Emilia Dlugolecka, Mr. & Mrs. Digz

What inspired you to open your store?
"I dont know if I would have been brave enough to open my own business if I didnt get pushed out of my corporate job. The thought of not having health insurance or a steady paycheck is terrifying to anyone and in this economy I dont know ANYONE 'leaving' their jobs on their own. My lay-off was the push I needed to know that I did not want to go back to the corporate grind. I have always loved fashion and have always loved a bargain. Being a creative person who made clothing, art, and jewelry myself, I knew I should do something that I loved doing. Then work wouldnt really be 'work', would it? Wouldn't that be a nice way to live your life?"

Who is the coolest customer you’ve ever had?
"This answer might surprise you but my coolest customer is a woman in her 80's named Lucy. She is an amazing woman who still dresses to impress, wears red lipstick and has her hair styled every time I see her. She takes the care and time to make herself look amazing. These days everyone is running from one place to the next and taking care of ourselves is sometimes extremely rushed and not done to the best of our abilities. Not Ms. Lucy! She is the coolest ever! She inspires me to take better care of myself. She even gives ME styling tips! My favorite is when she told me that she cuts the tags out of her shirts because this way she can wear them backwards if the cut of the collar in the back is different than the front. She says "its like having 2 shirts in 1!" Brilliant! That Lucy is a smart cookie."

Mr. & Mrs. Digz, 5668 North Clark Street (at West Hollywood Avenue); 773-447-8527.


Photographed by Heather Talbert