Our Team

The daughter of a psychotherapist and local entrepreneur, Larisa grew up in Lincoln Park with creativity and business in her DNA. Her journey took her to LA and Central America—where she studied set and costume design at UCLA, before circling back to Chicago when her son was born. Landing on the North Shore felt a bit like being a stranger in a strange land at first, but over the years, Larisa has not only figured it out, she's built something truly special here.

When Larisa purchased Chantilly Lace from Georgette in 2015, she knew little about lingerie. But what she lacked in technical knowledge, she made up for in vision and determination. Luckily, she had Bella to guide her, and together they found their way and built the business into what it is today. Now Larisa isn't just fluent in bras, bra-fitting, and brands, she's passionate about it. She loves the artistry of styling people in lingerie, swim, and sleepwear that makes them feel beautiful.

Larisa's background in costume design shines through in her buying trips to New York, Paris, and Italy where she hunts for treasures that bring something special to the shop. What clients appreciate most about Larisa is her refreshing honesty. She'll tell you the truth about what works and what doesn't, and help you discover pieces you'll truly love.

Bella's story is woven into the very fabric of Chantilly Lace. She's been here since the business opened. She came to the North Shore from Kiev, Ukraine with her son in the early 1990s, and while working at Lord & Taylor, she met Georgette, who was opening the boutique and offered her a position. Without any background in lingerie, Bella learned everything through trial and error—and she got good. Really good.

Over the decades, Bella has defined the kind and helpful spirit that makes Chantilly Lace what it is. She's solved thousands of bra problems with patience, skill, and genuine care. Our customers adore her gracious and gregarious ways, many regulars won't see anyone but Bella because she's simply "their bra lady."

What's remarkable about Bella is her memory and deep connection with clients. She can often remember someone's favorite bra the moment they walk through the door. In her warm, distinctive way, she'll refer to longtime clients as "our customer,” a phrase that perfectly captures how she sees each person who comes through our doors: as part of the Chantilly Lace family.

Bella isn't just a fitter, she's an institution, a trusted confidante, and the heart of everything we do.

Erika came to Chantilly Lace with management experience from Soma already under her belt, but discovering our extensive inventory and sophisticated offerings was a dream come true. She was thrilled to finally have the kind of quality selections she could truly stand behind—pieces that would genuinely delight customers and solve their fitting challenges.

After nearly a decade with us, Erika isn't just part of our team—she's truly part of our DNA. Her warmth, experience, and deep knowledge of our philosophy have shaped the welcoming atmosphere that defines us.

What clients love most about Erika is how instantly comfortable she makes them feel. Her friendly demeanor and contagious laugh have a way of melting away any nervousness or uncertainty that might come with a fitting. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a longtime client, Erika greets you like an old friend.

As our store manager, Erika brings both leadership and heart to everything she does. She understands that finding the right fit is about so much more than measurements—it's about trust, comfort, and feeling genuinely cared for. Her years of experience mean she's seen it all, and she brings that wisdom to every appointment with grace and humor.

Once in a blue moon, someone comes along who is simply a natural at bras, and Vika, who hails from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, is one of those people. From her very first fitting, it was clear she had an innate gift for understanding fit, recognizing what women need, and making the entire experience feel effortless.

Customers absolutely love Vika for her sweet, natural communication style and her earnest, trustworthy approach. She has a way of putting people at ease that's genuine and unpretentious—women feel comfortable opening up to her, trying new styles, and trusting her recommendations. Though she's wonderful with clients of all ages, teens especially enjoy working with Vika—her youthful energy helps them see our offerings in a fresh, approachable light. In fact, Vika holds the record for our largest sale, a testament to the deep confidence her clients have in her expertise and guidance.

Vika's combination of natural talent, warmth, and dedication makes her an incredible asset to Chantilly Lace. We feel fortunate to have found her and look forward to working with her for a very long time. She's not just great at what she does—she's exactly the kind of person who makes our boutique the welcoming, trusted place it is.

With years of experience as a manager at Victoria's Secret, Heather brings both expertise and genuine warmth to every fitting. What she loves most about her role is the personal connection—taking the time to understand each client's unique needs and helping them discover pieces that make them feel truly confident and comfortable.

Since joining our team, Heather has embraced the opportunity to style customers with our sophisticated offerings, finding deep satisfaction in introducing clients to the quality and craftsmanship that set our collections apart. She's known for her sensitive, thoughtful approach and her ability to create a welcoming space where clients feel heard and cared for.

Though only part time, Heather shows true dedication to Chantilly Lace in everything she does. Beyond helping customers she’s a brilliant strategist, leader, and has been helping us improve and advance the business in every way possible. Officially bowled over.

