Gals' Guide

My Disappointment with Crate & Barrel Hello, Room & Board

This tip comes in the form of being the consumer and taking control of your wallet and decisions...

I had a series of meetings today and snuck in time to meet Michael for lunch at Fleming's (by the way, they just opened for lunch and I was pleasantly surprised).  After my usual stroll in to the Apple store to look at gadgets and check email, I decided to stop in Crate & Barrel and check out some wine racks. We've been shopping for a wine rack for some time now and I thought, 'Heck, I'll snap some photos, show them to Michael at lunch and chat about styles, price, etc.'  Little did I know that a harmless action would result in my current dismay for the home staple known as Crate & Barrel. 

I took a picture of one wine cabinet, was about to take one of another piece, when a Crate & Barrel employee told me, 'You can't take pictures in the store, go online'. Let's get this straight. You have a consumer that is hunting for items for her home, has a camera phone, is in market and you tell her to 'go online'. Nice marketing move. Perfect.   Now let yours truly tell you why I, along with the bulk of my friends think you are wrong.

Let's start with Room & Board's designer who told me, 'Sure take all the pictures you want'.
(the infamous picture that C&B said no to)

Exclusive SheBang Discount!20% Off For GG Readers

You may already know about the uber successful local boutique, SheBang.  Located on the Damen boutique corridor, SheBang specializes in unique and hard to find accessories (handbags, hair pieces, jewelry, etc.).

Guess what? Thru the MONTH of JULY, you can shop online and receive 20% off all orders. This isn't just for Chicago ladies - anyone with a 'net connection can shop and enjoy the discount. Enter code 'galsguide' at checkout. What's even better? A portion of all proceeds goes towards Dress for Success.

Save money. Buy cool stuff. Help women at the same time. What's not to love, ladies?

How cute is this bag?

Bed Bath & Beyond Coming to the S. Loop

To ladies living in or planning on coming to my neck of the woods, Chicago's South Loop, a Bed Bath & Beyond is coming in soon.

The BBB will be located on Roosevelt road, close to the new Home Depot, Best Buy and soon-to-be 16 screen movie theater.

Zara Old Orchard Mall (Skokie) Opens September 20!

As we all anticipate the countdown to Zara coming to the Chicagoland area, yours truly' has been keeping in touch with the folks at Old Orchard Mall.

I got a call today with the update from Zara...they are slated to open their Skokie doors on September 20. I say slated because you never know what happens with construction, permits, etc. As always, I'll keep you posted.

Warning, it will be CRAZY on their opening day, but if you want to take the day off and shop with me, let me know. I'm organizing an expedition out there to witness it.

Michigan Avenue Shopping Take Public Transportation:Believe You Me!

I have not shopped on the "Magnificent Mile" in awhile  and will be heading out there this weekend.

Although I try not to shop on the weekends, living closer to Evanston has limited me to go to Michigan Ave. compare to going quite often during the week when I used to live in the South Loop in graduate school.

Pssst - More Chicago Shopping News

The Michigan Avenue shopping mecca  will have some serious competition on State Street. There is plenty of shopping to do on State Street today, but things are getting even better!

Puma just signed a deal to go into the new Block 37 space and Zara is CLOSE to signing a deal in that building, too. My favorite store on earth, Apple, is another retailer about to clinch space at Block 37 as well.

Across the street from Block 37 sits the old Carson Prairie Scott locale. FlatTop Grill and Fox Obel are the latest businesses to sign leases.

What does this mean for you? Well, a movie theater is also planned for Block 37, which is well situated near all major train and bus lines. You can work downtown and easily shop, eat and relax before heading up the CTA to head home.  Heck, if your gym is at work or near downtown, you can get that run in, shower up and meet the ladies for some fun in the heart of the city.

Tips to Help You Shop at Discount Meccas...and Avoid Long Lines and Messy Hangers

I needed to do some discount shopping this weekend and remembered why I don't like shopping on weekends. The clothes on the floor and misplaced shoe boxes are OK, but if you aren't in the right mindset for the Weekend Warriors of discount shopping, good luck to ya. I decided to put my hunting on hold and get some inside scoop with the ladies that worked at some stores around town...

The gal at Marshall's told me that Monday mornings are the slowest.

The other gal at Forever 21 told me that Wednesday mornings are terrific AND shipments come in on Wednesdays...and are on the floor by Thursday. Forever 21 is HUGE and almost too big.  It's tempting to spend along here, but ladies, remember...the clothes quality is not going to last you a long time.  An ideal store for cheap beach dresses, tank tops and shirts to wear tonight. However, you gotta love how fast Forever 21 makes designer knock-offs: Anna Sui, Gwen Stefani and Diane von Furstenberg all sued the chain at one point.

Another tip:

Starting WEDNESDAY MAY 21, NORDSTROM IS HAVING THEIR ANNUAL HALF YEARLY SALE.

Cough cough, I hope some of you don't get 'sick' come Wednesday:)

Zara Hitting Chicago SuburbsWith Mag Mile Locale in the Works...

If you've been to Europe, New York City or Dallas, you know who Zara is.  Based in Spain, Zara's transformed the fashion world from a 'lean machine perspective'.  The Zara business model is so efficient that Harvard conducted a case study on them.  The folks at Westfield  Group (they own malls) are bringing Zara to the Old Orchard Shopping Mall in Skokie: Fall 2008.

I can go on and on about how terrific these clothes are.  Imagine a higher end H&M - the clothes last longer, are made well and you have a slim chance of looking like someone else.  Why? Because Zara makes and ships the clothes INTERNALLY so fast that new stuff will be on the shelf quicker than you can say SALE.A Michigan Avenue location is on the plan, too, however, there is a lawsuit pending with the current tenants. Until that's resolved, we will have to go to Skokie to do some shoppin'.

Fine by me! Welcome to Chicago, Zara!!