Back to the Future of Fashion

Eskell encourages personal style with a step in the past and an eye to the future

By Althea Legaspi
Published: Dec 01, 2007

Fashion forward takes on a whole new meaning at Eskell in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. “We try to encourage personal style—mixing of vintage with our line or [other lines we carry],” explains Kelly Whitesell, who co-owns Eskell with Elizabeth Del Castillo.

Eskell held its opening soiree recently in celebration of its move to 1509 N. Milwaukee in Wicker Park from Lincoln Park. “We both live over here,” says Whitesell. “And this area has much more foot traffic and the space is good...we feel more at home over here.” And this independent shop with in-house designers is a welcome addition to a neighborhood feeling the heat of clothing chains moving in.

Eskell’s storefront spot is sleek, clean lines mixed with eye-catching found art on the walls, mirroring the style of the clothes it carries. Intriguing vintage pieces mingle with unique new styles (check out www.eskell.com for a taste.)

Its own line emphasizes classic over trend. “Our line is based on wearable stuff. We want people to want to wear it all the time,” emphasizes Whitesell. “We put a lot of energy in our fabrics. We do our own prints; so we like to keep the lines simple…and then we have special details: like our buttons, and we do studding; [things] like that.” Ah, the details really do make a piece, don’t they?

Eschewing a label-conscious approach, Eskell carries a variety of up-and-coming designers, including In God We Trust and Judi Rosen. “It’s a lot of stuff from Brooklyn and then a lot of smaller lines we try to pick up before anyone else.”

As for the must-have piece this season? Whitesell recommends high-waisted pants. “We’ve been doing them for a couple seasons, and now the trend’s finally hitting.”

Althea Legaspi has called Chicago home for more than a decade. She makes her living eating, breathing, and writing about music for publications such as the Chicago Tribune and Paste and can be heard on-air during NPR-affiliate Chicago Public Radio's "848" program. Yes, her life does not suck.

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