Peep Snaps From The New Madewell Store (& Party!)

Last month, we gave you a sneak preview of what to buy at Chicago's new Madewell store. Well, now you can see it for yourself, as the Gold Coast retailer officially opened its doors last week. And, as we could have predicted, dozens of anxious shoppers lined up outside before 10 a.m., hoping to be one of the first 150 customers to receive a mystery gift card worth anywhere from $10 to $500.

But before the store officially opened for biz, there was a grand-opening celebration the night before. A select group of Chicago tastemakers and fashion-forward individuals (think Laura Lombardi, Swathi Narra, April Francis, and Shannon O'Brien) got a chance to get a firsthand look of the store, which, of course, is chock-full of Madewell's signature denim, dresses, tops, shoes, and accessories.

So, instead of just showing you snaps of the gorgeous store on its own, we thought it might be a bit more fun to take you behind the scenes of the party instead. Guests enjoyed cocktails, light bites, and entertainment by hot Chicago DJ Megan Taylor, as well as a performance by the band On An On — rated number one from SXSW by Time magazine. Of course, one of the best parts was getting first dibs on all of the wares in the store. But don't worry — there is still plenty of inventory in this large and lofty space to go around. Click through for proof.

Madewell, 932 North Rush Street (between Walton and Oak streets); 312-337-3815.