Chanel opens new Chicago boutique

Chanel is set to open a new Chicago store on Wednesday.

According to a WWD report, the two-floor, 10,000-square-foot boutique located at 65 East Oak Street was designed by architect and longtime Chanel collaborator Peter Marino, offering about 2,800 square feet of extra space compared to Chanel's previous Windy City location at the Drake Hotel, established in 1997.

This marks the first Chanel store in Chicago that Marino has designed entirely, from the exterior to the upholstery.

“As we continue to focus on elevating brand image and enriching our client’s relationship with the house, we are consistently investing in our fleet of boutiques to ensure they reflect the exceptional quality and creativity of the House of Chanel, and the experience that meets the needs and desires of our clients,” John Galantic, president and chief operating officer of Chanel Inc. told WWD.

With decor elements inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s Parisian apartment on 31 Rue Cambon, the new store features pieces from Chanel's spring Act 1 collection, as well as a product assortment that includes pieces from Chanel's cruise and fall ready-to-wear collection.

Jewelry, handbags, watches, handbags and sneakers are displayed in close proximity, in an effort to allow customers to "more freely interact with the collections...[and] explore multiple product categories at once," Galantic said.

Broken down, the store's main floor consists of two areas devoted to handbags as well as sections for costume jewelry, scarves, eyewear, cosmetics and fragrance, while the second floor offers two sections of ready-to-wear, expansive seating areas and a shoe salon.

Like the house's recently updated Manhattan flagship on 57th street, the new Chicago store also features classic Chanel colors and tweed-inspired accents throughout its interior. A collection of artwork hand-selected by Marino further decorates the location, including works by Idris Khan, Agnes Martin, and Pascale Marthine Tayou, as well as specially commissioned pieces by Gregor Hildebrandt and Wang Ningde.

The boutique's neighboring luxury brands include Van Cleef & Arpels, Tom Ford, Carolina Herrera and Dolce & Gabbana.

Chanel opens new Chicago boutique

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