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April 27, 2007updated Dec 20, 2023

The Best Shopping in Chicago

By Chris Boyle

900 North Michigan

With a dedication to eclectic, unique and quality fashion, Chicago’s sartorial offerings provide the elite traveler with an array of shops, department stores, boutiques and malls impressive enough to rival some of the most well known fashion cities in the world.

Whether you are pacing the sidewalks of Michigan Avenue, sifting through some truly unique vintage clothing in one of the city’s many boutiques, or wandering among the floors of Chicago’s fantastic malls, the Windy City has it all.

Shopping in Chicago means a trip to the city’s heart, North Michigan Avenue or, as it is more affectionately known the ‘Magnificent Mile’. Some of the biggest department stores in the world call this street home; the likes of Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s sit beside hundreds of specialty shops, boutiques and high-rise malls. If you make it down to the Oak Street end of North Michigan Avenue you’ll find the designer label stores and boutiques such as Hermès, Mulberry and Prada. It is also well worth taking a trip to State Street, Chicago’s original go-to shopping district. By World War I, seven of the largest department stores in the world were situated here; it is worth a visit for the architecture alone.

900 NORTH MICHIGAN SHOPS

Shopping Michigan Avenue

The shops at 900 North Michigan are based within a skyscraper of the same name.

Situated between Michigan Avenue and Oak Street, the six-storey atrium offers an elite shopping experience; with Bloomingdales as headliner, the architecturally stunning building is home to such stores as Gucci, Michael Cors, Coach and Karen Millen. Once you have covered the 450,000 square feet of designer shops, dine in style at the award-winning Seasons Restaurant in the attached Four Seasons Hotel, or head to exclusive eateries like Oak Tree, Baisi Thai or Forty Carrots at Bloomingdales.

WATER TOWER PLACE MALL

Featuring the largest number of stores exclusive to Chicago, Water Tower Place changed the face of Windy City shopping when it opened in 1975.

Shifting attention from State Street to North Michigan Avenue, Water Tower Place Mall is a unique high-energy urban shopping experience. The stunning eight-level atrium features Macy’s as its headline store, with more than a hundred other shops for your perusal.

+1 312 951 0610

835 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611

www.shopwatertower.com

NORTH BRIDGE

The shops at North Bridge welcome shoppers with an architecturally unique exterior: the façade of the 1928 former McGraw-Hill building.

When it was demolished the stonework was dismantled, cleaned and repositioned at the site of the North Bridge Mall. Featuring anchor stores such as Nordstrom, Louis Vuitton and Hugo Boss, North Bridge promises a fabulous shopping experience.

+1 312 222 1622

520 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611

www.theshopsatnorthbridge.com

IKRAM

Named after its owner Ikram Goldman, this Rush Street boutique is a treasure trove of the best in women’s fashion.

Presenting an eclectic mix of European, Japanese and American designers, Ikram offers unique sophisticated clothing to an elite crowd. The boutique also stocks vintage clothing and accessories, all hand-picked by Ikram herself.

+1 312 587 1000

873 North Rush Street, Chicago 60611

www.ikram.com

BLAKE

A boutique for the serious fashionista, Blake stocks the likes of Balenciaga, Chloé, Dries van Noten and Givenchy.

Previously located on Lincoln Avenue, the store wasn’t well sign posted, and entry was via a buzzer. Now situated on Chicago Avenue, Blake still stocks some of the most exclusive and hard to find designer clothes, but in a far more welcoming environment.

+1 312 202 0047

212 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago 60654

BARNEYS NEW YORK

Situated in the illustrious Oak Street district, Barney’s is an elite shopper’s paradise; selling clothes from over 50 incredible designers, this is a must visit.

+1 312 587 1700

25 East Oak Street

www.barneys.com

INTERMIX

Just off North Michigan Avenue, Intermix is a fashion store for the trendsetters and A-listers boasting an eclectic range of designers.

+1 312 640 2922

Rush Street, 40 East Delaware Place, Chicago 60611

www.intermixonline.com

MACY’S STATE STREET

One of the biggest department stores in the world and recognized as a National Historic Landmark.

Flex your plastic around eight floors of amazing fashion, from DKNY to Ralph Lauren to Michael Kors.

+1 312 781 1000

111 North State Street, Chicago 60602

www.visitmacyschicago.com

NEIMAN MARCUS

A friendly luxury retail department store located on the Magnificent Mile, Neiman Marcus stocks a treasure trove of designer labels, including Alberta Ferretti, Chloé, Hermès, Mulberry and Versace.

You won’t leave empty handed.

+1 312 642 5900

737 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611

www.neimanmarcus.com

SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

With ‘his’ and ‘hers’ Saks stores located on opposite sides of North Michigan Avenue, the two specialty stores cater for both men and women.

Offering shoppers a hoard of designer labels, Saks Fifth Avenue Chicago lives up to its prestigious reputation.

+1 312 944 6500

700 & 717 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611

www.saksfifthavenue.com

BRANDS

BURBERRY
Phone: +1 312 787 2500
Address: 633 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611
Website: www.burberry.com
CHANEL
Phone: +1 312 787 5500
Address: 935 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611
Website: www.chanel.com
DAVID YURMAN
Phone: +1 312 787 7779
Address: 40 East Oak Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.davidyurman.com
GIORGIO ARMANI
Phone: +1 312 751 2244
Address: 800 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611
Website: www.giorgioarmani.com
HERMÈS
Phone: +1 312 787 8175
Address: 110 East Oak Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.hermes.com JIL
SANDER
Phone: +1 312 335 0006
Address: 48 East Oak Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.jilsander.com
JIMMY CHOO
Phone: +1 312 255 1170
Address: 63 East Oak Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.jimmychoo.com
LESTER LAMPERT
Phone: +1 312 944 6888
Address: 57 East Oak Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.lesterlampert.com
LOUIS VUITTON
Phone: +1 312 944 2010
Address: 919 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611
Website: www.louisvuitton.com
MARC JACOBS
Phone: +1 312 649 7260
Address: 11 East Walton Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.marcjacobs.com
J MENDEL
Phone: +1 312 981 1725
Address: 919 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611
Website: www.jmendel.com
PAUL STUART
Phone: +1 312 640 2650
Address: 107 East Oak Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.paulstuart.com
PRADA
Phone: +1 312 951 1113
Address: 30 East Oak Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.prada.com
RALPH LAUREN
Phone: +1 312 280 1655
Address: 750 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611
Website: www.ralphlauren.com
TOD’S
Phone: +1 312 943 0070
Address: 121 East Oak Street, Chicago 60611
Website: www.todsgroup.com

Jewelry and Watches

 
CARTIER
Phone: +1 312 266 7440
Address: 730 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611
Website: www.cartier.com
GENEVA SEAL
Phone: +1 312 944 3100
Address: 1003 North Rush Street, Chicago 60611
TIFFANY & CO. Phone: +1 312 944 7500 Address: 730 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago 60611 Website: www.tiffany.com
TRABERT & HOEFFER
Phone: +1 312 787 1654
Address: 111 East Oak Street, Chicago 60610

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