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a luxury lifestyle website that delivers a colorful and passionate telling of neighboring events, fashion, beauty, finance, and the pursuit of leisure.
By Contributor
PRODUCED BY KEMMIE RYAN
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATRINA WITTKAMP
STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA
HAIR & MAKEUP BY LEANNA ERNEST AND DORIA DEBARTOLO
WARDROBE PROVIDED BY NEIMAN MARCUS AND SWEET WILLIAM
If anyone knows Lake Forest fashion, it’s LAUREN PETERS. After a stint as co-owner of the iconic Lake Forest Shop, last year the Notre Dame grad went back to Lillie Alexander—only this time as the sole owner. “I graduated with two job offers, one in the fashion industry on the East Coast and the other fundraising in my hometown of Chicago at Catholic Charities,” she says. Though a career in fashion had always been the dream, she followed her now-husband back to Chicago—harnessing her entrepreneurial spirit to found a Junior Board that expanded the nonprofit’s reach to a new generation. After the first of her three daughters was born in 2003, she lent her time and nonprofit talent to multiple community organizations, serving on boards and in leadership roles. “I had hoped and intended to return to professional work once my children were grown, specifically in the retail industry,” explains Peters, who learned the ropes at Lillie Alexander before buying Lake Forest Shop. Today, as owner of Lillie Alexander, she’s marrying her dual passion for fundraising and fashion by giving back to the community she loves. “As a women’s clothing shop, our vehicle for doing so is primarily through donations to fundraisers, using our social media platforms to highlight the people and the organizations working on behalf of the community, and acting as a resource for the style needs many women have when engaging in their community efforts. It’s a small thing, but truly, it’s a privilege.”
What excites you most about the future of your industry? So many things! Fashion is always changing; its pattern is essentially forward-facing and exciting. As a business, I believe we are on the cusp of another evolution in the way retailers bring style to consumers.
What conversations are you passionate about bringing to the table? The concept of buying better quality pieces that can be re-used and repurposed as trends change is important to me. Excess in design has been a fun chapter, but I think it’s becoming apparent that fast fashion, single-wear fashion, and excess in this is not sustainable.
How do you define confidence—and how have you built it? I feel that all the confidence I have was earned by doing things I don’t know how to do—finding the courage to do it despite my fear and lack of experience. Freedom from overthinking feels like confidence to me.
For more information, visit lilliealexanderboutique.com. You may also follow the boutique on Instagram @lilliealexanderlakeforest, on TikTok @lilliealexander_, or on Facebook at Lillie Alexander Boutique.
