Habit

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If you like something you see at Habit, you best snatch it up right away -- it'll likely be gone next time you return. Like a restaurant with a seasonally changing menu, the unique, limited-run garments here are in constant rotation. Owner Lindsey Boland calls her shop "a design collective," and she stocks only emerging designers, half from Chicago and the other half from around the country.

To make the cut, items must be well-made, wearable, and stocked nowhere else in the city. Once a designer has caught on enough to be picked up by other area boutiques, Boland bids them good luck and fills the vacancy with creations from a new talent. During our last visit, we spotted Nam Kim canvas bags, fleece coats by Nature vs. Future and artsy dresses with a handmade feel by Filly Designs. One constant among the constantly changing inventory is Boland's own line (her design studio's tucked in back of the shop) called Superficial.

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Bucktown/Wicker Park stores, East Village / Ukrainian Village stores, Chicago stores, Chicago stores, Apparel and accessory stores