2008 hit the ground running this year in most respects, and
local fashion is proving no exception. Fashion shows are coming fast
and furious, with at least one thing going every other week. This time
around, there are two shows on the week’s calendar and even more in
sight (including the Mercury‘s annual show), plus a highly
notable studio sale.
Up first is Boutiques Unleashed, marrying Portland’s dual
loves of fashion and fur balls. An annual fundraiser for Dove Lewis
Emergency Animal Hospital, it’s known for its sometimes-hilarious
premise of showcasing dog clothes as well as people clothes, with zany
local personalities and kids modeling alongside pooches on the runway.
All the socializing and charity is augmented by a shopping pavilion,
and the clothing on the humans is provided by a formidable list of
local boutiques: Amalee (909 N Beech, Ste. A), Aubergine (1100 NW Glisan), Bee and Thistle (120 NW 10th), Bijoux
Luck (bijouxluck.com),
Black Wagon (3964 N Mississippi), Bubble Boutique (1238
NW Glisan), Dragonlily (1740 SE Hawthorne), Ella’s
Boutique (2529 NE Alberta), Este’s (1633 NW Glisan),
Foundation Garments (2712 NE Alberta), Garnish (1524 NE
Alberta), Gypsy Chic (3966 N Mississippi), IDOM (1600 NE
Alberta), Little Urbanites (916 NW 10th), Mabel &
Zora (1468 NE Alberta), Meringue (meringueboutique.com), Mink (3418 SE Hawthorne), Moxie (2400 E Burnside), Phlox (3962
N Mississippi), Physical Element (1124 NW Lovejoy), and
Tumbleweed (1812 NE Alberta). Plus there’s gear for the critters
from Bentley B (bentleyb.com), Hip Hound (2328 NW
Westover), LexiDog (416 NW 10th), PetUtopia (8670 SW
Scholls Ferry, Beaverton), and Reigning Pets Northwest (25 NW
23rd Pl, Ste 6). (Staver Locomotive, 2537 NW 29th, Thurs March 13, 5
pm, $60, includes hosted beer, wine, signature cocktail, and heavy hors
d’oeuvres)
One of the more curious shows to come along in a while is the one
being put on by a sole designer, Young-hee Shin. It’s unlikely
you’ve ever heard of her, unless by chance you attended the small
community event she organized to showcase her collection of unisex ties
last year. A native of Korea, Shin came to the United States 15 years
ago, buying a house in SE Portland (she now lives in Damascus). She’d
harbored an interest in fashion design since her early 20s, but was
prevented from pursuing it by a disapproving husband who considered it
“frivolous,” and instead concentrated on the duties of housewifery. Now
entering retirement, Shin has decided to take a shot at designing,
despite her disinterest in dealing with any commercial or business
aspects of the industry; it is uncertain whether the designs to be
debuted at the show will ever make it to a retailer.
Shin’s emphasis is inclusive. Open to all ages and free of charge,
this availability is reflected in her design sensibility, which
emphasizes unisex and non-age-specificity. Through a translator, Shin
explained, “There are no boundaries of what is men’s and what is
women’s. Both men and women can choose the same clothing, and maybe
come to a better mutual understanding that way. Same with across
different age groups and even lifestyles: A mother could wear the same
clothes as the daughter, the husband and the wife, the doctor and the
musician.”
This philosophy is manifested in pieces of the shirt and tie variety
(even, perhaps, shirts modified to include a built-in tie), and coats
that are actually separate jacket and skirt pieces. Shin says she hopes
primarily to inspire people in the audience to change their attitudes
about “what clothes could look like, and who should wear them,” but
even before the show gets going she’s an inspiration for those who
assume they’ve missed their chance to pursue their creative endeavors.
(Wonder Ballroom, 128 NE Russell, Sun March 16, 4 pm, free)
The Wonder Ballroom is seeing a lot of fashion action this year,
including the Mercury‘s own Installations annual fashion
show. The jury (myself, Adam Arnold, Holly Stalder,
Leanne Marshall, and Julia Barbee) recently made our
selections from the designers who submitted their work. The lineup:
Makool (Anisa Makhoul), ElizaBeth Rohloff,
Dust (Julia Blackburn), Rachel Mara, Paper
Treasure (Jess McCloskey), Ruth (Ruth Waddy),
Rio Wrenn, Erhart (Chelsea Erhart), Amai
Unmei (Allison Covington), Elizabeth Spencer, In
Love & Memory (Janeane McSpadden), and Freyja (Gretchen Jones and Melody Geer).
Meanwhile, if you’re tired of merely looking at clothing and ready
to buy, you’d be wise to take note of the bargains to be found at
Anna Cohen‘s studio sale. Clearing out before a move later this
month, lauded local and eco-conscious designer Cohen will be offloading
samples, including pieces from her most recent spring ’08 line, which
features tons of looks rendered in a luscious orange, a definite
favorite shade of the season, as well as elegant and feminine dresses
and wraps contrasted with some fairly extreme cuts of denim. Constantly
shouted out as a leader in the sustainable fashion design movement,
Cohen’s clothing is equally cosmopolitan, and it’s just our luck to be
her neighbor when times demand a sale. (323 NE Wygant, #204, Sat
March 15, 11 am-4 pm)