Oct 20, 2008 | Fashion
Designer Kari Ann Peniche is already somewhat of a celebrity; she is a former Miss Teen USA who was stripped of her title in 2003 after posing in Playboy. Her brother Tony Dmitri also has a clothing line called Dmitri Apparel that presented its S/S ’09 line on Day 3 of Portland Fashion Week. He was the inspiration to Kari Ann to start her own clothing line after the ups and downs of fame – she called it “Strung Out” – and founded a line of swimwear that is sexy and L.A.-chic. She worked to ensure that the swimwear was cut correctly – both low in the front and the back so it would not sag while wet -and that her beach wraps could double as hot clubwear for later on. She took “all the good stuff from the 80’s mixed in with stuff from today,” creating a rock-and-roll-themed collection with studs and detailing, metallics, sexy cuts, and sparkles. See more at StrungOutGirl.com
-Carly J. Cais
Leave Comment
Oct 20, 2008 | Fashion
Designer Lizzie Parker’s line was inspired by French film, with a little 80’s bohemian twist to it. She wanted to create something flattering for a variety of different body types, above all creating a well-crafted garment that anyone could wear. She always wears her pieces first to work out all the kinks in them before sending them out to be produced, creating each piece herself. Using only sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, and organic bamboo jersey (one of the first to be certified organic (Sept. 2008), she created a line of fluid, drapey pieces in blacks, creams, and hot pinks. All of her manufacturing she conducts in Seattle (where she is based) in order to reduce her carbon footprint. She currently has a mini-boutique inside Tweed (a Seattle ladeis’ clothing boutique), and often works in the store in order to interact with her customers directly and keep the dialogue open between consumer and designer. Her clothing appeals to the confidant, fashion-forward consumer, who enjoys funky, but comfortable pieces. For more information on Lizzie Parker, visit the website here.
-Carly J. Cais
Leave Comment
Oct 20, 2008 | Fashion
Designer Sarabeth Chambers of Saffrona Classics created her collection around a revolutionary new seaweed-based fabric known as Seacell. Developed in Germany, this fabric is made of Lyocell (100% wood-pulp fiber) and seaweed, with about a 5% seaweed content overall. The vitamin- and mineral-rich Seacell has a microscopic silver content, rendering it antifungal, antimicrobial, and antibacterial (which don’t diminish even after repeated washes in the washing machine). The fabric also “breathes” with the wearer, and is lightweight and soft. In her collections up until now, Sarabeth has always used silk for her simple yet elegant party dresses, but in this S/S ’09 Collection, all the pieces are done in Seacell, lined in organic cotton. She found that since Seacell only is manufactuered in black or white, she had to get creative with it to create colors in her collection. The Crayola palette of her dresses was achieved with numerous dying in baths of beets and Kool-Aid. Comitted to local and eco-friendly business practices, she sources all of her fabrics and contracting in the U.S., mostly from Northwest suppliers. She says the woman who wears her clothes is someone who has a good sense of humor and someone who wants to make a statement. To see more and buy direct, visit the Saffrona website.
-Carly J. Cais
Leave Comment
Oct 20, 2008 | Fashion
Designers Tyla Dahlman and Andrew Van Zanten said they were inspired by the 1970’s Cuban Revolution when designing the Sameunderneath S/S ’09 Collection. In it we saw lots of bright, fun colors, great cuts, linen, and organic cottons. The line definitely had a low-key “travel” vibe to it, with an appeal to younger couples (since they put out both mens’ and womens’ wear). We saw surprisingly intricate crochet pieces, tailored shorts, breezy organic cotton dresses, and printed tees, all paired with long feather earrings, boho hairbands, and leather flowers (some even tied onto the models’ calves – how’s that for innovative acccessorizing??).
Sameunderneath itself is a concept brand and desires to spread a message as it grows. The designers utilize eco-friendly fabrics not as a marketing point or because other companies are too, but simply because “its the right thing to do. Everyone needs to be conscious of what they’re buying, using, and consuming,” they say. “Sameunderneath is a concept, a belief, and a way of life. It brings people together of all different races, religions, and backgrounds because we are all really the same underneath.” Check out the brand’s website here to see more.
