What’s cool to wear this fall? These fashionable finds at Evanston’s favorite boutiques
Step into these Evanston shops for the latest in apparel, accessories and gifts for everyone on your list.
Fall is in full swing and Evanston boutiques are brimming with cozy knits (including socks!) in rich autumn hues and bright primary colors. Get a jump on the holidays and shop these favorite local retailers for everything from fair-trade fashion and artisan-made accessories to bags, jewelry and accent pillows.
Madison Grace, 612 Davis St.
Buttery soft knits are in this fall, in the form of sweaters that work for any age, says Angelica D’Costa, Madison Grace owner.
“Cardigans are super popular right now, and we are selling ultra soft, fuzzy cardigans in all different colors,” she says. “Our main customer is in their 40s and 50s, but the cool thing is that all ages are gravitating towards the cardigan trend.”
She adds that students love that you can throw them over anything, but you also can dress them up for work. “We have people buying them for interviews, things like that, too,” she says.
The color brown is also having a moment, and it’s the perfect color for fall going into winter, D’Costa explains. Specifically, chocolate brown is showing up in soft sweaters, handbags and boots.
D’Costa says denim is always a popular staple, especially in a college town, where students combine form and fashion with an eye on what’s trendy. Madison Grace jeans are attainable, she explains, with most pairs under $100. Our denim is super stretchy and really comfortable,” she says. “We can fit all heights and body types, and the straight leg, wide leg, and flare styles are what’s trending.”
Finally, D’Costa adds that on Friday, Nov. 21, the week before Black Friday, she will be hosting a “Pink Friday” event at Madison Grace. The Pink Friday initiative was started five years ago by The Boutique Hub to encourage shoppers to discover and support small retailers first during the holiday season.
Gather: Consciously Curated, 1509 Chicago Ave.
Formerly Ten Thousand Villages, Evanston, Gather: Consciously Curated is offering a great selection of summer-into-fall items such as long dresses, as well as a rack of cozy alpaca/acrylic-blend socks that co-manager Hannah Wymer says, “sell by the handfuls.”
She adds that they carry a wide selection of Conscious Step socks, which are made by a nonprofit that works with other nonprofits to support social justice causes such as mental health and LGBTQ. For SpongeBob SquarePants fans, Gather offers a Conscious Step sock featuring Patrick Starfish that helps protect oceans.
A popular feature at Gather is the rotating sale rack, which is updated regularly with most items set at $50.
Under the category of just-for-fun are the very popular alpaca “stuffies” which are selling fast with young adults and students. “Somebody was in here last week, a mom and a daughter, and they sat on the floor, they pulled them all out and felt them until they chose what they thought was the plushest one,” Wymer says.
Wymer explains that not only does Gather sell Ten Thousand Villages fair trade products, they also carry 70 other fair-trade vendors in the store. She says that approximately 95 percent of all merchandise is fair trade, while the rest are social justice B or C corps companies that they feel confident in their vetting process.
Lastly, while not in stock yet, Wymer says she is very excited about an incoming selection of new scarves.
“We have a new company coming in and while the scarves aren’t here yet, they’re really loud and bright, and I can’t wait to get them in because they’re really fun.”
Gracie’s, 1929 Central St.
If you’ve visited Gracie’s, you have likely admired the rainbow of colorful ponchos in three price points ranging from $54 (wool/acrylic) to $88 (cotton/cashmere) to $148 (all cashmere). Store stylist Myrna Weinman says this item is Gracie’s biggest seller.
“This item is popular because it’s fantastic as a piece to own and then also as a piece to give as a gift, because it doesn’t have a size,” Weinman says. “Plus, they come in so many bright, fun colors and can be worn different ways, even as a scarf.”
For fall, Weinman says that barrel leg pants are trending. Basically, the legs flare slightly outward from the thigh and then narrow toward the ankle. Straight, wide legs are also popular, and overalls, which she says are a huge seller.
Another signature piece Weinman says is incredibly popular for summer, fall and even into the holidays is a dress she described as “the expandable dinner dress.” These colorful sleeveless dresses, made by an Australian company Alquema, are made of a lightweight, and yes, reversable satin. Even better, they have pockets.
“It’s gorgeous, and we call it the expandable dinner dress because no matter what you have for dinner, it’s going to look fantastic,” Weinman says. “Imagine if you’re going on a weekend trip. You wear it with a denim jacket and boots and then, for a night out, you turn it inside-out, put on fancy shoes in your bag and you have a second outfit!”
She adds that you can also layer a cashmere sweater over the dress and you have a fabulous holiday skirt.
Alicia Mohr, 2014 Central St.
At Alicia Mohr, from the moment you walk in, it’s all about bright colors, from apparel to accessories to home goods, including pillows.
“We have historically had entire pillow walls to help customers incorporate color inspiration into their homes,” Mohr explains. “This year has been a year of neutrals, but I think we’re coming out of that, I hope!”
While her store has a clearly youthful vibe (think pinks, sequins, slogan-adorned accessories and Swiftie bracelets), Mohr says many of her pieces transcend generations.
In her first location at Old Orchard, where she also has a pop-up boutique open through Dec. 31, Mohr says she saw a lot of mother-daughter shopping pairs coming in, where both people were looking for things for themselves but wanting to enjoy the store together.
“I feel like this model in some ways might not be very traditional, but we do cater to both age groups and I think it’s really nice when you’re shopping together to find stuff for both of you in the same store.”
One example is a faux leather blouson jacket that Mohr says caters to both teenagers and adults. “This jacket is one of those trends that I think is really penetrating the fashion scene this year,” she says.“The difference between this and a bomber jacket is the extra blousing, which stylizes it and makes it a little more feminine and relaxed.” She adds that there has been a dramatic increase in the quality of faux leather, and she prefers faux leather, and it holds up well.
Another popular item is the cropped trench coat, which Mohr says is in every major retailer.
“Some people call it a short trench, but it’s a different take on the trench coat because I feel like trench coats historically have been more about the spring.”
Finally, Mohr says that the bohemian (boho) dress trend has now taken on an edgier bent, with more glam that she’s seen in the past.
“It’s like crossing into that territory of a dressier version, and more like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City.”
As for what’s coming next? “You’ll see 24/7 sequins, which means you’ll also see them during the day, which I love,” Mohr says. “Fringe is another one. We are big on fringe.”
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