I said it last year, and here I am saying it again: 2017 OFFICALLY SUCKS! It seems not a day went by that something terrible didn’t happen, and the state of affairs in this country is so fucking dire, it’s all I can do to not sit at a bar every day and drown my sorrows in 1,000 El Jimador shots. It seems like everyone else kinda feels this way too, and strangely, that’s giving me a little bit of comfort. The only thing that keeps me going is the hope that maybe, just maybe, next year will be better. I want to say things can’t get any worse, but Trump squashes that little bit of optimism to shit every time he opens his incompetent pie hole.
Anyway, this is a fashion column, so I’ll get to the fashion stuff. Retail therapy can go a long way in helping one cope with these seemingly helpless feelings, and shopping local goes a step further by helping one’s friends and neighbors too. So this holiday season, on your way to the bar, stop at these amazing events and pick up some gifts. Or just buy stuff for yourself, because sometimes the only respite from these trying times is to be a selfish asshole.
Portland Bazaar is back for their sixth year with a ton of vendors that include Bridge & Burn, North of West, Wildfang, Essie Day, Age of Earth, Dehen 1920, and more. Parachute Home will also be onsite showcasing their artisanal bedding and home décor, and visitors can try their fancy goods in a bedroom vignette. The main event is free all weekend and, as in years past, there will be a Meet the Makers Preview and Happy Hour, where $15 gets you in the door with a cocktail and a snack, as well as discounts on select products and a chance to win awesome raffle prizes.
The North Warehouse, 723 N Tillamook, Fri Dec 8, 6-9 pm, $15, Sat Dec 9-Sun Dec 10, 10 am-5 pm, FREE
Lille Boutique will host a trunk show for NDA Leather, a Portland-based leather accessories brand that “combines traditional craftsmanship with purposeful design to create modern and elegant silhouettes.” NDA stands for nome dell’accessorio, or “name of accessory” in Italian, which happens to be the mother tongue of founder and creative director Giovanna Cafaro. The trunk show will feature mimosas and a meet-and-greet with Cafaro, who will discuss her inspiration and the origins of her brand. Limited-edition stock will be on sale, with discounts on select items, and there will also be a preview of the Spring/Summer 2018 collection, which can be pre-ordered at a discounted rate.
Lille Boutique, 1007 E Burnside, Sat Dec 9-Sun Dec 10, noon-5 pm
Portland is such a great place because the fashion and retail communities are very supportive of one another. And sometimes a person who starts as an intern will go on to form their own company with full support from their mentor. That very thing will happen when Sleep Late, designed by Moore intern Bryan Ratzlaff, stages its first live showing in Moore’s brick-and-mortar shop. Sleep Late “produces pieces that are luxurious, clean, and alluring with a signature attention to detail and quality.” Materials are locally sourced, and all manufacturing occurs in-house, making this new company right in line with the Portland ethos. All items from this debut collection will be available for purchase at the event, and refreshments will be provided.
Moore Custom Goods, 7 SE 28th, Sat Dec 9, 6-9 pm
If vintage is more your thing, Portland Vintage Collective will spend a month-long residency with their Winter Pop-Up in the gallery space adjoining Beacon Sound. Shop from a curated mix of vintage clothing, accessories, vinyl, and gifts from Blue Mars Dry Goods, Babylon Vintage, IZIT? Vintage, LadyHogg Vintage, Shop Variety Show, Switchblade Sistas, and Vintage Barron, with new items added daily.
Beacon Sound, 3636 N Mississippi, pop-up through Thurs Dec 28, 12-7 pm daily, shopping party Sat Dec 16, 7-11 pm
These are just a few of the events happening in the coming weeks, and tons more will pop up, so as always, be sure to visit portlandmercury.com/fashion for complete weekly style event updates. Got a fashion event? Drop us a line at fashion@portlandmercury.com.
