Hermès Orange Colors an Important Chicago Corner

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Is Chicago ready for an explosion of Birkin bags and $200 silk ties? Hermès sure thinks the windy city could use a score more silk scarves, as the French luxury house is upgrading their Chicago location by moving it down the street from a small Oak Street townhouse to the comparatively airy former Barneys space.

As of only a few days ago, it has been one year since Barneys New York moved into their new 7-story building at Rush and Oak Streets in Chicago's ritzy Gold Coast neighborhood. They didn't have to go very far; Barneys had been in a smaller building just across the street for years, but despite the recession and Barneys' own money issues, they grew up and out.

Since then, the former Barneys space has been quiet, with the exception of a temporary tenant in Little Missmatched, which sold colorful girls socks from the former Chelsea Passage space.

So does this mean the recession is over? Hermès just opened a large all-menswear store in New York, the first of its kind, and with a glitzier Barneys across the street in Chicago...it might be a clue.

Now don't get your Kelly bag buckled up and ready to shop in Chicago quite yet; Hermès hasn't announced an opening date for the new high-profile location, but we'll keep watch.
· Marc Jacobs Chicago Is Open, Has Good Looking Staff & Stuff [Racked National]
· Hermes moves to high-profile Chicago corner [Crain's]
· The First and Only Hermès Men's Store Opens on Madison [Racked NY]