When the innovative clothing company Nau unexpectedly closed its doors last May as an early victim of the credit crisis gripping Wall Street, a discouraged sigh echoed through the eco-fashion community. Nau, a pioneer of the ecologically conscious clothing movement had been a touchstone and role model for responsible design and production. Based in Portland, Oregon, Nau made Chicago its first market outside the West Coast and had a retail “webfront” in Lincoln Park.

Shortly after the Nau collapse, its name and mission were resurrected under new ownership. One notable strategic change: the new Nau would be a web retailer, with bricks and mortar a future consideration, if at all. But a new Chicago eco-retailer, Connect, is bringing the entire Nau line back to this market, led by Nau’s former regional marketing manager Jonathon Shaun. “It was heartbreaking when Nau 1.0 closed shop,” Shaun says. “Here was this forward-thinking business bound and determined to revolutionize the sustainable apparel and retail industries with philanthropy at its core, and before it had a chance to really expand throughout public domain it was forced to wind down.”

Shaun leapt into action, calling on business partners Mitch and Nate Lindsay to help raise funds to revive the mission. With Nau as its anchor brand and many other socially responsible lines such as Chicago-based bag company Noon Solar and Wired Jewelry, Connect is poised to take philanthropic shopping in Chicago to new heights. The boutique-showroom also offers its own donation-based label, Connect Organics, which gives a portion of sales back to the community. As part of a commitment to reducing carbon footprints, the guys at Connect have developed a bicycle-courier program that delivers orders to your door via a professional cyclist. And the resolve to create change doesn’t end there. Connect plans to host conscious fundraising events for not-for-profits, and has a vast network of community partners including Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance, Recycling Services and Creative Pitch. (Kari Skaflen)

Connect, 1330 North Milwaukee, (312)89003684, celebrates its launch with an in-store event November 6. See Style Events for details.

1006 W. Armitage, (773)477-7505, armadioboutique.com (1 votes, average: 3 out of 5)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for men and women. Designers: Just Cavalli, D&G, Gianfranco Ferre, Moschino, C’N’C. Owner: Maira Okuleye, who studied fashion design at Columbia College, is currently working on her own line, Hashimi, to debut next year. Vibe: Sleek, chic and ultra modern. Silver and black are the dominant colors, décor is of the minimalist variety, and clubby music plays softly in the background. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: Notice-me ensembles with an edge. The Armadio devotee loves to see-and-be-seen, and will easily be spotted at the hottest bars, restaurants and clubs. Shopper’s Perks: Because Okuleye is a designer, she selects goods with a designer eye. Clothing here features quality fabrics, stunning fits and attention to detail. Okuleye also offers shopping by appointment, complete with champagne, treats and personal-shopping expertise.

Armadio

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

2959 N. Lincoln, (773)248-1996, yellowjacketvintageclothing.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and footwear for women and men. Large selection of multicolored wigs, accessories, clothing patterns and vintage artwork. Designers: While brand names aren’t the deal, there is an impressive stock of comfy Levi’s, Jordache and Wrangler jeans. Owner: Jennifer Rau opened Yellow Jacket’s first location in Milwaukee’s trendy Brady St. district in 1993. Four years ago, she brought her retailing expertise and thrifty eye to Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Vibe: Classic hardwood floors and vintage playhouse seating play an attractive yet understated backdrop to the racks of vibrant and funky clothing and accessories that steal the show. Price Range: Inexpensive-Moderate The Look: 1960s, 1970s and 1980s streetwear. Shopper’s Perks: The stylish staff is friendly and complete with advice and the four changing rooms and ample space allow perusing without tapping boots.

Yellow Jacket Vintage

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1821 W. North, (773)486-4434,viafirenzi.com (1 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s clothing and shoes. Designers: Ginger Goff, Martinez Valero and Via Uno.  Owner:  Having taken over in July, new owner Kortnee Doss has big plans for the store, which will soon take on the new moniker ‘Verse Chicago.’  Vibe:  With a remodeling scheduled for January, Doss plans to give the boutique a more polished look with dark wood, a black-and-white palate and old family photos. Price Range: Moderate.  The Look: European. A travel-savvy shopper whose wardrobe boasts bits from Spain, London, Europe, Sweden and France .  Shopper’s Perks:  New designers are encouraged to showcase their work every Thursday night from 5pm to 7pm.  Doss also has deals in the works for a Fair Trade program with the Peace Corps.

Via Firenzi/Verse Chicago

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1744 W. Division, (773)227-2728 (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for men and women. Designers: Miss Sixty, Beach Bunny, 213 Industry, Noir, Margaret Howell, Toxic Waste. Owners: Sisters Margaret and Aga Jankuc designed their Wicker Park shop to close the gap between high-end and low-end clothes and to offer a range of chic looks. Vibe: Prepped for a night out. The décor is stark, metallic and sleek; beats accompany try-on sessions, while video of runway shows plays in the background. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive. The Look: Dinner at Hub 51 followed by drinks and dancing at rednofive. Shopper’s Perks: DJs often play at the shop, adding to the charm of the cozy confines, and monthly happy-hour shopping events bring the neighborhood together. Sign up for their email list and stay clued-in about sales, fashion shows and new merchandise.

