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Failing economy be damned, Portland is still the entrepreneurial hub of the West Coast. The country’s woes seem, if anything, to be driving young professionals to start their businesses on Portland’s green banks at an ever-increasing clip. The area of inner Northwest Portland, north of Lovejoy, is a testament to the influx, where towering condos […]

If there was ever a week in local fashion that demonstrates the diverse communicative powers of clothing—this is it. Two shows take place this week, both directed at what can only be considered niche audiences, and at complete odds with each other. One is recognizably and quintessentially Portland: The Rockin’ Rebelz of Fashion Show, a […]

A landmark deal was inked last week that ushers in the close of an era: Seaplane (827 NW 23rd), a store that is arguably the single most influential entity in Portland’s design community, was sold. After eight years of operating the space (first on SE Belmont, later in its current location on NW 23rd), original […]

Even if the weather is acting all coy about it, summer is around the corner, signifying the moment of truth of donning your bathing suit for the first time and taking stock of your situation. And while this space is usually dedicated to clothes, they’re just not as much fun without a healthy body to […]

Body types in fashion are the subjects of some of the most popular controversies in the field. While most of the attention is invariably directed at the “skinny model debate,” the other side of the coin also arouses argument. Just as skinny models’ natural physiques are debated against their diets and habits, plus-sized models are […]

We’re finally on the cusp of outright summer, and the pent-up exuberance is soon to be unleashed in a citywide freakout of color and skin. Last week Elizabeth Dye debuted a truly excellent collection of dresses accented with singing (in some cases, screaming) color, from spring greens to neon (pop into the English Dept. at […]

Writing a column about fashion and shopping in Portland over the past couple of years has meant that a large proportion of this space has been devoted to the new: Portland’s wild west has attracted pioneering entrepreneurs across industries, a phenomenon that the retail boom is a prime example of. Now that the economy is […]

Despite the increasingly grim outlook on national economics, Portland boutiques spring eternal. Covet (429 SW 10th) is one such shop, celebrating its grand opening this weekend. Luckily perched in the heart of the newly revitalized West End neighborhood, which has taken off in the wake of the Ace Hotel’s arrival, along with posh, hip businesses […]

Last weekend saw the opening of not just hotly anticipated boutique Frances May (1013 SW Washington), but also a quieter opening of doors around the corner at Covet (429 SW 10th), the papered-over doorway of which has been promising its own unveiling for some time now. Covet’s merch is a mix of high-end basics (Citizens […]

Unlike the fashion world at large, Adam Arnold shows his collections at the crest of the season. His spring line debuts this week, immediately after which the first orders will be taken, and the looks will begin appearing on the town’s better sidewalks within the month. Of course, these days Arnold prefers to keep his […]