Chicago Retailers

Munchkin Land (*)
Hinsdale, IL

Founded in 1987 and located in its present location for over three years, Munchkin Land delivers unique children’s clothing in a shabby-chic environment decked out with chandeliers, white wooden floors and pink, blue and white furniture. While owner Graceann Martin still stocks her shelves with clothing from new designers and avoids the brands large department stores offer, she’s noticed that customers are shopping differently for the new school season. Rather than stockpiling new items in advance, “People are buying clothes as they need them,” she reported.

The Red Balloon (~)
Chicago, IL

With the busy mom in mind, The Red Balloon—which has two locations in the Bucktown and Andersonville neighborhoods—makes sure to offer “unique brands that are parent-friendly,” said buyer and store manager Ciara McDonagh. The stores offer clothes that can withstand a playful child and don’t require dry cleaning. McDonagh works hard to provide her customers with new brands at low prices for back-to-school shopping, since moms have become more price-conscious. “They want to shop at a boutique but at an affordable price and be able to throw [the clothing] into the wash twice a week and have it look good,” she said.

LMNOP (#)
Chicago, IL

When shopping with her two boys, Adriene Booth found the same typical apparel every time. Her answer? LMNOP, a boutique she opened 10 years ago to provide boys with more variety. Her shop provides “kid-appropriate and interesting” clothing for both sexes in its open 2,000-square-foot space, where parents can shop with strollers while their children amuse themselves in a play area. Booth swaps her broad selection of apparel from summer to fall in early August to accommodate back-to-school shoppers. “My biggest fall month is now August instead of September,” she explained. “People start asking [about back-to-school] at the end of July.”

Infants/Toddlers

* Bebemonde: blue tiered silk dresses with matching ruffled capris
* Little Mass: Wild at Heart black and white striped drop-waist dresses with hot pink crinoline skirts
* Kaiya Eve: baby’s first tutus in pink and one-pieces in hot pink gift boxes
~ Kicky Pants: bamboo fabric footsies and coveralls in solids hues of moss, chocolate and orchid
~ Egg by Susan Lazar: cotton cap-sleeve swing tops in ivory with small pink, brown and gray polka dots and coordinating wide-leg khaki pants
~ Kids Ink: short-sleeve cotton henley rompers with surfboard/beach motifs
# Bakker, Made With Love: brown and blue cotton voile botanical-print bubble rompers
# City Threads: green T-shirts with vending machine imagery
# Paper Wings: heather gray ruffle-sleeve dresses with fairy and elf prints

Girls 4 to 6X

* Halabaloo: navy sleeveless A-line dresses with chambray ruffle skirts
* Eliane and Lena: gray ruffle-hem pleated cotton A-line dresses
* Le Pink: pink silk halter-style sheath dresses with roses and a ruffled front
~ Stella Industries: denim leggings
~ Kit and Lili: cotton dresses with original patterns or bold solids
~ Daily Tea: cotton printed dresses in seasonal colors
# Siaomini: blue and tan gingham bubble shorts
# Imoga: crinkle cotton sundresses in a red and white flower print
# Tumble & Dry: short-sleeve zip-up cardigans with a red-on-red sheep print

Boys 4 to 7

* Fore!! Axel & Hudson: long, golf-inspired shorts in orange and white plaid with matching orange argyle polos
* Mish Mish: long knit pull-on shorts with unfinished hems and blue cotton tees with guitar graphics
* Wild Mango: ivory short-sleeve tees with rock guitarist graphic with the phrase “I Am The Future”
~ Little Traveler: vintage-inspired cotton “Chicago” baseball tees
~ City Threads: pull-on cotton twill pants and shorts with contrast stitching and cargo pockets
# Nano: green-on-green striped raw-edge polos with robot prints
# Mish Mish: tan and blue plaid shorts

Girls 7 to 14

* Kiddo: black and white striped sleeveless dresses with full, black chambray skirts with big black button details
* Truly Me: jersey knit maxi dresses in green, gold and hot pink watercolor patterns with wooden beads at the neckline
* Le Pink: white knit sheath sundresses with a full fringe of silver sequins
~ LA Made: lavender ruffled rompers and tunics with a purple heart print
~ Imoga: cotton/spandex-blend shadow dresses with a skirt featuring gray and citrus green panels that can be worn with either color in front
~ Sophie Catalou: cotton knit tiered skirts in aqua and purple with matching tees
# Splendid Littles: neon yellow and turquoise striped racer-back tank tops
# Bakker, Made With Love: long-sleeve cotton voile peasant blouses in a multicolor floral print
# LA Made: knit Bermuda shorts in charcoal and dusty blue

Boys 8 to 20

# Volcom: turquoise T-shirts with brain scan imagery
# Monster Republic: bright yellow Bob Marley tees
# Eliane & Lena: railroad-stripe cargo shorts

Accessories/Gifts

* Playhouse: black stone sandals
* Fore!! Axel & Hudson: black or cream hats
* Sweet Looks: sparkly, resin-based jewelry
~ Pediped: soft-sole Mary Janes in metallic pink or silver; brown fisherman sandals
~ Livie & Luca: green sandals with pink flowers; lavender Mary Janes with bird embroidery
~ Four Peas: personalized backpacks, lunch bags and rolling suitcases
~ Pea Soup: ponytail holders and pinch clips
~ Aden + Anais: muslin swaddling blankets in a variety of colors
# Booth Child: pompom flower necklaces
# Solo Time: watches
# Hexbugs: miniature robotic bugs
# Fidoodle: organic animal plush toys