I just added the 8th Annual Summer Handmade Bazaar to my calendar for July 29, and noticed something odd—it’s on the same day, and at nearly the same time, as the Rebel Rabbit Craft Fair. Are Portland’s craftsters splitting into opposing camps? Or are Portland’s craft fans just really lucky that we get two big Bazaar-Fairs to check out in one day?

I’ll head to both that day to find out if there’s anything dubious going on, but in the meantime, here’s a link to each.

Rebel Rabbit
Hipbone Studio
1847 E Burnside
11 am to 4 pm

Handmade Bazaar
Audio Cinema
226 SE Madison
noon to 5 pm

This year’s Junk to Funk “trashion show” is scheduled to take place on November 17, and they are open to accept your submissions now! Says the press release:

Professional artists, fashion and apparel designers along with members of the general creative public will not want to miss this truly unique opportunity to compete for prizes up to $500 in the upcoming Junk to Funk Recycled Fashion Show Contest. The pieces of wearable art and fashion that are being sought should be made out of found objects, recycled materials and things you normally might find in the trash.

Check out the Junk to Funk web site for submission details.

The goal: a complete summer outfit on a tiny budget of $20 (+ creativity and some DIY.)
The place: Value Village in NE, one hour before closing time.

A silk coral skirt transforms into a swingy trapeze dress with the snipping of some armholes. And the ensemble is complete with shoes and accessories all for a grand total of $16.64! I have a brand new summer outfit with a variety of styling options and enough change left over for a beer!

More details after the jump.

On a mission to find something especially light and breezy for these hot and humid days, I started out at the skirt rack. I instantly had the idea of transforming a long skirt into a little swingy dress. After selecting a few different options of ankle-length full circle skirts, I settled on a coral colored crinkle silk number with an elasticized waist band, which works best for this kind of repurposing. I also lucked out on choosi the skirt that happened to be a blue 50% off tag, making it $5 for the cost of my main piece. Next it was on to shoes, but a lady farted right in front of the rack, so I opted to shop the other accessories until the air quality improved.

Browsing through a rather hideous selection of scarves, i found the only two decent options I had to work with; a fringy lime green one practically a steal at $.69 and another silk multicolored scarf that I figured I'd splurge on and maybe use as a headband.

Seeing that the farty lady had left, I made my way back over to the shoes. I instantly found a pair of gently worn kitten heeled mules with a bow the exact color of the dress. But that was too easy, and I knew I'd never wear those because I need something that I'm able to walk in. There were many different options for shoes, but I fell in love with a pair of brown leather Grecian styled sandals. Not too casual, not too dressy; walking-friendly and just right. And the price? A whopping $2.99!

Finding a purse that worked proved to be the biggest challenge. The ones I liked didn't work with the whole ensemble, but I ended up going with a clutch styled purse on a chain, made of what appears to be the upholstery fabric from possibly the ugliest couch in the world. It wasn't my favorite, but it really completed the outfit and cost only $1.99.

And with 20 minutes until closing time I was ready to check out. My total came to a ridiculously low $12.68, so I added on a gold and orange stoned necklace at the counter for a grand total of $16.64.

I cut out two armholes just below the elastic top of the skirt making sure not to cut through the elastic band. I may hem around these or may not (since I broke my sewing machine last night), but it will look good either way. And there it is — a new, recycled, fantastic outfit. I wore it to work today and have already received several compliments!

If you’re out and about this weekend, make a trip up to Souchi (807 NW 23rd) for a huge summer sidewalk sale. Normally priced at what most of us consider an investment, the purveyor of locally made cashmere pieces for every season promise many pieces under $100. Here’s how it breaks down: 10% off the current collection, 30-80% off Spring/Summer, and 30% off all cotton cashmere summer styles, plus pieces by Souchi favorites like Jovovich-Hawk, Mike & Chris, and Ports 1961. Plus check out the store’s new arrivals and limited editions for fall.

(This limited edition funnel coat, which you have to sign up for on a waiting list, is my current Souchi fantasy.)

Meanwhile, the summer sale at Le Train Bleu (748 NW 11th) is still on, with 50% off tons of great stuff, like this Bliss Lau Raven Belt, which I know I would get tons of use out of:

This weekend they’re taking up an even bigger notch, with a 70% off sidewalk sale, along with neighbors Posh and Shoefly, today through Sunday!

There’s also a progressive anniversary sale happening at Moxie (2400 E Burnside): Currently things are 15% off (through Sunday), then from July 17-22 you’ll get 20% off, and then from July 24-31 you’ll get 25% off.

And, starting today, Bella Moda shoe store (1128 NW Lovejoy) is offering 20-70% off select merch.

Looks like a good weekend for shopping…

There’s virtually no industry on earth that has not been transformed by the internet, and the fashion industry is certainly a good example. The level of access has increased incredibly, not just in being able to find coverage of runways shows and backstage insights, but in the ability to purchase almost anything from anywhere. While there is something awesome about the fact that you don’t have to live in or near a major fashion hub to buy into it, the fact that anybody can get anything is also sort of depressing, devaluing the special-ness of objects. We all talk a lot about buying locally, but beyond the economic arguments I have really romantic ideas about doing so, and feel like using the internet betrays the connection you have to the character of a place, and that taken to the logical extreme, internet shopping will eventually rob all places of their character as manifested in local dress. Anyhow, the impetus for this rambling is the news that Topshop has started a selling high end vintage pieces from some of London’s most iconic designers, called Archive, which just launched today: Mary Quaint, Biba, etc. Obviously for a lot of people this is great news, especially people who have no vintage-shopping-in-London plans in their forseeable future (that includes me), but it really just makes me feel sorry for all the London girls who won’t get to discover those pieces for themselves when they’re out hitting estate sales on a Sunday afternoon. I guess that makes me old fashioned?

A ’70s Jean Varon dress from Archive.

It’s finally hot, and I for one am stoked. I love hot weather; you’ll never catch me complaining about it when it makes its all too brief appearance in Portland. Also, getting dressed is a snap: dress + shoes = done. The downside to this is that the formula can get boring, not to mention the number of summer-weight dresses in my closet is significantly smaller than the stock of long sleeved black ones and sweatered ones that get me through most of the year. Of course, there’s always American Apparel, which is fine for horsing around; if I spill mustard at a BBQ or get into a spontaneous hose fight, it ain’t no big thing. But even during the summer there are times you need/want to impress, in which case Seaplane is a good place to start, with lots of limited-runs and one of a kinds. Here are a few of their newest arrivals:


Yeah, this Adam Arnold dress is black, which doesn’t scream summer, but if you look close there is a long slit in the front cleavage, adding a sexy and ventilating twist.

If you are a tiny, ballet bodied thing, you could pull off this feather-weight dress; you’d be the most comfortable guest at a sweltering hot garden party.

This is like what a Grecian superheroine would wear. Light as air and easy to move in.

A sturdier day dress equally suitable for work, travel, or general hanging out.

Cute, but avoid this kind of romper style unless you are tall with very long legs.

Also, across town at Stand Up Comedy, you can buy packs of 10 pieces from Slow and Steady Wins the Race that are meant to be layered and mixed up with each other. They come in bright colors and light jerseys that are perfect for the season, plus they’re like a fun wardrobe puzzle.

Tonight marks the first in a series being put on by the Music Population Orchestra, a group that attempts to change people’s expectations of chamber music by allowing influences of pop and other genres to shine through. Both chapters, the Portland and Oslo, Norway musicians will perform a series that blend apprectiations of music and architecture in a free series called “Can You Hear It?” to be performed over four dates, each held in a different “city room.” The first is at the Portland Center Stage Gerding Theater, 7 pm.

Series continues:
7/21 South Waterfront (SW River Parkway & Pennoyer), 7 pm
7/29 Bridgeport Village, 2 pm
8/2 Bus Mall at NW 5th & Glisan-Burnside, 5-10 pm

Check out this new ad from trendsniffing fashionistas SISLEY…

Okay… what exactly is the intended message? “Our clothes are exactly the kind most coke snorters prefer!” Or “We are so fucked up on coke, we’ll happily snort our own clothing.” Or probably, “No one is looking at our ads. This one will SHOCK them for sure!”
My first reaction was, “Wow… this looks dumb.”

Last week, I got to enjoy a couple glorious days in the windy city, catching up with friends, seeing fireworks, eating pizza, and taking the architecture river cruise. The tour was extremely informative and fun (thanks to boat’s full bar). Here are some pictures taken on the cruise of the amazing and well-planned architecture of Chicago.

Near the end of the cruise, the Captain informed us that there are plans to build the tallest building in the U.S. on the Chicago lakefront. At first I thought that this could be pretty cool. He said that it was going to be spiral shaped with sweeping views and designed by well renowned Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava. BUT then I googled it.

Oh my.

The Paris haute couture shows ended last week, and I’m still absorbing them. (Go here to see the coverage if you haven’t already.) Chanel is always a favorite, and this season is no exception. Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to have me wanting a pair of, like, leather spats… pants… things.

The collection was teeming with these, in a variety of fabrics, colors, and bedazzlements:

I wish I knew where they ended up on top. I can only assume they become pants/leggings. They seem like they’d be bunchy and weird as thigh highs. Either way, I’m fascinated.

Guess which Mercury employee is full on rocking the sock garters today?:

Turns out she got them at my favorite panty store, Lille Boutique (1007 E Burnside), along with the socks, too. The socks are $12 and come in baby blue, black, charcoal, light grey, lilac, and peach, and the garters are $24 in blue, green, pink or teal, in case you have the urge to do the geek chic thing too. Both are by Miss Dater. You can also wear them around a pair of flats to create an instant ballet effect.

If you’re looking for something mellow to do on Thursday evening, head up to Phlox (3962 N Mississippi) for an art opening by Suzy Kitman, and 15% off all merchandise in the store, from 6-9 pm. And, if you purchase any art, you’ll get 10% of what you paid back in the form of a Phlox gift certificate. Mmm, wine, art, and shopping.

If you’re in the mood for jewelry, check out the Lucky Loo Loo site right now: Everything is 15% off throughout the rest of the month. Choose from a huge collection that also includes like hair and money clips, and belt buckles. Many of their pieces are from carved resin, and they are definitely heavy on the bird motifs, but the collection is vast, so there’s lots to choose from.

I love love love love love fake eyelashes. If I wasn’t so fond of snoozing my alarm clock and running out the door without a stitch of makeup, I would take the time to put them on every day. I once even got really dramatic semi-permanent ones, which I managed to make last for about a month. I adored them, but gentle as I tried to be, their removal took a disturbing number of my natural lashes with them, causing me to cry to my boyfriend that I “looked like a mole.” Good times. But local jewelry designer Stephanie Simek has other ideas about lashes—how about wearing them around your neck? Check it:

Jane magazine bit the dust. Founder and Sassy icon Jane Pratt left her position as editor some time ago, but her replacement, Brandon Holley didn’t have much luck either. I remember first reading Sassy at my product-obsessed piano teacher’s house when I was probably seven or eight, and I latched on to Jane from the very first issue (Drew Barrymore was on the cover). I don’t remember exactly when I drifted from the mag… probably about five or six years ago, but the last few times I’ve picked it up (inevitably at the airport), it’s been a sort of queasily interesting read. I was fascinated by how gross its voice had become, a quality that was hard to pinpoint, but had to do with its transparent desperation to simultaneously relate to me on a borderline inappropriate level, and generalize me into a huge mass marketing demographic. Still, I’d pick it over Cosmo any old day, though frankly these days I’m more likely to pick up Teen Vogue or Seventeen (cute, high-low dressing that has a more realistic approach how young women really shop), or even Lucky (straightforward, practical layout, wide price ranges, lots of indie designs). But what do you think? Are you going to miss the old Jane, or are you happy to see it go?

(current cover girl Zooey Deschanel)

Another great store is coming to Portland at 2305 NW Savier. Local designers John Blasioli (whose a broken spoke clothing line is already an established presence in Portland’s retail market) and Liza Rietz (also a longstanding presence in better boutiques) are teaming up to open a retail space, where they’ll sell their work both off-the-rack and by custom order. Opening a business is a beast of a process, but right now they’re projecting late August for a possible debut. We’ll let you know when it’s nailed down.

(a look from John Blasioli’s a broken spoke)

I keep seeing these sneakers everywhere. I’ve been calling them “Dickensian.” Everyone says they bought them at Sole (1033 NW Couch).

A call over to the store revealed that they are from Southern California’s BC Footwear, and still available in both the black and plaid, plus other varieties are due to the store for fall. The style is called “Coast to Coast. Only $44!