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A potent concentration of famous retailers around Michigan Avenue and neighborhoods bursting with one-of-a-kind stores combine to make Chicago a shopper's paradise. Michigan Avenue's legendary Magnificent Mile lures thousands of avid shoppers every week. How often can you find Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Barneys New York within walking distance of one another? In recent years State Street has regained some of its former glory as well, with discount department stores sharing prime real estate with trendier clothing boutiques and the Block 37 retail development.
Neighborhood shopping areas, like fun-but-sophisticated Lincoln Park, eclectic Lakeview, and the hipster haven of Wicker Park/Bucktown, offer countless independent stores that cater to every desire, whether Prairie tyle furniture, cowboy boots, or outsider art. And there are countless smaller shopping enclaves within these neighborhoods that have concentrated clusters of antiques stores, home-furnishings shops, high-end boutiques, and other specialty stores. Those averse to paying retail won't have to venture far to unearth bargains on everything from fine jewelry to business attire. When it comes to shopping, this is one city that has it all.
Be forewarned that a steep 9.5% sales tax is added to all purchases in the city except groceries and prescription drugs. Neighborhood shops on the North Side, especially those in Wicker Park and Bucktown, tend to open late—around 11 or noon. Most stores, particularly those on North Michigan Avenue and the North Side, are open on Sunday, although this varies by type of business (galleries, for example, are often closed on Monday); where applicable, more information is provided at the beginning of each category.
A favorite of Kate Middleton, this London fashion house turns out tailored pieces for work and play. If your look leans toward modern but practical basics, sophisticated handbags, and chic wear-with-everything shoes (like the kitten heels the line is known for), you'll find plenty to fancy here.
Louis Vuitton has it all under one roof—the coveted purses, leather goods, and luggage bearing the beloved logo, plus the designer's men's and women's shoes and jewelry lines. There’s also a Louis Vuitton boutique in Nordstrom (55 E. Grand Avenue).
Bucktown is a fitting locale for Marc Jacobs, a fashion icon whose whimsical, slightly offbeat designs make trend-followers drool.
Jacobs's high-end runway line is showcased in this glamorous boutique in the swanky Elysian Hotel.
Prices are high here, but they're usually matched by the outstanding and tasteful selection of designer clothing and accessories for men and women. The gourmet food area on the top floor tempts with hard-to-find delicacies and impeccable hostess gifts.
The specialty here is French, Italian, and Scandinavian antiques, but you'll be lured in by the altogether uncommon mix of industrial and decorative furnishings, accessories, and fixtures. The selection reflects the collecting acumen of its two idiosyncratic owners, who scour Europe and the Midwest for items in the perfect state of intriguing decay.
Manor house meets mass marketing—the upper-crust chic covers men's, women's, and children's clothing as well as housewares. Fabrics are often enticing (suede, silk organza, cashmere), but expect to pay a pretty penny.
This store has a spare, cool look that matches its modern inventory of clothing, shoes, and bags. In fact, unless you're a Miuccia devotee, the three-story shop can seem almost bare.
Straightforward yet stylish pieces with a modern sensibility blend quality craftsmanship and materials with relatively affordable pricing.
The smaller, less-crowded cousin of the New York flagship doesn't scrimp on its selection of designer clothes, though the primary draw might be the store's noteworthy first-floor makeup and fragrance department. A men's specialty store is across the street.
The shoes have been the classic choice of the well-heeled for generations, but it's the designer's handbags, with a fresh, contemporary sensibility, that are generating excitement of late.
Displayed among the leather suitcases and vintage furniture are of-the-moment denim, tops, Ts, and dresses from the likes of Cheap Monday, Boxing Kitten, and Funktional, along with the equally hip in-house label—for men and women, naturally. The aesthetic? "Classic with a twist." Vintage eyewear keeps you looking just as sharp from the neck up.
Live, usually themed, auctions occur on Saturday mornings about once a month. Preview items are also displayed on the floor for immediate sale at a set price. Preview hours are typically Monday through Saturday 10–5 the week before the auction.
This local fave hit the big time by becoming a staple in Academy Awards gift bags. Try exotic chai-infused, peppermint pistachio, and lavender-vanilla toffee—or stick with the irresistible almond-and-pecan McCall's Classic, named for owner Terry Opalek's grandmother, whose recipe inspired the entire operation. There's a second location on the first floor of the Galleria (5247 N. Clark Street).
Choose from a wide selection of the practical bags and driving moccasins that made Tod's famous, as well as newer additions to the line, including high heels.
In 2011 this beloved British brand invaded a 30,000-square-foot space on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Pearson Street, bringing the latest U.K. fashions to the Mag Mile. Notable among the three floors of clothes, shoes, lingerie, and accessories are collections from Topman, the men's clothing branch, and cosmetics exclusive to Chicago.
The Spanish chain's original Chicago outpost has 34,000-square feet of cute, trendy clothing that usually won't bust your wallet. A second location opened in retail hub Block 37 (1 W. Randolph Street).
