1814 W. North, (773)489-0818 (women’s flagship store), 1910 W. North, (312)423-6693 (men’s), 1849 W. North, (773)342-8684 (shoes), 2357 N. Clark, (773)404-5826; 122 S. State, (312)346-3034; 643 W. Diversey, (773)649-9257; shop.akirachicago.com [ratings]
Goods: Women’s and men’s clothing, accessories and shoes. Designers: Rock & Republic, Citizens of Humanity, 7 for All Mankind, G-Star Raw, J Lindeberg, Paige Premium Denim; dresses by BCBG, Anna Sui and Betsey Johnson; sunglasses by Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Gucci, Ray-Ban and Dior; shoes by Ted Baker, Creative Recreation, L.A.M.B., Chinese Laundry, Schutz, Adidas and Converse. Owners: College friends Eric Hsueh, Jon Cotay and Erikka Wang began their North Avenue domination with the Akira women’s store in 2002. Now Akira encompasses several different stores all over the city, and 20,000 square feet of retail space on a single street in Bucktown. Vibe: The atmosphere mimics the clothes—it’s young, poppy and vibrant. Clothing is organized by style and designer so you don’t have to mess around. Price Range: Inexpensive-Expensive. The Look: With so many designers, there are so many looks. But a youthful energy shines in feminine prints, bright colors, current trends and designer denim. You can score everything from denim-focused, kick-it gear to an ensemble perfect for sipping martinis at Enclave. Shopper’s Perks: The store’s stylists expertly lead you through “one-stop shopping”—they’re happy to grab shoes or accessories from the other stores to completely finish your look.
