Fashion and Shopping in the U.S.

Going shopping in the U.S can differ from shopping in Europe. I believe the biggest reason for that are shopping malls. I have never been anywhere were shopping malls are as big as here. You can go to a mall and get your lunch, dinner, entertainment, shopping and haircut without leaving the building. The malls here have everything you need. I don’t really prefer shopping in a mall however it is very convenient and you don’t have to worry about the weather.  

Woodfield mall is the biggest shopping center in the Chicago area.  It is located in Schamburg, IL and is super easy to get to with I-90 W/I-94W. In 1973 it was the largest mall in United States. Today it is the fifth largest shopping mall with 27 million visitors per year.  On its 2,700,000 square feet (251,000 m²) the mall features nearly 300 stores and restaurants. This is shopping paradise! What better way to spend a rainy Saturday? And IKEA, which happens to be one of my favorite interior design/furniture stores, is just around the corner.

When you enter Woodfield you might feel a little overwhelmed but just embrace it and take one floor at a time. If you prefer to shop in an even more secluded area, the mall has several different department stores such as Macy’s, JCPenny and Nordstrom. The mall also have some great women’s fashion stores like Anthropologie, Akria, Banana Republic, bebe, H&M, Victoria’s Secret, Forever 21 and True Religion. For shoes you ladies should check out Steve Madden, Lady Foot Locker and Aldo. This is a dream for anyone who loves shopping and you can get all this without having to step outside.

Since I am writing about fashion and shopping in the U.S. this week I’m leaving the Chicago area to go to Wisconsin and the Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets. If you like a good deal and feel that some stores at Woodfield robbed you on your last pennies this is the place to be. Pleasant Prairie features 90 outlets stores such as Coach, Nike and Ralph Lauren and is an hour drive north of Chicago.

The five most popular outlet malls in the U.S.:

Coach Outlet

Sears Outlet

Nike Outlet

Victoria’s Secret

Rooms to go

According to the 2005 census report there were approximately 47,695 shopping malls or shopping centers in the U.S., so there are quite a few to choose from. I can’t be writing about malls and shopping centers without mention the biggest mall in America, with the very appropriate name Mall of America. It is located in Minnesota and is about a seven hour drive from Chicago. This mall has over 400 stores, its own blog and is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Mall of America is like nothing else. It has its own mall campus for high school students and the mall can also brag about being responsible for 5,500 couples exchanging vowels in its Chapel of Love Wedding Chapel. If you are planning a vacation this summer, this mall is the place to go (if you love shopping). There are over 50 hotels located within 10 minutes of the mall so you can go to bed, wake up and start your shopping right away. But don’t expect to have a nice calm shopping time by yourself because Mall of America has between 35-40 million visitors per year. If you are wondering exactly how big this mall is, take a Boeing 747’s airplane, time it by 32 and put them all together; that’s how big it is. As you can imagine the shopping here is amazing. The mall feature all different kinds of stores from Ann Taylor, Bloomingdale’s, Hugo Boss and Burberry to American Apparel, Gap and Levi’s. (Another hint is that there is no sales tax on clothing in Minnesota!) This place is a perfect getaway for a girls' weekend or family vacation. You will find something for everyone here.

The five most popular shopping malls in the U.S.:

Aurora Outlet Mall

Garden State Plaza Mall

Michigan City Outlet Mall

Pentagon City Mall

Somerset Mall

  

As always, enjoy your shopping and keep and extra eye on your purse/wallet when you are in the mall. If you want to find out more about the malls in the U.S. visit this great guide http://www.malls-info.com. Have a nice summer!

/SMEA 

Photo credit: thefuntimesguide.com

Inside of Woodfield Mall

Photo credit: vidular

Fashion and Shopping in Chicago

Photo Credit: Enterprise Wordpress.com

Photo credit: YouLookFab.com

For many shopping and fashion is something boring, unnecessary and time consuming. For others fashion is their passion. I happen to be one of the latter. In Chicago the shopping alternatives are many depending on what kind of mood you are in and what you are looking for. Michigan Avenue is also known as The Magnificent Mile and one of my favorite places not only for the beautiful architecture but for the great shopping. It stretches from North Michigan Avenue to the Chicago Loop in the downtown area of Chicago. The stores on the Magnificent Mile includes NIKETOWN, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue and many more. Although these stores are a little pricey, don’t worry. The Magnificent Mile also includes stores like Forever 21, H&M and Express. At North Bridge, 520 North Michigan Avenue, you can find a variety of stores collected in one place.

