Parallel, the new boutique in the Pearl, just got in some men’s pieces from one of my favorite lines, Trovata. Although this little label lost three of their cute-boy designers, they continue to do easy, undone preppy to perfection.
In particular: shirts. They fit so well—tailored without being tight—and are made of really soft cotton. I bought one yesterday and am probably going to get a couple more before summer’s end!

Parallel, at 1122 NW Marshall, carries a bunch of hard-to-find women’s lines as well.

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

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!

This Sunday at the Portland Art Museum (doors at 6:30, show at 7:30), the Art Institute of Portland is holding its 10th anniversary fashion show featuring work from students, graduating seniors, and alumni. This year’s crop is looking pretty fresh; I’ll be profiling some of the graduating seniors in the days leading up to the event. Next up:

SHANNON KELLY

After establishing a background in painting, Shannon Kelly has now turned to menswear, an area of design that always seems primed for fresh ideas, many of which end up looking… questionable. Kelly’s approach for her senior collection was pragmatic: She sent a survey to virtually every guy she knew, quizzing them on what they were looking for in clothing, what they had the hardest time finding, and who their favorite fashion icons were. What came back were complaints about finding clothing that fit slim enough, had a lot of pockets, was easy to care for (washable, didn’t need to be ironed), could transition in and out of the office, and would travel well.

Although responses to Kelly’s “fashion icons” question were spotty (Steve McQueen was the only one she could recall), this collection takes pages from Harrison Fords’s roles in Indiana Jones and Blade Runner.

Kelly has been doing some designing for the local motorcycle and scooter riding apparel company Corazzo, and imagines herself perhaps doing technical design for a local company.

Interested parties may contact Shannon Kelly via email.

Photos by Jeff T Smith

(Street Style? Stage Style?)

Jamie Lidell lit it up last night, and Merc photographer Minh Tran was there to document the nerd-cool look that Lidell chose to compliment his soul style, which featured this rather amazing gold lame jacket and stripey pajama-lookin’ pants:

I’m kind of freaking out because I wore one of my Mike & Chris hoodies to work on Monday (it was actually really warm out, but the air conditioning always turns my office into an icebox). I live in these hoodies, which came from Nolita. They’re hardly the only store in town to carry the line, but it’s a great example of their knack for buying pieces that you immediately find yourself wearing all the time. Basic, but very good. They just got in a ton of new gear from lines like John Varvatos, Vince, and Velvet, so if you’re looking to stock up on summer staples, now is the time.

John Varvatos S/S ‘08

Just about everyone I know has at least one wedding to attend this summer, so they’re all looking to drop change on one or two pieces that are going to have them covered for all of it. If you’re a gentleman with generally deep pockets, or want to spend a little (er… a lot) more on something special if, say, you’re the best man at one of these weddings, take note of the Men’s Half-Price Sale beginning tomorrow at Mario’s. If you buy a suit, sport coat, shirt, or tie between tomorrow and the end of the month, you can have a second (of equal or lesser value, obviously), for half the price.

An S/S ‘08 look from Dolce & Gabbana

Because he’s not only in a jumpsuit, but because he’s actually jumping, Adam Arnold wins!

Jumpsuit by Adam Arnold. Photo by Christy Klep.

Well, I told you he was going to do something weird:

Those are models wearing Adam Arnold at Friday’s benefit for Basic Rights Oregon—not only are they sporting looks from this season’s clothing collection, but also masks Arnold made, telling his models only right before the show that they would be wearing them, and also encouraging them to improvise on the runway. The result was certainly weird, and I thought, quite hilarious. The audience didn’t seem to know what to do, the DJ I don’t think even noticed as he concentrated on spinning “Walk This Way,” and the models did everything from cute/creepy little girl poses to skipping to playing it straight. Meanwhile, Arnold’s head would periodically peep, grinning, from behind the curtain. I about fell out of my chair laughing. Needless to say, it was the most noteworthy episode of the night, though some of what came down the runway is quite worthy of notice as well. See shots of the other designers’ work by Minh Tran after the jump.

It’s been a while. Are you going to stick around this time? Because I don’t know if I can handle it if you leave again.
Better go get some sunglasses. Just in case.

$46, vintage, from a selection at Hollywood Vintage

$186, Karen Walker at Le Tran Bleu

$270, Funk at Visage

It’s true: Gwyneth Paltrow wore a Stella McCartney jumpsuit to the Iron Man premier. Personally, I loved it and hope this is one more step toward a big jumpsuit comeback. They’re everything fashion should be—fun, frivolous, futuristic (in a 70s way).
Unfortunately, I don’t see them nearly enough. Let’s change that! To promote the jumpsuit cause, send me a pic in your favorite onepiece by Monday, May 19 and I’ll select the best, post it here and give the winner a $50 gift certificate to Red Light, which incidentally has an incredible selection of retro jumpsuits—from sleek 70s Cher styles to pop-bright early 80s pieces. Plus a few flightsuit types for guys.
Along with Fringe Vintage, they’re the best places in town to pick one up (prices range from $11-$20). You know, in case you don’t have a selection at home.
Send pics to: brettglass@gmail.com.

