photo via Una
This is it, ladies and boys. And you thought voting season was o-ver. Writing this as I am from a little town 13 hours south of my beloved Portland, I can tell you that we’re awfully lucky to have an array of great small retailers in PDX from the adventurous to the good ole standby’s…an embarrassment of riches for a town our size.
Just finished reading Refinery29’s round-up of labels and shops that have signed off in 2008, from Mayle to 6267 and Presse and All Purpose. The whole fashion world is going through a shakeout, and we’re not going to be immune. We enjoyed a flowering of shops in the last year, Sword & Fern, Frances May, Frank James, Parallel, Covet, and plenty more. Let it snow buckets at the shoppingest time of the year, and we have a Situation.
And so we vote, with our (did we get Christmas bonuses this year?) almighty dollars for the shops we love most and in so doing determine those Most Likely to Succeed.
For your consideration: Odessa, Una, Souchi, Olio United, Xtabay, Stand Up Comedy, Local35. There are so many more.
Posted on December 28, 2008 | Filed under shop | Permalink
Necklace: Arielle de Pinto. photo via arielledepinto.com
Snow day. All you have to do is make it to 811 E Burnside and you can finish your shopping with a little something extra thrown in for you. Stand Up Comedy is ground zero for progressive fashion, but there are gifts here for everyone you know starting with Six Scents. Like most goods at SUC, this project with a conceptual bent results in something brilliant. Six Scents is a curated collection of limited edition unisex fragrances created by partnering designers like Bernard Wilhelm, Gareth Pugh, and Alexandre Herchcovitch with perfumiers. Check out Preen’s “Teen Spirit” (more pastoral than grunge) and I can’t even imaging Gareth Pugh’s “Diagonal,” but I want to. The best part is slotting your friends into each of these scent categories (who gets “Illicit Sex” I wonder). Your fashion friends will love you.
Digital type lovers, recall the letter…on paper…stationery, actually, all the better if its fake stationery from companies and universities you’ve never worked for, places you’ve never stayed. Slavs & Tartars “Stolen Letterheads” stationery set is an assortment of faux letterheads for letterheads like me.
Arielle de Pinto’s necklaces are so good in a delicate yet undone, careless kind of way. Crocheted of silver and vermeil, the gradient necklaces are the best. For she who never tries too hard (because she doesn’t have to).
And for everyone else: time’s come to pay a bit more attention to the lowly tote now that they are ubiquitous (even beyond the convention floor) as the bag for grocery, bag for book or mag, and bag to drag around your pretty shoes when you need your trudgers to get through the drifts. Choose Stand Up Comedy’s limited edition WT/SUC totes with designs from a dozen international artists and made right here in Portland, Oregon with their excellent double-option handles.
“Stand Up Comedy,” by Na Kim
“Bloods/Crips,” by Scott Ponik
Posted on December 24, 2008 | Filed under shop | Permalink
Perhaps this doesn’t happen to you: getting completely overwhelmed to the point of paralysis at the video store, music store…at Powell’s or a restaurant with a killer (and lengthy) menu. There’s so much! It’s all so good. How. Can. You. Ever. Make. A. Decision. ?!?
But if it does, the riches awaiting you at Portland’s Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Holiday Sale tomorrow, Sunday, December 14th from 11 AM to 7 PM at The Oregon Convention Center (777 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd) may be almost too much. The fact that it’s at the Convention Center should tip you off that it’s going to be gigantic.
Here’s a little guide to some highlights that should make your visit more manageable and visit you will because you’ll be able to find gifts for many on your list while supporting local makers. You’ll find apparel, art, lots of soft goods and jewelry, lots of screenprinting, sewn things and in general, you can expect handmade goods that skew cute/sweet like the Woolie above, made from recycled wool knits, who is going to be a present for a certain little someone we know.
This vase by Phebe Miller of 5 PM Studio would love to be on my bureau, but I’m going to give it to a friend. The midnight blue knit bandana from Machete Designs is for me…everything midnight blue right now).
Okay and if I’m honest, this handprinted linen pincushion from Chet and Dot (because I have linen on the brain…out of season, I know) would also be for me, but luckily, I know lots of girls who could also use somewhere to stick a pin so I’ll enjoy your enjoyment ladies.
Tender Loving Empire (NW 1720 NW Lovejoy #109) represents with graphic t’s for girls and boys and likely music and book projects as well. See also t’s from Monsieur T and Sam Trout.
And Fernworks jewelry will likely be the most sublime work you’ll see at Wonderland. Lovely. Truly.
There are, I think, more than a hundred vendors at the sale. Bring your list, check it twice. See you there.
Posted on December 13, 2008 | Filed under event, sale | Permalink
photo via: papertreasure.net
Just in time for giving sweet jewelry to every girl you know, Jesseca McCloskey has relaunched her lovely website at papertreasure.net. Her earrings and necklaces, constructed of vintage elements, are named after shipwrecks—the Flora Baines and the Emma Blake—and now she’s introduce vintage-style charm bracelets. With an eclectic combination of elements, all with the patina that comes with having been around the block a few times, the charm bracelets look fresh and unexpected.