State Street is another downtown favorite. Usually if I can’t find what I am looking for on Michigan Avenue I will go straight to State Street since they have the same stores but with different products. H&M, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Charlotte Russe and Akira are all lined up one after another. It is shopping heaven!

My favorite thing about Chicago is all of the different neighborhoods. You can find everything in this city and depending on what el stop you get off at, Chicago will show you a different world. Lincoln Square is a quite hidden little gem right off the Western brown line stop. There you can find amazing clothes and accessories at DLR Clothing and Accessories. My favorite store is Hanger 18 where you can find jewelry, accessories and home décor. It is a perfect store for fun birthday presents or just some new earrings to light up you day with.

Belmont is a cool, relaxed neighborhood and a great place to find cute and authentic things. It is right off the red and brown Belmont el stop. The all time favorite is Belmont Army with its five floors of shopping. This place has something for everybody. Their first floor is filled with fashionable clothes and accessories from brands like Acne and Weekdays (both from Sweden). The second floor is filled with old army/navy suits and outfits. On the third floor you are guaranteed to find the perfect shoes for that dinner party, day in the park or just for a night out on town. The top floor is packed with vintage dresses, shoes, jackets, accessories, and hats. Another beloved store of mine is the Hollywood Mirror. This store is filled with great vintage clothes such as jackets, jeans, skirts and tops. Hollywood Mirror also has a lot of fun and genuine home décor. This store is a must if you are in the neighborhood.

Wicker Park is another amazing neighborhood northwest of the Loop. It offers great shopping for people who knows what they want. At Untitled you can find some great brands like Miss Sixty, Nudie Jeans Co and Obey. The Steve Madden store in Wicker Park is amazing and I always end up buying a new pair of shoes when I go there. Wicker Park is known for its laidback atmosphere and a place where many artists choose to live. It is definitely a place to visit if you want to find great shopping and fashion without the commercial stress you might find on Michigan Avenue.  

After this little tour of Chicago's shopping and fashion, I hope you feel ready to dig in those deep pockets of yours and enjoy the fabulous shopping!

Photo credit: Stina Alverdal

Photo credit: Stina Alverdal

Fashion and Shopping in Albany Park

Fashion is one of my so called interests or activities I guess you could say. I can’t live without it but my economical situation right now doesn’t really allow me to live it all the way out. Albany Park is a neighborhood located in the Northwest side of Chicago, IL and happens to be where my school North Park University is located and where I live. If you never been in Albany Park I’m going to do my best to give you a fair description of this wonderful neighborhood. Albany Park is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the U.S. Actually my zip code is famous for being one of the top ethnical diverse areas in the country. So what can be a better neighborhood to live in for a foreigner like me? Right outside of my window I can see West Lawrence Avenue that stretches from O’Hare Airport to Lake Michigan. You can find the most random things on this street. It is not only filled with different kinds of restaurants and grocery stores but also with clothing stores! Now, if you are picturing nice, big and roomy stores with the latest fashion you are on the wrong track. The fashion on Lawrence is like nothing else. Here you can find everything from turquoise tights and sexy party dresses at Chica’s Secret to “off the shoulder” tops at Discovery Clothing. My all time favorite store is the Village Discount Outlet. It is a thrift store packed with women, men, children and infant clothes as well as shoes, purses and household supplies. It is perfect for people who, like me, enjoy searching for the perfect outfits in a jungle of garments. Here are some tips to make the shopping at the Village a lot easier.

Tip #1: Never bring a purse. Only bring your wallet and put it in your pocket. This place is usually crowded and to be on the safe side only bring things you can hide in places only YOU can access.

Tip #2: Take a cart on your way in, it will make everything a lot easier. This place has a lot of stuff and you need to put it somewhere while you are shopping.

Tip #3: Wear tights and a tight tank top, for your own sake. Here’s the thing: They don’t have any dressing rooms. So if you want to try something on you need to do it in front everyone. Wearing tights and a tight tank top will make it less awkward for everyone when you are trying on that polka dot armless dress.

Tip #4: Always take a close look at the clothes. I know the feeling of finding a real catch just to bring it home and realize there is a huge brown stain on the back, not very fun. So always look for stains, holes and loose seams. As for shoes and purses, don’t buy anything that is too worn out and always look inside of the purses! You don’t want to find an old piece of used gum in the purse after using it for a week.

Take these tips under consideration and enjoy your shopping. The two best parts of thrift store shopping are the unbeatable prices (like the $2 top I happen to be wearing today) and the one of kind pieces you can find.  So check the Village in Albany Park out! The perfect one of a kind outfit is waiting for you.

/ SMEA

West Lawrence Avenue

View of the street

Village Discount Outlet