Amber Renee in an elegant evening jumpsuit from Red Light

DB Clay is turning 10 at the end of the month, and they’re launching another new collection of their amazing wallets (we’re on Version 3.1). To celebrate the 10-year landmark and the launch, they’re throwing a party at Lizard Lounge Boutique (NW 13th & Irving) on Thursday, May 29 with music, art, drinks, and a showcase of the new wallets (which, yes, you can be among the first to purchase). Then, Friday and Saturday, May 30-31, there will be a two-day sales event where you can buy discounted samples, make your own wallet kits, and more.

This is a local company that has an inspiring amount of ambition, personality, and heart. I love the way they weave their lives into their product, like this wallet from the new line. Entitled “Adult Chores”, the print, when you see it up close (there are bigger photos here) turns out to be a crossed out to-do list from compulsive list maker and company founder Garett Stenson.

Tonight, Lizard Lounge is hosting a First Thursday party. You know what that means: free booze! Plus, you get 10% off regularly-priced merchandise from 7-10pm.
If you haven’t been to Lizard Lounge you should. Whoever does their buying is a genius—everything is very cool without trying too hard. More Kate Hudson than Mary-Kate Olsen.
If you need more incentive: they’ll have a band, and places to sit. Oh and some art by a very talented painter, Arsenio Torres.
But really, shopping under the influence should be enough.

Lizard Lounge, 1323 NW Irving

My heart sank as I flipped through the four digital pages of Refinery29’s new “Wonder Bread” feature on wallets that “put the funny back in your money”; where was DB Clay? All my long conversations with the local company’s ambitious young founder, Garett Stenson, played through my head, and I started to think that maybe the respected indie fashion site was losing its grip, until I hit the last page.

Nice.

Tonight at Flutter (3948 N. Mississippi):

Come celebrate our new Men’s Line and have a beer and cigar on us. Twenty handsome Men will be strolling the store previewing Frocky Jack Morgan’s newest men’s designs including silk screened T’s and suits. Browse the newest men’s shaving supplies, soaps and colognes from France and Italy. Check out the latest books on subjects from vintage marvel to Eiji Tsuburaya’s Master of Monsters.

Michael Pappillo trio play at 6pm. playing classic Brazilian, pop covers (think Nirvana & Portishead meet the stand up bass) and of course some Gypsy Irish kind of thing to honor St. Patrick’s day!

It’s made to measure season:

I was in Seaplane recently, and noticed some lovely men’s shirts by a brand I didn’t recognize: Minor Poet. Lo and behold, they (John and Kerry Ann) found me, and let me know that they’re preparing their first women’s line for this coming fall, and a web site is forthcoming. I’m looking into meeting up and getting to know them and their work better, but in the meantime, what handsome shirts:

There are sales happening all over town right now (add to the list: Moxie and Pin Me). But beyond the stores, don’t miss the sample sale of Anna Cohen apparel happening Sat (10 am-4 pm) and Sun (11 am-3 pm) to snag some gear from one of Portland design’s biggest rock stars. The studio is at 323 NE Wygant, #204.

K.D. Waltner is Adidas’ Global Design Director for Running Apparel, but when he’s not making the big bucks designing gear for the world’s top athletes, he has his own line of bags. This Friday, in a First Friday exhibition at Tilde (7919 SE 13th, 6-9 pm) he will be showing 12 custom versions of the Trapez (German for “trapeze”), each hand painted by Waltner in his basement. Underscoring the functional art aspect of the product, the store will be exhibiting the bags as visual art pieces mounted on the walls, though I think if you wanted to take one home and fill it with stuff that could probably be arranged—the Trapez comes in three different sizes, depending on whether you need a laptop, and if so, what size. Here is #1 of 12:

Did anyone hit Crafty Wonderland’s Super Colossal Holiday Sale on Sunday? I know a lot of you did, because when I tried to go, I turned right back around and headed back home at the sight of a huge line stretching down the block. Reports from people who actually made it in confirmed that it was shoulder to shoulder. I’m happy for the Wonderland folks and participating vendors for having such a successful event, but if I wanted to shop while fighting my way through a crowd, I’d go back to Paris for les soldes.

Luckily, there is another opportunity to shop local, handcrafted goods right around the corner: PDX Etsy is having their holiday/solstice sale at the very spacious Smith Center at PSU this Saturday: About 65 vendors are participating, all of whom are pre-screened for professionalism by virtue of the fact that they have their sh*t together enough to run their own Etsy store, meaning you won’t have to wade through a bunch of junk you might have made during arts ‘n’ crafts at summer camp. Instead you’ll find well made wallets, bath and body products, jewelry, handbags, kids’ clothing, hats, pottery, accessories, and much much more.

