Leggiadro

I shopped at this Leggiadro location for the first time last week. I have been a customer in one of their Florida shops for a number of years and love the clothes and the customer service. I was not disappointed with the new Chicago location in either case. I found the sales staff helpful and courteous and the clothes lovely. I am very happy to have them in Chicago!

I was shopping around this area last Friday and thought I would check out this store, which opened just a couple of months ago. I am always excited to scope out new entrants on the local fashion scene. Although this store had some striking pieces, the customer service I experienced on this visit was lacking, hence the two-​star rating. Perhaps I was at fault, coming in as I did in exercise clothing. I was the only patron in here. The woman (not certain if she is the manager at this location or a regular salesperson) was all over me, not allowing me to browse calmly on my own. She first asked me if I was familiar with the brand. Having lived in New York, where Leggiadro had an outpost long before coming to Chicago, and having more than a passing acquaintance with the fashion press, I said that I was familiar. I began taking a look around at the items, as the saleswoman not so subtly directed me to the items that were on sale. Nowhere in our exchange did I mention that I was restricting my search to sale items. When I spotted a dress that I liked and recalled seeing earlier in the season, I pulled it from the rack. Instead of asking, «would you like to try this on,» or «can I get this in your size» the saleswoman said, and I’m not making this up, «this is one of the most expensive dresses in the store.» She mentioned the price, north of $ 1,000, adding «it is very expensive.» WTF! I didn’t think that happened outside of Pretty Woman. I looked around a bit more, casting my eye toward scarves. These were displayed in plastic sleeves within a cardboard box, not exactly stellar merchandising. Contrast this to the Burberry store, in which the scarves are arrayed in a tactile, inviting manner. I did not wish to create any further awkwardness by requesting an item be taken from plastic for a closer look.
The cherry on top of this experience came when I was making conversation about the retail landscape along this stretch of Wabash, mentioning that I had just been in to Rent the Runway, for a casual perusal of their dresses, on the off chance that they might have something for an event I’d be attending that evening. I had options already lined up, but sometimes a girl’s gotta have choices. Well, the woman proceeded to tell me that she wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing someone else’s clothes. When I mentioned a bit more about RTR’s business model, it seemed like girlfriend still wasn’t getting it. She obviously must not be very knowledgeable about fashion, as RTR maintains an in-​house drycleaners, and a warehouse full of dresses. She seemed to think it was some kind of consignment shop. The coup de grace was when she said she bought a $ 5,000 Oscar de La Renta to wear to some function, then sold it to a resale shop. At that point she made herself out to be a paragon of charitable giving saying, «It is foolish to spend that much money on a dress that will only be worn once. I felt good that some woman who could only (!) afford to pay $ 1,500 was able to buy it.» Perhaps I might come under fire for writing this review, but this is a risk I am willing to take. I feel there is no excuse for such patronizing behavior in this day and age. Just because someone is dressed casually is certainly no clue to her financial picture. Also, not everyone spends their money in the same way. Sometimes people can afford to drop $ 1,000 on a dress but might not choose to do so. Certainly I will not be doing so in a setting that treats its customers so poorly. I am placing bets that this location will not last through 2016.