vive la femme Finally, a store has opened for a significant segment of womanhood long unable to find stylish duds in their sizes. Since its opening in spring 2002, vive la femme has carried “truly fashionable” clothes for women sizes 12 and larger. Catering specifically to younger women, who, owner (and onetime Newcity staff member) Stephanie Sack notes, tend to have significant trouble finding junior-style clothes that fit, vive la femme has introduced several new national and international designers—like London’s Anna Scholtz—to the Midwest. With its small, hand-selected and growing collection, vive la femme features everything from studded and flared denim to slip dresses, lingerie and handbags and jewelry specially sized for those with larger frames. These hard-to-find sizes and styles, coupled with a supportive atmosphere— if “you want to say something bad about your body in this store, we don’t want to hear it,” Sack says—make vive la femme a truly unique addition to Chicago’s boutique community.
2048 North Damen (773)772-7429
Audience choice: Smack 1650 West Division Smack is closed
