I think I could buy this entire store, literally. So many cool trinkets/knickknacks to choose from that could be good gifts for one or many of your closest friends/family or, if your like me, good gifts for yourself. And, when you have spent all your money on the trinkets head over to the clothing section and drop a lot more dough on a cute pair of pants or a shirt. I have to admit I have bought a few pieces of clothing here, all of which I have received more than a few complements on. Don't think that all are full price either, most of the great clothes I have found were on the sale rack! read more

This place is AWESOME! I got a scratch off world map from here. It's basically a map with foil on top of each country and you scratch off differnt places as you travel to them revealing colors underneath. Definitely something cool and different and I love it! Great place to get funky gifts for someone or something for yourself! read more

The woman on the floor was extremely friendly... and just plain awesome. The only reason I give this place a "one star" is due to the two women who were standing behind the desk, which one checked-us-out... were the complete opposite of the woman who was on the floor. They were kind when we looked at them, but I turned a couple times as we were shopping for v-day gifts for our girls and, on one occasion, I noticed one rolling her eyes at us... and on another occasion stepping-out to follow us around like we were going to rob the place. I really like the shop, too... and we live around the corner. ... but for these reasons I will never spend a large amount of money in here. read more

LOTS. OF. STUFF. A cool quirky store but a bit on the pricey side. They have some clothes, lots of jewelry, art, candles, random gifts, tableware. The perfect store to head to when you need a gift for someone and are unsure what to get. read more

If you're looking for a unique birthday, wedding, baby, bat mitzah or housewarming gift this is the place. They have a lovely assortment of clothes and gifts. High end items and more affordable pieces. It is hard for me to walk out of the store without buying something! Gifts for the home (soaps, candle holders and artsy cheese platters); your foodie friend (cookbooks, adorable serving pieces & aprons); the wee babe (soft stuffed toys and cute onesies); and your fashionista friend (large Michael Stars assortment, funky accessories and fun clothes). In terms of jewelry they have some beautiful pieces under the glass at the jewelry counter but then also have some inexpensive stuff on display (sometimes in the room with the clothes, other times closer to the register) these items tend to be more in the $10-20 range. This store should be your first stop when shopping on Armitage! read more

I lived in the neighborhood for quite some time, and always loved popping in to see what they had. It is a great place to pick up a quick gift or to just peruse, but the staff is so incredibly unfriendly. So much so, that it almost feels like the ownership/management has directed them to be that way. After several years of popping in and out and purchasing small items here and there, I can honestly say I have never received a smile, "hello", "thanks for popping in", "welcome" or "do you need help finding anything?." not once. I so appreciate small, local businesses, but that is because of the warmth they typically have. I have since taken my business to the adorable shops on Southport, where the staff is welcoming and you can buy the exact same items for slightly less. read more

The woman with the shaggy blonde hair is truly one of the rudest people I have ever encountered. I had a coffee in the store (they don't allow food or drink apparently) and she yelled at me, took my coffee out of my hand, and put it on a ledge by the front door. Talk about a chill pill. This was a favorite store of mine but unfortunately I won't be returning. What a shame. read more

Came here on a suggestion of a local friend. Really liked the wide selection of gifts and items. The store seemed to carry a nice mix of high and low cost items - compared to mostly just expensive in the surrounding shops. I found some great souvniers to take back from my trip here! read more

This one of my favorite shops in this area of the city. As soon as you enter you are immersed in all things European. Starting with the lively French music and the many travel books scattering throughout the store. They also sell unique toys for kids, interesting kitchenware and parisan inspired clothing. This place maybe be classy but it's stuffy. They also sell plenty of t-shirts and other fun stuff. Their clothes tend towards a more "privileged" bank account but their other items are resonable for the area. read more

See all

Fantastic place to buy a gift or something for yourself. They even have a bunch of Jonathan Adler gifts that are pretty reasonably priced ($18-25). They do a nice job wrapping things too! read more

As many times as I've been in Lincoln Park, I had never heard of this store until yesterday! I was in Lori's and the woman who rang me up had on the cutest purple nail polish. She told me she got it 'down the street at Art Effects'. When I left the store, we kept walking down the street, just kind of venturing out and lo and behold, there was Art Effects. First off I love the set-up. Second of all I love the uniqueness of the items...I fell in love with some coconut mango bath salts that I wish I had purchase. I've never smelled anything so DEELISH....I'm debating on going back in a week when I'm in the city for a salon appointment....because what girl doesn't love good bath salts!! There were some pricey items in the store for sure. But there were also a lot of really cool items to give as gifts too...a new store to add to my list of favs! read more

