870 N. Orleans, (312)751-9220, juneblaker.com [ratings]
Goods: Clothing for men, home accessories, stationery, jewelry, art. Designers: Clothing by Comme des Garcons and Andrea Reynders; stationery by DL & Co.; bags by Parker Ochs; jewelry by Samantha Goldberg, Gillion Carrara and June Blaker herself. Owner: June Blaker closed her Wells Street staple boutique several years ago. As friends and acquaintances continued to ask her for style advice over the years, she reopened in this off-the-beaten-path spot. Vibe: Walking into June’s store is like walking into a casual museum. Functional art pieces are scattered around the shop, jewelry is stored in glass cases and the organized layout of the shop makes it easy to peruse. Price Range: Inexpensive-Luxury. The Look: Whether it’s a dripping step stool, an outdoor log candle, a large heart-shaped necklace or a Japanese t-shirt design, the items in June Blaker aren’t just head-turners. They’re conversation pieces. For the man or woman who wants to saturate their life with art. Shopper’s Perks: Noting that a lot of the goods coming out of Paris have become more commonplace, June jet-sets to Tokyo, Copenhagen and other design-savvy cities to select only the most unique pieces.
UPDATED OCTOBER 2009
