Monica + Andy
2052 N. HALSTED ST.
The homegrown favorite that’s part boutique, part parent’s survival guide.
Chapter 1
After becoming a mom, Monica Royer was inspired to design her own children’s clothes from soft organic fabrics. What began as an e-shop expanded into stores that also function as gathering spots for parents.
Cool-kid vibes
This place feels like it was organized by someone who knows their way around a baby registry. While there’s plenty for the stroller set, sizes go up to 14, with some grown-up styles for matching moments.
Dress code
The back-to-school strategy here is less about a single statement piece and more about building a reliable rotation. Leggings, sweatshirts, dresses, and tees are designed to mix and match, which is useful when the clock is ticking in a mom’s busy morning.
Extra credit
The store calendar is packed with CPR classes, story times, music sessions, book clubs, and parenting workshops. It’s one of the few local boutiques where you come to learn or shop and leave with a few new friends’ phone numbers.
Frankie’s on the Park
1210 W. WEBSTER AVE.
The tween trend translator that takes cues from TikTok.
Chapter 1
The shop was created to solve a problem: Founder and owner Lisa Burik and her daughter Frankie wanted to fill the awkward middle ground between a children’s department and a mall’s teen hangouts.
Cool-kid vibes
It’s like walking into a girl’s dream closet. Racks are organized by mood — preppy one day, sporty the next, a little coquettish after that — with statement pieces, accessories, and special occasion dresses mixed in.
Dress code
The back-to-school lineup makes recess a fashion parade of track pants, argyle prints, oversize denim, and baby pink everything. You’ll also find the inevitable Dumpling and Squishy toys for good measure.
Extra credit
It’s a go-to for that first formal dress, bat mitzvah fit, or graduation frock, thanks to private styling appointments. The shop also hosts events. The recent Emi Jay clip engraving pop-up had kids grabbing baubles to create their own accessories.