I wish I could afford to shop here!!!! Well, I can afford a few of their smaller items, but I want those dresses... They have very tasteful unique items. This is a superb place to find a gift. Everything here is selected impeccably. I love their clothing. Their housewares are adorable. Everything is very clean and organized well. The staff is exceedingly friendly and helpful. They really know how to do aesthetically pleasing! read more

While it's lucky for me I live right by this place, it's not so lucky for my wallet. I always stop in and they are constantly updating their clothes and home products. It's very eclectic and cute and has a wide range of styles. This place is perfect for gifts and also for clothes or jewelry for yourself. I have some wall art in my apartment from here and tons of clothes, as well as jewelry and picture frames. Some of the brands they carry can be a bit pricey but they are constantly having sales so stop by often and get your designer duds for cheap! This is one of my favorite Armitage Boutiques. If you like this, also check out Green Goddess and Billionaire Rejects. read more

My favorite gift boutique in the city. They not only carry a wide range of types of items (cards, jewelry, kitchen, clothes, kids', perfume....) but they also carry a great range of price points. Splendid, Havianas, Dogeared, Bailey 44, Johnathan Adler, and Hanky Panky are just a few of the great brands they carry. Granted, I don't come in practically every day, like my mother does ;), but every time I do, it all feels fresh and new, which can be hard to do being a boutique in a big city with plenty of other shopping. Also, the staff is super helpful and friendly. This is my one-stop shop when I need a gift for someone (or me!) and I don't even know what I want. read more

The concept of this place is cute and some of the merchandise is good, but honestly I would suggest staying far away. The staff is condescending and rude and the return policy is pretty much the worst I've encountered anywhere. My husband picked up a dress at the store and it was huge on me. We also saw that one of the sleeves was missing a button. They never told him it was final sale even though he worked with multiple sales associates and we called about a return less than 24 hours after purchasing. This is far from the only negative experience I've had at Art Effect, but it was definitely the last straw for me. The location is very convenient for me so I used to drop in quite a bit. The last time I was in, the sales associate refused to look for my size in an item and told me she didn't think they'd ever ordered it in my size (a blatant lie, as I saw my size in the item a few days earlier). The staff here has a lot to learn about customer service. read more

Kitschy decor, plain (I consider it boring) clothing, some amazing jewelry. Perfect for fans of crafts, quirky gifts, hip bakers, and useless gadgets. Some of this stuff is overpriced however (drastically marked up, for realz) and items can be found online at places like Fred Flare, The Spoon Sisters, or modcloth for much cheaper. An interesting juxtaposition: fun items aimed at a college aged crowd, but packing an upper middle class white woman price tag. I guess it's by DePaul so it makes sense... but I'm cheap. read more

You would think after all the reviews saying how rude the staff was they would maybe try to talk to their employees. Not the case. Very condescending staff. I shop here quite a bit and the experience with the staff is never positive. read more

This store has great merchandise. I love everything they sell. So why only three stars? The merchandise is overpriced and the sales people are either intense or invisible. Not all the time, but often I find that it is not a pleasant place to shop. read more

So I am a long time customer of art effect. My friend also sells wholesale for a variety of products at the store. Your buyer/manage was extremely rude to me, she may not know who I am, but I just want to let her know she is rude! I was not paying attention after being really excited about a product carried and didn't realize the testers were in front of my face. I actually WAS going to buy them, I'm familiar with the product. She comes up and tells me that's what the testers are for in a rude tone! Okay, I wasn't paying attention but you know what-your attitude sucks and so does having all these people "watch" you around the store. Not a pleasurable shopping experience the last few years, thumbs down from a long time neighbor and good customer read more

I definitely love browsing in Art Effect. I'm not a big fan of all the kitscy items and gadgets, but they do have some very cute stuff if that's what you are into. They carry some Alessi, Jonathan Adler, and Pylones products, among others. The windows are always well done and make me want for all the fabulous designs they sell. Unfortunately, the clothing and finer artisan jewelry are a bit out of price range, but they have great stuff if it IS in your price range. They carry Orla Kiely bags/clothing, which I am OBSESSED with. My favorite part of the shop used to be the cute, affordabe fashion jewelry/accessories section. Unfortunately, the last time I was in, this had been whittled away into nothing. So, I was quite disappointed as I was buying a gift, but I found something that my friend loved. I do hope that they build this section up again. Generally, in my opinion, the staff has not been all that accommodating or interested in me. However, that's just fine with me, because I don't like to be bothered. They seem to have a lot of chit-chat amongst each other-- but it's fine. They have always been willing to help when I had questions. read more

