My Favorite Spots to Shop in Chicago

Outfit Details: Wearing this little a-line floral print dress I love that I’ve already worn to a few different events, my go-to black sandal heels, and all black Karen Walker sunglasses above – all from Nordstrom! Here is a similar bag to the one featured and a similar black & gold watch. If you’re looking for dresses to wear to a summer event, swimwear for a late summer vacation, or already on the hunt for new fall clothing – check Nordstrom’s new arrivals, they have so many options.

I don’t know if I’ve ever said I was happy for the weekend to be over… but after 3 days of Lollapalooza, I was READY for the weekend to be over. Don’t get me wrong, it was so much fun.. but we’ve been going since Thursday night, so it was nice to get back in the swing of things this morning. I ran on the 606 when I woke up, had a couple meetings after that, then shot some makeup content that will be up on here Wednesday. Tonight I’m headed to Cindy’s Rooftop (one of my fave spots) for a dinner event with Bare Minerals, yay!

Chicago has some pretty incredible shopping – there are so many options. With all stores, malls, boutiques, and areas to choose from, deciding where to go can be a little overwhelming. I’m narrowing it down for you today by sharing my go-to spots to shop in the city when I need something to wear.

Here ya go!

Michigan Avenue:

(‘Magnificent Mile’): this is definitely the most popular shopping area in Chicago. It’s lined with all of the beautiful flagship stores – Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and department stores – Neiman Marcus, Saks, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales. My go to spots on Michigan are: Topshop, H&M, Zara, and last but not least – Nordstrom! I can always find everything I need there because they carry so many great brands.

Gold Coast:

My favorite place to window shop and *occasionally* splurge. If you’re visiting, or your mom is coming in town, this is the perfect place to walk around with girlfriends to get that authentic Chicago experience. Rush Street and Oak Street are both so beautiful and filled with the prettiest flagship stores: Hermes, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, etc. Make sure to grab an iced coffee in the cutest coffee hut in the triangle-shaped Mariano Park (pictured in the photos above). Then, grab a bite to eat at any of the great restaurants with outdoor patios right in the area: Carmine’s, Tavern on Rush, Gibson’s, or Fig & Olive.

Wicker Park/Bucktown:

This is usually my go-to for last minute shopping because it’s right in my neighborhood, just a few blocks away from my front door. Wicker Park is really artsy and eclectic and is known for it’s great food scene, but my favorite stores in the area are: Free People, Pitaya, Urban Outfitters, and Steve Madden. Make a day out of it by grabbing brunch next to the shops at Bongo Room then afternoon cocktails at Mahalo.

North Avenue Shops:

When I need a lot of options, but want to avoid the hassle of venturing downtown to Michigan Avenue, I drive over to the North Avenue Shops (near North Ave & Sheffield). Parking is pretty convenient and there are so many stores! My favorites in this area are: Forever 21, Anthroplogie, DSW, Nordstrom Rack, Banana Republic, Express, Sephora, West Elm, and LOFT.

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Thanks for reading, have a good week! If you’re planning a trip to Chicago, let me know what other posts you’d like to read! xo