They will also be screening a film, at 11 am, 2 pm, and 4 pm, called Secondhand (Pepe) about used clothing’s journey from the Salvation Army to Haiti. from the web site:

Secondhand (Pepe) is a 24min tri-lingual documentary about the role of used clothing in diaspora cultures. Filmmakers Shell & Bertozzi weave two narratives into a visual and sonic journey. The historical memoir of a Jewish immigrant rag picker intertwines with the present-day story of “pepe” – secondhand clothing that flows from the United States to Haiti. Secondhand (Pepe) animates the materiality of recycled clothes: their secret afterlives and the unspoken connections among people in an era of globalization.

Also, don’t forget to stop by the farmers’ market in the neighboring South Park Blocks for fabulous food gift ideas and dinner supplies. Sale runs from 8 am to 4 pm this Saturday!

(Urbana pottery)

Today marks the fist day of a sale running through the rest of the month at Moulé (1225 NW Everett): Find 30-50% off all men’s and women’s clothing, handbags, and shoes (but don’t pass over the interesting home ideas while you’re there) from lines like Rag & Bone, Catherine Malandrino, Rachel Mara, Edun, J. Lindberg, and many more!

Though I might quibble that Fall is dangerously near to being over, Mario’s is free to title their upcoming sale for men and women, beginning this Thursday, 12/13, whatever they please. I’ll also not argue with 30% off men’s sportcoats, trousers, and suits—and certainly not with 50-60% women’s designer clothing, shoes, and handbags. Yowza.

At a time when sustainability is the main buzzword in Portland fashion, we can all be proud that entermodal calls PDX home. One of the most sophisticated of green-minded design firms, their collection of leather bags are intensely researched to maximize durability and minimize waste. They don’t, however, come cheap, so you won’t want to miss the chance to score samples at a discounted rate: This Friday, from 3-8 pm join them at the entermodal studio and score pieces from photo shoots, prototypes, and experiments (239 NW 11th, Ste 211).

Unlike what was accidentally, mistakenly reported while I was away on vacation, the holiday sale at Liza Rietz + A Broken Spoke (2305 NW Savier) begins today! Look for 10-30% off men’s and women’s clothing, gift ideas for under $50 (men’s ties, women’s cloches), as well as gift certificates. Sale only runs through Sunday, so don’t delay!

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.

Tucked away in NW (2431 NW Thurman), Hecklewood’s been up to some great stuff. The new collection, Native Cascadians elaborates on the graphic tees the brand is known for with scarves, hats, hoodies, and jackets. Check out the eye-catching results:

5-8 pm
2305 NW Savier

See you there.

As I’ve mentioned previously, Liza Rietz and John Blasioli have opened a store together, and the grand opening is coming up: Friday, August 31st, 5-8 pm, at 2305 NW Savier. John just sent me some photos of his latest work on his menswear line, a broken spoke—I love them! I had to post them all up here to show everyone. This is exactly what I think menswear should be, interesting design with looking ridiculous or effeminate (although I also love effeminate menswear looks on certain types, it’s clear why so many men feel like men’s fashion is emasculating). But here’s my dilemma: I need to pick one of these to print in the paper and I can’t decide. What do you think?

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.

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:

Speaking of Prada, Fashion Wire Daily is making “must have” eyes at these striped loafers from the S/S ‘08 Prada collection. What do you think guys, must you have them? (Or do you like them enough to get the knock off version?) Mark me down in favor.

Much faster than scrolling through a slideshow of stills, here are You Tube videos of my favorite menswear collections from Spring/Summer 2008.

Jil Sander:

I love the cleanliness here. Love everything but the mandals.

My favorite part is the cut of the pants. Still under the influence of Thom Browne with the slightly too short length, but Miuccia adds more movement and slightly belled shape, plus a slightly dropped crotch, like the opposite of sagging the waist of your pants.

The new menswear shows in Milan are up on the internets, and if you’re a fancy lad like that (or, you get a good laugh out of such things) you should check them out. Here are a couple of the more plausible looks so far (if you consider dizzy plaid suits plausible, which I do.):

(Alessandro Dell’Acqua)

(Gucci)

(Alexander McQueen)

(Burberry Prorsum)

(Neil Barrett)

Guys (or anyone with an interest in menswear) who are fans of blos like The Sartorialist will be happy to know that there’s a new blog chronicling on-the-street looks: for men only. Premiering tomorrow, Amanda Brooks’ In Her Eyes column will focus on “effortless” male style in the online pages of Men’s Vogue—effortless meaning it should feature guys whp aren’t trying to be all fashiony, just lookin’ hot. Which is how most guys actually want to dress, because in most cases fashiony men’s fashion is nothing short of hilarious. Her first subject, according to Style.com’s Style File blog, is set to be RayBans.

WHITE JEANS, YES OR NO?