Had a shockingly bad experience at Optimo maybe it was an off day for them but looking at the…read morenegative reviews around the internet lined up with my experience exactly. I walk by Optimo fairly regularly and I had looked up their website and loved what I saw. With a rare day off from work with no other commitments I was excited to see the store and hear the hat lore. And buy a hat for myself and a gift for my dad. Unfortunately the person at Optimo was not as excited about me. As soon as I walked in the vibe was off she barely looked up from whatever it was she was doing to give me a lukewarm welcome and immediately go back to ignoring me. I asked about the store and the hats getting information was like pulling teeth. Then another customer walked in who she immediately began helping to ignore me. That was my cue to leave and idk if I will ever have a cue to come back. Which is fine because there are other custom hat makers contrary to what Optimo would have you believe. The hats were nice but at that price point I am expecting top notch service and Optimo is in the basement.

What a treat today walking into Optimo hat makers at 51 West Jackson. I thought I had stepped back…read morein time and by the time I had a hat on my head, it was both a perfect fit, and a perfect style. A few months ago I noticed a sharp looking guy with the perfect fedora on in a Naperville Starbucks. Being a career retailer who has always fantasized about being able to pull off such a look, but never finding the right combination, I commented to him how sharp it looked. Ironically that man turned out to be Graham Thompson, one of the world's best hat makers and the founder of Optimo. Getting a quick tour today from his apprentice was even more impressive, seeing the molds and hearing their process to match hat, fabric, and brim style to head shape and desired look. It didn't surprise me after a few minutes of discussion, the first hat he put on my head was perfection. It's another one of those retail experiences you never forget, and one that could never be duplicated online.

Loreta was amazing! I had my grandmothers headpiece that was just a little too big for me to wear…read morecomfortably on my wedding day. I found Loreta on yelp/google and couldn't have been happier. After meeting with her I knew I could trust her design and care with my piece. She understood that I wanted something smaller but that still made a statement. She reshaped the piece and condensed some of the wax flowers.

Fashion Lover? Art Lover? Or just a person who appreciates people who live an authentic life?…read moreLoreta Corsetti is a truly talented Craftsperson and Artist. If you are visiting Chicago, make it a point to call ahead and schedule an appointment to meet an amazing person and have the opportunity to experience her passion. Her work is worn by people from all over the world as well as legendary fashion icons who completely understand her. Instead of shopping at some Corporate Retail Business, consider treating yourself to a unique life experience.... It's not shopping... it's an experience. Some people view art, Some wear & Live their life in it.

I found out at the very last minute that I had tickets to this year's Kentucky Derby so, naturally,…read morethe scramble began to find a great hat. I had no clue where to get a nice hat and I had no time so I checked out the major department stores' selection online first. Boring, boring, boring. So the search began for a real hat designer. If I was going to the Derby, I was going to do it right! I found Chapeau Creations on Yelp (of course) and took a look at their website. They definitely have a lot of different Derby hats so I called them up and spoke with Elaine. It seems like a lot of hat designers make their hats custom but, thankfully, Elaine told me that, while she does custom hats, she also had some ready to wear hats to choose from. Phew! I made an appointment to come in the day before my flight. In order to get a better idea of what I was looking for, she gave me a password for the website so I could browse the collection and pick out some of my favorites to try on at the appointment. When I got to my appointment, she had a wide variety of hats in all different colors for me to try. She had all of the styles I had picked out and a variety of others available just in case. It was definitely difficult narrowing it down to just one. In the end I liked one style but in a different color. Elaine was able to modify the hat in the color I liked so that I could have exactly what I wanted. She said she was also able to adjust it to swoop a certain way if I would have wanted. I chose to keep it just as it was. The day at the Derby was amazing and I got tons of compliments on my beautiful hat. Now, if I ever go again, I know who to call first!

Was happy to find Chapeau Creations on Yelp! and to discover they were just a few minutes away from…read moreOld Orchard Shopping Center. There was a huge array of hats from which to choose! Elaine was kind, helpful and accommodating when I couldn't decide and had to make an extra trip back to see her. In addition she had creative solutions for customizing the hat to my outfit. Brava! Thanks very much!

This is my daughter's go to place. She's really into the Sheik look and they definitely cater to…read moreher style with a vast selection.

I've always ordered hand made hats from this website but when I saw that they sell masks too I…read moredecided to give it a try. I am not exaggerating when I say that the masks are the best quality. They are the only masks I can actually breath in. After ordering one mask I decided to order a bunch. Highly recommend!

Soooooooooooooo many years without a review. I discovered this line of clothing at the One of a…read moreKind Show in Chicago. As the years have passed, his creations have transformed. I purchased a beautiful jacket of multi-colors, and different fabrics. I thought it was very reasonably priced and had a great fit. Not boxy, not tight fitting but rather, very flattering. I just may have to visit his actual brick and mortar shop. Looking forward to seeing him and his creations in the future.

I have bought from Christopher Calvin for years! The merchandise holds up well it is classic my…read morecustomers LOVE it. One of my favorite brands in my shop! Plus! Chris ALWAYS answers the phone - Kathy @ The secret Garden. Texas

I love Kimyh Design Boutique clothing!!!! I received my first outfit (wearing in photo) quickly and…read moreit fits so perfectly!!!! Her clothes have such an amazing unique style, I loved this outfit so much I ordered a second one of the same today as well as the Go with the Flow Hoodie Pant set. I will definitely be ordering more!

Annie is so fun and super talented!!! I am a business coach/entrepreneur and Annie styled me for a…read morebusiness branding photo shoot in snowy Lincoln Park during COVID. She literally helped me and my entrepreneurial spirit come back to life (because COVID isolation and yoga pants everyday are real). The photos turned out amazing, thanks to the work Annie put in to listen to my vision and execute it through the most fun, glamorous, yet practical and comfortable outfits. She was professional, so easy (and fun) to work with, efficient with time/while still being creative, and she made me feel a) so comfortable and b) SO ME and beautiful in clothing I wouldn't normally pick myself, that I decided to keep! Her attention to little details on posture, putting the finishing touches on my outfits and hair flyaways, made the shoot seamless. Thank you, Annie! So grateful for you!

This woman has completely changed my life. I own a business and raise three young children. While…read moreit sounds easy, it's very stressful for me to pick out outfits every morning and have time for shopping and figuring out new trends. She made it super easy and quick for me. Not only did Annie do all of the shopping, but she also uploaded everything to a neat little app that is on the home page of my phone. I can now look at my app when I wake up and quickly pair up my outfits. I have a choice of casual, business and going out. Time is precious and this is just one of the bonus conveniences I was able to add in order to focus on my kids and business. I would highly recommend Annie...she's also very kind and patient. Joanna

Susan is super talented (in hat making and music)…read more Really cool stuff and very reasonably priced

I love this store and have brought several friends here! If you love recycled, creative,…read moreinteresting and unusual (one-of-a-kind) hats you will love Susan's place. And Susan herself is a delight to chat with. When I bought my hat, she altered it on the spot to make it cover my ears more effectively and it is perfect! You'll never find any where else like it.