Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/61757
the report time out George Vlagos of Oak Street Bootmakers wearing the Waxed Loden Hunt boots. 3.1 PHILLIP LIM LAUNCHES A HANDBAG THAT TAKES CHICAGOANS FROM DAWN TO DUSK. City dwellers pride themselves on getting more done in 24 hours than their suburban cousins do in a week. F ashion designer Phillip Lim understands the city lifestyle, and this spring he introduces the 3 1 Hour bag, for when there just aren't enough hours in the day . The oversize, unisex tote folds over into a soft briefcase and can be accessorized with smaller portfolios that fit perfectly inside. Both practical and luxurious, the 3 chicest personal assistant. 3 1 Hour bag ($750), 3.1 Phillip Lim. Barneys New York, 15 E. Oak St., 312-587-1700; barneys.com shining shoes A CHICAGO BOOTMAKER DRAWS INTERNATIONAL FANS WITH HIS HOMEGROWN, HANDMADE APPROACH. "M y father begged me not to become a cobbler," says George Vlagos, design director and founder of Oak Street Bootmakers. "He made me work every weekend in his shoe repair shop as a child to make sure I'd hate it, but his plan backfired. I fell completely in love with the business." After graduating college (and graduate school) at his father's insistence, Vlagos started job-hunting and with that, hunting for a decent pair of dress shoes. Discovering a gap- ing hole in the marketplace for a pair that was both handmade and American-made, he launched Oak Street Bootmakers. With a collection of men's shoes and boots from loafers to boat shoes to work boots with Vibram soles, Vlagos offers a range of footwear that draws a wide array of fans. "Initially, I thought Oak Street would only appeal to men who are very into fashion, and while those guys love our boots, we get a lot of response from men who just want great quality," explains Vlagos. The New York fashionistos and local quality-seekers who love Oak Street are not alone, however. "We've been blown away by our audience in Japan," Vlagos adds. "The Japanese love that we're American-crafted." This spring Vlagos opens his first retail outlet on Oak Street, which he's call- ing Independence. Filled with exclusives by his private label and other US-made brands, Vlagos is keeping the craft of American shoemaking alive. 47 E. Oak St., 312-675-2105; oakstreetbootmakers.com MA 90 michiganavemag.com Batter Up! coach brings a bit of baseball history to chicago with its newest leather launch. Using the same rich and durable leather as the baseball gloves worn by Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio, Coach unveils a limited-edition collection of billfolds. After the Coach design team scoured eBay for worn baseball gloves, the ones obtained were deconstructed and transformed into men's wallets. While no two are alike, each wallet is made of buttery, worn-in leather with original stitching details. The Baseball Collection billfolds ($348 each), Coach. 900 North Michigan Shops, 312-440-1777; coach.com 1 Hour is the