By Dennis Michaels

The great thing about living in Chicago is that there are so many interesting and unique retailers offering a plethora of items that will make perfect gifts during the holiday season. We here at BOI have searched the city and have come up with the following list of suggested stores that you might want to visit and certain specialty items you might want to put on your shopping list for family, friends, co-workers, and of course yourself.

You can seemingly find anything and everything at Cupid's Treasure (3519 N. Halsted St. | 773.348.3884) and regardless of when you want it, most likely Cupid's will be open. Store hours are 8am - 5am every day of the week. Two of the most popular items this holiday season at the Boystown retailer are specifically geared for below a man's waist. Clever Masculine Underwear, especially the Concert Boxer ($34) in purple, white and pink, makes the perfect gift for those who appreciate a sense of whimsy with their hotness. And if the recipient of this gift is typically a tighty-whitey underwear connoisseur (that very well may be an oxymoron), he's sure to appreciate the supportive lift he'll get from his new pair of drawers.

The other gift possibility from Cupid's gets used once the underwear comes off: The Rude Boy This interesting looking gadget is a double P-spot vibrator designed for men and really is "the gift that keeps on giving" as it provides great stimulation on both the prostate and the perineum. It comes in two attractive colors and the universal rave reviews say the $99 price tag is well worth it. Suggestion: This may be the perfect gift for the straight man on your list who is willing to explore the limits of his sexual boundaries and seeks to comprehend and understand why his gay male friends like to take it in the rear.

Last year we featured SKiNSTiNCT (www.skinstinct.com) in our Shoppers Guide issue and since then they have grown significantly from their single Lakeview outpost (3343 N. Broadway | 773.857.6900) and now have a presence downtown in Water Tower Place (845 N. Michigan Ave., 4th Floor | 312.202.0708) and up north in Andersonville (5135 N. Clark St. | 773.506.7343). We can't prove that BOI's editorial support of this eco-friendly boutique led to a surge in its popularity, thus fueling the expansion. However, we'll go ahead and take some partial credit because it makes us feel good.

Speaking of feeling good, that's exactly what will happen to those on your shopping list who receive SKiNSTiNCT clothing from you. In a day and age when a $300 pair of jeans is far from abnormal, SKiNSTiNCT's Hemp/Organic Cotton Jeans are relatively economical, ranging in price from $98 - $105. Plus, they're comfortable and do what jeans are first and foremost supposed to do: make your ass look good! Another hot seller on their racks that is sure to please everyone on your list is the 100% Bamboo Robe. Offered in Natural or Light Blue at $70, this robe is sure to be the most comfortable one you'll come across.

Without a doubt one of our favorite clothing stores in the Wicker Park neighborhood is Bonnie Clyde's (1751 W. Division St. | 773.235.2680 | www.bonnie-clydes.net). It's an attractive place that lures the hip and stylish with an offering of men's and women's fashions and accessories that are described as cool, hip, cutting-edge and avant-garde. Bonnie & Clyde's bills itself as a "luxury lifestyle boutique" and it's definitely the place to go when you want to buy something special for that special someone even if that special someone is yourself.

If you're looking to splurge, then a grey wool military dress coat with contrasting double collar and leather waist belt by Silvain Silvain should be on your radar. It goes for $1,300; however, it's the type of wardrobe investment that will undoubtedly lead to bountiful and worthwhile dividends for years to come. Less taxing on the wallet is a red, cream & black plaid heavy-weight flannel shirt by Junk de LUXE. It features chest pockets, has slim-fit styling, and comes with pearl color snap buttons, all for $110. It's a perfect gift for the hipster in your life or your favorite lesbian.

While the clothes that one wears can either give hints to a person's personality or allow them actually to mask their true selves, eyewear is often much more telling and definitive. As Lenscrafters and Pearle takes care of the masses, specialty eyewear shops such as d/vision Optical (1756 W. Division St. | 773.489.4848 | dvoptical.com) in Wicker Park cater to individuals who really want to make a statement about themselves through their eyewear. In addition to carrying famed optical lines by Oliver Peoples, Alain Mikli, and Lindberg, d/vision also features newcomers Mosley Tribes and Entourage of 7.

If you have some remaining medical reimbursement money for the year, a brand new pair of eyeglasses is a great way to make sure that you benefit from these pre-tax payroll deductions instead of Uncle Sam or your insurance company. Stuff your own stocking (and in this case we don't mean literally with The Rude Boy) with the SALT Optics Adler ($295), an excellent fusion of modern and retro chic and the quickest, sexiest way to bring out your inner geek. Or try the SALT Nicolas ($350), an updated aviator that has masculine presence but great curves to balance it out.

For years, the "go to" shop for men's clothing in Lakeview has been Universal Gear (3153 N. Broadway | 773.296.1090 | www.universalgear.com). From outerwear to underwear and everything in between, which includes shoes, Universal has arguably made more of an impact on the fashion sensibility of Halsted Street than any other retailer. Tops on the list this season of popular items are a fashion accessory as well as an updated staple. The Neves Handmade Belts ($45 - $50) come with unique metal buckle designs such as the Pabst Blue Ribbon logo, for when you're in your trailer park mode, and the Sapporo logo for when you're feeling international. To help combat the frigid cold weather that is part and parcel of a Chicago winter, Universal presents the LASC Thermal Crew. Much more stylish than typical long underwear, these rugged thermal shirts run $40, are available in two colors (red and green), and are sure to keep you warm in the coming months.

One of the neatest places for shopping in the city is Waxman Candles (3044 N. Lincoln Ave. 773.929.3000 | www.waxmancandles.com) in West Lakeview. It features a large selection of scented and unscented candles that are all made by hand as well as a unique assortment of candle holders and candle supplies. The size of the candles range from 2 inches to 5 feet tall and come in a vast and amazing array of styles, sizes, colors, and fragrances. Waxman Candles are great for decorating and make for fantastic economical gifts (prices start at $1.15 for votives) that will be enjoyed and appreciated by those who receive them. And let's face it, everyone needs a candle or two in their life.

While many major fashion designers have a branded lower-cost label and string of fashion boutiques, none equal the worldwide success of Giorgio Armani's A/X - Armani Exchange (www.armaniexchange.com), which has Chicagoland locations downtown (Westfield Northbridge Shopping Center | 520 N. Michigan Ave. | 312.467.5702), in Skokie (Old Orchard Shopping Center | 847.679.1849), in Orland Park (Orland Square | 708.675.3870), and out in Schaumburg (Woodfield Shopping Center | 847.517.9071). A driving fashion force with hip, urban 20-somethings, Armani Exchange is presenting a special seasonal gift guide that includes stylish wrist watches ranging in price from $120 - $180. As well, to help fight off the chill of winter in a fashionable manner, an assortment of wool and cotton skullies ($28 - $68), scarves ($58 - $145), and gloves ($58) are available.