Tucked away on Chicago’s so-called “forgotten block” on the city’s north side lies the Sir & Madame Boutique–harvesting offerings of fine clothes for both men and women who opt for a more classic style, “with a twist”.
With an old-style English typewriter and a bookshelf adorned with some of Shakespeare’s greatest, like Othello and Macbeth, one could easily feel as though they have been transported back in time. Yet the cool beats of hip hop playing in the background quickly bring one back to reality, helping to explain just what that “twist” might be.
Brian Merritt, who owns the store along with his wife Autumn, says that the boutique offers an urban take on an outdated look.
“We’re going for that ‘heritage’ feel and we translate that through the fabrics we use,” he explains. “It’s classic but fun. Not everyone likes to dress in suits like their dad.”
Sir & Madame boutique carries a number of different lines, boasting that all–except one– are made in the USA (“There’s problems all across the world. Why not help us out here?”).
Sifting through the racks of clothes, one brand called “Cheap Monday” seems to outnumber the rest. Or maybe it was the brand that caught my eye the most. Either way, this UK-based brand truly brought that sense of “London” and British style to the boutique.
Leather, suede and wool were the big three when it came to choices in fabric. And don’t expect to find any of those thin, cute-but-not-warm sweaters in this line for the fall collection–which is especially important for those not-so-warm Chicago autumns and winters.
Brian says that the inspiration for this particular fall collection is “Town and Country”–a lot of tweeds and flannels. They have also incorporated the never-dying trend of military and naval styles.
A button-down, army green “militaria dress” catches my eye as Brian shows me his favorite pieces from the collection. That dress along with a cream-colored poncho-style sweater with dark brown trimmings were at the top of his list. They were high on my list, too.
A pair of black, suede cropped overalls also catch my attention–once again exhibiting that technique of taking an old look and updating it.
That’s what Sir & Madame seems to be able to do impeccably–and Cheap Monday’s line for the fall/winter proves perfect for the classic-loving Chicagoan.
“Because we’re such a classic store but we have that urban, fun kind of thing–we’re trying to redefine street wear and urban wear in general,” says Brian as he fiddles with the buttons on his own Sir & Madame brand black and red flannel.
And the prices are not that bad, if you are willing to spend $40 on a floral leaf tank or $65 on a pair of ankle stretch jeans. Clearly, it’s the quality you’re spending money on–not the name.
But that’s not to say that the boutique–now only going on it’s fifth year–will surely make a name for itself in the fashion world of Chicago in years to come.
For these and more trendy styles, you can shop online here at http://www.sirandmadame.com.
Sources
Brian Merritt, boutique owner