Fashion mecca The RealReal brings its high-end sustainable style to the Mag Mile.
The RealReal’s Michigan Avenue flagship carries women’s ready-to-wear and accessories.
Next stop on The RealReal’s grand U.S. expansion tour: Michigan Avenue. The luxury online consignment guru has opened its latest—and largest—flagship in the heart of Chicago’s shopping district. “Opening our largest store yet gives us even more opportunity to create a rich experience for buyers and consigners,” says COO Rati Levesque.
Already home to a successful Luxury Consignment Office and a host of enthusiastic fans, Chicago is the ideal next step as The RealReal plants flagships across the country. (There is already a presence in New York, Dallas, D.C., San Francisco, Miami, L.A. and Palo Alto) “We see a significant opportunity to continue growing our presence and expanding our customer and consignor base in the area,” says Chicago Head of Shop Sefu Dawson. Read: even more fashion glitz and glam care of the fashion gods at Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and more. With an eye toward the city’s savvy consumer, notes Dawson, “expect a wide selection of luxury merchandise handpicked for Chicagoans as well as unique areas of the store like The Sneaker Loop that features the most coveted drops.”
Men’s offerings include streetwear.
True to the Windy City spirit, there’s an emphasis on local partners and purveyors at the Midwest flagship, beginning with the decor. “We wanted the store’s design to be a reflection of the local community,” says Dawson. “We worked closely with local artists, curators and galleries to source special pieces, including paintings by one of Chicago’s most collected artists, Lee Godie, and photos of working-class Chicago by photographer Danny Lyon.” Also of note is the in-store CaféCafé (the brand’s fourth), which sources local treats from the likes of Goddess and The Baker, Karl’s Craft Soup, Colectivo Coffee, Field & Farmer, Rare Bird Preserves, Seasons Sparkling and more.
Among the men’s and women’s fashions, accessories, watches and home decor, particular attention was paid to the in-store merchandise, relying on the company’s wealth of shopping data from existing area loyalists, according to Dawson. As such, this winter, look for outwear from Burberry, MaxMara, Ganni and Acne, while luxury favorites like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Prada and Hermès will have a presence throughout the seasons. On the men’s front, streetwear is king (hence The Sneaker Loop) with brands such as Virgil Abloh, Nike, Yeezy, Balenciaga and Off-White holding court.
Find handbags from brands such as Hermès.
As champions of the circular fashion economy, The RealReal puts sustainability at the core of its Michigan Avenue storefront. “We are very conscious… of sustainability through all the products we feature in our stores, whether that be working with clean-beauty brands or sustainable food purveyors,” says Dawson. “We want to create a one-stop shop for extending the life cycle of luxury items.” 940 Michigan Ave., therealreal.com/chicago
Photography by: By Daniel Kelleghan