-Carly J. Cais
Leave Comment
Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Known as the first fashion show in the country to focus on sustainable and eco-friendly fashion, Portland Fashion Week has been around since 2003, but since 2007 has made the entire event eco-friendly and sustainable. (From construction of the actual runway with eco-friendly materials, to eco-safe styling products on models, to even using sustainable-certified hotels for our guests, the city is committed to lead by example in the use of sustainable practices whenever possible.) For one week in mid-October, local fashion designers debut their latest RTW collections to audiences of buyers, press, and the fashion community. It’s low-key with an indie-vibe, and the low entrance fee for designers wanting to showcase their collections ($1500, compared to the $150K+ required for showing at New York Fashion Week) means that other non-local designers not necessarily striving for sustainability also have a chance to present their lines. Though the collections usually have a more commercial bent to them, there is also often a rising star (Leanne Marshall, recent winner of Bravo’s Project Runway, showed her Leanimal collection in 2007) or well-known mainstay of sustainability and eco-friendliness (Lizzie Parker, who showed this year) presenting, and overall, the event is fun, youthful, and energetic.
This year, yours truly hit the latter half of Portland Fashion Week to visit the shows and get the scoop on the latest in sustainable fabrics, clothing, hair, and makeup. Day 1 and Day 2 showcased: Icebreaker, the Art Institute of Portland, MEWV Sustainables, In Harmony, dlr designs, Revivall Clothing, Bon’Lou, and Studio SKB, but since we weren’t there we can’t write too much. (We’ll post some photos copped from other photogs in the coming days.) However, since we started attending on Day 3, we’ll start our coverage with Nike Considered in an upcoming post. Below, some photos we took backstage and of the event:
The runway was made of 100% recycled rubber balls (though I’m not sure where they got all those rubber balls!).
This was what the bar was made out of (EnduraWood). Only in Portland!
And these were fabulous. These are dresses made completely out of paper – folded, cut, glued, sewn, molded – and they’re just insanely gorgeous. You can read more about the line and designer Lia Griffith on her website at Papier-Couture.com.
xo
Carly
Leave Comment
Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
We missed out on the opportunity to interview Seattle-based Alula Clothing‘s designers, Katrina Thomson, Chelsey Burton and Beth O’Leary, but according to their website their S/S ’09 Collection was inspired by thoughts of “sunkissed skin and warm afternoons…the colors and fabrics we dream of in these moments. These are the pretty little outfits we’d most like to be wearing while enjoying those bright shiny days to the fullest.” See a sampling of the collection below.
-Carly J. Cais
Leave Comment
Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Surpisingly, designer May Tee was originally a software engineer for ten years, working at Intel, before she made the transition into fashion. She attended school at Parsons, spending summers in London and Italy, even working as a freelance designer for Versace. What really catapulted her into the industry was working at a high-end boutique in downtown Portland, where she gained a feel for her ideal customer and luxury fabrics. This background she translated into her Portland-based eponymous line, now a year and a half old. Her S/S ’09 collection was inspired by a recent trip to Australia, where she visited Sydney Opera House and was struck by the architectural curves of the building. She translated the fluid shapes into her designs for the collection (below). She says her clothing resonates with people who really appreciate details and who enjoy quality. Her collection consisted of sharply-tailored suits and sheath dresses, with a fluid, structured quality. Her philosophy on life and fashion is to”have fun! And always follow your dreams.” Visit the brand’s website to learn more at: MayTee.com.
-Carly J. Cais
Leave Comment
Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Nike as a company has set the laudable goals of becoming completely sustainable within the next ten years, both in business practices and in materials they use, and are actively working towards this. (Kudos!) “Nike Considered” is actually going to soon drop the “Considered” from their name (which used to designate their distinction from the clothing under the regular “Nike” label). They are not even a separate division within Nike; in fact, the only way to tell that your Nike-branded clothing is manufactured with sustainable materials is to look at the label. (Now that’s missing a major marketing opportunity, IMHO.) Their eco-friendly apparel is not particularly distinguishable from their “non-eco-friendly apparel” (NEFA? gotta find a shorter term for this) in either look or aesthetic…since they manufacture both men’s and women’s apparel, there were some hot male models on the runways, followed by “cute sportswear for women” (which pretty much sums up the Nike brand in a nutshell). Below, the women’s looks from Nike’s show (and I swear, you’ll never tell the difference between the shots I snapped and the shots provided by pro photographers):
(the first two wonky-looking photos from us, the rest of the uber-fabulous photos from the incomparable Pete Kim. Thanks Pete!)
