Fashion Outlets of Chicago offers a rare shopping experience in Chicagoland — Photo courtesy of Fashion Outlets of Chicago

Indoor outlet malls aren’t common in Chicagoland (the Chicago metropolitan area), which makes the new two-story, 530,000-square-foot mall in Rosemont a welcome addition. Fashion Outlets of Chicago opened in August 2013 as an international shopping mecca. It features a stellar lineup of designer shops from Coach to Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th and Tory Burch. 

Michael Kors at Fashion Outlets of Chicago — Photo courtesy of Fashion Outlets of Chicago

Though it considers itself an outlet mall, Fashion Outlets is home to a mixture of shops, which include more than 150 outlets, factory stores and name brand retailers, in addition to a food court and sit-down restaurants. Families and teenagers will find favorites like Children’s Place, Nike Outlet, Bath and Body Works and Forever 21.

To celebrate the importance art has in fashion, Fashion Outlets of Chicago has partnered with The Arts Initiative, a collective dedicated to placing highly interactive visual art in public spaces. Ten pieces were part of the debut installation, and the management’s goal is to continue to bring in contemporary artwork for shoppers to enjoy.

But what really sets Fashion Outlets of Chicago apart from other malls in general (outlet or otherwise) is its amenities. Among its exhaustive guest services is its airline baggage check-in and boarding pass issuance for those traveling through O’Hare International Airport.

Locals will appreciate its convenient location, too. It’s just a 10-15 minute walk from the Rosemont Blue Line, and parking up to two hours is free.

Fashion Outlets of Chicago — Photo courtesy of Fashion Outlets of Chicago