Jessica Herman

Wherever people go, fashion follows. So it was only a matter of time before a fashion-forward, high-end boutique like Koros (1019 West Lake) arrived in the West Loop.

Hand-painted mannequins spruce up the interior of owner Kristen Skordilis's four-month-old store while Stitch's and Loomstate jeans draped across old sink basins and an antique scale draw attention to the industrial West Loop surrounding. With a bevy of feminine looks, from wispy Wyeth silk dresses to a forties-style gold-sequined dress by Tracy Reese, the setting makes for an eye-catching juxtaposition of styles. Highlights of the collection include trendy knit sweaters by La Rok, "must-have" wide-waistband pants by Alvin Valley and just about anything bearing the label Twinkle by Wenlan or Samantha Treacy. A rich fall palette of colors like orange and raspberry are peppered with gold and copper threads, and sequins abound.

Beyond the basics, Skordilis touts the top-notch hair-care line on sale, Creo, and the ebony, zebrawood and goatskin clutches by Tivi. Staying ahead of the curve also means selling the latest development in thong technology, so Koros features the seamless Commando thong, a hot commodity for the holiday season when dresses get sheer and clingy. Belts by Kristin Kahle and King Baby's skull-bearing dog tags round out a wealth of accessories.

Naming her store after the Greek goddess of extravagant joy, Skordilis emphasizes her underlying philosophy of life as the driving force behind her store's existence: Seek and ye shall find happiness. And for Skordilis, pleasure-seeking translates into more than finding the perfect pair of pants. She uses the front end of the space to showcase local artists' work, such as the upcoming exhibition of Francine Turk's painted and sketched nudes, some of which made cameos in the recent Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn flick, "The Break Up." Charity events and launch parties are in the works, so keep your eyes open.

(2005-11-15)

Also by Jessica Herman

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The 3500 shoppers who attended Chicago's first Billion Dollar Babes (BDB) sample sale in August all agree on one thing: there's nothing like a good deal
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It's hard to imagine that Chicago-area native Lindsey Boland will be able to call her nearly two-month-old boutique, Habit (1951 West Division, www.habitchicago.com), "under the radar" for much longer
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Open for business
After exfoliating old layers to reveal its new and matured self, Wicker Park's "spa for the spirit," Ruby Room (1743-45 West Division) has reawakened
(2005-10-18)

Open for business
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Shoe Shrine
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Pretty in Pink
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Focus on Fashion
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More Baggage
(2005-09-13)

Body Chemistri
(2005-08-30)

Body Carnivale
(2005-08-23)

The New G-Spot
(2005-08-16)

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