UPDATE: As of October 2009, Hip Fit is closing.
1513 W. Foster, (773)878-4447, hipfitchicago.com
Goods: Women’s and men’s clothing, belts, jackets. Designers: Loyal Army, Level 99, LTB Jeans, Heavy Rotation, Threadless tees and Neves belts. Owner: As a child, Jennifer Rozenberg toddled around her mom’s secondhand clothing store; she then spent years working in retail before opening her own shop. Vibe: With a massive wall of Polaroids behind the counter, a green shag carpet and a funky orange table supported by cinderblocks, the tiny shop has a DIY feel that’s unselfconsciously edgy. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate. Recently re-opened as an off-price retailer. The Look: Decked out in an army tank, cowboy hat and perfectly battered jeans, hop on your bike and head to some little-known dive bar in Rogers Park. Shopper’s Perks: The shop is known for funky belt buckles that can add pizzazz to the standard tee-and-jeans combo. And they sell Vling’s recycled vinyl jewelry in all different shapes.
UPDATED May 2009