When shopping in Chicago, staying off of The Magnificent Mile not only saves money; but it also provides a more unique shopping experience.

Although it's fun to visit the elegant, flashy stores on The Magnificent Mile, also known as Michigan Avenue, it may not be the brightest decision to drop $600 on a pair of Jimmy Choos when you are on a budget. 

But there is good news: Michigan Avenue has more to offer than the ridiculously overpriced designer shops, such as H &M, J. Crew and Banana Republic. And the best part of it all is that these stores can be found right here in Michigan.

So in order to build an electric, personal wardrobe on a budget, I went to Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park.

The first store I went to while in Chicago over the weekend was a shoe store called John Fluevog.  This store had a very unique point of view with both men and women's shoes.

The shoes were designed with a Victorian, vintage style, yet managed to be wearable and current. 

The prices weren't too high for brand new, quality leather shoes- ranging from $115 for sandals, flats and some heels to $230 for boots.  If you want to splurge in Wicker Park, this is the place to do it.

Afterwards I went to the consignment shops Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange.  Crossroads is smaller, but has a good selection of many styles and colors.

Unfortunately because it is such a small store and is so busy, it was somewhat hard to shop in.

Just down the road at The Buffalo Exchange, you will discover a larger variety of clothing styles in a funkier setting.  Both stores carry a great selection of vintage designer clothes at respectable prices, such as a Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress for $42.

The prices at both stores were around $11 to $30 for most everything, except the designer items, which ranged from $42 to $75.  Even though the clothes are vintage and previously worn, everything was in great condition and most of the time they looked brand-new. 

Wicker Park isn't limited to vintage and consignment shops, the boutique Pitaya had feminine clothes, appropriate for a date or night out.  The prices weren't much higher than that of the vintage stores, ranging from $15 to $50.  

When shopping in Chicago, be sure to keep in mind the 10.25 percent sales tax. Items may seem cheap at first, but be mindful of that extra sales tax that'll bump up your total at checkout. 

Because of all the great pieces at great prices, it makes it hard to turn down any item. Even though the clothes are more inexpensive, it is very easy to go overboard.

So the next time you're in Chicago, try shopping off the beaten path.  There are so many unique shops to be discovered to open your eyes to new stores, new style and new experiences.

By Jordan Spence

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