Here’s another option for sale action this weekend: Amalee (909 N Beech) is on the tail end of a sale, with 15% off everything—and their merchandise is accessibly priced as it is, so check this out even if you’re scraping the bottom of your financial barrel—you will still find something totally cute. Sale ends at the end of this month!

I’ve been on a mad hunt for the last few months scouring the internet and stores to find a bike helmet that doesn’t make me look like some kind of dinosaur/human hybrid or worse. I just want to find a helmet that I absolutely love and I’m convinced that one exists somewhere. Wondering if there were “designer” helmets, I found that Balenciaga dabbled in the “helmet” look, but these hats are by no means helmets. Also found was an odd, old-mannish “hair helmet” that was sold in Prada stores last year, apparently. I’ve always been a big fan of the equestrian look, and an equestrian helmet typically covered in a velvety material could possibly do.

Eventually, I found THE helmet that I am in love with. It was the winner of the Swedish Road Administration’s Bicycle Helmet Design Contest in 2005, created by a Swedish engineering firm. The helmet called “Hat-Trick” is ultra thin thanks to the use of a high-tech shock absorbing material, and it also has interchangeable “hat” covers. Pure genius! Unfortunatley, this helmet is available virtually nowhere. I’ve emailed the Swedish company that designs it, but so far it looks as though it never went into production.

In the last couple of days I’ve been seeing these very cute striped and polka-dotted skater-styled helmets around town. After a couple of calls, I found out that local company Nutcase Helmets creates them and they are available at Clever Cycles among other bike shops in Portland.

Everyone’s offloading summer merchandise, even though there’s plenty of summer left to wear it—gotta love the sale season. Today marks the kickoff of Local.35’s (3556 SE Hawthorne) big one: Almost everything from Spring and Summer is 30-70% off, and will continue to be marked down until it’s gone! That’s because they’re making room for fall, with deliveries coming in from B.Son (a San Francisco label that was one of around 40 featured at the recent, first-ever Capsule trade show in New York—a well-edited event that, when I read about it, rekindled my periodic fantasy about being a buyer), RVCA, Nudie denim, Bing Bang, Surface to Air jewelry, Jfold wallets, Track and Field bags, Ser-vice shirts, and Feiyue Kung Fu shoes—so cute.

Two of the most exciting sales are starting today, and I have some extra photos to inspire you to go

Liza Rietz at her new location (2305 NW Savier):

Also, Lille Boutique (1007 E Burnside—not all of these are included in the sale, but they are all in stock):

(Lille photos by Alan Wizemann)

Got anymore? List ‘em below! Tip o’ the sorting hat to Fashionista!

Did you hear about the brouhaha with Adidas and kangaroo leather in California? Federal law allows the use of kangaroos in Adidas’ products and others, part of the effort to cull Australia’s overpopulation of the cute little buggers, but California state law forbids sale of kangaroo products. This weekend, from Friday through Sunday, animal rights organization Viva! USA is kicking off a boycott of Adidas at the USA headquarters (5055 N Greeley), planning to confront them with a video called “Killing for Kicks.”

If you can get your hands on the August edition of Book Moda, look for a small write-up of Portland Fashion Week. I’ve seen the tear sheet, and it’s pretty straightforward, but kind of surreal at the same time to see Portland in and Italian industry journal…

Some of you may know Tod Foulk for his work in various fashion events around town, including Portland Fashion Week. Now you may see him floating down the river—for a cause:

Harkening back to those daring do days of yore, Tod Foulk of SEMPER Fashion, the Portland, OR. fashion show production company responsible for Rock the Runways, Fashion Paloozazaza, and Portland Fashion Week since 2005 among many events, is helping Miss Oregon 2007 Kari Verdig to raise 100k for the Make a Wish Foundation. To do so he has chosen to inner tube the over 100 miles of rough and open water from the mouth of his beloved Sandy river in Troutdale to the Pacific ocean at Astoria. Piloting his vintage 1992 bellyboat/fishing tube named Fiona after his daughter, will not be an easy task. Millions of tons of cargo traffic bearing down can crush him in an instant, dangerous shoals lurk from below, tangled masses of dead trees promise to ensnare him in their claw-like embrace, while deadly sea creatures and restless native threaten to eat him at every turn of the river. The trip is expected to take nearly a week, with Tod pulling into shore at nights for a good meal, and a fine and refreshing Rockstar Energy Drink by fireside while hourly watching for cannibals. This trip is not all fun and games however, as Tod plans to keep up his studies with the latest volumes of Book Moda, Sunset Magazine, Cosmo and Vogue. He is well provisioned for the arduous trip with Rockstar Enegry Drink, dried apricots, oranges, and hershey bars to ward off the chill. But any further food donations Tod wishes made in his name to the Oregon Food Bank. He is seeking corporate sponsorship at the rate of 1.00 per nautical mile completed, please contact him directly at todfoulk@msn.com.

