Jessica Herman

Rubbing shoulders with such Lincoln Park neighbors as Lush and Endo-Exo Apothecary, who also deal with matters of the skin, Powder Room (705 West Armitage) is the latest sugary sweet shop to open on Armitage.

Stepping in from the blustery cold, you'll find yourself warming up to bubblegum-pink and sailor-blue walls bedecked in "makeup darlings," skin care and bath products. Despite the chandelier dripping from the room's center and the vanity mirrors neatly polka-dotting the walls, co-owner Marissa Laterra stresses the laidback vibe of the place, comparing the shopping experience to going into your best friend's bedroom.

"Amanda and I have event-planning backgrounds. It's so much work, and the parties weren't for us," Laterra says, explaining why she and her business partner, Amanda Nelson, decided to open the store in November. She offers a handful of mint chocolates from the candy bowl.

In between glass containers stocked with Red Vines and Smarties, an international amalgam of lines convenes: for the jet-setters, Passport's plastic pouches filled with goodies to go; for the mix and matchers, Jelly Pong Pong's "Lippity Clicks," two colors of lip shimmer swirled into one ($18); for your sweet tooth, Cake's "Dessert's on Me" whipped body spread ($28); for the olfactory-inclined, Katarina Hakansson's bottles of vitamin sprays with vegetable and fruit essence. If the appearance of celebrity makeup-artist Sue Devitt's line isn't testament enough to the quality of Powder Room's products, the decadent display of pages from US Weekly to Lucky touting celebrities who use them could convince any dubious customer.

Laterra slides back to her position behind the checkout counter and pulls out an elaborate looking black folio; still yet to be purchased by any customers, she smiles, the $395 Sonia Kashuk kits are lined with mostly goat and squirrel hair brushes with milky porcelain handles. There's even a case of local jewelry lines: Patinkin Design's beaded and antique gemstone wares and Abraham's dangly gold earrings, which were recently picked up by Fred Segal.

"What you see is what you get," Laterra says of the small space. And that ain't half bad. (2005-01-03)

Also by Jessica Herman

Black Violin
If you can wait an entire year anticipating the moment that the clock strikes midnight on December 31, you can easily allow yourself to be immersed in the musical experience that is Black Violin for one night
(2004-12-21)

Dziner clothes
Images of fine-art prints slapped on cotton crew necks do not even attempt to downplay the disconnect between the art and the garment. However, collaborating with Japanese fashion designer Hirofumi Kiyonaga on a limited edition of SOPHNET clothing, Chicago artist Dzine minds the gap
(2004-12-21)

No sweatshop
The sweatshop-free phenomenon is spreading like pollen across the city
(2004-12-07)

Designs for living
Surrounded by thousands of books and countless magazines, Gillian Carrera peers through her black fashion-forward spectacles to discuss a timeless, if elusive, topic: form and function
(2004-12-07)

India chic
(2004-11-30)

The craft of giving
(2004-11-22)

Plush and stuff
(2004-11-22)

Fur or Faux?
(2004-11-17)

Body food
(2004-11-10)

Poster Boys
(2004-11-09)

Political circus
(2004-10-27)

Brand jam
(2004-10-27)

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