Photo: Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune
Bill Leahy installs a DKNY sign in the Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont, in preparation for the mall's opening day on Thursday, August 1.
Mall Madness
It’s the mall with it all—at a discount. After building shoppers’ anticipation for six months, Fashion Outlets of Chicago (5220 Fashion Outlets Way, Rosemont, 847-928-7500, fashionoutletsofchicago.com), a luxury-focused outlet mall near O’Hare, opens Thursday at 10 a.m.
It’s been more than two decades since a shopping center of this scale—two fully enclosed levels totaling 530,000 square feet—has opened in the Chicago area.
This ain’t your regular old outlet mall. Custom art installations scale the walls and wrap around escalators; a shuttle service buses shoppers to and from the airport; and a concierge even prints boarding passes and checks shopping bags and luggage directly to flights.
The mall houses 150 stores and is anchored by Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th, and Forever 21. Many of the stores in FOC’s directory (Barneys New York, Halston, Prada, Tory Burch, Herve Leger, and AllSaints) can’t be found at the outlets in Aurora or Gurnee.
Expect grand opening specials all weekend long: Bloomingdale’s, for example, will give shoppers $25 off any purchase of $50 or more from August 1–5.
Top Sales This Week
Luxury Garage Sale (1658 N. Wells St., 312-291-9126, luxurygaragesale.com), our favorite new consignment store, holds its first-ever shoe sale on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The one-day-only event includes designers such as Alaia, Charlotte Olympia, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, Oscar de la Renta, and Miu Miu at upwards of 50 percent off.
Celebrity stylist Jacqueline Rezak of the edgy online retailer Rad+Refined (radandrefined.com) will host a four-day pop-up store at the dana hotel & spa (660 N. State St.). Along with brands such as House of Harlow, Mara Hoffman, and Lara Miller, the shop will feature special appearances by Brandi Cyrus (yep, that’s Miley’s big sister) and Michelle Madonna of That Madonna Girl Halos (thatmadonnagirl.com). The pop-up opens to the public today (9 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and runs through Friday. Email RSVP@radandrefined.com to make a shopping appointment.
The Best of the Rest
- Modern maternity and children’s boutique Preggers (900 N. Michigan Ave, 5th Floor, 312-943-6262, preggersmaternity.com) hosts its Sizzlin’ Summer Sale from Friday through Sunday. Score an additional 25 percent off of sale items and 15 percent off new fall merch from brands including Michael Stars, J Brand, Petunia Pickle Bottom, Persnickety, and Egg Baby.
- Urban antiques and uncommon goods shop SG Grand (1822 W Grand Ave., 312-226-6654, sggrand.com) is in the midst of a massive moving sale. Everything in the store (vintage finds, European antiques, artisan originals) is 20 to 70 percent off until August 12.
- Blow-dry salon Blowtique (1 E. Huron St., 312-280-2400, blowtique.com) has launched a new braid bar specializing in braided buns, beachy waves, and fishtail braids. Styles are $10 to $35 and colored ribbon and hair chalking is complimentary.
- On Thursday, the boutiques in Lincoln Park (along Armitage Avenue, Halsted Street, and Webster Street) keep their doors open a little later than usual—as is their tradition on the first Thursday of the month. Stop by Comfort Me Boutique (701 W. Armitage Ave., 312-255-1412, comfortmeboutique.com) from 6 to 9 p.m. for wine and styling advice from Styled by Souk (styledbysouk.com).