Wolfbait & B-girls

Discovering Chicago Designers

It often seems that Chicago boutiques overlook local designers in favor of labels from New York or Los Angeles. But Jenny Stadler and Shirley Novak, owners of Wolfbait & B-girls in Logan Square, are committed to putting Chicago on the map for unique, affordable design.   

   

The two designers met while working the local craft fairs and instantly became great friends. When they joined forces as Wolfbait & B-girls, they created a one-of-a-kind environment in which they could promote their own creations while helping local designers reach a receptive market. 

Shirley designs Bruiser, a collection of carefully constructed pants, while Jenny's own label, Brazen Judy, features funky, handmade separates. Together, they collaborate on B-girls, a line that combines both of their styles in inspired off-price merchandise. “We’re the anti-fashion fashion designers,” says Shirley. “We want to fly under the radar and support other artists.”   

The Wolfbait & B-girls boutique and studio, set on historic Logan Square, is decorated with functional antique furniture and handcrafted merchandise from over seventy-five local designers and artisans. And every single item in the store is made in the Chicago area.   

Originally, they advertised for new designers, but now the talent finds them through word of mouth and their website, www.WolfbaitChicago.com. The store operates on a 50/50 consignment basis, and the designers set their own prices. However, they’re encouraged to keep items affordable.

For personal reasons: “When we first got started," says Shirley, "we said that if we have a store, we want to be able to shop there, too." As well as practical reasons: "And affordable prices will help the designers sell more.”   

The shop gets new items in stock literally every day. Popular items include Mohop shoes (wooden soles with inter-changeable ribbon straps) and colorful fabric bags from The Handbag Company.

Apparel by local designers Vika Brown, Palesa Nicolini, and Lidia Wachowska of Evil Kitty hangs alongside Jenny and Shirley’s own labels, and there's always a wide variety of handmade jewelry and other accessories. 

Shirley and Jenny also stay involved in the Chicago fashion community through the popular classes and workshops they host after hours in the shop’s studio space. They teach different techniques (recent classes covered fabric printing) to aspiring designers and anyone interested in learning.

Additionally, they occasionally host trunk shows for the labels they carry. Sign up for their mailing list and get updates on what’s new at Wolfbait & B-girls.  

The memorable name comes straight out of Chicago lore. The 1950 guidebook Chicago Confidential defines wolfbait as "girls who move to the city looking for success, and B-girls as what they sometimes turn into – namely, barflies paid to con men inside bars.” 

But B-girls Jenny and Shirley don’t have to con anyone into shelling out some dough at their place – the unique, handcrafted merchandise sells itself.   

Wolfbait and B-girls is located in Logan Square at:

3131 West Logan  (at the intersection of Logan Blvd., Milwaukee Ave., and Kedzie Blvd.)  
Chicago, IL
312.698.8685

www.WolfbaitChicago.com

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SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer – J. Zenn.
 
Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. SeeMoreShopping incurs all expenses associated with reviews. Publ.  04/07.