
photo: John Valls via Housemartin
Did we say something recently about the ampers(and) phenomenon for shop names in Portland?
After a 15 year stint doing textile design, Pam Zsori turned design blogger (Housemartin), floral designer, and now retailer with the opening of her floral and home shop Ink & Peat (3808 N Williams — Suite 126). Which is good news for you because she has a giant swath of your design gift needs covered…an armful of cut flowers? printed pillows and table linens? little vases, garden ornaments, rarified lotions and potions? Her aesthetic is clean, modern, light, organic, with a Scandinavian and rough-hewn feel, all in a light, large store in a coming ‘hood.

photo: John Valls via Housemartin
That’s “ink” as in printing on card and textile which Zsori extends to mean “handmade,” and “peat” as in digging one’s hands into the earth and the lovely flora that result. Have a look…
And while you’re in the neighborhood, check out Lark Press.
Posted on August 24, 2008 | Filed under shop | Permalink

Saturday August 16 is the Hawthorne Street Fair with many shops putting goods on sale including Imelda’s and Louie’s Shoes - 20-70% off sale items inside, Mink with 15% off of all summer items (tanks, shorts, skirts, and dresses), and Local.35 with new markdowns on spring/summer as Justin starts receiving fall goods. Presents of Mind has a sidewalk sale and visiting designer PDX Softgoods.
There is a fashion show at 3 PM at the Main Stage at SE 36th.
Fashion necessaries: sunscreen, parasol, big hat.
Posted on August 15, 2008 | Filed under event | Permalink

Cop.Copine suzelle dress detail. image via physical element
physical element, the Pearl District boutique with fashion-forward European and Japanese labels like Cop.Copine is now open for business online. We like the detailing on this Cop.Copine dress, and apparently (we’ve yet to take it for a test run) it’s of a convertible length…you can bubble the hem or let it drape…fun! play clothes! And as much as we like color for beach, pool, and garden, we’re just about ready to get serious (like Brian Johnson) with black on black for winter so this “Suzelle” dress suits us to a T.
Check out Bill Cunningham’s On The Street, “Ravenwood.” The ladies of NYC agree.
Posted on August 12, 2008 | Filed under shop | Permalink

Perhaps you will say that you don’t need to go to school to learn how to shop for bargains from a number of Portland’s independent boutiques and shops. We will beg to differ. It is, in fact, to school you’ll go, McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd) to be exact, where the latest installment of the multi-shop sale extravaganza, Bargain Hunting 101, happens this Sunday, August 17 from 11-4. Clarification: Kennedy School, as most of you know is the former school turned restaurant, bar(s), movie theater, (and more) by the resourceful McMenamin brothers. Bargain Hunting is more than a dozen Portland shops who transform the Kennedy School gymnasium (and the patio beyond) into an outlet-for-a-day. Who’s in? It’s primarily a NE Alberta lineup with a few outliers thrown in for good measure: Collage, Digs, Frock, Ella’s, Foundation Garments, Garnish, Knot Ugly, Mabel & Zora, Gypsy Chic, Hazeldrops, the Monkey and the Rat, Mink, Olio United , Sofia, Poppy & Ivy, Sofada, and IDOM. If that seems overwhelming? Start with IDOM, Foundation Garments, and Olio United and go from there.
Posted on August 11, 2008 | Filed under sale | Permalink

Three Pearl District boutiques are sale-ing for First Thursday from 5-9 PM. Neighbors Mabel & Zora (748 NW 11th) and Shoefly (718 NW 11th) team up with Lucia (424 NW 11th) for the one-night stand. Find shoes from 25-70% off at Shoefly, 15% off dresses at Mabel, and 20% off skirts at Lucia.
Posted on August 5, 2008 | Filed under sale | Permalink

Remember how for a while, new bands were all called “The (whatevers)”? There are viral naming memes, no doubt. And right now the “and”s have it. Life + Limb, Mabel & Zora, stone & honey, and now sword + fern (811 E Burnside), Emily Baker’s new shop and studio. Ampersands and pluses aside, this latest edition of the revolving set of Very Good Shops at the 811 building looks a winner. The new shop carries work by Erin Albin of Appetite Home (screenprinted home decor) and Heather Treadway’s apparel line Paperdoll as well as Baker’s jewelry (Clever Castle which you might have seen a few doors down at Redux), medicinal botanicals, art, vintage housewares, books. There’s a grand opening party tonight at 6 PM.

Posted on August 1, 2008 | Filed under shop | Permalink

image via Pinball Publishing who printed the chipboard tags for the pieces
A small things necklace is virtually a uniform for many a NW girl. A dear friend doesn’t go anywhere without hers. Carried at Seaplane, Presents of Mind, and other local retailers, we first saw Teresa Robinson’s small things at the dearly departed motel gallery. A dear friend doesn’t go anywhere without hers. small things cuts motifs like little birdforms, minimalist flower silhouettes, from silver and layers them over glass making a modern pendant/ring/etceteras.
This new line, stone & honey, from small things designer Teresa Robinson, knock our socks off with its loose silver geometries that feel hand-drawn, but this agate piece is our favorite. Don’t know what the ETA is for these pieces, but we eagerly anticipate.

image via Pinball Publishing who printed the chipboard tags for the pieces
Posted on August 1, 2008 | Filed under designer | Permalink

Burnside boutique Moxie (2400 E Burnside) has just turned three! And now they’re open Mondays from 11-5. To celebrate, Moxie will give you 10% off your purchase every Monday through August.
Posted on July 26, 2008 | Filed under sale | Permalink

photo Howard Petrella via ultra
There’s a reason we buy fashion magazines. It’s fun and inspiring to see the vision stylists and photographers create (combining labels, pairing unexpected pieces, accessorizing brilliantly) using the raw materials (and plenty of imagination) of the clothing we’ll see hanging on the rails in shops. Over at ultra, stylist Elianna Bar El and photographer Howard Petrella have worked together on an excellent editorial with loads of PDX personality (including the March Fourth Marching Band!) featuring clothes from shops including Frances May, Odessa, Anna Korte, Seaplane, Flutter, Pinkham Millinery, Phlox, Halo, and Red Light. Check out Shangri La.
Posted on July 24, 2008 | Filed under shop | Permalink

Leanne Marshall photo via Bravo
We knew Project Runway was nosing around Portland, putting out feelers to some of our favorite designers. But did you know that Portland’s own Leanne Marshall (Leanimal) is joining Project Runway Season Five? We were tipped off by this piece in the Seattle PI (because to be honest, we haven’t been checking the Bravo site daily in anticipation of the announcement), but look! It’s totally official. And because we’re used to seeing photos of Leanne backstage calmly working on a garment at the last minute before her model walks out on the runway, 1.) she looks especially gorgeous here, and 2.) she’ll be PERFECT for the stressy, time-limited projects on Project. But oh, we’re worried about the drama. Leanne seems very un-drama. And what if some catty witch tries to take her out? Because look at the other Runwayers…yes, they were coached to look that way, but don’t better than half of them look like they want to eat your head off?
The sculptural aesthetic of Marshall’s line, Leanimal, makes her one of the more innovative designers in Portland, so it’s great to see her representing.
See for yourself. Find Leanimal at Foundation Garments (2712 NE Alberta) and Seaplane (827 NW 23rd).
Posted on July 15, 2008 | Filed under designer | Permalink
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