Gold Coast Shops

It's no secret that we're RH fans at goop HQ, but RH Chicago is really its own self-contained wonderland—you'll find a top-notch lunch spot, where you can choose to eat in the Grand Courtyard (a light-filled, extremely comfortable space that really lives up to its name), plus a more casual café with espresso and fresh-baked treats, and a glamorous wine vault and tasting room. Of course, there's also the stunning 70,000-square-foot display of RH furniture, which is art in itself. The best part: The gorgeous courtyard is shielded from the elements with a lofty glass and steel roof, which means you can revel in it even in the dead of winter—an experience that really can't be overstated.

Going to Barneys in Chicago is kind of a spiritual experience. To start, the buyers at this branch are incredible at finding pieces that you often won’t find anywhere else. A huge plus, because Chicago tends to be more conservative, is that you can actually find runway pieces, as they tend to disappear lightning fast in New York or Los Angeles.