Who: Beth Ditto
Where: The Situations party with Wynne Greenwood at Dunes
Photo by: AM

Okay, here’s the deal: I have a wedding to go to, but not just any wedding. It’s a Western-themed camp-out wedding. Thinking about what to wear to this thing has been a challenge. Actually, I thought I had it dialed in—I knew everyone else would be in cowboy gear, so I was going to go Indian, with moccasins and feathers and shit. Then I talked to some friends yesterday (one of which is going to wear a lovely Liza Rietz dress) who are also going, and realized the horrific potential of showing up to an event where everyone could wind up looking really nice and here you are in a somewhat offensive Pokahontas Halloween costume. It would be like when Bridget Jones showed up to the party in a bunny costume only to find that it wasn’t a costume party after all.

And dear god, there is nothing I want in common with Bridget Jones. I need to strike a delicate balance between classy, respectful, hot, and… “western”. Considering the overnight in a tent/all night party factor, I am anticipating this will require at least two outfits. Luckily, I am good on footwear, between a modest collection of cowboy boots and a pair of good moccasins, but otherwise, this is all I’ve got:

It’s a Rachel Comey shaped waist belt I just picked up during my lunch break at Frances May that I know I’ll get a ton of mileage out of well beyond the wedding day. So shoes, and a belt, and nothing in between. I have a few other ideas but I haven’t purchased anything else yet. I thought I’d fish for some suggestions here.

Oh yeah, and to make it fun? The wedding is tomorrow. (Help?)

Last night was the launch of Oregon’s latest environmentally minded active wear company, END. Specifically, they have taken on the sporty shoe challenge, making running and hiking shoes that have been stripped down in their design, using less unnecessary material (rubber, resin, foam, glue) and aim to have their products within 3-5 years be completely composed of renewable, sustainable, or recycled material.

I hate running shoes so badly that I live in dread of seeing people I know when I’m out on a jog, so it’s kind of a backhanded compliment when I say that this is way less ugly than the pair I have:

And, for the men:

Now to be completely clear, I would never wear tech-y athletic shoes for non-athletic purposes, but I really appreciate the fact that these are so simplified. They hacked off most of the weird, spacey nonsense that plagues most designs in the genre, used an interesting color palette, and basically have convinced me to switch over when my Saucony horrors have finally bit the dust. It’s just gravy that they are from a company based in West Linn (They are actually manufactured in China, and the company defends this PC faux pas by contending that they are part of the solution in the country that has the distinction of being “the world’s worst environmental offender.”) that was co-founded by the former global director of footwear design at Nike, Andrew Estey, who also started up Antlerstudios. Oh yeah, and the price points are in the $80-90 range which is fully on the reasonable end of running shoe going rates. You’ll be able to find them at REIs in the Northwest, but be a good indie shopper and get them at Fit Right Northwest —they launch in August. I was also able to get a peek at the samples coming out in the fall, but I’m not allowed to post the photos. I will say that my favorite of the lot is from that season, a super lightweight, ventilated, water-to-shore shoe that makes me want to go camping right now.

This edition of the MOD Q+A is for “person whose style we admire”.
Brighid’s sartorial savvy owes mostly to her totally confidant sense of self—her choices, which usually include brands from Sweden, Antwerp, Berlin, New Zealand and Australia, reflect her sharp and discerning eye. Utterly cool, she constantly garners the attention of photographers and designers and has been in fashion shows and editorials. Check out photographer Chloé Richard to see some more of Brighid…I just can’t get enough…

Where are you from? When do you move to Portland? What do you do?
Denton, Texas. I left Texas and moved to Portland – sight unseen – as soon as I was old enough. I celebrated my 6th anniversary in March. I am now a fourth-year student at PSU focusing in Germanic & Scandinavian Studies and Applied Linguistics. I somehow ended up with three jobs. I am spread out between being a nanny and cleaning house/tending to a dog.

Favorite Portland shop:
Stand-Up Comedy. I often want to open my own shop someday, and when I do we’ll be rivals.

Favorite else-where shop:
I otherwise do a lot of online-shopping from stores in New York and abroad. Recent favorites are sevennewyork.com, ashtray.se, reborn.ws, kronkron.com, bestshop-berlin.de, park.co.at, & generalcucumber.com

Place to eat/drink:
A really old personal favorite is M Bar in NW, but I haven’t been there in a couple of years and it probably isn’t the same as I remember; it started to get a lot busier in the last days I lived around there. Its appeal for me was in its size, I think it holds the record for smallest bar in Portland. If you can get in fairly early and sit with just one or two friends, it’s a lovely time. They only serve beer & wine last time I checked.