Alula, May Tee, and Sameunderneath coverage coming in the following posts…
-Carly J. Cais
Leave Comment
Oct 17, 2008 | Fashion
Student fashion shows can sometimes be a hit-and-miss affair…there’s always something jaw-droppingly amazing, along with piles of so-so, seen-it, and just downright-sorry-to-say-so-but-there-it-is ugly. We don’t want to tread even harder on downtrodden, struggling design students, but better you hear it now rather than later. And there were some fabulous looks at the Art Institute of Portland’s runway show (Wednesday, October 8), starting with the assignment to students to reinvent the Little Black Dress. We’ll ignore all the boring, we’ve seen it befor stuff, and focus on the standouts…
Ah, what can we say? Stunning. Whoever thought a ski-parka fabric would work so well with so much pleating. We love. It may be a riff on a Balenciaga silhouette, but we love all the same. Mwah!
And we also have a weakness for military-inspired fashion, chiffon tutus, and deconstruction. Yes, we say, bring it on. We wish the coat were in a little heavier fabric, and that the buttons were slightly smaller and spaced further apart. Besides that, it’s fab.
Then this LBD. Tough 80’s power-chic. We likey. Again, Balenciaga comes to mind. (Those crazy multicolored sandals with the black netting…) But still, very fresh.
Alright, they may look like residents of Whoville, but the silhouettes are striking and unique. Not too wearable, but it is definitely a look. (This isn’t the LBD assignment any more.)
And now for…the ugly. Read on! (because we know all of you want to jeer with us 😉
Now this was sad. A great concept, and it would have been fabulous rendered in a stiffer fabric, with fewer sewing mistakes. But overall, it’s unforgivably puckered on the right side.
Oh honey. Roses on the sleeves? Been done, sorry to say.
And it wouldn’t be a fashion show without the inevitable “straitjacket couture” piece. Okay, we totally sympathize with what you’re feeling, what with the looming deadlines and ominous graduation and the “gosh I’ll never make it in the real world as a designer” self-doubt, and the fabrics that were over budget and just not enough damn time to sew…we get it. You want to be committed. Do you need to be a slave to literalism while you do it? Can’t you just have a quiet, contained little meltdown in the corner? No? Well, if you must…
And what the hell is this? A man’s jumpsuit?? Rendered in an oh-so-fetching shade of beige?? It looks like something Ichabod Crane might have worn after lights-out, except this one’s got extra fabric oozing out his kiester. Love the hot leather city boots dude’s got on – like he’s just going to head out, grab a coffee, black, thank you, and the NY Times. And all we know is, that is one pissed-off looking male model.
(We thank Pete Kim for the fabulous photos. Loyal readers, make use of his services!!)
Leave Comment
Oct 10, 2008 | Fashion, Score!
With Columbus Day (October 13) looming ahead, there’s a mega-ton of sales and discounts available across the web. Here are just a few that I’ve managed to list (since I’m covering Portland Fashion Week right now, I’m skimping on the list a bit:-) Happy Shopping!
DESIGNER FINDS
BlueBee.com Women’s designer shoes starting at 80% off + Free Ground Shipping
Vivre.com Free Standard Shipping on orders over $500 – Code OCT500
MASS MARKET STEALS
CharlotteRusse.com Buy Five Items, Get 15% off your Order + Free Shipping Always, Enter to Win a $5000 shopping spree
Target.com Get Free Shipping with a $50 purchase in Accessories, Shoes, and Clothing
Sears. com Sears’ Columbus Day Sale (until Oct 14), 3-Day Specials until the 11th – Clothing & Jewelry up to 50% off
Kmart.com Up to 50% off Women’s Clothing, Free Shipping on Handbags & Accessories Purchases of $24.99 or more, Clearance Apparel Shipping only $1.99 per item (from Oct 12)
xoxox
Carly
Leave Comment
