Nau, the startup eco-oriented and fashion-forward retailer, with a store at 2118 North Halsted, abruptly announced that the entire company was winding down operations, just two weeks after opening its first LA store in the Beverly Center. In a statement on its Web site, entitled “Goodbye for Nau,” it blamed its demise on its inability to raise the funds necessary to continue, pointing to the difficult retail climate and the extremely constrained capital markets. It’s a sad day for the green cause, since Nau was a company designed at its very core to reconstruct the retail model around sustainability and good citizenship, with 5 percent of its revenues going to local and national nonprofit causes, chosen by the consumers.

When you think high fashion, Forever 21 isn’t exactly what pops into your head. But the new flagship store at 540 North Michigan may change your mind. The huge location is sleek, shiny, sophisticated and stocked with the latest colorful gear from Forever 21’s newest collection. The grand opening of this behemoth was celebrated in fittingly grand style with a runway show, featuring models from Elite Model Management, and was attended by contestants of “America’s Next Top Model,” giving the event a Hollywood vibe. There was a red carpet to strut, style consultants on hand to give advice, and great music pumping through the speakers.

The new location is a step up for the retail giant. They have long been relegated to the teeny-bopper mall-rat genre of clothing stores, but the sleek new space proves they are coming into their own here in Chicago. Their spring collection features casual chic looks that, while still young, carry more maturity and sophistication than ever before. Cute accessories and easy-layering pieces are the staples for the women’s collection, with one-season trends peppered in between. While there are still plenty of faux vintage t-shirts (touting prowess at beer pong and root-beer-drinking), there are also office-worthy sweaters, dresses and lots of casual summer wear.

The accessory section at the new flagship may be the most impressive area of the whole store, offering a variety of pieces to spice up any ensemble. But don’t limit yourself to just one section—the shoes, hats, scarves, bags, sunglasses, jewelry and expanded lingerie selection add multiple layers to this store, making it a one-stop-shopping destination for all summer wardrobe needs.

The current men’s collection surprisingly blends the classic styles of Banana Republic and the playfulness of Urban Outfitters, all at a much more reasonable price. Men who may not have considered putting Forever 21 on their shopping agenda might think again once they see the expanded men’s section. This is not just a place to hold your girlfriend’s purse anymore. (Beth Dugan)

XXI Forever, 540 North Michigan, (312)595-0489, forever21.com

The colossally successful, controversial (and devoutly Christian) LA-based retailer, Forever 21, opens its Chicago flagship Forever XXI in the old Virgin Megastore space (540 N. Michigan) on April 18. Known for inexpensive knockoffs of the latest runway looks, it should give H&M a run for its—or your—money.

The Chicago Diesel store, at 923 N. Rush, is closed. Signs on the windows say it’s remodeling and will reopen mid-May. The PRista at Diesel promises the deets soon; we’ll post them when we get them.

After 7pm the lights of Oak Street dim, and the shop-friendly block simply emanates a soft, quiet glow as the remaining shoppers and employees head home for the night. But on Thursday April 3, one store shone brightly past 7pm, like a beacon of after-hours shopping. Inside, stylishly dressed guests sipped wine and the signature drink of the night, the bebe-tini, as a DJ spun upbeat tunes. Wait staff circled with savory hors d’oeuvres and a multitude of photographers stopped guests in their tracks, aiming to get the perfect shot, while the invitees perused the racks of brightly colored, trendy clothing.

It was the grand opening of bebe’s brand spankin’ new flagship store, sponsored by Vogue magazine. For those who have been getting their bebe fix from the smallish store in the 900 North Michigan building, the new arrival is like a gift from the shopping heavens. This tri-level store officially takes the cake as Chicago’s largest retail space, with 7,500 square feet of bebe madness. It’s the ultimate showcase for bebe’s bold, contemporary and trendy designs, with modern minimalist décor that allows the bright colors and patterns of the clothing to shine. Neatly organized, the layout is perfect for both browsers and those Oak Street shoppers who know exactly what they want. The first floor plays host to accessories of all shapes and sizes, with plenty of bags, shoes and jewelry to complement any ensemble. The second floor houses dresses and sportswear, while on the third floor you’ll find casual duds, denim and plenty of those ubiquitous bebe tees, as well as club-tastic pieces for a night on the town.

