Second US Topshop location to hit Chicago this fall!

It's official fashion boys and girls, Topshop is coming to the windy city of Chicago. It hasn't been a full 3 years since the British retailer launched it's first US location in the trendy SoHo neighborhood of New York, that they've decided to expand out west. The store is set to take the place of an old Borders location on North Michigan Avenue that spans a nice 30,000 square feet.

I'm sure you guys aren't unfamiliar with the mega-brand, but just in case you are...Topman and Topshop have both gained global recognition from the launch of the New York location, as well as their presence before that in London. The brother and sister brands provide a wide range of trendy and fashion-forward apparel, accessories, and little knick-knacks like make-up, skin care products, and fragrances. Basically, your one-stop-shop for all the hip and trendy fashion must-haves.

True Vintage

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Vintage. Everyone has that T-shirt they picked up at that funky store in Paris or maybe those jeans that fit perfectly that are from 1979. But if you haven't noticed, although it maybe have been previously worn, it sometimes isn't any cheaper. And while I personally love finding a dress that you know no one has or a bizarre old handbag, I certainly don't want to pay any more than I have to for something that was formerly owned. So, this weekend, I decided to check out some true vintage à la Goodwill. No matter where you live, the trick to finding a good one is by going to the ritziest neighborhood that houses a location. In New York, I found Louis Vuitton luggage at their West 79th St. location and their Third Avenue store had awesome beaded and sequined skirts circa the 1960s. There's also a huge mega-Goodwill in Harlem on 5th Avenue that I'm sure will have everything from godawful sweaters to wearable treasures. If you want to skip digging through racks of Wrangler jeans, then try Housing Works. With several locations in the New York City area, this chain of stores takes high-end donations and donates the proceeds to people living with HIV/AIDS. I found three Dianne von Furstenburg dresses, a Chloe suit, and a Dolce & Gabbana coat that were all under $100. Don't live in the New York area? No worries. Try Double Exposure, a high-end consignment shop with bargain base prices in Chicago, Jet Rag in LA, or Garage Sale in Boston if you're in need of furniture instead of clothing. So forget paying vintage prices for things that you know good and well still shouldn't be in the triple digits. It may take a bit longer to find a gem, but the savings are certainly worth it.

Lazy Afternoon? Leave it to the Pros

After the Oscars, it always feels as if Hollywood is just biding it's time until summer for some decent movies to hit theaters. (Madea Goes to Jail has been at the top of the box office for a past several weeks. I rest my case.) Well, forget new movies, what about old ones? In major cities around the country, theaters are revitalizing classic films that haven't seen theaters in several decades. So no worries--you won't have to spend your afternoon debating whether to see Jonas Brothers 3D out of pure boredome or resort to enduring Julie Roberts flashing her teeth at Clive Owen. You can have a chic, retro afternoon almost any weekday or weekend. Here are just a few films that will be out over the next week (check local listings).
New York: Leave Her to Heaven (1946); Gene Tierney, Vincent Price; Film Forum Ellen Berent has a tragic flaw--she loves too much. As her nerosis begins to unravel her marriage, and all the men she's ever loved, the film probes the merits of life and death. Martin Scorsese calls it "a film noir in color."
Los Angeles: Rear Window (1954); Grace Kelly, James Stewart; ArcLight Cinemas Laid up with a bad leg, L.B. Jefferies resort to spying on his neighbors until one day he witnesses something he wishes he hadn't seen. One of Alfred Hitcocks' most famous and frightening films.
Chicago: Portrait of Jenny (1948); Joseph Cotton, Jennifer Jones; Normal Theater A struggling artist encounters a mysterious girl in a New York park on a foggy evening. You can imagine what ensues.