In her monthly column, Local look, RedEye special contributor Lauren Krause visits a local boutique and assembles a head-to-toe outfit.
Local look: Truckshop Mobile Boutique
shopthetruck.com
From pizza to pierogi, Chicago has plenty of food trucks, but a fashion truck? Not so much, until Truckshop opened its doors at various street festivals this summer. The mobile boutique carries colorful women's clothing, jewelry and bags all hand-picked by owner Ashley Volbrecht.
Though her retail approach may be unconventional, Volbrecht's determined to start a new shopping movement in the Midwest, making stops at fests, flea markets, private parties and college campuses in Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio. Her store on wheels allows her to introduce her clothes to a wider audience than a permanent storefront, and because there's a sense of urgency, the clothes sell fast. "We're here today, gone tomorrow," she said, adding that she rarely restocks inventory and turns over merchandise every two weeks. "We're super-choosy in the items we carry, and we price things low to begin with."
Choosing an outfit that matched the truck's vibrant personality wasn't tough for me. My eye immediately went for this fuchsia maxi dress (Marineblu, $58) with stitched detailing. I added a bag in a complementary color (J, $46) and a flashy bangle (Influence, $14) for more visual interest. Visit shopthetruck.com to track Truckshop's next stop.
Where to wear it: A beach party or island getaway
>>TIPS
-Choose more subtle accessories when working with a detail-heavy outfit.
-Pair this dress with flat, woven sandals during the day, but trade them in for wedges or strappy sandals for night.
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