Edition: Kidding Around Chicago

Shopping: Style 101: Back to School

Author: Rebecca Taras

Chicago's going back to school in style! We explore the best shopping, from the department stores to the boutiques. Find hip threads and back-to-school accessories in every price range.

A stylish jacket made from fine, soft Italian leather or shoes with such character they turn heads on the street: What sound like adornments worn by the ladies in an episode of "Sex in the City" are actually the contents of many cheeky children's boutiques in the city none other than Chicago. As the air turns a bit cooler, beaches close and fireworks are extinguished until next season, it can only mean one thing: back to school! Beyond the land of the department store, many independent shops cater to parents who wish to dress their children as fashionably as themselves (or live vicariously through them).

Department stores aren't the only option for time-starved parents looking to fulfill the current trends of the season. Adults can pick up the latest dungarees for themselves at the Denim Lounge followed by a visit to their sister store Madison and Friends (named after the owner's daughter). Opening 12 years ago, this whimsical shop was one of the first hip kids boutiques in the city. Locals, tourists, professional athletes (and their wives), even celebrities such as Bon Jovi, visit the store to pick up a little True Religion. Looking for Target prices, but don't want to lose the verve? Take a spin by the outlet store located in Lincoln Park, where you'll find clothing and shoes marked down as much as 90 percent.

Every good ensemble requires even better accessories, but for kids? You bet! Gone are the days of candy necklaces, leaving behind wet strings and colored teeth. Local designer Erin Gallagher recently launched a children's jewelry line, and since being a kid is all about growth and discovery, each piece comes with instructions on how kids can take care of their jewelry.

With a hip interior (check out the new remodel), artfully arranged merchandise and chic mannequins, you might think you'll have to bust out your wallet and spend big bucks. But anyone who has seen the price-tagged and model-clad ads for H&M knows separates cost an average of $25. Only celebrity labels such as the Madonna line will hae you spending a bit more, but still far from the big designers. Call it a cheap thrill: H&M is a great place for teens, tweens and adults (both female and male) to dress like the "in crowd" from head to toe.

So your kids aren't fashionistas, multi-piece inspired or overly accessorized. Enter the T-Shirt Deli, a cotton "T" haven that turns ordinary American Apparel T-shirts (in various cuts, colors and sizes) into a canvas for various custom designed fonts and images. Hats, undies and dog tees are also available. Perhaps the best part is the kitschy deli case where all the offerings are displayed. You need new jeans, but so do your kids. For one-stop shopping, you can't beat the multi-level Gap on the Mag Mile, featuring both GapKids and babyGap, not to mention men's and women's plus GapBody and GapMaternity.

Need to write a letter to the teacher that delivers a message better than the old school apple? All She Wrote, a stationery and gift store in Lincoln Park, has a fun kids' section, with children's stationery, toys, books and invitations. The large variety of correspondence makes the "dog ate my homework" excuse easier to digest.

Another one-stop shop is Ralph Lauren. Expect to find Polo player-clad duds for your little ones (and yourselves) in the signature country club atmosphere of the four-story flagship store.