Michigan Avenue

// REVVED-UP RETAIL

WITH MOBILE BOUTIQUE LOST GIRLS VINTAGE, AN ENTERPRISI­NG WEST SIDE PAIR HAS FOUND FIRM FOOTING IN THE CHICAGO FASHION SCENE.

- BY STEPHEN OSTROWSKI

With mobile boutique Lost Girls Vintage, an enterprisi­ng West Side pair has found firm footing in Chicago’s fashion scene.

If fashion is about wanderlust and escapism—the notion that style can take you to new worlds, both imaginary and material—then Kyla Embrey and Sarah Azzouzi have captured it to a T: Since 2013, the Chicago pair have racked up literal mileage selling throwback threads from their Craigslist-sourced 1976 Dodge RV as copropriet­ors of roving shop Lost Girls Vintage. Their inventory? “Stuff that’s wearable, not costume-y,” says the 33-yearold Embrey, adding,

“We’re most interested in pieces that are going to look right at home with [anything] contempora­ry.”

Although the store’s schedule is essentiall­y weather-permitting, expect to spot Azzouzi (who describes her style as “’70s with sneakers”) and Embrey (“I gravitate toward Americana and Western wear”) parked outside go-tos like Antique Taco in Wicker Park and Rider for Life in the West Loop. For such nomadic circumstan­ces, social media has been key. “I don’t think we’d be where we are without it,” notes Azzouzi, 29.

“You’re reaching the world through this network, and it’s amazing.”

Fall is an especially plum time of year for the pair.

“We sell a lot of leather boots, jackets, and accessorie­s,” says Embrey. “Seasonalit­y is really important when you’re selling out of a truck.” Full speed ahead! lostgirlsv­intage.com

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From the Field Museum (ƥƞɵƭ) to beneath the El tracks on Southport Avenue (ƛƨƭƭƨƦ), entreprene­urs Sarah Azzouzi and Kyla Embrey (ƢƧƬƞƬ ƟƫƨƦ ƥƞɵƭ) are bringing a dose of chic to all corners of the city with on-themove pop-up Lost Girls Vintage.
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