Neighborhood boutiques Glam-to-Go, Denim Lounge, and Cinnamon along with other small local businesses rallied to fight hunger in Chicago on November 20th in support of Common Pantry Chicago's oldest food pantry. - Elizabeth Aguirre, Couture Contributor



My eyes twinkled with delight when my editor here at UR Chicago invited me to a night of shopping, wine drinking, and cheese eating, all to support a great cause, ending hunger in Chicago. I mean free wine and cheese? You can't beat that. Plus, Roscoe Village boasts some of the most eclectic boutiques in Chicago. Any girl who hopes to find an original look, without looking like they bought their outfit at the Mall of America should definitely take a trip there. Only here could you find upscale boutiques next to cozy down-to-earth pubs and have a great time all the while helping out families in need.



I took it as a good omen that a parking spot appeared half a block away from our first destination. Anyone familiar with the north side of town knows that spots are few and far between. The Christmas lights hanging in the shop windows and from the trees lining the street helped to create a heart warming holiday mood. When your heart is warm, and thoughts of Christmas float in your head, you can't help but to think of ways to be more generous with your time and your money. Common Pantry couldn't have picked better timing for an event such as this. Plus it was after work, and I needed a drink.



The first thing that caught my eye about Glam-to Go, the first store we went to, was the huge glittering Glam-to-Go sign in the window. It was large, loud, and daring pedestrians not to come shop. Their windows were festive, decorated with Christmas lights, pink Christmas trees, and flirty dresses. Immediately after coming in from the cold, my companion and I were offered glasses of wine and encouraged to take pictures. The purple, white, and blue glittering Wonder Woman pictures hanging on the store's bright orange wall caught my eye, and although the store boasted colorful décor, it did not at all detract from the sophistication of the clothes. Glam-to-Go had dozens of well-made dresses, blouses, sweaters, and bags suitable for work and for play. My personal favorite item, (besides the Wonder Woman pictures that weren't for sale), was a black and grey empire waist dress which hung in the window; it was black with non-tacky sequins at the bust, and grey for the remaining body of the dress, made by MM. Couture.



Our next stop was Denim Lounge and it was here that I indulged my obsession for bags and ended purchasing an electric blue Shir Aleah bag while at the same time doing my part to support Common Pantry; I also received a raffle ticket for a drawing later on in the night. Emily Lowder the generous store manager gave me a discount on my bag after hearing me boast of not liking to spend too much money on denim, and encouraged more gluttonous wine drinking while she showed us through the dark blue walled store. There was a gorgeous salt water fish tank in the front, a comfy couch and a large screen TV in the back, and ipod speakers with a place to connect an i-pod on the wall so that you could listen to your i-pod while shopping, the added bonus, they carry mostly every denim brand.



Denim Lounge had more apparel for men than women; carrying hundreds of button ups, t-shirts, and hats, most of which had a graphic design logo on them, both a good and bad thing. Depending on whether or not you're going for the college boy who's ready to "try" a new look out, which is not uncommon in the area. They also carry popular children's brand Madison and Friends, which had adorable graphic tees for babies, that had sayings such as "I can't read" printed on them. However, the store had noticeably less fashionable clothing for women, with the exception of a few select scarves and bags. Be sure to check out the original Denim Lounge that is located in the Gold Coast. There is also an Outlet store near Halsted and Armitage, that's definitely worth checking out.



After leaving Denim Lounge, on our way to Cinnamon Boutique, my companion and I were stopped to talk to none other than Desiree Winkle, president of Common Pantry's board of directors. She reminded us that 15% of everything bought that night was going to provide families not only with food but also personal care items. She also told us how the unique thing about Common Pantry is that clients are allowed to pick and choose their own items just as they would do in a grocery store. I encourage anyone who has not experienced the joy of giving to do so this year. It feels good inside to give to the less fortunate, especially during a time of year when giving thanks is encouraged. 



Roscoe Village is a great place to hang out with friends or family. Their boutiques and shops have a low key sophistication and are kid friendly. If you're in the area, looking to do more than shop for clothes, be sure to check out Sacred Art which carries a wide range of pictures and fun coffee table books or Village Tap which is right in the middle of all the boutiques, also, consider making charitable donations to Common Pantry, as the saying goes, 'Tis better to give than to receive" and we all can use some good karma.