Her work can be found at our fave vintage shop, Xtabay (2515 SE Clinton), and Mink Boutique (3418 SE Hawthorne), both of which have brand new stocks for the holidays. And she’ll be at the Jam Holiday Art & Gift Sale (SE 22nd and Hawthorne) on Sunday, December 21 from 5-9.
Posted on December 11, 2008 | Filed under designer | Permalink
Frank James (729 E. Burnside #103), named aptly after brother of Jesse, dances in the face of danger, defies economy, delivers supreme fashion for girls and boys, and does other “d” things Friday, December 12 at 7 PM at their Grand Opening Celebration with DJHostile Tapeover, a fashion show at 8:30 and PBR ( I guess that would be “d” for “drinking”). Go wish ‘em well, and while you’re at it, buy a little something that will make you a more beautiful version of yourself.
Posted on December 10, 2008 | Filed under event, shop | Permalink
Bell Jars by Andy Paiko, photo courtesy Museum of Contemporary Craft
What better way to kick off holiday shopping than to shop for handmade gifts from 50 local, regional, and nationally recognized craft artists in a sale that also benefits an excellent arts institution?
The Museum of Contemporary Craft (724 Northwest Davis) is converting its upstairs Lab space into The Holiday Shop with gifts at all price points by top craft artists. The Shop opens with a reception tonight Wednesday, December 3, 6:30–8:30 PM.
Artists include some of our favorites like Andy Paiko (above), Jill Torberson, Paula Rebsom, Hilary Pfeifer and a cast of thousands: Laura Berman, Joanna Bloom, Danielle Bodine, Barb Campbell, David Collier, Donna Cooper, Alex Farnham, Chris Giffin, John and Robin Gumaelius, Andrew Holmberg, Joseph Pintz, David Piper, Joshua Rodine, Randy Rhine, LeBrie Rich, and more.
Posted on December 3, 2008 | Filed under event | Permalink
Sword + Fern Ceremony Necklace
The Lower East End Black Friday Event lasts two whole days culminating in a fashion show with all boutiques on board. That’s two days of sales beginning today Friday, November 28, 2008 from 10-9 PM.
Lille Boutique, Frank James and Rock n’ Rose open early, offering 30% off their entire stock from 10-12. From 12 to close, every item will be included in the Buy One Get One Half Off Sale*.
The Sale will continue on Saturday, November 29, from 10 AM-7 PM, then at 7:30 PM, the boutiques join forces for a fashion show featuring new and vintage clothing and fine lingerie at Frank James at 729 E. Burnside, #103 at 7:30 PM.
Makes a minimum purchase of $20 on Friday or Saturday to be entered into a drawing to be held Saturday evening for a variety of free prizes, including gift certificates and merchandise from the participating shops like Sword + Fern (811 E. Burnside), Frank James (729 E. Burnside), Lille Boutique (1007 E. Burnside), Rock n’ Rose (616 E. Burnside), Burnside Proper Salon (626 E. Burnside).
Posted on November 28, 2008 | Filed under sale | Permalink
A Northwest girl comes full circle with a trunk show at ’s (833 SW Broadway) Thursday, December 4 from 12-5 PM. Seattle native Amanda Brotman spent 12 years training and performing with the Pacific Northwest Ballet before moving East to go to Barnard in 1999. Since then, she’s worked with Marc Jacobs and Erin Fetherston, whose collection she helped launch in NY.
In February 2008, she launched Amanda Pearl, a collection of luxe, vaguely retro evening bags. So far the Pearl M.O. looks like a dumptruck full of inspiration for each collection of Italian-made bags (spring 09: “Lake Como villa, the golden light of the late afternoon sun as it descends into the evening, the electric night sky colors that emerge with sunset, and the trippy vibrancy of Dale Chihuly’s glass forms”)…her website rich with lovingly crafted mini-fictions about the woman who carries her bag.
Look forward to meeting the lovely Brotman, preview and pre-order the spring 09 collection, and find the fall/winter collection at a discount.
Posted on November 25, 2008 | Filed under designer | Permalink
Tonight, tonight November 20 from 7-10 PM, Justin Machus’ ever evolving Local35 (3556 SE Hawthorne) marks five years as a progressive style outpost on SE Hawthorne.
Sponsored by WeSC, the party features ice sculptures, Widmer Brothers Brewing, 42 Below Vodka, Voodoo Doughnuts, gift bags, new art by Alex Steckly, and music by DJ Beyonda.
photo via portland monthly
Posted on November 20, 2008 | Filed under Uncategorized | Permalink
It’s time for the Pre-Holiday Shopping Soiree at Dragonlily Boutique (1740 SE Hawthorne), the free-spirited Eastside boutique where Keri (ipseitydesigns.com) and Jasmine (dervishgirl.com) have stocked the store for five years now with clothing, accessories, and great jewelry almost exclusively from local independent fashion designers. There’s a tribal vibe to some of the wares (hipstirr.com belts could go either way), while holiday dresses from Amai Unmei and Sofada reflect the more polished facet of the mix here. We’ve always had a soft spot for Knot Ugly’s knits.
This Friday, November 21, from 5-9 PM the party features 20% off on everything in store including new arrivals and a drawing for a gift certificate (who doesn’t need a little gift right about now?).
Posted on November 20, 2008 | Filed under shop | Permalink
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