With a portion of the evening’s sales benefiting the Sage Studios for Fashion Design at the School of the Art Institute, the new bebe store is already showing off its love for our city. And judging by the long lines at the fitting rooms and checkout, Chicago is loving bebe right back. (Molly Each)

bebe is located at 109 East Oak, (312)475-1589, bebe.com.

“Nice butt.”

It’s only an occasional compliment for most (that is, unless you’re Beyonce). But for men, the odds of this compliment occurring more often could happen with just one tool: the right blue jeans.

I had the good fortune to meet pros in the jean industry. At Adriano Goldschmied (AG) I met store manager Tony Tadijanovic, who walked me through the history of their denim while we perused the second floor of their Chicago location. Rows of jeans folded crisp and ordered like books at a library intimidate me as I walk in the door. So many cuts and washes, it’s hard to know which ones will flatter my body type.

Guys—it’s true. As much as you don’t want to admit that you care how your jeans fit, you have to be concerned. Baggy is out. Remember that. If you’re tall you don’t want a skinny boot cut (it will make you look lanky). If you’re shorter you’re not going to want a wide leg (it will make you look chunky). But have no fear. AG caters to clueless jean buyers—and takes pride in knowing what your lower half needs.

Tadijanovic tames my anxiety by giving me crucial details every guy needs to know about their favorite everyday staple. First, jeans are an investment. Denim can be dressed down for a night with the guys or up for that first date at a high-end sushi joint—the same pair for both events. Also, he tells me why quality jeans have a higher price tag. “Our jeans are hand detailed,” he says. You’re paying for a handmade piece of art. And if you’re wearing something so often, why shouldn’t you be proud of it?

He gives me a booklet that offers different cuts and colors that will aid in my future visits to the store. I fall in love with the stories that come with AG’s garments—a family business with a passion for quality and knowledge of denim. Most importantly, the insight they have to make a guy memorable as he walks away. (Byron Flitsch)

The AG store is located at 48 East Walton, (312)787-7680.

On a recent cold December night, the new Cynthia Rowley boutique glowed like a beacon down North Damen, warming the hearts of Bucktown shoppers who were walking by, bundled up as they went about their Christmas shopping. Though Rowley may be a Chicago native and a hometown favorite, she now resides in America’s reputed fashion capital, New York, but is excited to be opening her second boutique here in the place she used to call home.

The small space at 1653 North Damen is a perfect canvas to show off Rowley’s signature fun, flirty, womanly style, her newer offerings of sunglasses, jewelry and knit goods and her book “Slim: A Fantasy Memoir,” which showcases Rowley’s own illustrations. At the grand-opening party servers circulated with splits of champagne with green and pink bendy straws and bags of Garrett’s popcorn (Rowley’s favorite) for guests to munch on while mingling. Rowley herself was mobbed by fans, many of whom were old friends. The diminutive designer and mother of two oozed pleasure and joy at being so warmly embraced by her friends, family and fans.

Rowley has a reputation as a serious designer with a sense of humor. If you aren’t familiar with her clothes, you may have seen her popular collection of housewares at Target called Swell, which showcases her sense of style and humor with bright colors, bold patterns and flirty details. Her newest clothing collection is sporty and fitness-inspired while still staying elegant, featuring strong pieces that would look good while riding one of the brightly painted old-fashioned bicycles that are in the shop. These bicycles were also featured in her New York Fashion Week offering this season.

The new Bucktown location has a popular sister spot in Lincoln Park and Rowley’s insouciant style is a welcome addition to the neighborhood. Bucktown is the place for boutiques these days, though it still clings to some of its artistic charm and eccentricity. Hopefully Rowley’s store and collections will add to that charm. (Beth Dugan)

Cynthia Rowley, 1653 North Damen, (773)276-9209.

