Little girls are meant to have a royal blast in Club Libby Lu (designed by the Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, offices of Chute Gerdeman). Every Lu girl [target age seven to 12) is a princess - free to do what she wants in the palatial, almost bedroom- like settings. The 1600-square-foot Lu debuted in August in the Woodfield Mall (located in suburban Schaumburg).

Vibrant colors and glitter galore mark the trappings of other Tween-oriented retailers. But Club Libby Lu hopes to engage its young customers with experimentation, customization and socialization.

Girls join the "club" at an interactive kiosk at the front of the store, where they're asked for their opinions, like "Who's your favorite celebrity?" Membership includes a monthly newsletter that details in-store events.

The store comprises four rooms with main activity areas: bath and body, T-shirts (design your own or pret-a-porter, jewelry and dress-up. At the child-scaled bath and body counter, girls can concoct their own shimmering lotion "parfait." Easy-to-follow instructions guide them through the bottling process.

A custom-designed gathering place takes the regal form of a crown-shaped "Princess Pad." Seated comfortably on the glittery Naugahyde furnishing, girls can play a Q&A game reminiscent of the "Magic 8-Ball."