Penelope’s Fall 2009 Lookbook

While I’m late in discovering these photos from David Robert Elliot, they are so wonderful, I just had to share. I’ve never seen photos for a store that better demonstrate its aesthetic. The look book for Penelope’s which depicts a romantic weekend away, might as well be a glimpse into the lives of shop owners Joe and Jena. While they are not the couple depicted, I can completely picture them dropping their baby off at Grandma’s, and heading to the lake for a rekindling, a rendevous, a much needed recharge.

Spend a bit of time in their Chicago boutique, and it’s abundantly clear this place is a labor of love for husband and wife owners Joe Lauer and Jena Frey. For the last seven years, on a street where no one dared to open a store, Penelope’s has grown from the little-shop-that-could to the old guard in an ever-developing retail district, the Ukrainian Village’s Division Street.

I love this store. It’s well-curated. It feels hand-picked. And, the coolest thing, in a city where dressing well takes a back seat to eating well, rest assured, a five minute visit to Penelope’s will bring even the least style-concerned up to speed.

The next time you find yourself in the Ukrainian Village, stop by and say, “Hi” to Joe and Jena.

Special thanks to Sean Keenan for sharing David’s photos with me, and thanks to Joe and Jena for putting together this terrific glimpse into their store.