If you're just arriving in Portland, I hope you're not bringing too many windbreakers and flannels with you in preparation. Yes, the city is basically the capital of outdoor clothing companies. Yes, flannel will keep you warm, and you will need to be kept warm. But does that mean it defines the current state of Portland fashion? Oh, hell no.

Adam at Open Season
  • Jeff Wong
  • Adam at Open Season

The Fashion Shows

Just as there is a great deal going on in other creative sectors, Portland has a lively fashion-design scene. It's part of a larger focus on artisanal manufacturing, and you can find everything from expensive, one-of-a-kind dresses, suits, shoes, and hats to more moderately priced made-to-order or off-the-rack designs.

Design here tends to be largely indifferent to mainstream trends. There are wonderful creative minds at work in this field, and attending some of the city's fashion shows is a good way to begin getting a feel for what's out there. Fade to Light, Content at the Ace Hotel, and the Mercury's Open Season series are all good places to start.

The two biggest shows of the year are FashioNXT and Portland Fashion Week. It may seem like you should just be able to go to something called "Portland Fashion Week" and get a solid gist, but it's not that simple.

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