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Madison Hall
Occupying two storefronts on the ground floor of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, Madison Hall is the brainchild of Lance Lawson and Jim Wetzel, who also own the wonderful boutique Space519. Like the hotel, the shop is located within a...
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Moth
This petite boutique on Wicker Park’s main strip, which opened in late 2015, features a collection of carefully selected Scandinavian and Japanese items. Browse unique finds such as delicate white ceramics, heavy Samuji striped tees and organic cotton Aiayu linens....
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Pagoda Red
Owner Betsy Nathan used to live in China and travels there three or four times a year to scout for her spacious gallery, which specializes in 18th- and 19th-century Asian pieces. On a recent visit, some particularly striking items were...
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Pavilion Antiques
This spare yet high-end boutique in Bucktown offers 20th-century designs and decorative arts from France, Italy and Scandinavia, including chunky vases, shapely lamps, minimalist tables and sleek chairs.
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Space519
Don’t be put off by Space519’s unlikely location on the top floor of a mall (sorry—a luxury shopping complex) on the Magnificent Mile. The ultrachic boutique is an absolute gem whether you’re shopping for yourself or seeking a gift to...
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The 900 Shops
This upscale complex houses over 70 shops, including Gucci, MaxMara, Church’s and Bloomingdale’s. Top stops for those with tots are Galt Toys and Galt Baby, located on level 5. Of course, you may have to drop into Teuscher chocolates, across...
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The Golden Triangle
The proprietors of this shop, Doug Van Tress and Chauwarin Tuntisak, stock their River North gold mine with hand-selected Asian and European antiques. Though the 18,000-square-foot space can seem daunting, the layout of curated vignettes make the wide selection of...
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Virtu
This charming lifestyle boutique sells an eclectic selection of gifts including letterpress stationery, ceramics, paper products, textiles and even spices.
Chicago

Courtesy Madison Hall
Chicago’s robust shopping scene is spread out across the neighborhoods: you’ll find just about any international chain and luxury brand on the Magnificent Mile, trendy shops for up-and-coming labels and home goods in Wicker Park, and high-end boutiques in tony Gold Coast. And don’t disparage the malls, which are home to some excellent independent boutiques and practically a necessity in this blizzard-prone town.