Strut Boutique

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1252 S. Halsted, (312)997-2411, gourmetclothing.com (2 votes, average: 3.5 out of 5)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s clothing. Designers: Salvage, Little Big, Heatherette, Meets the Wizard, Proper Tea, People’s Liberation, Monarchy, BB Dakota and Breathe. Owner: Jabari Jackson reinvented his former high-end women’s boutique, Breathe Clothing Lounge, into a more approachable shop that UIC students could afford—without losing a bit of style. Vibe: Staying true to its name, the store is actually decorated like a bistro, with cloth tables displaying tees and jeans. Furbished with stainless steel, the back room is “the kitchen,” where all high-end items are housed. Price Range: Moderate-Expensive.  The Look: In the heart of University Village, the store caters to the college crowd with a super trendy appeal. Embellished tees, premium denim and bold hoodies stock the shelves. Shopper’s Perks: Keep your eyes peeled for their “Gourmet Sampler” events, featuring live DJs, wine, cheese and sweet discounts.

The Gourmet Clothing Company

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

1142 W. Taylor, (312)265-6647, capridolce.com (2 votes, average: 1.5 out of 5)
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Goods: Men’s and women’s clothing and accessories. Designers: More than 200 European-inspired designers are featured, including Ed Hardy, Grass, 575 Denim, Meltin’ Pot, Affliction and Sinful, as well as the store’s own Capri Dolce (Chicago Roma) red label. Owner: Marian Cotor brought his European style to University Village a little over three years ago. Vibe: Hip and trendy. In the heart of Little Italy, the influence can be seen in Italian flag murals and ‘Mafioso’ graffiti. Price Range: Moderate. The Look:  Rocker chic. Details like shredded sleeves, lace, jewels and gems give the clothes a serious edge.  Shopper’s Perks: With their own tailor, Capri Dolce offers free alterations on jeans, saving you the hassle.

Capri Dolce

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

2 N. LaSalle, (312)346-0333, sydjerome.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Men’s suits, outerwear, clothing and accessories. Designers: Big-name Italian labels like Armani, Canali, Isaia Napoli, Trussini and Ermenegildo Zegna stock the shelves. Owner: Sid Shapiro celebrates the store’s fiftieth anniversary this year with his son and co-owner, Scott. Vibe: While the clothes scream upscale and modern, the store itself has a vintage feel with its stuffed shelves and assorted racks. Price Range: Expensive-Luxury. The Look: Polished, yet fun. The suits are all nicely tailored and constructed while the dress shirts range from classic solids to neon plaids. Shopper’s Perks: During non-sale events, Syd Jerome offers customers free custom alterations for life on their purchases. The store also offers the luxury of fur without the guilt, supporting more animal-friendly shearing practices.

Syd Jerome

UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2008

3740 N. Southport, (773)929-5253, 939 N. Rush, (312)664-5553, shopjake.com (1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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Goods: Clothing and accessories for men and women. Designers: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Barbara Bui and Erin Fetherston for women; Band of Outsiders and Tim Hamilton for men. Owners: Lance Lawson, an attorney, keeps the business pegs in place while Jim Wetzel applies his merchandising background to the biz. Vibe: Clean and chic with a lodge-in-Aspen edge—small antlers decorate the walls and a cowhide rug rests on the wood floors. The staff doesn’t do the snooty thing, and they know all the regulars by name. Price Range: Expensive-Luxury. The Look: A tasteful, impeccably pulled-together look that blends megawatt and off-the-beaten path designers. Outfits for uber-exclusive cocktail parties or for sipping wine in your Nate Berkus-decorated living room. Shopper’s Perks: All the salespeople have a background in luxury retail. On-site trunk shows offer shoppers the chance to mingle and sip champagne with fashion-world stars. The Thing for Spring: The vibrant colors in Chris Benz’s women’s line.

Lakeview Store

Jake

Gold Coast Store

Jake

72 E. Oak, (312)440-1718, gbani.com (No Ratings Yet)
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Goods: Women’s and men’s clothing, shoes and bags. Designers: Patrizia Pepe, Roberto Cavalli, Giuseppe Zanotti, Rocco P, DSquared, Diego Dolcini. Owners: Husband and wife duo B.J. and Trevian Kutti operate this 10-year-old boutique and manage two showrooms in Europe. Vibe: Buzzer-operated doors and the sales staff’s careful-what-you-touch attitude stir up an air of exclusivity. The room is upbeat and glam, with pop music and plenty of shimmer and sparkle on the racks. Price Range: Luxury. The Look: Sexy, sexy, sexy. Towering high heels. Shimmery tops. Tastefully plunging necklines. Set to down pomegranate martinis at SushiSamba Rio. Shopper’s Perks: Champagne and caviar events are not only held when new lines drop, but for simple client appreciation as well. Plus, it’s worth dropping by to see the politically inspired window displays. The Thing for Spring: Look for the debut of the store’s signature couture line, designed by the owners in collaboration with one of the top factories in Italy.

G’bani