AS YOU MAY or may not know, this isn’t my normal beat. I usually do street style. But I occasionally cover fashion shows—I love going to them, being part of the community, and seeing the designs Portland produces. It always inspires me. This was especially true at the Art Institute of Portland’s June 5 fashion and installation show, Perspectives. When I see students who can produce perfectly fitting swimsuits, covetable snowboarding gear, and fierce evening wear, I think to myself, “How in the world, or better yet, why in the world wouldn’t you support these folks?”
I swear I took one look at Rebecca Daeschner’s cut-out one-piece and practically lost my mind. Then I looked at Julia Austin’s snow gear, and again thought, “Wow, a student did this?” The evening wear selections from Megan Kallen and V Thongrivong are also worth mentioning for their attention to detail and tailoring, which looked like the work of seasoned designers. I’ve been to Art Institute shows in years past, and I’ve seen what students can do. I’ve always been impressed, but this show felt very special and accessible, because I could walk right up to the designs—rather than look at them from a runway setting. That was cool, and it gave me a chance to really admire the work. Check out Jeff Wong’s photos which give these talented designers the props they deserve.
