A boutique Bucktown institution for well-dressed women

Talk of the town: p.45 was a pioneer when it was first to open in gritty Bucktown among the Polish bottle shops, and it soon attracted the likes of Liz Phair and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

After 15 years, the industrial shelving and rubber floor that p.45 opened with have been tempered with maple wooden floorboards, exposed-brick walls and grass wallpaper, giving this go-to of the fashionable, arty set a warmer feel.

Laid out on vintage French furniture, edgy fashions from hip local designers share space with cutting-edge New York and West Coast styles found in few other Chicago stores, all selected by owner Tricia Tunstall’s experienced eye. Pieces from an ever-changing roster of designers include flouncy cloche hats from Eugenia, colorful stretch jeans from Goldsign, azure heels from Jeffrey Monteiro, beautiful silk dresses and blouses from Kal Rieman, luxurious basics from Ulla Johnson, and Humanoid’s futuristic shapes and fabrics.