Duuuude, have you heard? Fashion co-ops are all the rage nowadays. No, they aren't crunchy dens of hippie dresses and Grateful Dead CDs. They're places where designers get their own shelf space to sell whatever they like at whatever prices they want to charge. In exchange, the designers usually work at the boutique for a set amount of time per month.

The pluses?

Normal boutiques charge high rent for shelf space, making it hard for up-and-coming designers to get their stuff out there. In a co-op, all kinds of new talent can sell their collections. So, ultimately, you get edgier, more out-there fashion than in most boutiques, plus the offerings are diverse.

The downsides?