Field Trips:
From a living room showroom in Edgewater to a costume exhibit in Hyde Park- and everything happening at the shop this Spring
On Monday, Mia and I took a proper day trip around the city:
First stop: up north to Edgewater, at the home of our Desigual reps, Michael and Steven, to preview the Fall collection.
Michael and Steven have been married for 20 years and working together on the brand for over 15. They met at a Halloween party!! Cut to now, their impeccably decorated condo sits just steps from the Hollywood beachfront, every wall thoughtfully curated with large-scale art, mid-century glass, and handmade textiles collected from travels around the world. They recently saw Mount Fuji from a cruise ship in Japan, and so I just really want to be their friends. I digress.
As an early afternoon storm rolled in, racks upon racks took over their cozy living room floor (their cat, Phyllis, quietly purred next to us on the couch). It gave Mia and I the chance to feel every piece and make our selects in a quite lovely, intimate setting. Their space set the tone for an inspired afternoon, and boy did I feel inspired.
The Fall collection this year is too good. It’s going to have the West Town art scene in a chokehold, I can only hope. Think rich, moody ombrés layered with hits of neon yellows and purples. I already want to wear all of it.
Here’s a first look (just for you) at our 2026 Desigual Fall line up coming to the shop late August - September.
If You Think Fashion Is Art, Go See This:
After wrapping up, we made our way across town to Hyde Park to visit the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry and catch Crafting in Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell exhibit, a free viewing available now through September 7th 2026.
If you have an appreciation for construction, storytelling, or the way creativity is shaped over a lifetime, you’re going to love seeing this up close.
The unsung hero of the exhibit is the wall projection- where Paul narrates his upbringing, his process, and the experiences that shaped his work. It’s one thing to see the finished pieces, but hearing how they came to life adds a completely different layer.
The exhibit moves you through everything: from Paul’s sketches to his prototypes, to fittings, to the stage and red carpet. The work spans different bodies of work such as puppetry, to Broadway, blockbuster films, and the Met Gala. It’s expansive and deeply personal.
There was something so beautiful about hearing how his creativity was nurtured early on in his life. He was encouraged to follow his dreams and to play. Not only do you see that in this exhibit, you can feel it through his story, and how much of that foundation came from his family and environment.
Honestly, the only thing missing was hot buttered popcorn.
Mark Your Calendars - May Is Stacked
I can’t believe we just celebrated three years as a brick and mortar! This year has me feeling much more at home. I’m seeing my people. The regulars. The ones who’ve become friends. The word-of-mouth is real, and I’m really truly madly deeply grateful to feel so at home in my neighborhood.
I’m also (never not) running hot to do more and collaborate with more people I like. And now that April is basically over, I’ve got my eye toward all the summer events at the shop.
Friday, May 1st - “May Day”
Many businesses will be closed for protests, rallies, and walkouts tied to labor and immigration rights. From what I’ve seen, there’s still some confusion around whether small businesses should also close.
From my perspective, we will be open regular hours, and we will be accepting cash payments. We want our communities to thrive with small businesses, local shops, and neighborhood ecosystems. Most of us simply can’t afford to close- and these spaces are what make our neighborhoods feel like home.
If you can: shop small, skip big box, and use cash.
Tuesday, May 5th - Cafe Patio Now Open!
We’re officially opening the back patio with Engine Coffee, and we are caffeinated with excitement.
Special discounts on coffee
10% off at Petals & Jackets
Free wifi, music, and actual patio weather (allegedly)
The café will be open to all Engine guests during P&J shop hours- come hang!
Tuesday, May 5th - Extended Summer Hours
We’re back to six days a week baby!
Starting Tuesday May 5th:
Tuesdays: 12–5pm
expect new arrivals + vintage drops every Tuesday
Think of Tuesdays as your in-store first dibs. Which leads me to…
Substack ‘First Dibs’ Mondays:
If Tuesdays are for in-store drops, Mondays are for you.
Each week, I’ll be sharing new arrivals exclusively here first- with private links to shop before anything goes live publicly.
Saturday, May 16th - Vintage Store Day
This deserves its own newsletter (and it’s coming), but here’s the headline:
We’re kicking off the second annual Vintage Store Day with a Vintage Shop & Bar Crawl from 2–6pm.
Vintage stops include:
Yours truly (crawl kicks off @ 2pm)
It’s free, it’s flexible (join anytime), and it’s meant to feel like a moving neighborhood party- shopping, drinks, and making friends all in one.
Expect promotions, special discounts, and Vintage Store Day merch along the way.
The guided crawl will also feature stops at neighborhood bars like Bangers & Lace, Lone Owl Pub, Swig Chicago, and Revolver, creating a mix of vintage shopping, socializing, and neighborhood exploration. Shoppers can expect promotions and special discounts as well as Vintage Store Day merch for purchase at participating shops.
Saturday, May 16th: Bead Making Class with Erin Wakeland
Join us on the patio to create your own beaded jewelry using hand-sourced vintage beads guided by Erin Wakeland.
$70 per ticket
Mimosas + NA beverages included
Walk-ins welcome
Erin will guide participants in curating a bead selection, stringing the beads, and all the finishings so you can walk out with your new favorite necklace! RSVP right here to reserve your spot!
Saturday, May 30th: Oil Painting Workshop with Kailyn Perry
An introduction to oil painting inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe led by Chicago based artist, Kailyn Perry. RSVP link coming soon.
11am–2pm
$35 per person
All materials provided
You’ll leave with a finished painting!