Sold Out

On the brink of summer, it’s easy to relate to the enthusiasm of those about to graduate from the various institutions around town. The Art Institute of Portland‘s apparel design seniors are gearing up to present us with their work, to be showcased in a group fashion show this Sunday at the Portland Art Museum. […]

If you’re serious about jeans, you’ve probably been introduced to Nolita and Katy Kippen. Though they probably don’t have the largest sheer number of denim lines in the city (Blake comes to mind), Nolita has a huge range of sizes, and they identify as a store where everyone can find that elusive pair of perfect, […]

Just when you thought you couldn’t cram any more into the retail hive of 811 E Burnside, here comes Stand Up Comedy in Suite 119, a most exciting addition to what is shaping up to be an indie mini-mall for Portland’s smart set. Described as a “general store,” SUC is bringing to town an eclectic […]

Two steps forward, one step back in this global-warming ravaged world, and yet the march toward summer is undeniable. I can practically smell the sand at the river! Not to mention all the happy hours spent patio-side, miles traveled on bike rides, barbecues, and rooftop fetes—the occasions of summer are limitless. For fancier affairs, the […]

Last Friday’s Strut fashion show included a crop of Portland’s burgeoning apparel designers bearing familiar names: Sameunderneath, Magalí Corzo, Leanimal—all known to those who follow local fashion. But one name on that roster, Rachel Mara, was an unexpected addition; the Strut show is the first time the line’s designer, Rachel Gorenstein, has shown her work […]

Last year Portland saw a sizeable uptick in the frequency of fashion shows, and so far this year is showing no signs of slowing down. This weekend alone there are no less than three separate runway shows, so bust out the day planner and get ready for some serious event hopping. Friday kicks off with […]

Business is booming in Portland, but these days it’s got more to do with boutiques and small plates than it does lumber and microbrew. Within the past year we’ve gone from maybe three main drag shopping strips (NW 23rd, SE Hawthorne, NE Alberta) to five, with the now-buzzing areas of E Burnside and N Mississippi […]

First, a big thank you and congratulations to all of the designers, models, stylists, and helpers who put in their work and time for the Mercury‘s third annual fashion show last Sunday night. None of us had any real idea of what the designers would do when we gave them a 4′ x 4’ allotment […]

Easter is over, and the population of baby animals are unusually prevalent—which means spring’s arrival is no longer arguable. Another telltale sign of the season are new businesses springing up, hoping to gain the favor of Portland shoppers who are tired of browsing online, and are preparing to pound the sunny pavement, looking for the […]

It’s a funny thing growing up. Even if you don’t have your sights on a career, that weird late teens/early 20s era of semi-direction can end up ushering you down a corridor that becomes your accidentally grown-up life. The story of Denwave is something like that. Now one of Portland’s favored boutiques, Denwave’s roots go […]

“I’d better not,” says Adam Arnold, when I ask if he has anything else to tell me about his spring ’07 fashion show. “I go through stages before a show, and I’m going through the PMS stage. There’s depression, excitement, paranoia, grieving, an ‘I’ve got the greatest ideas in the world’ imperialism…. Maybe it’s like having […]

It’s long been a cliché to imagine that Portland fashion consists of waterproofing and activewear, with hordes of outdoor enthusiasts forgoing dress code and showing up to a nice restaurant armed in fleece and Lycra. This is Oregon after all, and that is simply Oregon style. So it was, so it is, so it ever […]