Shopping Chicago, Online: Jake

We have two favorite clothing stores in Chicago. We've never actually been to either of these stores but have been to their websites more times than we'd like to admit. The first is Jake, which has two locations in the Chicago area. Lest we forget, Jake is having their bi-annual sale right now, with 40% off spring and summer styles and an additional 15% off if you shop online and use the code "xtra15." With the kind of stocklist Jake keeps, you might just need that extra 15%.

The selection, that's equally balanced between men's and women's clothing, features high-end, high-quality brands that are not high-profile enough to be carried in high-end chains (no Martin Margiela here). Brands like Rag & Bone, Mayle, Alexandre Herchcovitch and Band of Outsiders. Look for an interesting mix of casual and formal, avant-garde and fun. You can pick up anything from a fun summer dress to a serious black blazer, a striped polo shirt to a luxurious, work-friendly button-down.

And the denim? There are dozens of styles for men and women that generally ignore the marketed-within-an-inch-of-their-lives denim brands that are in all the magazines and focus on brands from Europe and America that use premium, raw and/or selvedge denim and classic cuts. Brands like PRPS, Rag & Bone, Nudie and Acne.