Like it or not, winter is on it’s way. So what are you going to wear for it? Consider this: a cold-weather wardrobe by Burton Snowboards. The Chicago flagship store opened on September 19 and they have winter gear for everyone under the semi-warm sun. Burton Snowboards offers long down coats, jackets, fleeces, hats, sunglasses, watches, even the Ronin CW Jump Suit, a one-piece snowsuit that is exactly what you should wear when you’re digging your car out of a snow drift in the middle of January.

“Chicago’s a big town for us,” says Jake Burton, the man who started making snowboards on his Vermont farm in 1977. “We do well in urban scenes.” The store—with separate levels for men’s gear, kids’ clothes and women’s attire—culminates in a fourth floor filled with hard goods (boards, bindings, boots) and a rider lounge.

The intriguing aspect of Burton’s winter gear is the design process. Through round table discussions with riders, designers create clothes that are hip and function efficiently. Riders are involved throughout the process, making Burton a trendsetter on both the slopes and the street.

“Progression is at the forefront of everything we do,” says Greg Dacyshyn, senior vice president and creative director of product. At the Burton design studio in Whistler, Canada, gear is designed then immediately tested under the harshest conditions. You’ll find waterproof zippers, water-resistant outer layers and taped seams among the harsh-element amenities.

Attention to functional details sets Burton gear apart from other winter clothing lines. Case in point—the sleeper hoodie. Inspired by requests from riders who spend a lot of time on planes, this zip-up sweatshirt is the Superman of sweatshirts: inflatable neck pillow, face guard to block light, an iPod-perfect pocket with a cutaway hole so you can string your headphones inside the hoodie, even thumb holes in the sleeves to keep your hands warm.

Burton also offers specific lines by Shaun White, Ronin, AK, Anon sunglasses and the B for Burton line for women. Best part: Burton is a four-season brand, which means board shorts and tees for summer. That is, if summer ever comes around again. (Kim Morris)

Burton Snowboards, 56 East Walton, (312)202-7900, www.burton.com.

Chicago is ripe with intra-city rivalries: the Cubs versus the Sox, Northwestern versus University of Chicago, the Sun-Times versus the Tribune. Add one more rivalry, brought to us by way of NYC: Intermix versus Scoop. After the opening of Intermix last week, we stopped by both ultra-chic retailers to compare shopping experiences. Here are our field findings.

Merchandise
Scoop NYC: Women’s clothing by Tibi, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Nili Lotan; Men’s clothing by James Perse, John Varvatos; kid’s clothing by Chip and Pepper Kids and Ella Moss; shoes and accessories for both sexes.

Intermix: Women’s clothing and accessories from D&G, Valentino, Stella McCartney, Matthew Williamson, Missoni.

Our Favorite Finds

Scoop NYC: Old-school sneakers for guys by John Varvatos for Converse, colorful linen shifts by Alice + Olivia, metallic python flats by Stuart Weitzman for Scoop.

Intermix: A hot pink dress by D&G embellished with gold chains; Valentino Diamante Ballerina Flats.

Sales Help (For this category, we got a general vibe on the sales crew, then tried on something that was decidedly “not for us” to gauge how honest the feedback is.)

Scoop NYC: Available but not pushy. We tried on a silk dress by Nili Lotan, and after deeming that the hem was too short, the associate suggested a number of ways to adapt the dress so we’d be more comfortable wearing it.

Intermix: Busy (it was opening weekend, after all) but constantly supervising their shoppers. When a silver silk halter tunic by Toronto-based Jay Godfrey looked too much like a maternity dress, the associate ran out and came back with a smaller size and two similar pieces for comparison.

Dressing Rooms

Scoop NYC: Navy velvet curtains conceal huge dressing rooms with large benches to lay out outfits and accessories. A mirror-lined wall allows you to see how you look as you walk.

Intermix: A circle of smaller rooms with red suede curtains. Associates can swing around, checking on everyone in one swoop.

Perks
Scoop NYC: Free one-on-one consultations and personal shopping, free delivery to home or office.

Intermix: In addition to personal shopping, extended hours and in-home consulting, the staff associates are trained as stylists. (Tina Trenkner)

Intermix, 40 East Delaware Place, (312)640-2922; Scoop NYC, 1702 North Milwaukee (773)227-9930