Portland Fashion Week

PFW Night Two: Athletic-Wear

Night two of our week of fashion.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Oct 07, 2011 at 02:00PM Speech Bubble 5 Comments

Photo: Yi Yin

Anna Cohen’s look for the Imperial Knits Collection was my total fav. Everyone needs an amazing sweater dress. Especially here.

View Slideshow »

I’m going to be real blunt here and say that minus one glorious breath of fresh air, the second night of Portland Fashion Week left my normal sunny self with a serious case of the grumps. Why? Because I don’t like to leave a fashion show feeling utterly confused… and I did.

I’m not going to go into minute details for each active wear company that showed – Adidas, Grenade, Ryu (because does Adidas really need my opinion on how to improve their company? Uh, no), but I do have some overall thoughts. First off, while I know athletic wear is a huge part of this city, there are some issues showing it. Every girl knows the importance of a good sports bra, but I didn’t need to see like four of them on a fashion runway last night. The problem with active wear on the runway is this: The motivator behind purchasing athletic wear often has to do with what the performance fabric does (wick sweat, waterproof, etc.) or the tiny additions for assistance (iPod pockets, mesh panels, etc.). And you can’t see any of that on a runway. I might have been looking at the most space age sports bra in the history of the world, without seeing it up close or having any kind of literature to speak to that, they all looked the same to me. (Although Adidas did show some cool shoes and lifestyle clothing as well that I genuinely liked.)

Moving on, I have a brief open letter to Grenade. I know your gloves and outerwear are loved by many a snowboarder and that is lovely. However, putting models in company t-shirts and bikini bottoms with their cheeks chilling on the runway is not fashion and the audience groans can back me up on that.

Photo: Yi Yin

Hey Grenade! This is not cool.

Earthtec’s line of casual wear made from recycled material (like plastic water bottles) was perfectly wearable and sellable. Nothing was particularly re-inventing the fashion wheel, but that doesn’t seem to be the point of the line. And with the back-story it has of sustainability first, I suspect it would be embraced here.

Ethos Paris, Lenzanita and Avni all had a couple highs and some lows. My advice to the bunch is to be consistent and know your demographic, I was often confused if it was heading towards my mom’s age or mine. Either legitimately works, but choose. And I would like to politely state that Avni’s frantic Irish jig music loudly playing during their runway segment nearly induced a panic attack for me. Perhaps something a little more pleasant or fun would be advisable.

Finally, Anna Cohen’s line for the Imperial Yarn strutted down the runway and my slouched posture perked up into a proper state. The line of knitwear (non-knitwear pieces were from Cohen’s design archives) consisted of cozy, wanna-snuggle-up-inside, chunky pieces in shaped silhouettes. The line is Oregon 100% with the sheeps raised here, wool made, garments designed and created. That makes me love it even more. Standout piece of the night for me was a blue sweater dress with big contrasting knit petal shaped pieces hanging from the neck. It made the near jig panic attack totally worth it.

(Tonight is one of my personal favs of the week with all local kids, including Ms. Woods, winner of last year’s Emerging Designer competition)

adidas
Grenade
Earthtec
Lenzanita
Ethos Paris
Avni
Imperial Yarn

Add a Comment »

Tags: adidas, RYU, Lenzanita, Grenade, Ethos Paris, Earthtec, Anvi, Anna Cohen Imperial Knits, Portland Fashion Week 2011, PFW: 2011

sensory overload

Fashion Related Fun

There are a lot of must adds for your calendar. Get cracking.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Apr 27, 2011 at 02:00PM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

View Slideshow »

There are so many awesome things going on around town these days, I need to figure out this cloning device I bought online so I can make it to all of them. Here is a round up of things you need to be seen at.

Physical Element/Amy Downs Trunk Show:

Hat designer, Amy Downs, returns to Physical Element with iconic spring confections drawing inspiration from the upcoming Kentucky Derby. She’ll bring her full arsenal of hats, both wild and wearable for your viewing and buying pleasure. You can meet the artist, a popular New York City hat-maker who maintained a shop on the Lower East side for over fourteen years, in person. Amy and her hats have been featured in The New Yorker, Paper Magazine, and the New York Times. Also on tap for the evening: Mint Juleps and other libations, southern-inspired appetizers, plus event-only special offers and discounts on all new Spring Merchandise

Amy Downs Trunk Show
Thursday, April 28th 6pm
1124 NW Lovejoy St.
Pdx, or
PhysicalElement.com

Modified Style

Modified Style Portland is approaching its third year and it’s not your typical fashion show, says organizers Janessa Philemon-Kerp, Andrea Fretwell and Laura Boley. In addition to incorporating sustainability into every aspect of the event, the creators are using the fashion as a platform to raise awareness among their peers about local charities. Ms. Philemon-Kerp says their main goal is “to show people in our age group—mid twenties to mid thirties—how easy it is to donate to charities. And we want people to enjoy themselves while doing it.”

