Walking in the doors and going down the stairs, the first thing you notice is the neon. The neon is always on. The atmosphere is mellow. The music encompasses

the entire store. It’s not obnoxious, but everything just seems in-your-face. The storefront doesn’t scream at you, but it shoves the product at you. This is RSVP Gallery.

Located in Chicago, RSVP Gallery is a boutique that feels more like an art gallery. The boutique is owned by Don C, Marc Moran and Virgil Abloh, all of whom have influence rooted in Chicago. RSVP’s goal is to maintain an art gallery like atmosphere, while still providing top-of-the-line clothing and top-notch service. It’s a surreal atmosphere. The bizarre store is truly one of a kind.

As I was walking down the stairs, one of the employees asked what I was looking for, which I replied with “just shopping”. The day was hectic for them, as the new collection, “Off White”, (from RSVP’s co-owner Virgil Abloh), was releasing. Regardless of how busy the store was, I was able to take my time and chit-chat with friendly employees. They helped me choose between two items they had in stock and let me try them on.

The only gripe I had with the store was that I couldn’t take pictures. I presume it was because the store is always changing. I’ve been to the store three times and each time was a completely different experience. It seems as if the store changes the display of their items, almost every time there’s a new brand or item in-stock.

The store stocks high end clothes from designers and brands like Phillip Lim, Balmain, Raf Simons, APC, Band of Outsiders, etc. The store also stocks streetwear brands like Been Trill, Cav Empt, Original Fake. The only thing that stays the same with the store is the neon. There are four neon signs in the store; a Pepsi Cola, a Chanel, a Rolex and an Apple sign. It adds to the ambience and helps create the art-gallery-like atmosphere. The store is a great little gem in Chicago, and I definitely recommend checking it out if you ever make it up to the Windy City.