WITH ITS HUGE TENT, polished execution, and international outreach, FashioNXT by many standards is Portland's biggest fashion show. Though Portland designers certainly do participate, it's less about being hyper-local than positioning the city as a global home for innovation, particularly the intersection of technology and wearable objects.
The schedule features one or more nightly themes: Opening night is a showcase of designers from Shenzhen, China—rather than overthinking what the connection is there, it's more fun to enjoy the chance to see design work from the other side of the world. Other highlights include the UpNXT competition (of which I'm a judge) for Pacific Northwestern designers, and the customary slew of former Project Runway contestants.
It's a slightly odd mix, but more importantly it's a broader view of new apparel than you can get most days without leaving town. Get weird, get fancy. NW 9th & Northrup, Wed Oct 7-Sat Oct 10, 8 pm, $25-165 nightly, fashionxt.net
• Design Museum Portland is hosting storytelling events specially tailored for the design-minded. The theme of the next one is "Making," and features WeMake's Yvonne Perez Emerson, the lead blacksmith at Portland Razor Co., and the product line manager for Looptworks, among others. On Deck, 910 NW 14th, Wed Oct 7, 6:30 pm, free (but register for a spot at designmuseumfoundation.org/Portland)
• Portland milliner ElizaBeth Rohloff and hairstylist Laurie Ann Greenberg are teaming up for a tutorial event called "Hat Tricks and Styling Tips," designed to make your hairstyle and fall headwear more copacetic. Plus, one-of-a-kind and limited-edition hats as well as Bumble and Bumble hair products will be available at 10 percent off. Halo Salon, 2000 NE Sandy, Wed Oct 7, 6-8:30 pm
• The decade-old Minnesotan Junk Bonanza makes its first foray into the Pacific Northwest this weekend with an array of vendors selling architectural salvage, antiques, and vintage items. Unlike the piles of junk studious pickers are accustomed to wading through, here things are arranged into lovely vignettes. Clark County Event Center, 17402 NE Delfel, Ridgefield, WA, Fri Oct 9, 10 am-5 pm, Sat Oct 10, 9 am-5 pm, Sun Oct 11, 9 am-4 pm, $10 (parking $6)
• The huge, citywide version of Design Week Portland we've grown accustomed to has moved from fall to spring of 2016, but turn that frown upside-down: They've got a mini version kicking off this week that features open houses at spots like Ampersand, MadeHere PDX, Spooltown, and Hand-Eye Supply, as well as an installment of Creative Mornings with Adam Arnold, and an evening with the architects of the looming Burnside Bridgehead development. Various locations, Sat Oct 10-Sat Oct 17, details and pricing at designweekportland.com
• Hot on the heels of FashioNXT comes yet another fashion show, this one as part of a multimedia event called PLATFORM. Expect things to be on the conceptual side with contributions from GoodSport, Kayleigh Nelson, and Laurs Kemp. Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison, Sun Oct 11, 9 pm, $5
• It won't stop! This week is also the launch presentation of menswear line Aesthete Society. (Three cheers for more locally designed menswear options!) The installment-style show, Amalgamated Allure, will be the first opportunity to check out the garments, currently kept out of public view. Portland Art Museum's Fred and Suzanne Fields Ballroom, 1219 SW Park, Mon Oct 12, 6 pm, free