Last year’s winning look!

In addition to raising money and awareness for Sisters Of The Road, Out to Pasture Farm Sanctuary, and Children’s Healing Arts Project (CHAP) the organizers aim to inspire confidence in men and women who have never designed before. “Learning how to sew three years ago really inspired me,” Ms. Fretwell says. She’s passionate about “designers unlocking their potential. So many people don’t know how much they’re capable of until they accomplish something new.”

The designers are handed their bag of fabric in advance and forced to work within their given means. The results can range from jaw dropping to chic and wearable. The organizers have turned the whole night into a swinging party with doors open at 6pm then7pm Fun(d)raiser Fashion Show begins, at 8:30 the winner is announced – Silent Auction begins, Entertainment by DJ Prashant and then a Bollywood Dance After Party. Jai Ho!

Modified Style
Sunday, May 1
Disjecta
8371 N Interstate
Portland, OR
Click for $15 tickets

Adidas Do Over

The Do Over is an event I missed last year and all I heard is about how much fun I wasn’t there for. Well, I’m not going to let it pass me by this time. The Adidas sponsored event is a “free daytime Sunday jammy complete with booze & bbq all day long.” If you want to see people rocking their activewear and be on the lookout for the special mystery guests you must RSVP to get in the door.

Adidas Do Over
Sunday, May 1st 2-10pm
Produce Row Cafe
204 Southeast Oak Street
Portland, OR
RSVP for The Do Over

Open Season

I cannot talk about Open Season enough. The Portland Mercury’s fashion show has called in the big guns this time and tickets are selling fast. As if the line up of local awesomeness wasn’t enough (Reif, Coco Cárdenas, Isaac Hers, Bridge & Burn, Dawn Sharp, Ms. Wood, RUKI, Joshua Buck, Midge, Sara Bergman, Boet, Heather Treadway), they have a trifecta of Project Runway winners with Leanne Marshall, Seth Aaron and Gretchen Jones in town to show collections.

Photo: Michael Zaugg

A lil preview of some Gretchen Jones action

And! The opening act of the show is a vitaminwater sponsored competition with a handful of local designers creating garments inspired by vitaminwater. The outfits will be critiqued and a winner appointed victoriously by a style council. And who is on the style council you might ask? Well, it is Seth Aaron and Leanne Marshall from PR fame, Marjorie Skinner (managing/fashion editor of the Mercury), Kevin Lennox (former fashion editor of Glamour magazine) and me (aka Eden Dawn of this here blog and magazine). Tickets for this show will sell out, so act fast.

OPEN SEASON the Mercury’s 7th annual spring fashion show
Bossanova Ballroom, 722 E Burnside
Friday, May 6
Doors at 7:30pm, Show at 8:30pm.
Tickets $15 advance, $18 at door
Click for tickets

Add a Comment »

Tags: Fashion, Dawn Sharp, Gretchen Jones, Leanne Marshall, Physical Element, Modified Style Portland, adidas, Open Season, Portland Mercury, Isaac Hers, Bridge & Burn, Ms. Wood, Seth Aaron, Midge, Ruki, Reif, Sara Bergman, Boet, Heather Treadway, Coco Cárdenas

Be there or be square

First Thursday Fashion

It’s First Thursday, go have fun.

Posted by: Eden Dawn on Apr 07, 2011 at 12:00AM Speech Bubble 0 Comments

192117_10150113296365911_58384925910_7038314_7130919_o

It’s the First Thursday in spring and I think we could all use a little fun. If I see one more cloud I’m going to give up and start schlepping around in sweats and Crocs. While I can be the cautionary tale, you should pop by these haute happenings.

Blake

The flier pretty much says it all.. Adidas will be debuting their lifestyle collection “blue.” DJ Rad will be on the decks with Beer flowing from Widmer Bros. (wine as well) and hand held fried pies from Portland’s own Whiffie’s.
26 nw 23rd place, Portland, Or
(503) 222-4848
FB Page
6-9pm

Lounge Lizard

Live Music: Cars & Trains
Artist: Scott Chase
Benefit: 10% of all sales will go to Mercy Corps relief effort for Japan.
Bonus: 20% off all regular price merchandise from 7 to 10pm.
Food: Koi Fusion
Beer: Widmer Brothers Brewery
FB Event Page
7-10pm

Add a Comment »

Tags: First Thursday, Fashion, Events, Lizard Lounge, adidas, First Thursday Fashion, blake

SHOP TALK

PFW Night Two: Athletic-Wear

Fashion Related Fun

Physical Element/Amy Downs Trunk Show:

Modified Style

Adidas Do Over

Open Season

First Thursday Fashion

Blake

Lounge Lizard

Recent Posts

Archives

Saga City Media, Inc.

Subscriber Services:

Email Newsletters:

Website Services: