The city seems to be growing like a weed, with new
restaurants and boutiques sprouting up every time you turn around. It’s
an indication of our burg’s health that you almost never hear of these
places closing, so revel in the expanse of locally owned choices that
make shopping Portland the eclectic joy that it is… and we
don’t have sales tax—booyah!
Two new shops have recently opened in Northeast: Union Rose (2023 NE MLK) was recently kicked off by Heidi Steeves and
Nicole Prevost, with the aim of housing locally made goods.
Including the proprietors’ own lines of knits and women’s apparel,
you’ll find an assortment of jewelry, lots of children’s clothes, and
small gifts. Especially recommended for those looking for sweet,
homespun-feeling baby gifts.
Further up the road is IDOM (1600 NE Alberta), a tiny shop
just opened by Modi Soondarotok. A Bangkok native, Soondarotok
got her design education through Parsons in New York City, and has
worked with high-profile designers like Peter Som, Donna
Karan, Twinkle, and most recently, Armani. The store
is dominated by her own line, also called IDOM (Modi backward).
Designed using a range of comfortable, interesting fabrics, the pieces
range from simple jersey tops to complex, architectural dresses
(Soondarotok names Frank Gehry among her influences). Color is a
huge element in the line, too. Lightweight summer dresses sing out in
blood orange and buttery yellow hues, although murky mosses, taupe, and
black all have a strong presence, indicating an enthusiasm for the full
spectrum. Likewise, IDOM houses wear-with-everything basics alongside
conversation-piece dresses and jackets. Sizes range from “petite” and
“moderate” to “curvy” and “very curvy,” graciously circumventing the
numbers game. This is echoed in the diverse possibilities of the
clothing, which, for the most part, would flatter most figures, and are
unique enough to work on a worldly woman of any age. And, it should not
go without saying that the items are extremely well priced.
Complementing IDOM’s in-house line of clothing are handbags from
Jenny Yuen, a New York-based handbag designer and friend of
Soondarotok. In supple leathers, the bags range from mid-sized clutches
to larger totes, in classic, ladylike designs. You’ll also find a
smattering of accessories brought back from Bangkok, jewelry from local
Rachael Donaldson, and the store will eventually house other
international clothing lines: Paris’ IRO, New York’s Dolce
Vita and Amy Taft, LA’s Plastic Island, and Bangkok’s
O’Share.
If all this new development is making you nostalgic for the past,
check out the vintage fashion show happening at Tony Starlight’s
Supperclub and Lounge. Featuring clothing from AlexSandra’s (6726 N Interstate), select outfits will be modeled, but even more will
be set up for your perusal. Vintage shopping can only be improved by
cocktails. (w/Tony Starlight, Reece Marshburn; Tony Starlight’s,
3728 NE Sandy, Tues Aug 21, 8 pm, free)
Another reason to mark your calendar: Spa Week. Started in
2004, Spa Week was created as a reaction to our crappy health care
system, and to introduce people to the health benefits of certain spa
services (so, we’re not talking about waxing). In order to get people
to try them at a more accessible price, from September 17-23,
participating spas will offer $50 services that normally go for
$75-500. The two Portland spas participating this year are Salon
Nyla (327 SW Pine) and Spa Sassé (630 SW
Alder). As you can imagine, these appointments go fast, so be at the
ready this Monday when the website goes live with the complete list of
spas and services to be offered (spaweek.org). Now we just need national
health care coverage that includes hot stone massage.
More savings are coming in the form of Mario’s final days of
summer sale action. This Thursday through Sunday are the final four
days: Take 30 percent off the last marked sale price on merch in
both the men’s and women’s departments at the downtown location (833 SW
Broadway) and the contemporary Mario’s 3.10 at Bridgeport Village
(17031 SW 72nd, Tigard), and see how the other half lives with gear
from Chloé, Dolce & Gabbana,
Pucci, Proenza Schouler, and more.
Deep discount is the way to go: marjorie@portlandmercury.com