It's such a turn off when the employees act like you're going to steal something. I was going to purchase multiple overpriced chotskies. Cute stuff but don't think I'll be back. read more

Customer Service was very impressive. Cybil took the time to help me figure out exactly what I wanted and offered many suggestions. read more

My go to store for unique gifts or jewelry! They carry home goods, clothing, jewelry and even a few baby items. I also love that you can find items in every price range starting for only about $10. I love the eclectic mix found in this neighborhood gem! read more

It's a good shop for quick finds/gifts: knick knacks, games, home decor, nice candles, candle holders, coffee table books, decor pieces, nice quality hand/body lotions, shower products, and cards. read more

Came here to find a gift for my mom, and the sales associate at the jewelry counter was incredibly patient and helpful when I was describing my mom's style and the kind of jewelry she already has. Several people have commented that the staff are unfriendly, but I am happy to report that my experience was quite the opposite. read more

This is kind of a no man's land of stores for the average guy out there - chicks man.. Besides picture frames, I was out of my element here. Lots of girl stuff, jewelry, clothing and the whatnots to accessorize. The staff is very friendly - which was nice. The quality seemed very good and the prices reflected that, not to mention being in Lincoln Park. read more

"Where are these people coming from? Where are they getting their money?" *whispering* Followed by something along the line about not looking "rich" and how "they" (I assume non white folks) can afford houses. Yes, this is what I heard from 2 (white women) employees today. I've been this store for the past 10 years and although I never been greeted I looked past that. Today is my last day stepping foot in here. The last thing I need is to feel unwanted and not welcomed into a store. Sure, I am not wearing $100+ shirt, pants, shoes, and carry a $600 purse but that doesn't mean I don't have money to spend either. I wouldn't be surprised if they talked about me when they were whispering nonsense. I'm just glad that they acknowledged the fact that I spoke English and began to whisper in case I heard them because ya know in case I start something. It's unfortunate how I've told friends about this place and raved about it. Now I'm going have to tell them otherwise. read more

Awesome, awesome store. If I was starting with an empty slate, I would love to fill my home with things almost exclusively from Art Effect. They manage to combine the quirky with the tasteful almost effortlessly, sometimes even simultaneously. From trendy, casual clothes, jewel-toned scarves, one of a kind jewelry...all the way to kitchen accessories, and everything in between....this store's got you covered. This is creative shopping at its most fun. read more

I think the stuff in here is cute but way over priced. We went in browsing today, and had small sealed coffees with the lids on them, and the owner promptly ran after Us saying they don't allow drinks and we need to leave them on the shelf near the doorway. I understand having this rule, however we were calm adults slowly walking with drinks that had lids on them, and she ran after Us and scolded us as if we were children. Just kind of turned me off from the whole store from then on. I felt she had a very rude tone and heard her act that way towards others as well. I think this store thinks it's a bit higher class than it actually is. If you're looking for a 90$ butter tray though, head on in! read more

Art Effect is a gift giver's paradise whether you're looking for something for a bridal shower gift to a housewarming. You're going to find it here. The store is a visual gift feast of frames, lists, stationary, clothing, and jewelry. I love the bridal gifts section and will be returning when I need fun stuff for my maid of honor duties this summer. I'm also very fond of their unique Chicago gifts that are unlike anything that you will like at the cheesy souvenir shops that line Michigan Avenue. Recently, I bought a recipe card box which didn't fit my big recipe cards, but will serve as a good gift for the future bride to be and her first recipe box. I love this store. It's just so neat to wander around in. read more

I've shopped in this store a few times and every time I leave I'm put off by the sale associates. In my experience, they are unfriendly and extremely rude. The other day I was undecided about purchasing an item and at the last minute (6:55) ran back into the store to BUY the item. My transaction was extremely quick, I walked out of the store at 7:00 pm exactly, the closing time! What infuriated me about this situation was the extreme blaring of the radio (the associates dramatic warning shot attempt) prior to shutting the music off, followed then by the associate screaming, "time to get out" (in nasty tone). Moments later a loud exchange between sale associates took place in which they complained about how people walk in at the last minute. The point is this, of course I can understand sale associates being frustrated with customers who come in and BROWSE the store with minutes left before closing but there is a professional way to handle that! Speaking about customers (there was probably 2-3 in store at this time) when they are within earshot of your big mouth is wrong. Regretful I spent my money there. Not the type of environment I like to shop in. read more

