Recent Store Openings: Beautiful Beginnings, Benefit Cosmetics, Dog-A-Holics (Dec 06)

Lincoln Park has been a hotbed of shopping activity for years, but this shopping area around Armitage Avenue is sizzling with hot new stores.

 

Beautiful Beginnings   (Children's Boutique - Lincoln Park)

1840 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL  
312.944.1212
www.shopbeautifulbeginnings.com 

Started by two sisters with 11 kids between them, Beautiful Beginnings has been in Western Springs, IL since 1995. Their second location recently opened in Lincoln Park's Clybourn Corridor, just south of Armitage Ave.  

Step into a shop filled with soft pastel colors, the faint scent of baby powder and gentle lullaby music in the air. Beautiful Beginnings is for higher-end finds and gifts, many of which can be customized. Finely crafted nursery furniture and cribs, the centerpiece of this shop, are of a quality made to get passed down for generations. Great finds are the easy chairs that gently rock both baby and mother to sleep. The chests and dressers are lovely, though pricey at about $450 to $1,000.  

Beautiful Beginnings has dozens of perfect little outfits that might make your tot look like he or she is off for an interview at Wesleyan or Harvard. But so cute! There are also adorable sweaters, corduroys and party clothes at about $90, too rich perhaps for every day, but perfect for that one special outfit for the holidays and birthday parties.  

A wall is dedicated to christening gifts and clothes, with some high-end christening outfits. The most expensive is a $600 dress that the wearer might want to have replicated for her wedding dress.  

This is the place for top-brand strollers like Bugaboo and Baby Jogger, and all things baby – including inspired baby toys, baby carriers, baby skin care, even a MobiCam system for baby's doting parents.

 

Benefit Cosmetics   (Beauty Products - Lincoln Park)

852 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL
773.880.9192
www.benefitcosmetics.com  

If ever there was a post-feminist make-up boutique, it’s Benefit Cosmetics. Started by twin sisters and models in San Francisco, Benefit brought sass and humor to the world of cosmetics. Now part of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, a luxury goods company based in Paris, Benefit Cosmetics is represented at 650 cosmetics counters world-wide.

Benefit recently opened its own girly girl, pink-awning boutique in Lincoln Park. Stacks of pink gift boxes line the windows, perfect for Christmas presents, or presents for oneself. The lighting is soft and soothing. Madonna is playing over the stereo. Definitely for girls! And definitely more relaxing than a department store counter, at this time of year or any time.  

Cosmetic problems are dealt with on one side of the shop, where facial hair is expertly removed or improved by the shop's skilled female staff. Eyebrows are a specialty of Benefit Cosmetics; a brow arch is $18 and a brow tweeze is $20. Body waxing is also available behind curtains, $60 for a first time Brazilian, $45 for a touch up. Arms and underarms are also waxed here. Drop-ins are welcome.

Cosmetic opportunities abound on the other side of the shop, where a complete line of make-up can make the most of that new brow. The expert staff will help you choose what's most flattering to you. Foundation for all skin types is $26, eyeliner $18, high-shine lip gloss $26. There’s a Maybe Baby perfume line and a Dear John facial cream. The packaging is sassy and fun. Benefit Cosmetics plays with the idea that we are all natural beauties – with a little help.  

 

Dog-A-Holics  (Pet Supplies - Lincoln Park)  

904 W. Armitage Ave.
Chicago, IL
773.857.5787  
www.dog-a-holics.com  

Already a veteran of the pet store world, the former manager of Galloping Gourmutts has opened a new pet lover's go-to spot on trendy Armitage Avenue in Lincoln Park.

Located downstairs from the boutique 1154 Lill Studio, Dog-A-Holics carries some of the most unusual merchandise in the pet world.



You know dogs are loved here even before you step through the door – the window spells out WOOF, and the vestibule is full of pictures of dogs available for adoption.  

Now, you may think dressing dogs up in sweaters and coats is silly, but the clothes here are so adorable that all who enter will have a hard time resisting. Be prepared for captivating denim dickies, doggy neck ties, Pink Floyd parody t-shirts, and of course, Cubs coats. Pads to protect paws from the elements are great finds, whether or not they look like the cutest boots.

Aside from the adorable clothes, there are numerous dog treats in the bakery case, many of them, like truffles, based in carob. Plus a refrigerator of cool treats, like salmon paté ice cream and carrot pops. Apparently dogs like carrots – who knew?  

Dog beds can be customized, and collars can be personalized with initials. Some of the items are for the over-the-top owner, like dog “paw”lish (doggy nail polish, of course), hair gel and aromatherapy spray.  

With everything here for the spoiled dog, the best find could be the limited edition, two-foot-high rubber chicken chew toys.  

 

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We recommend checking with stores for product availability, prices and store hours. Suggested prices may change without notice.  SeeMore Shopping is not responsible for errors or omissions.

SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer - C. Magnotta

Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. SeeMoreShopping incurs all expenses associated with reviews.  Publ.  12/17/06