Shopping in Mundelein

At Posh Essentials, comfort is paramount. When replenishing the store's inventory of intimate and lounge apparel, Posh Essentials’ buyers choose soft fabrics and unobtrusive seams. They search out intuitive design and careful tailoring, ensuring that each item—whether a bra, chemise, or bikini—lays against skin without causing discomfort. Though their inventory varies by season, they've procured silk bralets by Zinke and lace thongs by Lise Charmel, a French designer who specializes in snug, sexy nightwear for full-bodied women and violins that have matured into cellos.

Fourth-generation storeowner Robbyn Ratskoff and her staff of trained stylists outfit clients of all body types in the latest blouses, jeans, and dresses from brands such as Black Halo, Hazel, and Rich & Skinny. Apprenticed under her mother—founder of two local boutiques—Ratskoff leveraged years of retail experience to bring her sharp fashion sense to the people of Buffalo Grove. With an emphasis on high-end, designer denim, the boutique's jean inventory includes styles that hug curves better than an Aston Martin at a roller rink. Meanwhile, racks support the soft heft of light, flowing blouses and warm sweaters from brands including 360 Sweater and Autumn Cashmere.

Green thumbs gain inspiration from garden furnishings and decorative wrought-iron pieces stockpiled inside Ingrid’s Secret Garden. Mini roses, indoor bulb arrangements, and topiaries bloom as shoppers peruse eco-friendly gardening accessories and organic products including pottery and planters, gardening tools, and organic teas and spices. A selection of ornate birdhouses sport curved balconies, miniature french doors, and other decorative flourishes to welcome chirping birds and garden fairies discussing which mythical crew member of the Dawn Treader is the cutest. Once customers have inspected the indoor inventory, they can follow the path behind the family-owned shop and discover a Tudor-style greenhouse packed with hanging baskets, annuals, and other vibrant plants.

In 1988, Russ Weldon was on the cutting edge of technology: car phones. He opened up the first location in what would become a chain of Wireless Zone stores with The Car Phone Store. His business took off, but it wasn’t long before cellular phones stole the spotlight from their car-bound brethren. Today, his business has grown into a healthy chain of Wireless Zones, which includes a location in Long Grove, and Russ and his team continue to adapt to technological advances. The staff curates a collection of cell phones, GPS navigation devices, prepaid phones, and accessories that help keep customers in touch when they’re on the go, far away, or far away and stuck in a pit of quicksand.

Amy Bishop and Cheri Tracy, Three Twelve Tudor’s proprietors and close friends since high school, draw on their shared love of vintage wares and modern apparel to infuse the North Shore area with the latest designs from up-and-coming independent labels. Like a swim in the Panama Canal, the wardrobe at Three Twelve Tudor covers visitors in the best of both coasts, fusing the sharp urban chic of New York with the laid-back vibes of California. Amy and Cheri keep shelves and racks amply stocked with long, fitted cotton tanks, fluttery dolman tops, and cozy cardigans, as well as chunky stone bracelets, plant-based cosmetics, and handbags. They scour the styles of such brands and labels as Olive & Olivia, Green Dragon, Tyler Mackenzie, and Rosebud Perfume Company to curate their seasonal collections.

At Cargo for Boys, growing boys dress for playtime success in durable, colorful hoodies, polos, shorts, and swimwear from brands such as Wes and Willy. As lads entertain themselves with a host of video games or digital burping contests, parents peruse shelves stocked with masculine outfits of skateboard-emblazoned tops, rugged raglan shirts, and pocketed cargo shorts. The outdoorsy street wear withstands energetic roughhousing with its strong construction, and holds up to sudden growth spurts with its generous cuts.