If I ever missed the Armitage bus after getting off the brown line, I'd duck into Art Effect to pass the time and pour over all of their cool items. They've got an awesome collection of t-shirts and kitchen items. They're also great for great little unique gifts for friends. The clothes are certainly a bit pricey. Staff are either hot or cold for me. Once or twice I've had a great amount of help finding something but other times the employees will stand around the jewelry counter laughing and chatting while I take my clothing items into the dressing room myself and get my own sizes. read more

This is one of my favorite shops in Lincoln Park -- perfect if you are in need of a gift, although you're likely to find something you want as well. It's so fun to browse through all the different things they have in the store, from home goods and stationery to clothing and jewelry. Most of the jewelry is a little expensive, and I think the cheaper earrings that are not kept under glass are a bit of a disappointment, but I still have a great time looking at all the unusual pieces. read more

A little pricey, but you can always find a nice gift within budget. I only visit when I happen to be in the neighborhood. Nice overall selection. Plenty to choose from and well rotated inventory. read more

This little gift shop is in my favorite place in town and has a lot of unique gifts. I love the selection of candles they have and other fun things. I picked up a package of three Tocca perfumes here yesterday and they all smell wonderful. The clothing is a bit pricey for flowy generic looking pieces that al twenty-somethings in Chicago wear but that's ok because I wasn't really shopping here for the clothing. The home decor and other gifts are fantastic. I will continue to stop in when in LP. read more

This is one of my favorite shops to browse on Armitage. It's also my go-to spot for unique gifts for my female friends and family members. I can always find cute, reasonably-priced jewelry. There is a wide selection of soaps, lotions, and perfumes. The store also offers unique clothing, though I have never purchased clothes from here. There is a fun kids/ "kid at heart" section in the back with toys, books, and accessories. They also offer free gift wrapping. You could probably find a great gift for anyone, or even yourself, at this shop. read more

This is an amazing go to store for anything gift. I've been there a few times and always leave with more than I intended. They were happy to BEAUTIFULLY wrap my items, which saves me money and time. Helpful staff, cute selection, happy customer. read more

I come to this store all the time, even when I don't have any money which is truly dangerous. I especially love the jewelry and the scarves and accessories. The clothes are adorable but they don't come in a large range of sizes. Everything here is a bit overpriced but what in Lincoln Park isn't these days? I love shopping here for gifts for my sorority sisters and girls in my family. I can always find something unique and playful. For formal events, I check out their amazing selection of jewelry and I can always find something to complete the perfect outfit. I also like the price range. I might not have $200 to spend on a dress but I do have $20 to spend on jewelry. I always take people from out of town here for some good old-fashioned expensive city shopping. read more

Artifact has a really good location and some cute tchotchkes. Unfortunately that's really about the only good thing that I can say about the place. Everything is way way way overpriced, and staff is something else- they really leave a lot to be desired. It's kind of a prerequisite working retail to at least put on a happy face and pretend like you like your job or hell, pretend like you like people but apparently not at art effect. I'm pretty sure every time I've stopped in the staff hasn't been great. In fact I think the only time they've ever said anything that resembled a greeting was when I had the misfortune of stopping by Starbucks or David's Tea before coming in. Woooaaaahhhh by the way don't try this you will be immediately and rudely stopped within two steps of the front door and scolded that you aren't allowed to bring any food or beverages into the store as if anything is really that expensive! Overpriced, but nothing that would break the bank. Crazy! I visit art galleries and high-end designers who will let you walk through with a drink in hand. Promise not to actually drink in the store, nope they won't care. I don't think anything artifact is the highest quality, mostly middle-of-the-road of the road and stuff you can definitely find online way cheaper... Plus there are tons of other great shops in Lincoln Park that will treat you much better, and actually act happy you chose to visit them. read more

I love visiting this adorable shop everytime I come to Chicago! It's a great gift shop on one side with cute trinkets for the home, notecards, and jewelry. On the other side are some clothes and accessories. They have a really cool selection of sweaters and t-shirts. I've found interesting scarves and jewelry that I haven't seen anywhere else! read more