The items in your wear-every-day outfit:
A pair of raw denim high-waisted Acne jeans, black flats, and an old silk blouse inherited from my mother.

Concert/event you’re going to next:
The next Nightclubbing at Holocene on July 3? Please tell me there’s something going on before that.

Travel destination and dream companion:
Iceland, with my cat, Baldr.

Things on your inspiration board:
Braids, horses, masks, a wolf, knots, chains, blood, lightning, taxidermy, swords, prisms, hair, the universe, the ocean, dirt.

Last thing you purchased:

A Christian Wijnants zip-up jacket/dress, purchased from Seven NY.

Wow, this woman is trying to sue Victoria’s Secret for a piece of thong that flew off into her eye. She’s lucky the thing wasn’t on fire. (Yes, that’s my attempt at a cheap fabric joke.)

(Thanks to dlisted.)

Been down to Covet (429 SW Washington) yet? If not, here’s an excuse: Starting tomorrow and going through Sunday, they’re celebrating summer with 20-30% off select summer dresses and skirts from such lines as Michael Stars, Tibi, Splendid, Velvet, and Chaiken Profile, in case you’re needing some more summer play clothes…

Chaiken Profile: The “little sister” of the Chaiken you can’t afford.

I’m on the advisory board for Portland Fashion Week, and last night we had a meeting. While my contribution has been (and, I feel like, as someone who also covers the event, kind of has to be) mostly low-level, one thing I can do is make sure that people know about it, particularly local designers, who should be aware that applications are now being accepted for the October series of shows. There’s always been some debate about these events in the community. One of the main things that I hear are local designers who feel threatened by having a fashion week in Portland, because they feel the lack of desire to conform to what other cities do is an important part of why they are in Portland rather than… one of those other cities. I’m curious about what people have to say now after last year’s event, and how that is shaping expectations for the coming one. How do you feel about the “green” angle? Some call it a trend and a gimmick, but it’s the only real toehold Portland has in the fashion world at large, and is something that has the power to drive national and international interest to a Portland event where our designers could have a chance to be seen by some of the higher ups. Beyond fashion, having a well supported event of this type could contribute to luring progressive companies to the city (jobs! cool jobs!). One of the things that comes up during these meetings is the contention that Portland sucks at marketing itself, and has the attitude that we’re so awesome the world is just going to come to us. Thoughts?

Babette (208 NW 13th) has never really been on my radar, mainly because it’s a chain, with origins in San Francisco (aside from PDX and SF, there are flagship stores in New York, Chicago, and Scottsdale), and because I’m outside its demographic (this rather informative article in the San Francisco Chronicle concurs):

Her customers are loyal and used to finding certain staples. Her clothes aren’t for the trendy. “I pay attention to fashion, of course,” Pinsky says. “It’s not like I’m an artist and my way is the only way to go. My customers are contemporary women. They want to keep up with fashion, but they don’t want to look like their teenagers.”

The core Babette customer is about 45, arty and well traveled, with a income sizable enough to afford a $260 top or a $450 coat. The forgiving nature of the fabric and the simple silhouettes of her pieces work on most frames. “You can walk into my dressing room and there will be a 6-foot-tall woman and little mini thing, and they can both wear the same outfit.”

(I may not be a teenager anymore, but I’m a lot closer to being one than having one.)

The company, which had its biggest break in the ’80s with its signature pleated raincoats is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the launch of Babette: Designing a Vision, a (ghost written), image-heavy tome available only at Babette stores that chronicles designer Babette Pinsky’s career, which is marked by a specialty in pleating (check out the video the Chron also made of her Oakland factory, in which they demonstrate some of the techniques that originate from ancient Egypt.) She’ll be at the store this Saturday, 1-4 pm, for a signing, which might make for a good opportunity for Portland designers interested in the sculptural potential of pleating (coughEmilyRyancoughLeanimalcough) to pick the brain of one of the forerunners of the technique.

The ’80s-era Babette pleated raincoat, photographed by David Perez.

So maybe short-shorts aren’t your…um…bag…but that doesn’t mean you have to give in to loose cargos or unseemly cutoffs.
Summer’s other option? The trouser short.
From Louis Vuitton:

Knee-length, slim & tailored, they flatter pretty much everyone. I wouldn’t style them as above, though. They look best dressed down: a tee, some sneakers, you’re set.
Below are two options from local designers. You can also create your own by cropping a pair of suit pants. Just make sure to hem them! Ragged bottoms are awful.

