.

Love what you see?  Want some of it for yourself?  AliKat is graciously giving away a Nakamol crystal beaded cuff bracelet.  All you have to do is use the raffle widget below to enter.  Better yet, if you make a trip into AliKat and fill out a client card, you'll get TWO entries! 

 

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Boutique of the Week: Hot Mama

Hot Mama

55 South Main Street #165

Naperville, IL 60540 

(630) 995-3530

www.shopmama.com

Last week, on a particularly gorgeous beginning-of-fall day, I had the great pleasure of meeting with Lauren Rosen, the manager of the wonderful Hot Mama in Naperville.  Though everyone on staff was busy putting the store back into working order after a busy city-wide ladies' weekend, they greeted me warmly and kindly.  Lauren suggested we take it to Starbucks so that the team could get busy!

On the walk over, Lauren asked me all about my blog and life, fully anticipating that the conversation would lean toward her direction soon.  By the time we arrived at Starbucks, I felt that I was not with an acquaintance, but a friend!  

After getting settled, Lauren told me some of the basics about Hot Mama.  The company was born in 2004 in Minnesota.  Owners Megan and Mike Tamte were looking to create a place for moms to shop.  Having had a child of their own, Megan realized that shopping after a baby is hard for many reasons.  First, the baby is in tow!  And s/he gets bored!  Secondly, a body after a baby is not always the same, and shopping can be an emotionally challenging experience.  They set out to creating an environment for women to have a positive shopping experience.  "All the women who work at Hot Mama are passionate about helping women look and feel hot," explains Lauren.  Empowering messages to women are scattered about the store, on the mirrors in the fitting rooms, and on the display shelves.

Empowering women is definitely a central focus at Hot Mama.  Lauren became expressive and emotive when discussing the mission of the store and its employees.  "One of our core values is that we try to create a positive feel-good environment," she enthused.  "It's a place of women encouraging other women."  Paired with their positive disposition is a selection of truly wonderful clothes.  You'll see familiar names like Michael Stars and Autumn Cashmere interspersed with smaller boutique brands.  Quality and individuality oozes from their selection, offering women fantastic "statement pieces" to take home.  

 

One of Hot Mama's hidden talents is their expertise in fitting jeans.  Actually, the whole jeans thing is a nailed-down science!  Lauren explained proudly that when a woman walks into the store, she and her team are immediately able to guess which jeans would fit the best, and they're usually right.  They start a customer with three pairs of jeans they think would offer the best fit and go from there.  They'll be honest, but kind.  Lauren empathizes: "Women sometimes compare jeans shopping to swimsuit shopping.  That's a place that's really vulnerable for women.”  It is the combination of Hot Mama's expertise and humanity make shopping an empowering experience.

  

Lauren has even noticed a change in her own style since beginning at Hot Mama.  

-->"I feel like my personal style has evolved in that I'm so much more an accessories person than I ever was before. You can have a simple outfit, but if you have the right accessories, you can transform the entire look," she explains.  It's just the perfect thing that Hot Mama has wide selection of cute and affordable jewelry and accessories.

 

"Anything else you want the customers to know?" I asked her as we were taking our last sips of coffee and finishing up.  "We are not a maternity store!!!!!!" she answered back without pause, with a great laugh.  Though Hot Mama has plenty of things that a woman could wear in and out of pregnancy, their clothing is not specifically maternity.  Clearly, this means that non-moms are also right at home in Hot Mama.  When it comes down to it, Hot Mama has great pieces and a selection as wide as there are personal styles.  It is absolutely, most definitely, worth a trip to visit.

Bonus Perks:
#1: Animal crackers for kids.
#2: Beer for dads/husbands/boyfriends.
#3: Computer area for all of the above.
#4: Toys for all of the above.

P.S.  For extra fun at Hot Mama, schedule a private shopping party -- everyone in attendance gets 15% off!

My Favorite Things: Clothing

I find that my true love of fashion comes from the feeling I get when I'm wearing something I absolutely adore.  Sometimes it seems that our clothes choose us, and make us into who we are.  How many things do you have laying around?  How many do you actually wear?  I find that I go back to several staple pieces that stay in constant rotation.  Here are some:

I got this skirt from Loft this spring, and I love its classic shape and ability to blend into my wardrobe despite its busy stripes.  It matches with beautiful bright tops, toned-down neutrals, and basic cotton.  For me, it's a classic, and one that I'm holding onto.

I picked this sweater up from Gap later last year.  This thing has gotten more mileage than most of anything in my wardrobe.  Its neutral, not-quite-white color is perfect year round.  It's light enough to stay cool, but heavy enough to keep warm.  Best of all?  The 3/4 sleeves.  Since I always push up my sleeves anyway, this is a perfect match for me.

The classic grey v-neck!  Gosh, what would I do without this?!?  Polished with a pencil skirt, cool and casual with jeans, classic with khaki shorts and sandals.  It's the perfect canvas for any accessory, and it makes the most amazing neutral piece in my wardrobe.  Best of all?  It was $7 from Target!  Granted, it'll probably need to be replaced by the end of the summer, but it's gotten me through a whole year of fashion.

Never have I felt more at home than I do when I'm wearing these jeans.  I've had them for over two years now, and feel like I've JUST gotten them worn in perfectly.  All of the lightening is natural, thank you very much!  The straight leg is SO versatile.  It's not skinny, it's not boot-cut... it's right in the middle.  I love to cuff these with sandals, to roll them with heels (just to expose the littlest bit of ankle), and tuck them into boots for cooler weather.  Again, these were no splurge.  They're from Old Navy!  Their jeans have always done the job for me.  Two years and countless wears later, I think they're going strong for quite some time yet. 

Wardrobe Checklist

Today, I am excited to share with you my wardrobe checklist! I've been working on fine tuning it for a little while now, and I think I've got it down. Many people ask what they need to have in their closet to get by. I made this checklist so that you can assess your current wardrobe or hit the stores with a clear focus in mind. Think of it more as a canvas for you to add your signature touches to. If you have these pieces in your wardrobe, anything that you buy will fit right on in. These pieces are all very versatile and can be mixed and matched. Here it is!


The dark wash jeans are a great medium between formal and casual. They bring a bit of polish to an everyday outfit, but they're still jeans. Just make sure they stay crisp. Once they fade or tear at the hems, they need to go!

 The straight leg jeans are incredibly versatile. For a relaxed look, cuff the bottoms to about 4 inches. Just fold them over once. Since the leg is slim, you can also tuck them into boots during the cooler months. Here is my favorite way to wear mine:

The t-shirts and tanks are integral. These are really going to be pulling a lot of weight for your wardrobe. Since you'll be wearing them frequently, be sure to go for quality. While Forever21 is great for trendy pieces and cheap jewelry, go to J.Crew, Gap, or Loft for these. They're built to last.

Cardigans are perfect! I love them! I suggest in the checklist to have three colors handy, but I have even more in my own wardrobe. These pull double duty between casual and polished. They lend themselves to be accessorized and cover you shoulders when you need some modesty. Perfect with a black dress or over a tank. They will take you far. See how one of my favorite bloggers wears hers here.

A black dress, as you may have heard, is probably the single most versatile piece of clothing that a woman should own. It works the hardest of all, being completely appropriate for a multitude of situations. Any is fine, but make sure it's knee length or a bit longer. I prefer mine to be sleeveless so I can wear it with a cardigan without being bulky. The more streamlined and simple the pattern and silhouette, the more versatile.