Forgive Oh Baby for their questionable name (722 NW 23rd—also at 1811 NE Broadway, but the festivities are on the West side). They do carry a great selection of pretty bras for boobs of substance. And they’re all about the booze parties. Tomorrow, Thursday 8/26, the theme is Cat on a Hit Tin Roof, where models will show off slinky slips, bourbon over ice will be served, and you’ll get 10% off all slips in the store.

Get 15% off all jeans at Mabel & Zora (1468 NE Alberta) starting tomorrow and through Saturday, including new trouser and wide-leg styles.

Sorry for the “men’s” tag, because really this is for anyone into streetwear, hiphop (especially the Beastie Boys), and photography. The Portland location of Upper Playground (23 NW 5th) is hosting an art show next month (kickoff on 1st Thursday, the 2nd) of rare and classic work by the “fourth Beastie Boy,” Ricky Powell, also in honor of the store’s one-year anniversary. Then, on Saturday the 4th, Powell himself will give a slideshow presentation (the “World Famous Ricky Powell Slide Show” no less) peppered with plenty of anecdotes about the Boys and other iconic celebs. And by the by, check what’s new on the store’s shelves:

New Era cap designs by Dora Drimalas:

Jeremy Fish:

and Sam Flores:

Plus, Upper Playground/Portland tees:

It’s not that I don’t think it’s adorable, but doesn’t this fashion spread remind you of a certain fuzzy fetish?

Bubble Boutique (1238 NW Glisan) is celebrating their anniversary right now, with 20-60% off all clothing from through Sunday, so get in there while the gettin’s still good.

Lille Boutique (1007 E Burnside), is having their first sale ever starting this Friday. Almost everything in the store (which, besides lingeries, includes yummy candles, bath products, antiques, hosiery, and more) will be marked down, so get over there and score yourself some beautiful unmentionables. Also, the store is gearing up to have a fashion show, most likely the last week in August. Peep the merch here in the meantime…

These are what I want for Fall. Miu Miu. 4.5” heel. Pre-ordering right now at Sak’s for *only* $625. Speaking of which, why doesn’t Mario’s have a better web site? Even when I’m fantasy window shopping online, I’d rather see what the most local retail option for luxury brands has in stock than trolling the Sak’s Goliath.

The summer sale has started over at Phlox (3962 N Mississippi). Find 25-50% off all Spring dresses, pants, tops, and skirts, plus 50% off shoes. Sale runs through August.

Yes, I am so twelve for pointing this out, and we know he’s getting no pleasure out of this. Still, I can’t help but giggle every time I look at it!

with the news of two events coming up concerning green living and green shopping: First up, on Saturday, July 28 11 am-6 pm, Mario’s 3.10 at Bridgeport Village is having “Organic Day,” with the store’s local/sustainable designers Anna Cohen and Ryan Christensen of Sameunderneath. They’ll also be showing off the latest merch from Organics and Loomstate, plus a farmer’s market. And then, on August 2nd, the Art Institute kicks off a monthlong exhibit exploring the concept of sustainable design, with participating designers including Cohen and Christensen once again, as well as Nicole Flood (Flood Clothing), Sharon Blair (BlairWear), Faith Jennings, Emily Katz, Jen Neitzel (Knot Ugly Designs), and entermodal’s Larry Olmstead. The exhibit will also feature AI’s winners of the apparel and accessory design student green design competition. (Juried by Araina Duffy of Nike Considered, and Peter Kallen of Nau.) Reception from 6-8 pm.

(a bag from entermodal)

Stopped by a car show in Milwaukie yesterday. Check out this sonofa:

It’s a 1970 Mercury Montego Cyclone Spoiler. Actually, the spoiler’s the only thing I don’t like about it. But I love how mean the grill looks, and I especially love the color.

…and I’m sure that it could totally run on vegetable oil.