Chicago Shopping-Custom Clothing

You've been paging through fashion mags for weeks — maybe even months — scoping out pieces to add to your wardrobe this fall. While it's fun to follow the latest trends, you certainly don't want to lose your individual style and personality (that magnetic one that charms the pants off of people!). If you're unsure of how to do that without looking like a mishmash of styles, look to one of these Chicago start-ups for some styling assistance while still still being able to put in your two cents.

Yours Not Hers

Did you ever look in your closet looking for that little extra somethin' somethin' to work with an outfit you were curating and finally realized it just wasn't going to magically appear? So did Jeannine Benoit, which is why she started Yours Not Hers (YNH), a semi-customizable shirt company. Start by choosing which silhouette you like (we adore the Sheridan), which costs around $88. Then, finish that baby off with your choice of color and trim. "I selected materials that were soft and breathable, while still polished and put together," Benoit said. I also held mini-focus groups with my girlfriends to see which fabrics and trims they loved the most. The whole idea for YNH is about design based on your personality and taste, so I wanted to provide a variety of trim and color options for my customers. I'm always looking at new options and can't wait to introduce more soon!" Spoiler alert: Get excited for gold and silver studs and spikes! For fall, Benoit suggests the jewel toned magenta with either the gold trim options, or the gray with silver buttons, which she claims, "looks great on every skin tone!"

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Civali Jeans

Custom jeans without a hefty price tag? Sold! Whether it's a saggy backside or a fit that's tight in all the wrong places, nothing is worse than an ill-fitting pair of jeans — yet finding the perfect fit can sometimes be as painful as bathing suit shopping. Enter Civali Jeans, a new start-up (recently funded by Kickstarter, congrats!) that believes "a great fitting pair of jeans requires more than just a waist and inseam measurement." Also amazing? These denim dreams will only set you back around $60. The process starts by getting your measurements — that's the easy part. Next, Civali utilizes a computerized cutting machine to obtain the 15 different pieces (that's right) needed to construct your perfectly fitting dungarees. If for some reason they don't fit, send them back to Sam and Leona, the incredible owners, for an adjustment. They'll even spring for the shipping.

Evlove Intimates

Sometimes, what you wear underneath your clothes is as important as the clothing itself. Jenny Dombroski, custom lingerie designer and owner of Evlove Intimates, would definitely agree. This vivacious entrepreneur left corporate America to start a business that basically helps women feel sexy — even at the office. From camis and bras to G-strings and lounge pants, choose the style, fabric, and trims, and you'll have your gorgeous goods within three weeks.

Photo: Courtesy of Yours Not Hers