Seersucker from Adam Arnold:

Plaid suiting from A Broken Spoke:

Model: Weston Pratt

Giovanna Parolari owns one of my favorite stores in town. Not only does she have the perfect mix of designers (choosing from both an international and local crop), but she also arranges it just so. It’s like you’re discovering something incredibly special. Here, we pick her brain about what she’s into right now.

What are your picks of this season from your store?
For the summer:

-Mociun tank dress in tie die
-Selima Optique sunglasses (coming this month)
-pyt jewelry
-local jewelry and bag designer Sara Barner’s rings!!!
-scarves any and all kinds.

Place to eat:
Navarre of course! Also, Clyde Common, Masu East, Helvetia Tavern, Maki

Drink of choice:
Compari and soda. White wine and rosé

Summer music you’re playing at your store:
Wings
Fleetwood Mac tusk
Rihanna
Brightblack
Tu Fawning
Neil Young
Liz Phair
George Harrison
Tito Puente

Travel destination and dream companion:
Brazil, Argentina or Japan, with John, my partner. He’s by far my favorite travel companion, too much fun, too much food and too much wine!

Favorite quote:
“medium”

Items in your wear-every-day outfit:
I’m too moody, except for certain jewels.

What Portland event/concert you’re looking forward to:

River time and driving home afterwards- sitting in the back, nice music, staring out the window at the leaves and light. The windows down, slight breeze, you’re a little smelly, a little burned and the most relaxed you’ve been in awhile. Thinking about food with your friends, trying to keep the feeling around a bit longer… Bocce challenge with friends and food.

Last thing you bought:
Malia Mills bikini for myself
Rag & Bone cardigan and Lova short sleeve cardigan for my beau

Una
2802 SE Ankeny / Portland, Oregon 97214
www.una-myheartisfull.com
www.unaportland.blogspot.com

Great news for local up and coming fashion designers who might feel adrift in the scary apparel world: A number of designers (including Erhart’s Chelsea Erhart, Leanne Marshall of Leanimal) have joined force to form the Fashion Fight Club, a brand new collective aimed at sharing information and resources, anything from fabric sourcing tips to banding together to present at trade shows like POOL. Things are just beginning to get off the ground, and you can check the blog (linked above) for information on upcoming meetings and events. The eventual hope is that it will serve as an open source of information to the group, membership in which is predicated on, as Erhart puts it, “being a designer and not being mean, basically.” Get in on the ground floor and help define the collective’s aims and regulations by contacting Erhart, and by stopping by a trunk show this Sunday at Olio United from noon-5 pm, with DJs Beyonda and Equestrian, and members of the FFC selling overstock and out of season pieces. There have been murmurings among Portland designers for years about creating “something” to unify the industry—if enough people get on board, this may just be the thing. And while much remains to be decided, the group is already all over the logo:

Maybe it’s the happy after-buzz from gay pride, maybe it’s my obsession with everything early 80s, but I am totally digging short-shorts for men.
I suspect this might be a passing phase. But for today at least I’m championing cuts mid-thigh and up.

Calvin Klein sent them down the runway:

Prada did too:

Kevin here got his vintage pair at Magpie:

I don’t want to see any cutoffs, though. My support does not extend to daisy dukes!

I was super bummed out when Jena Coray announced she was closing Portland-based Modish Shoppe at the beginning of the month. Modish has always been one of my favorite online boutiques, always filled with hip, colorful jewelry and accessories, unique kitchenware, and handfuls of eco-friendly handmade goods. The shop’s officially closing its doors on June 30. Right now, there’s a store-wide sale going on featuring 15% off everything, including sale items.

Who: Nagi Noda, infamous Japanese director/art director/artist
What: Her latest work, Hair Hats
I’m noticing a very hairy trend… Two years ago, I had the chance to collaborate with Icelandic artist Hrafnhildur Arnardóttir, aka Shoplifter (she made Bjork’s hair sculpture on the Medúlla album cover) on an installation during NYC Fashion Week. The Shoplifter’s amazing garlands of human-hair braids covered the walls and stole the show. This past season, my friend Jules Kim aka Bijules, created an accessories collection called Hairem, featuring human-hair hairrings, necklaces, a bun pillbox hat, and a glasses lariat, all designed to let the wearer add a clever streak of hair color, without having to dye their own. Now, Japanese artist Nagi Noda adds her unique spin to this trend by creating Hair Hats, a collection of fifteen human hair sculptures, intricately molded into various animals, my personal fave being the poodle-fro! Wear one of these to your next editorial fashion shoot or Purple Magazine afterparty, feathers in your hair is so last season!
Photos by: Kenneth Cappello