Solemates to Sir & Madame

Photo courtesy of sirandmadame.com.

Kudos to my people over at the luxurious Sir & Madame for making Racked 38 Essential Chicago Stores.  Sir & Madame has transcended from its days as Solemates...Chicago, the vintage and consignment boutique, to creating their own clothing line amidst the top competitors. Owners and hubby-and-wife duo, Autumn and Brian Merritt, continue to prove that they OWN this needle and thread thing.


938 N. Damen, Chicago, IL
773.489.6600
www.sirandmadame.com


Here is Racked.com's blurb about the dynamic duo:

Sir & Madame has won acclaim for their 1920s functionality-meets-urban dandy sensibility on national blogs and high profile publications. Their refreshing take on street wear is a force to be reckoned with in the transformation of West Town/ Ukrainian Village aesthetic.

Max Sansing: My Artist Friend

Max has ALWAYS been a great artist. We went to high school together, and I remember always looking forward to seeing his sketchbooks and graph work. He's truly evolved, and I am just proud to actually know him. I hit him up today to ask when the next gig is, and I found this. Google him.

Solemates...Chicago

I have yet to make it to the actual store (I promise I'm coming, Autumn) but I frequent their site often just to peruse and take in the fabulousness. Solemates...Chicago is owned by Brian and Autumn Merritt - a funky fresh, very stylish, hubby and wife duo that just so happen to be former classmates of mine. Solemates...Chicago is a vintage lover's paradise. You name it, they got it. Or, I will bet my last dollar that they can get it. Check their merch, bio, and other goodies at solemateschicago.com

Visit them in real life at :

2708 N. Halsted, Chicago

Quest M.C.O.D.Y.

Hailing from our sister city, Detroit, my friend, rapper/motivational speaker/musical politico Quest M.C.O.D.Y. has (yet again) graced TVs everywhere. He's been featured on Showtime, and MTV in the past, and most recently appeared on MTV's Made teaching Heather from Podunk, Nomansland how to rhyme. Watch the entire episode here.

Quest is unique because he's a visionary and he is highly ambitious. Quest about seeing and shining his light, and evoking the same spirit in others. His My Light Project site is chocked full of noteworthy things, as well as a bio and past successes.

Once he's a retired, old rapper, he could definitely make it as a high school teacher. A+

Trucks & Pearls

Certified PHLI Girl Diane Ivery is really doing her thing when it comes to fashionable accoutrements.. Another former classmate of mine, I'm really pleased that I'll be able to say "I knew her when..." She write, she designs, and most of all, she's really cool people. Check out her accessory line, Trucks and Pearls here. When it comes to jewelry and scarves, she has passed with flying colors...literally and figuratively. She is dangerously talented. Watch. Her. Work.

Avri Bijon

My homeboy Av has one of the best blogs out the Chi. Av and I go back like lumberjacks, and probably unbeknownst to him, I frequent his blog regularly. Av's RockBox contains the most up-to-date material on all things upbeat or off-beat. On top of all that, Av is also very talented musical genius, graphic artist, and videographer. Av is sound, light, and color all rolled into one. Peep his craft here.

The Boardroom

I've been to alot of shows, particularly in Chicago, but I have to say some of the most entertaining are those containing The Boardroom. Mike 100s, Jeff Jones, and Vic Lloyd can't go wrong with Tony Baines on the track, or anything else they do. These guys rap. Like, real rap. With real words, and real metaphorical phrases. None of that "one, two, buckle my shoe..."

Plus, they're pretty funny.

Ivy League

So, I love Ivy League. Not because we went to school together, or because I know one of them from our days at United Center (lol), but because they are actually a really dope group. I've been with these guys for awhile, and each track gets better and harder. Ivy League = real lyricism. The League consists of Novakane (the NoGoRilla) and Agacee, with Jay Illa on the turntables. Yes, they have a REAL DJ. And of course, they hail from the City of Wind. They've been most recently featured on MTV On The Rise New Year's Eve bash which aired on MTV2. I can't say enough about these dudes that hasn't already been said, or shown for that matter. If given the opportunity, I'd jump on stage and rock a mic with these guys.

Jay Illa

Jay Illa is probably my favorite DJ in Chicago...not that others aren't great, its just that, quite frankly, Jay actually plays shit I wanna hear. Consecutively. He never has an "off" night, or a "blah" set. The best thing about Jay is that he never sells out to the crowd. He plays whatever he wants, which alot of DJs cannot attest to. Never, never, never in my experience have I ever seen Jay not rock a venue. And I'm not just saying that cause I know him. Jay is most definitely "Illa Than Most".