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AISHA’S FASHION FAVES
Living for the looks, the culture, and the thrill of the find — shopping Chicago since 1993.
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✨ FEATURED POST ✨
The Holy Grail Haul
November 1997 • State Street, Chicago
It started the way so many of my best fashion adventures do — curled up in my room, flipping through the glossy pages of fashion magazines, losing myself in the looks. The models wore coats that swept the floor, draped over their shoulders like armor. Outside, the air had that familiar crisp edge that whispers one thing: the seasons are shifting. I needed a new coat. Not just any coat — the coat. A black leather coat, substantial and commanding. I knew exactly where to find it: Marshall Field’s on State Street in Chicago, my ultimate fashion destination.
Not just any coat. THE coat.
📓 From the Archives
1993
I walked through the revolving doors of Marshall Field’s at 111 N. State Street — it felt less like entering a department store and more like stepping onto a grand stage where fashion, fantasy, and Chicago history all met under one roof.
1994
Back then, grunge ruled everything. Slip dresses, chokers, big baggy pants, and oversized everything were still the mood. I had a different obsession: denim overalls — the ultimate ‘it’ outfit.
1995
Every rack is a preppy dream: plaid pleated skirts swinging in neat rows, knee-high socks, oversized cardigans, sharp tailored blazers, and cropped baby tees whispering rebellion.
1996
The Designer Denim Era had arrived, and I was living for every moment of it. DKNY was my weapon of choice — sophisticated without trying too hard, wearable without sacrificing edge.
1997
Calvin Klein’s minimalist elegance spoke to the more grown-up version of myself I was becoming. The ’90s straight leg jeans were a revelation — clean lines, impeccable construction, a fit that felt custom-made.
1998
If DKNY and Calvin Klein were the sophisticated paragraphs in my denim story, Guess was the exclamation point — bold, confident, and unapologetically cool.
1999
I’d ride the escalator up with a mix of nerves and excitement, weaving through racks of neatly folded Levi’s, the air filled with that new-denim smell and a hint of department store perfume.
2000
Back in the height of Y2K styles, I’d wander through Marshall Field’s, zeroing in on the Tommy Hilfiger section — dark wash jeans, stretch denim, a classic tee and fresh sneakers. Completely in my element.
📖 Sign the Guestbook, Sis!
Got memories of shopping Chicago back in the day? Drop your name, your city, and your story. This book is for ALL of us.
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📬 Already Signed
🌟 TamikaFromTheSouthSide
📍 Chicago, IL | 🛍️ Carson Pirie Scott
“Girl, I remember dragging my mama to Carson’s every Saturday. That perfume counter was EVERYTHING. RIP to the OG.”
🌟 ChicagoGirlForever
📍 Evanston, IL | 🛍️ Marshall Field’s
“The Walnut Room at Christmas? Nothing has ever topped it. I still cry thinking about the tree. They really took something from us when they changed that name.”
🌟 NiaNorthsideNative
📍 Rogers Park, IL | 🛍️ Chas. A. Stevens
“Nobody talks about Chas. A. Stevens enough!! I got my first real blazer there in 1994 and felt like a WHOLE CEO.”
Your memory deserves to live here. Sign the book. 💖