Oak Street

Chic shopping for the well-to-do
Word to the wise: This is the most exclusive shopping street in Chicago; don’t come expecting bargains.

Tree-lined Oak Street, in the heart of the Gold Coast, has a more stately feel than the busy, rampantly commercial N. Michigan Avenue. Many of the stores here are converted townhouses, giving the street an extra dash of charm. You’ll find popular upscale chains like Armani, Jimmy Choo, Vera Wang and Louis Vuitton; a branch of Barney’s, the New York fashion department store; as well as exquisite boutique shops showcasing local and international designers.
Oak Street can’t compete with the scale and variety of luxe precincts in New York, London or Paris, but you’ll still encounter plenty of upper-class shoppers and the requisite snooty service.