Who: Crystal
Where: Juicy’s Frankie Chan party at Rotture
Photo by: AM

The fabulous office manager at the Mercury, Brad, mentioned the other day that I should make bolster pillows that look like logs. Since I do make a lot of pillows and I screen-print, it sounded like a pretty good idea. Then I got home and googled “log pillow.”
I found some at Fred Flare.

I found one on etsy.com by enna.

I also found one by Gama Go.

Log inspired home decor is really hot right now! There is even a whole blog about it, called It’s (K)not Wood. The product selection is endless!

I guess we should have seen this coming, thanks to Ren and Stimpy.

Two BIG sales are happening this weekend at the Portland Expo Center. First off, in halls A and C is the 63rd annual Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale. 100,000 square feet of things you don’t need. Just kidding, of course you need everything there. It benefits a school, right?
Times:
Friday, Nov. 2: 10am - 8pm
Saturday, Nov. 3: 10am - 6pm
Sunday, Nov. 4: 10am - 1pm

Once you’ve dropped your treasures off at your car, head on over to hall D2 for the Adidas Fall Clearance event. All kinds of products will be on sale for men, women, and children.
Times:
Friday, Nov. 2: 10am - 8pm
Saturday, Nov. 3: 10am - 6pm
Sunday, Nov. 4: 10am - 1pm

Admission is free to both of these events, but parking at the Expo Center is $7. So grab some cash and a good pair of walking shoes and enjoy a wonderful day of (low priced) shopping.
Happy Hunting!

After a long wait, Common Projects sneakers finally made their way into Denwave (811 E Burnside). The style they ordered is crazy sold out, and they got the very last shipment. Most of them were already claimed via waiting list, but there are a few left… just a few. Sneaker collectors, you better move quick-like.

Ew, ew, ew:

Thanks to Mike and Hubhive for the warning.

My all-time main man, David Lynch, teams up with his new buddy Christian Louboutin to provide a beautiful take on fetish shoes. You probably don’t have the scratch to travel to Paris to catch the exhibit at Galerie du Passage, but here’s the next best thing… an internetty slideshow.

Thanks to Jessi for the tip!

The DIY Lounge used to be appended to the old location of Frock, and now it’s moving back into the neighborhood: Arts n’ craft store and workshop space collage (1639 NE Alberta) is teaming up with the DIY Lounge, and they’re celebrating the merger on Nov 14, 6-9 pm with refreshments, 20 percent off in the store, DJ Richard Rockstar, and more. Peep the schedule of classes here.

We’re coming up on Local.35’s (3556 SE Hawthorne) 4th anniversary, which they will celebrate with a performance by Copy and live painting by the Panda Bros. on Thursday Nov 8, from 7 pm ‘til late, and a weekend-long sale to follow. They’ll also be unveiling their new logo, signifying a milestone in their ongoing development away from your basic screenprinted tees and ever-more fashion forward merchandise. And… it looks a little something like this:

These are intended for men, and probably don’t come small enough to fit the way I like, which is too bad, because I think these hoodies, at Upper Playground (23 NW 5th) are pretty awesome:

And my very favorite one is after the break.

Pants on, please, pants on.

My friends over at Nolita (923 NW 10th) are having a best butt contest called Maximus Gluteus—perhaps you’ve noticed an ad for it our paper. If not, I just wanted to encourage everyone to snap a photo of their denim-clad ass (or someone else’s I suppose) and send it in to bestjeansbutt@gmail.com; the deadline is November 22nd, so you have a little bit of time to squeeze in some more lunges. I, along with my fellow judges Jonny Shultz of Q6, stylist Allison Jones, photographer Matthew Brush, Nolita’s Katy Kippen, and my own Pilates instructor Lori Midrano will determine which contestant has the best butt, and the lucky winner will get a shopping spree in Nolita’s premium denim department, Brazilian butt lifting classes (which I highly recommend) at Lori’s Core Essence Studio, or a shopping trip with Allison. So go on, show me your butt. It’s for your own benefit. If you need inspiration, I recommend this web site.

If you’re going to be out and about the pearl district tomorrow night for First Thursday, be sure to stop by the Museum of Contemporary Craft. The peeps at Crafty Wonderland will be there selling handmade wares, and there will also be a Dia de los Muertos themed DIY table where you can create a little something-something to take home with you. More details here.

So you are going out tonight, but you don’t have a costume at the ready. MOD to the rescue! Faye Dunaway’s style in 1967’s Bonnie and Clyde is a quick and easy fix that works for both Halloween and everyday (minus the gun). All it may take is a quick trip to Goodwill for a beret.

Or if you want to take it that extra mile, you can always do a split costume, half bonnie/half clyde. You’ll be sure to rack up the compliments.

It’s getting rather chilly outside, which is about the only reason I can think of for why one would rather purchase merchandise from a local boutique online rather than in person (who needs to try things on?). However, for those who are devoted to the off-hours pajama’d shopping experience, take note: Phlox’s new e-store is up and operational. Look for Tibi, Three Dots, Corey Lynn Calter, and all your faves from this ultra femme shop, now available 24/7.

(Tibi)

Just got off the phone with Alice Dobson who, fresh off of debuting her Spring line at Portland Fashion Week, is in the midst of preparations to open a new location that will house both the studio and retail ends of the Sofada operation. Doors will open on Tuesday, November 6th at 2937 E Burnside (with a grand opening/5th anniversary party expected in early December), where the new shop will enjoy twice the space and extended hours: Tues-Sat 11-7, and Sun 12-4. In addition to the in-house line (custom alterations and bathing suits still available), you’ll find Charlotte Tarantola sweaters, European dresses and separates from Rene Derhy, and for the first time, shoes by Volatile (thin mid-price basics like black pumps and tweed flats).

(Sofada)

(Rene Derhy)

On Thursday I went to an event at Oh Baby! on Broadway, showcasing corsets by a company called Vollers, from England, where apparently many corset manufacurers are located. Now, I had never worn a corset before, and they mainly remind me of fetishists and the Rennaisance Fayre. But if you’re looking for fetish corsets, they have cheaper versions at sex shops: the corsets on hand here are so serious they’ll last a lifetime. The one I tried on rang in under $250—a steal for something that’ll be around as long as I am (or at least as long as my waist is around the same size). First off, putting it on is preferably a two-person job, although the store’s staff told stories of tying the ends of the laces to doors and furniture for some self-tightening. Either way it is pretty cool to watch your body be molded and whittled right in front of you. One thing I did not expect is how well the corset supports your back, forcing you into great posture (which you must retain as you sit—it transformed my body language into something of a grande dame affectation, which was fun). My main question concerning this contraption of a garment was whether, once I’d tried it, I could envision it having a place in my wardrobe. I am not inclined to wear it as an outerwear piece, which some women opt for. I met a woman who is going to wear one under her wedding gown, which I think would be great as long as you’re not prone to fainting. But for me the only way I can envision a corset becoming part of my repertoire would be to have a suit custom ordered to fit the corsetted curves, with a jacket that flares at the hips over a slim pencil skirt. Otherwise, Halloween just a couple days away, and if you’re going as a Rennaissance wench and you’ve got a creative streak, go on and try one on, if nothing else than for fun.