CHICAGO — Jil Sander’s collection has grown out of the Ultimo specialty store here and relocated to its own boutique at 48 East Oak St.
The store, which opened March 4, is owned by Joan Weinstein, who also owns Ultimo, at 114 East Oak St.
The 3,000-square-foot Chicago boutique is the German designer’s first freestanding unit in the U.S. “The collection was so successful, it was beginning to take over half the ground floor of Ultimo,” Weinstein said. After five years at Ultimo, “it moved itself out,” she said.
The store sells Sander’s complete line of apparel, accessories and fragrances.
In the first week, sales were strong across the board, said store manager Susan Beischel. The most popular item was a linen T-shirt in a range of colors. About 200 units, at $190, sold. Other bestsellers during the period were: five pale yellow cashmere coats at $2,270 and matching pantsuits at $2,030; eight linen blouses, at $720, and nine long, sheer skirts in wool gauze or chiffon, at $450 to $650.
Weinstein said a grand opening will be held later this year when Sander can be present.
The store was designed by New York architect Michael Gabellini, who also did Sander’s Paris boutique.
The Sander collection is also growing at other sites.
In New York, Sander will have a 1,500-square-foot boutique inside the Linda Dresner designer store at 484 Park Ave. by late August or early September. Dresner has taken over a former shoe shop adjacent to her store for the addition.
Bergdorf Goodman plans to enlarge Sander’s space, and I. Magnin in San Francisco added a 1,200-square-foot Sander boutique in November. Barneys New York also carries the label.
No other freestanding units are currently planned for the U.S., according to a spokeswoman.