Residents of Beverly/Morgan Park are fond of referring to their historic neighborhood on the South-west Side as “the village in the city.”
Nowhere is that more apparent than in the 9900 block of South Walden Parkway just steps from the Metra train station. It looks like a little slice of suburbia with an urban edge.
Ms. Priss, a stylish women’s clothing boutique is nestled in at 9915 just past Floral Designs on 99th (9911), a shop redolent of flowers and scented candles, and Reading on Walden (9913), an independent bookstore.
Beverly native Stephanie Colson, known to her family as Ms. Priss since childhood, founded the shop with her husband, Paul, two years ago. Previously, she worked in sales for a brewing company and logged time in a North Side boutique for the retail experience.
She stocks high-end apparel in sizes 2 to 18 for customers who usually stop in when they need an outfit for a special dinner, party or simply a night out.
“My clients are mostly moms looking for something that will make them feel beautiful that night,” said Colson, the mother of 6-month-old Sophia.
What they find are dresses and separates by Nanette Lepore, Poleci, Parameter, Sanctuary, BCBG, Free People and Bianca Nero. Jeans are by Seven and Billy Blues. Silver and pearl jewelry is by Juliet, a local craftswoman.
Colson even carries one-of-a-kind baby clothes hand-knit by various older women, including one in Maine, who like to create wee sweaters and caps for newborns.
Take a stroll down scenic Longwood Drive with its rolling green lawns and stately mansions and head to the northeast corner of 103rd and Wood Streets for a strip of three more businesses founded by women.
B. Watson Millinery at 1826 W. 103rd St. is the airy province of Bobbie Watson, a veteran of some 25 years as an advertising media buyer. After Watson lost her job in cutback, she wanted a change of pace. Watson took two semesters of classes at the Fashion Academy downtown and apprenticed at a Tennessee hat factory to learn to weave straw on a machine to form the skeleton of a hat.
“I love to make hats from scratch like the old milliners,” Watson said. A big advantage is that Watson will custom-make hats to fit clients’ head sizes, smaller or larger than the usual 22 1/2-inch size carried by most retail stores.
She offers hats for fall in felt, chenille, velvet and leather, carefully watching fashion shows and reading magazines to keep up with trends.
She also carries handbags, and is branching out into wedding gowns and headgear.
Prices range from $85 to $400. For example, a black and gray leopard print large-brimmed fedora was selling for $225, while a navy chenille modified fedora was priced at $95.
If you need a suit or dress to go with your hat, stop in next door at Envy Chicago (1824 W. 103rd St.), where owner Tiana Wo-odard, a self-described “clotheshorse,” stocks women’s clothing for work and play. Woodard, a former banking manager, said her focus is on trendy clothing for working women that is “affordable yet competitive with stores in the mall.”
Woodard, who has a degree in market-ing and fashion merchandising, buys her lines from all over the country and carries a range of sizes from 2 to 22. Shirts average $50; pants $60; and suits under $150.
She carries products from three local designers–ponchos and knits from Dou-blestitch by Erika and Monika Simmons; jewelry by Shades of Ebony; and eelskin handbags by Shatira.
Clients, she said, can count on personal attention (“I like to help people look bet-ter”), alterations, shopping by appointment and even delivery of clothing placed on hold.
Tessa Klingler in May opened JTAime Soulier at 1818 W. 103rd St., a branch of her long-time shoe store at 5400 W. Madison St. It’s a narrow, bright kaleidoscopic storefront, that caters to women who want colorful sandals, stilettos and boots ranging in price from $30 to $300. The makers are private labels. Klingler also carries handbags, belts, jewelry and a selection of dresses and ponchos.
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