Hand-painted poppies arranged to frame hand lettered calligraphy are paired with a design-inspired envelope liner, adding rustic charm to this reimagining of our Carmine design.
digital inks: cmyk | letterpress ink: black | font: garamond | hand calligraphy: imogene style | paper: white smooth cotton | invite size: F-8 | liner: custom pattern in cmyk | original design by Brenda Fox | customization by Jessica Downs
It’s our pleasure to shine the spotlight on one of the sweetest spots in Chicago, Smitten Boutique. Kirstin and Kyleigh greet their clients with a warm welcome, a glass of wine, and most importantly, an experience that transforms into a lasting relationship far past the first trip to this charming shop. We are looking forward to Smitten Boutique’s upcoming trunk show where we will get to work side by side with some of the loveliest ladies in the business! Here’s a little look inside their doors on West Madison Street and thoughts from store owner Kirstin:
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your boutique came to be? Is this something you have always wanted to do?
A: When I was in college, I used to jog past the cute shops nearby and dreamed of owning one someday. Fast forward ten years, I was walking our dog through our neighborhood and saw a “for sale” sign in the window of a small retail space. I believed in the West Loop neighborhood and it just felt right. My husband jumped on board and a month later we were figuring out what our store was going to look like!
Q: How would you describe your space to somebody that has never visited before? We want to hear all the details!
A: Smitten has become a staple boutique in Chicago’s West Loop over the past decade. The bright, open store is a welcoming space for our clients to relax in while they peruse our selection of gifts. They are always welcome to enjoy a glass of wine while they create custom invitations or stationery with one of our talented consultants. Our team loves getting to know our clients which cultivate long lasting relationships through the years. Whether we are helping to design your paper goods, finding you the perfect gift for a new baby, a bridal event, a birthday, a holiday, a housewarming or an everyday gift, we’re here to help you select the best!
Q: What are some of the most rewarding aspects of your job? What do you find the most challenging?
A: My favorite part by far is the creative brainstorming process where we look at a couple’s wedding inspirations and help them dream up the perfect paper goods to compliment their event! Whether it’s a custom illustration, a luxe 2-ply paper, a hand-dyed silk ribbon or the perfect shade of blush – there is always something that just ties it all together and says ‘this is our wedding’ for a couple. It’s our job to help couples get there! The most challenging part of the job is probably juggling home life and Smitten life. I could spend 100% of my time working on things for Smitten but I have three adorable, small children and an amazing husband who I would love to spend ALL of my time with as well – so finding a balance can be tricky when you love what you do.
Q: What do you think your clients enjoy most about working with Smitten Boutique?
A: Planning a wedding can be overwhelming because it’s often the first time a couple has planned a party of this caliber, yet they want it to be perfect. (And how many times do you get something perfect the first time you do it?). I think we provide a trusted partner for our clients and help guide them through the process, so that they can enjoy the ride rather than stressing about whether they are doing everything correctly. That’s our job!
Q: Anything else we should know or that you would like to share?
A: I feel so lucky to be a part of our local community and a partner to so many amazing vendors on both the retail and stationery sides of our business. I hope our customers realize what an impact they have on our business when they choose to walk through the door. I don’t think anyone should shop local out of obligation or pity as I am a busy woman who can appreciate the convenience of online shopping, but I hope that the enjoyment our customers get out of visiting us, our customer service, and true desire to go the extra mile for our customers will continue to win the business of so many great people and that Smitten will be around for many decades to come!
A sweet floral motif, pretty script font, and delicate striped liner come together to create this blush bridal shower invitation inspiration based on our Estate design.
letterpress ink: cherry blossom | fonts: bodega + moravia | paper: ivory | invite size: A-6 | liner: dune pattern in cherry blossom | original design + customization by Lindsy Talarico
We worked with Rachel and Jason to customize our Irving design for their recent California winery wedding. They wanted monochromatic wedding invitations that reflected the modern elegance of their celebration so we printed in pale gray and pewter inks and kept the typography simple yet romantic. They planned their wedding around California’s fig season, hence the custom vintage inspired fig envelope liner.
letterpress inks: pewter + pale gray | fonts: josefin + allyson | paper: bella smooth cotton white 1-ply + 2-ply | envelope: bella cotton white | liner: custom vintage fig pattern in pale gray + submitted photo in cmyk | customization #37876
This harvest party invitation inspiration based on our Estate design pays homage to autumn with a cozy palette of espresso and copper, a sweet foil stamped pumpkin motif, and a gingham patterned envelope liner.
foil stamping: copper shine | letterpress ink: espresso | fonts: marina + streamline | paper: ivory | invite size: A-6 | die-cut: lincoln style | liner: country gingham pattern in hazel | original design + customization by Lindsy Talarico
Nisha and George customized our Darjeeling design for their gold foil Hindu wedding invitations and used our Roosevelt design to invite guests to a separate ceremony the next day. Their palette of gold matte foil and papaya and shell inks were printed in an ombre pattern as a backdrop for the intricate artwork and Ganesha motif.
foil stamping: gold matte | digital inks: papaya + shell | paper: bella smooth cotton white 2-ply | envelope: bella cotton white | liner: custom darjeeling pattern in papaya + shell | customization #38369
Jenny and Reilly worked with our friends at Magnificent Milestones to create these bold, modern floral wedding invitations for their recent Chicago wedding. We used the handwritten inspired font from our Splash design and paired it with a more traditional font and layout. The modern meets classic typography was the perfect contrast against the vintage floral pattern from our extensive collection.
letterpress ink: black | digital inks: black + cmyk | foil stamping: tawny matte | fonts: darling + sans capitals | paper: bella smooth cotton white 1-ply + 2-ply | foil edging: tawny matte | envelope: bella cotton white | liner + belly band: submitted paper | Magnificent Milestones | customization #35592
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Our Marchioness design serves as muse for this marble wedding invitation inspiration. A sophisticated palette of khaki and blush pairs beautifully with charcoal ink for a romantic and modern presentation.
digital inks: khaki + blush | letterpress ink: charcoal | fonts: brandon + argent cf | paper: white smooth cotton | invite size: F-8 | liner: vigo pattern in khaki | original design + customization by Jessica Downs
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We’re heading to Chicago to help host a Bella Figura trunk show with our friends at Smitten Boutique. Reserve your spot today – we can’t wait to see you there!
Reserve your spot by emailing erin@smittenboutique.com or calling 312-226-7777.
Joanne and Christopher worked with us at our flagship store in Manhattan to turn our Brandywine design into vintage inspired gold foil wedding invitations for their spring wedding. The Brandywine save the date design served as inspiration, while an elegant color palette and Sarah Hanna’s hand calligraphy added a simple sophistication.
letterpress ink: olive | foil stamping: gold matte | font: mrs. eaves | hand calligraphy: napa style | paper: bella cotton white 1-ply + 2-ply | envelope: bella cotton white pointed flap | foil stamped liner: classic color pattern in gold matte | Bella Figura NYC | customization #37321
Designer Jessica Downs used classic typography and a neutral color palette to allow the bold design and clean lines of her Marchioness design to take center stage.
Caitlin and Matthew worked with our friends at Jenna Laine Weddings to create these watercolor wedding invitations for their coastal wedding in Alabama. The watercolor artwork is reminiscent of the Gulf Coast waters and the gold foil stamped starfish and subtle marble envelope liner all pay homage to their seaside celebration.
digital ink: capri | foil stamping: gold matte | fonts: aurora + moravia | paper: bella smooth cotton white 1-ply | envelope: bella cotton white | liner: marble 3 pattern in capri | Jenna Laine Weddings | customization #37433