A true renaissance woman, Park brings together a lifetime of experience in fashion and theater with an infectious enthusiasm that lights up every fitting. Fluent in French and blessed with an impeccable sense of style, she has that rare combination of technical skill and artistic flair that makes finding the perfect fit feel like a creative collaboration.

Park's huge heart and genuine zest for living shine through in everything she does. She adores beautiful lingerie and has an innate talent for understanding how the right pieces can transform how a woman feels about herself. Whether she's drawing on her theatrical eye for detail or her fashion expertise, Park brings a unique perspective to every appointment.

When Park isn't traveling internationally, she stops by Chantilly Lace to help us out—and every day that we're blessed with Park's positive energy and spirited presence is a good day. Her contagious enthusiasm and sophisticated style sense make every client feel special, confident, and beautifully themselves.

Hailing from Lviv, Ukraine, Olena arrived speaking zero English, but the sparkle in her eyes clued Larisa in to her deep intelligence. With a background in computer science, she brings both technical precision and natural grace to everything she touches.

What began with restocking and organizing the store quickly evolved as Olena's talents became clear. She moved into the role of receiving manager, then buyer, and now analyst/planner—each step revealing new dimensions of her capabilities. Olena's meticulous nature and perfectionistic approach shine through in her work—whether she's running detailed reports with technical accuracy, making strategic buying decisions, or ensuring our boutique looks beautiful and welcoming for every client. Her eye for detail and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable part of our team.

Olena generously shares her beauty with us by modeling our collections, helping customers envision how pieces look and feel. As her English continues to flourish, you'll be charmed by Olena's warm, contagious smile that needs no translation. Her genuine warmth and dedication to creating a pristine, thoughtfully curated environment help make every visit to Chantilly Lace feel special. We're so fortunate to have her intelligence, creativity, and positive energy as part of our operations! The sky is the limit for Olena.

Coming from a retail family, Megan has an innate understanding of what makes a shopping experience truly special. As a North Shore influencer, she first fell in love with Chantilly Lace for its feminine décor and excellent customer service. Her bond with us deepened in 2020 when she joined our community outreach efforts, helping deliver customer-sponsored gifts to nurses during a challenging time. That shared passion for connection and giving back led her to join our team as a buyer shortly thereafter.

Since then, Megan has sorted through countless seasons of selections, bringing her keen eye and deep knowledge of the North Shore community to every buying decision. She understands our clientele because she is our clientele—she knows what women in our area are looking for, what makes them feel beautiful, and what quality truly means. Her ability to spot pieces that will resonate with our customers—while staying true to the sophisticated, feminine aesthetic we're known for—makes her an invaluable part of our team.

Megan's journey from devoted customer to trusted buyer perfectly captures what Chantilly Lace is all about: a community of women who truly understand and celebrate each other.

Are we lucky or what? Alexis's journey with Chantilly Lace began as a devoted customer who loved what we do—and now she's an essential part of our team, heading up our bookkeeping and accounting. She has elevated the operations of the business and moved us forward with her professional expertise and desire to learn about and master the numbers side of retail.

With credentials as both a JD and CPA, plus experience as a former manager at Ernst & Young, Alexis brings a level of financial expertise that's truly extraordinary for a boutique of our size. Her sharp mind, meticulous attention to detail, and deep understanding of business operations help us build a stronger, more sustainable foundation every day.

But despite her impressive business background, Alexis is the ultimate girly girl—and sort of like a dorm mom looking out for all of us. She loves the fun of retail and shopping for the shop, so you'll often see her at the apparel shows on our stories. She's clutch to all operations, bringing both professional excellence and genuine care to everything she does.

What makes Alexis truly special is that she came to us first as someone who believed in our mission and appreciated the experience we create. That perspective—understanding Chantilly Lace from a customer's point of view—makes her insight invaluable as we grow.

Val, originally from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, powers our engine behind the scenes. She brings a perfectionist's attention to detail and a gift for clear communication to everything she touches. She grew up around her father's small furniture factory in Ukraine, where she learned early what it means to build something with care. Val holds a degree in management and business administration.

Her goals at Chantilly Lace are to master the art of retailing and to continue improving her English every day. She has already attended several markets as an assistant buyer and looks forward to many more. Outside the shop, Val loves to travel and explore this great country of ours. She says one of the best parts of the job is working alongside a talented team in a business that has been part of this community for thirty years.

Val also continues to manage social media for a number of Ukrainian businesses, and as our team grows we look forward to bringing that talent to Chantilly Lace as well.