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Finding the perfect way to stash keys, notebooks, and whatever else you tote around (we won't ask) isn't always easy. Some like to saunter through town with a candy-colored Kate Spade, while others prefer to stow their goods in a recycled, fair-trade lunch bag. Between them, our roundup of Chicago stores carry both of those—and clutches made from gold-foil python skin, of course. As always, our map is arranged in a handy north-to-south format, ready for you to shop with ease. Now, carry on.
The Andersonville Galleria houses tons of goods from local and fair-trade vendors, including standout Malia Designs. On the galleria's second floor, the shop sells the full line of bags and accessories. We like the fine silk handbag in teal, and the cute chevron day bags—which are silk-screened by hand in Cambodia. But we love this: every sale helps fight human trafficking. Photo: via Malia Designs
The North Center shop sells bags and accessories from indie and local artists (and bonus: it's a great place to stock up on gifts.) The bag selection includes cutely illustrated lunch bags from Papaya and Alchemy Goods' sleek, urban-style backpacks made from reclaimed inner tubes. Photo: via Facebook
This Southport-corridor mainstay stocks on-trend women's clothing and accessories, and it has a nifty bag collection to match. The inventory includes clutches, wallets, and handbags, and reps labels like Botkier, Laura Merkin, and Elizabeth and James. Photo: via Krista K.
This Lincoln Park shop for custom leather handbags was founded by two Harvard Business School grads, and its inventory is as pin-sharp and stylish as its owners. Choose your own shape (choices run the gamut from envelope clutches to totes and hobos) then embellish away using using everything from "Fool's Gold" leather to pale-pink lining and silver-or-gold hardware. Photo: via Facebook
The go-to spot for "handbag parties," 1154 Lill Studio lets shoppers design their own bags. There are more than 40 styles of bags to choose from and more than 130 types of fabrics to over, and the styles are tailored in Chicago and delivered in four weeks. Photo: via 1154 Lill Studio
This Wicker Park boutique stocks an artful assortment of leather goods. Its bag selection includes stylishly worn totes from Sandrine, Botkier's Valentina satchels with dainty, gold-plated hardware, and slim briefcases from KNOMO Lodnon. Photo: via Stitch
The Brazilian handbag designer Diego Rocha does Chicago's fashion scene proud. Working from his luxe Gold Coast studio—which also serves as a retail space—Rocha whips up striking designs using electric-blue crocodile, gold-foil python, and Kelly-green ostrich skins. Photo: via Diego Rocha
You're probably aware that The Frye Company, which just opened on Rush Street, carries some drop-dead gorgeous boots. But don't forget about its cool array of leather bags, which include the hand-studded Deborah and the perfect-for-October Skull Stud shoulder bag. Insider's tip: the store has a delicious leather smell that will make you want to linger. Odd, but true. Photo: via The Frye Company
In the Water Tower Place, the Chicago outpost of New York's glamorous department store is devoted entirely to accessories. Bags include chic, shrunken-leather totes, studded and quilted barrel bags in bright purple, and a satchel bearing the signature brown-and-white Henri Bendel stripes. Photo: via Henri Bendel
Like any top-notch department store—and yes, there are several fabulous ones in Chicago—Nordstrom carries a staggering array of designer handbags. There are styles from Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, and so many more A-list designers. But it's the in-store Louis Vuitton boutique—mixed with Nordstrom's famously awesome customer service— that really gets us carried away here. Photo: via Nordstrom
The Andersonville Galleria houses tons of goods from local and fair-trade vendors, including standout Malia Designs. On the galleria's second floor, the shop sells the full line of bags and accessories. We like the fine silk handbag in teal, and the cute chevron day bags—which are silk-screened by hand in Cambodia. But we love this: every sale helps fight human trafficking. Photo: via Malia Designs
The North Center shop sells bags and accessories from indie and local artists (and bonus: it's a great place to stock up on gifts.) The bag selection includes cutely illustrated lunch bags from Papaya and Alchemy Goods' sleek, urban-style backpacks made from reclaimed inner tubes. Photo: via Facebook
This Southport-corridor mainstay stocks on-trend women's clothing and accessories, and it has a nifty bag collection to match. The inventory includes clutches, wallets, and handbags, and reps labels like Botkier, Laura Merkin, and Elizabeth and James. Photo: via Krista K.
This Lincoln Park shop for custom leather handbags was founded by two Harvard Business School grads, and its inventory is as pin-sharp and stylish as its owners. Choose your own shape (choices run the gamut from envelope clutches to totes and hobos) then embellish away using using everything from "Fool's Gold" leather to pale-pink lining and silver-or-gold hardware. Photo: via Facebook
The go-to spot for "handbag parties," 1154 Lill Studio lets shoppers design their own bags. There are more than 40 styles of bags to choose from and more than 130 types of fabrics to over, and the styles are tailored in Chicago and delivered in four weeks. Photo: via 1154 Lill Studio
This Wicker Park boutique stocks an artful assortment of leather goods. Its bag selection includes stylishly worn totes from Sandrine, Botkier's Valentina satchels with dainty, gold-plated hardware, and slim briefcases from KNOMO Lodnon. Photo: via Stitch
The Brazilian handbag designer Diego Rocha does Chicago's fashion scene proud. Working from his luxe Gold Coast studio—which also serves as a retail space—Rocha whips up striking designs using electric-blue crocodile, gold-foil python, and Kelly-green ostrich skins. Photo: via Diego Rocha
You're probably aware that The Frye Company, which just opened on Rush Street, carries some drop-dead gorgeous boots. But don't forget about its cool array of leather bags, which include the hand-studded Deborah and the perfect-for-October Skull Stud shoulder bag. Insider's tip: the store has a delicious leather smell that will make you want to linger. Odd, but true. Photo: via The Frye Company
In the Water Tower Place, the Chicago outpost of New York's glamorous department store is devoted entirely to accessories. Bags include chic, shrunken-leather totes, studded and quilted barrel bags in bright purple, and a satchel bearing the signature brown-and-white Henri Bendel stripes. Photo: via Henri Bendel
Like any top-notch department store—and yes, there are several fabulous ones in Chicago—Nordstrom carries a staggering array of designer handbags. There are styles from Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Tory Burch, and so many more A-list designers. But it's the in-store Louis Vuitton boutique—mixed with Nordstrom's famously awesome customer service— that really gets us carried away here. Photo: via Nordstrom
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