Louis Vuitton’s Neon Orange Chicago Pop-Up Emerges as Summer’s New Temple of Cool

As the Texas summer continues to sizzle, it’s only fitting that we look to Chicago. Both cooler in temperature and on the symbolic cutting edge, the city of Chicago is buzzing with the opening of the Louis Vuitton’s Chicago Residency — a unmistakable neon orange painted pop-up that’s part store, part art installation.

This marks the fashion house’s first-ever pop-up space in the city. It heralds the brand’s 2019 fall collection and highlights the ingenious mind of Louis Vuitton men’s artistic director Virgil Abloh. The pop-up space — and its traffic stopping, neon orange painted exterior — is dotted with mannequin-like figures with the appearance of clothes part of the sculptures. Many of these are larger than life, including a towering figure of a stylish young man that stands almost two stories tall.

A twisting orange staircase adds another dramatic touch.

Abloh transformed a shuttered night club in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood into the eye-popping mecca of creativity. And it’s not just a place to gawk at in wonder. A limited-edition selection of day-glow orange accessories designed exclusively for this Chicago space are on sale. The pop-up also showcases key pieces from Louis Vuitton’s fall collection.

The orange hued space will be open through July 7 at 1100 W. Randolph Street.

The pop-up is also designed to coincide with Abloh’s “Figures of Speech” exhibition at The Museum of Contemporary Art (which opened on Monday and runs through September 22).

The storied fashion house is celebrating Abloh by offering an immersive, gallery-like retail experience where visitors can shop an exclusive collection only available in the Windy City space. The 38-year-old fashion force also opened up a new experimental Nike store in Chicago that’s an attraction in its own right. Abloh grew up in nearby Rockford, Illinois and Chicago means plenty to him.

Now Chicago style is heating up. Just in time for a visit.