belsyblue

I will be visiting Chicago for 2 weeks at the end of May and would love to pick up some bargain clothes and shoes to bring back to Austalia for our winter. Does anyone know any good shopping outlets in or around Chicago that you could recommend. We will have a car. Thanks.

ms_go

There is a brand new outlet center (Chicago Premium Outlets) opening in late May. It is located at the Farnsworth exit of I88, in the suburb of Aurora -- about 40 miles directly west of downtown. I don't know the exact opening date, so I'd check before driving out there. I live nearby, and can you tell I'm anxiously awaiting its opening

There are several other big outlet centers near Chicago. One is Gurnee Mills, which is located along I294 about 40 miles north of downtown. There also are two centers located just over the Wisconsin border in Kenosha and one in Northwest Indiana in the town of Michigan City (called Lighthouse Place).

I'm not wild about Gurnee Mills, personally, but it has some decent stores. I prefer the selection of stores better at Lakeside Marketplace (Kenosha) and Lighthouse Place.

I believe they all have websites if you want to see the selection of stores -- just search under the center names.

TxTravelPro

Wow, how lucky you are to be shopping for winter in May!
Don't forget Macy's, Nordstrom, and other chain stores! They will have all winter clothing DEEPLY discounted in May and you may find better stuff than you would at the outlet malls!

placeu2

TX has a great point...

There are usually sales all over. Go to Woodfield Mall and wander. You are sure to find deals.

Gurnee Mills does nothing for me either save for one store. ms_go also makes a great point about Kenosha.

janeygirl

If you go to Woodfield Mall, there is a Nordstrom Rack very close by (on Golf Road). Great deals and lots of shoes.

alex

There is a Nordstrom Rack downtown too and two Filene's Basements (they also just opened a Filene's Basement by The Rack at Woodfield). I usually find the best deals just shopping in regular stores at the end of season.

swalter518

Actually, right downtown on State Street, just a block south of Marshall Fields (State and Randolph) is a Nordstrom Rack and a Filenes Basement which both have great deals.

Kristi

I've never been in the H&M stores in the Chicagoland area but I understand they have reasonably priced clothes and are located on State Street, Michigan Avenue and also one out at Woodfield according to their website.

And just a note about traveling to the Lighthouse Place in Michigan City, Indiana, all of the highways heading that direction are under construction and you do not want to make that trip during rush hour, Friday after work or Sunday afternoon as a lot of people from Chicago head that way to their summer homes in Michigan starting in May. And for what it's worth, I think you are better off at the stores mentioned above-Filene's, Nordstrom's Rack, etc. I've never had much luck with finding clothes out at Michigan City with the exception of Liz Clairborne which really isn't discounted more than the department stores.

tcreath

When I am in Chicago I always check out the Off Fifth Saks outlets. There are several, including, I believe, one right outside Woodfield Mall. I've found wonderful deals everytime I've been.

Gurnee Mills is okay but in my opinion its not worth the drive (about an hour North of downtown).

cd

belsyblue
IMO a sale can sometimes give you a better bargain then shopping at a "outlet" The word outlet does not mean "discount".

Kristi

If you do stay around the Woodfield area, you might also give Kohl's or Carson Pirie Scott a look, it seems as if they always have racks of clearance items from the prior season. Carson's is near the mall in the Streets of Woodfield and Kohl's is on Golf, a mile or so away.

MD

Are there any sort of flea-market streets or places with knock-offs (like NYC's Canal Street) or used goods, or shopping area of lots of little interesting sores downtown? Looking for ideas besides the usual same chains you find everywhere.

PharmGirl

Filene's Basement (which is not actually a basement) on Michigan Avenue always has great prices and is more of an outlet than a department store. If money is an issue, this is a good option.

Retired_teacher

I'm not confident that you will be able to find much of a selection of winter clothing at any of the formentioned department stores by the end of May. I would suggest taking a 'field trip' to the Kenosha outlet malls and then heading over to Lake Geneva for a day or two to enjoy the sites in this tourist area in southeastern Wisconsin . There are several outlet options as you come up I94 north out of Chicago. Gurnee Mills is the first outlet, exit on Grand Avenue west. Although I no longer shop there, it has an interesting design concept and is located very near the Great America theme park. Continue on up I94 into Wisconsin and the Kenosha outlets. The first one called Lakeside Center is visible off I94, exit right just after passing it. This is the higher end outlet (J Crew, Jones New York, DKNY, Liz Clairborne, etc.). Just two miles further north is the original Kenosha outlet on the left hand side of the interstate at the Route 50 exit. Although this outlet has many empty stores now, it is worth the stop for two that will offer winter options in multiple sizes, Eddie Bauer and Pendleton (fine woolens). You could then continue west on Route 50 to Lake Geneva where you could spend the night, take a boat trip with Geneva Lake Cruises around the lake to view the former summer homes Chicago's rich and famous including the Wrigley estate(chewing gum & Wrigley Field... go Cubs), play some golf, etc. Happy shopping!

arjay

I can't think of anyplace in Chicago that compares to Canal St.-type shopping. One retail outlet that has not been mentioned is TJ Maxx - and for my money, it's worth checking out; I almost always find worthwhile buys there. As mentioned, however, it's going to be pretty problematic - finding winter clothing in late May. Good luck to you! (No one has mentioned Land's End, which might be your best bet for finding out of season sweaters or jackets. Here are the Chicago area stores:

Niles Inlet (closest to Chicago)
7205 W. Dempster
Niles, IL 60714

Schaumburg Inlet (far northwest suburbs)
1522 East Golf Road
Schaumburg, IL 60173 (847) 413-0100

Yorktown Inlet (very far western suburbs)
#20 Convenience Center
Corner of Butterfield & Highland
Lombard, IL 60148

alex

There are numerous TJ Maxx's in the city too (tjmaxx.com). Filene's, The Rack and Off Saks generally (but not always) have a higher quality of merchandise (Coach purses v. Liz Claiborne purses). I would still recommend checking the clearance racks in places like Lord & Taylor and Marshall Field's. I have often found off-season merchandise (although you generally have to look through a lot of junk). No Canal Street type shopping generally but when it gets warmer, certain areas of the city do allow vendors to set up. They are often on the stretch of, ironically, Canal between Madison and Monroe. Lots of knock-off purses, etc... Not really on the tourist path though (well, near the Sears Tower).

1shopper

You are in luck. The new center, Chicago Premium Outlets, in Aurora, opens on May 19. Info can be viewed at
http://www.premiumoutlets.com/chicago .They will have very upscale outlets like Armani, MaxMara, Theory, etc. plus Polo, Banana Republic, etc. This center is being built by the same people that own the other area center Lighthouse Place Premium Outlets in Michigan City, Indiana: http://www.premiumoutlets.com/lighthouseplace

enjoy.