Habit-forming

Lindsey Boland, owner of the boutique Habit (1951 W Division St, 773-342-0093), didn’t originally intend to start a monthly online charity auction. But when she was asked to donate an outfit for a local charity event last year, Boland got so many donations from the local designers her shop carries that she launched her own auction series. She kicked it off in November with a dress from Superficial, Boland’s own line, and the proceeds went to the Chicago Abused Women Coalition (the donating designer chooses the charity; Boland holds CAWC close to her heart as she lost a friend to domestic abuse about a year ago). This month’s auction, which begins Thursday 18 at 12am, features a hand-cast brass belt by Tuyere, with profits going to Chicago Cares. The belt’s retail value is $250 (the bidding starts at $150), which happens to be the same amount of dough that would enable 50 at-risk kids to participate in an educational field trip. For more information, visit www.habitchicago.com/auction.html.—Kevin Aeh