Shopping in Prospect Heights

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.

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.

Back to Bed is a trusted source for sound sleep, growing from a single store in 2000 to a mattress empire with more than 45 locations across the Chicagoland area. Tempur-Pedic, Stearns & Foster, and Simmons Beautyrest mattresses await rigorous testing at each of their show rooms, where sleep-savvy employees can help shoppers determine if they're more suited to a firm or soft mattress or to creamy or chunky peanut butter. Back to Bed also induces relaxation in a nonhorizontal form with a selection of plush massage recliners and Human Touch's Perfect Chair, which cradles bodies in a muscularly neutral position.