Habit

Get out of Your Boring Wardrobe and into the Habit 

“One of my favorite things is helping my customers find beautiful clothes. Owning a boutique is a little bit like having an adoption agency, and you want to make sure each piece finds a good home.”

Habit carries mostly emerging designers, so one of owner Lindsey Boland’s primary tasks is introducing her customers to labels they might not otherwise be aware of.   


She’s also incredibly dedicated to promoting new talent and loves to discover independent designers. “Habit is more like a gallery than a store. We showcase our designers like artists.”   

Indeed, the boutique’s white-walled modern space is much more reminiscent of a gallery than a store. And her staff is just as passionate as she about the merchandise. “When new stock comes in, it’s like Christmas for everyone.”   

Lindsey is also a designer herself, and her label is named Superficial, Inc. With a tagline like “there is love, everything else is…superficial,” you can bet this isn’t your typical collection.   

“My goal with Superficial is to provide women with clothing that expresses their individuality, playfulness, and artistic vision. I want to create the favorite pieces in their closets!”   

Since Superficial was incorporated seven years ago, she’s had plenty of success in the Chicago market. In fact, last year Superficial was tapped to create edgy, stylish uniforms for De La Costa, the newest Douglas Rodriguez restaurant located the Streeterville neighborhood.  
 

    

Like many designers, Lindsey got started by making clothes for herself and a few lucky friends in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. After receiving tons of compliments on her homemade designs, she brought a collection of casual sundresses to one of Tucson’s hippest boutiques, where they sold out in a flash. “I’ve always wanted to be in fashion somehow,” says Lindsey. “I have to create – it’s my outlet. I love putting together a design that I really believe in.”   

As both a designer and a retailer, Lindsey has plenty of solid advice to offer newcomers to the industry. “Be true to your style and aesthetic, and remember that you don’t need to prove your credentials with a big glossy presentation. If your work is quality, it will speak for itself.”   

Thanks to her Habit, she’s been able to support fellow designers and to sell her own designs in a beautiful, modern environment. Some of the labels she carries include Abigail Glaum-Lathbury (“very well-tailored pieces that have a funky edge to them”) and Katrin Schnabel.   

She prides herself on the uniqueness and variety of her merchandise, most of which is exclusive to Habit. Since many of the items are one-offs or produced in very small quantities, “customers won’t see themselves coming and going.”  

Located on the corner of Damen and Division in the artist’s enclave of Wicker Park, Habit plays host to lots of trunk shows, and in early June, they’re also doing a menswear and accessories show for Father’s Day.   

Sign up for their mailing list to get regular updates on the events and sales at Habit.

Habit is located in Wicker Park at:

1951 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL  60622
773.342.0093

www.habitchicago.com

www.superficialinc.com

 

---

Store photos courtesy of Evan Baines for Habit.

SeeMore Shopping Contributing Writer – J. Zenn.

We recommend checking with stores for product availability. Suggested prices may change without notice. SeeMore Shopping strives for accuracy, but is not responsible for errors or omissions.

Editorial content is independent of paid advertisers. SeeMoreShopping incurs all expenses associated with reviews. Publ.  05/07.