Jessica Herman

One of the finest aspects of Old Town's one-month-old boutique, eliana lily Chicago (www.elianalily.com), isn't on display. Reinventing anything from your grandma's mink to your outdate suit, the restyling department reconstructs your old clothing upon request within two to four weeks for $50 on up.

Besides restyling, handbags are owner Elizabeth Floersheimer's specialty. She sells original, mostly reversible handbags in seven styles, named after her nearest and dearest and places that she's visited, for $100-$350. For $25 extra, customers may choose to custom design their own bag. A bevy of fabrics, from pink and metallic leathers to spring floral silk sit at your disposal. Should you select a vintage fur, Floersheimer donates a portion of the proceeds to PETA.

The store's apparel collection comes mostly from New York and Los Angeles designers. The cream of the crop includes a shiny leather bolero by Voom in tangerine orange ($175), a black rabbit fur bolero by June ($109), washable cashmere by Souchi and Central Park West's unsubtle cami with a silk black bra sewn inside and peeking well above the neckline ($105). Despite the shop's small size, it covers all of the bases, from lacy Eberjay lingerie to Yanuk jeans and tissue-thin T-shirts with girly designs.

For both the price and one-of-a-kind quality, the jewelry is worth a trip unto itself. Chunky blown-glass rings in bold colors come from Italy, and Floersheimer's good friend, Claudia Kleiner, contributes to the collection of necklaces and bracelets. Two of Kleiner's statement pieces adorn the mannequins in the window: a strand of mother of pearl dyed in an earth-toned palette ($235) and a wreath of ruddy, polished coral ($225).

(2006-01-03)

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Whether or not this year's New Year's Eve becomes a memorable occasion, you have the power in your hands (or wallet) and the boutiques at your disposal to make your last-night-of-the-year getup unforgettable. We've handpicked a few places to help you dress according to your plans for the evening
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