Everyday Luxury at Kaveri in Lincoln Park
Kaveri Satpathy tries her best to make sure that her eponymous boutique offers women the best shopping experience possible. “I feel that boutique shopping is a way for women to relax away from their husbands and kids. Like going to a spa, it might not be an absolute necessity, but it offers women a time and place to pay undivided attention to themselves."
Although Kaveri stocks many of the same labels as other Chicago stores, she differentiates herself by going above and beyond for her clientele. “My staff and I will spend as much time as needed with customers, going through the racks and helping them choose what works best; and we will do special orders if necessary.”
The boutique has made a name for itself with its ultra-helpful staff and welcoming atmosphere. “My number one priority is listening to what women want and catering to their needs.” Many of her customers are also her neighbors. “Lots of our customers are locals who were happy to see us open, because now they don’t have to go to Michigan Avenue for their favorite brands.”
Kaveri chose to locate her shop on Webster Avenue in Lincoln Park because it’s an excellent environment – close to the hustle and bustle of the Halsted and Armitage retail areas, but on a quieter street that lends a relaxed, unhurried feeling to the shopping experience.
Part of the reason that Kaveri knows her customers so well is because she’s also a Lincoln Park local. From Detroit, where she had been working in public relations and marketing after earning her MBA, she moved to Chicago in order to start her own business.
“I wanted to work for myself in a field that I enjoyed,” she says, “and I’ve been a boutique shopper my whole life, so I wanted to incorporate everything that I look for as a customer into my own store.” But owning a boutique "isn’t just an excuse to go shopping, it’s running a small company.” It is this business-first mindset that has led to Kaveri’s success. “I always remember that I have to buy for my customers, not myself, and people have different needs, figures, and lifestyles.”
However, she does wear many of the labels she carries. “My personal style is simple and classic. I mostly do solid colors, but every now and again I’ll wear something crazy with a loud print because it’s fun to put on a dress with big flowers and bright colors, like the Nieves Lavi styles I carry.”
She also likes classic pieces by Rag & Bone, Tory Burch, Alex Gaines, and Generra. “I admire the way that Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Aniston, and Nicole Kidman dress; they don’t wear anything too complicated but they always look great.”
Some of Kaveri’s most popular recent items have been Park Vogel dresses, tops by Ulla Johnson (of Project Runway fame), and a classic trench by Rag & Bone. “Angelina Jolie wore it in Vogue and we just can’t keep it in stock, but we are getting it in both navy and a beige plaid for next fall. People in Lincoln Park also really love Tory Burch, and we are one of the few boutiques around that carries that label.”
The store's regulars include moms who want to maintain a chic appearance, including a lot of stay-at-home moms who don’t want to wear sweats all the time. What they find here are casual pieces that are easy to wear – practical, but still fashionable. Kaveri comments, "My customers want their clothes to enhance their figures, but in a tasteful, elegant way – a little bit sexy without being vulgar.”
Kaveri is located in Lincoln Park at:
1211 W. Webster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
773.296.2141
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SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer – J. Zenn.
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Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. SeeMoreShopping incurs all expenses associated with reviews. Publ. 05/07.
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