
Find out which new shoe store is giving away 100 pairs of Vans Classics this Saturday over on MOD. (Luckily you have to show up barefoot, which should reduce the chance of stampede-related injury.)

Behold via Buzzfeed a new web series called "Put This On," for men. It's kinda informative, kinda funny, and seems geared for guys who kinda want to look nice but are kinda shy about feeling ignorant. As you can tell I'm feeling very "kinda" on this. But I do like the "rudimentary" guy on the park table, he's funny. This is the first episode, on denim:
The blog is also full of adorably self-conscious tidbits like, "This is a hat made by fashion types for a mass-market retailer, and it will be purchased by numerous douchebags. That does not mean it is not lovely." Segue: There's a crap-ton of events happening for the ladies this week in Portland retail. Hop over to MOD to fill up your evenings with complimentary wine and browsing. Who said you can't make dinner out of the hors d'oeuvres of four consecutive store parties?
Not to keep harping on how awesome Content was (but it was), but one of my favorite rooms at the event was Luxury Jones'. In it, two films were projected simultaneously on the wall of the room, together the collective tale of a wild night out with lots of costume changes (all Luxury Jones' hot-ass party clothes). If you missed it, regular Mercury photo contributor Minh Tran, who shot the films (called "Heavy Syrup") and even composed and performed the original score with Vera Domini, has unleashed them online. You can watch them separately but to get the full effect, here are his playback instructions:
1. Depending on the resolution of your monitor, you’ll see the two videos side by side (which is ideal) or on top of each other (which is a bit of a bummer but not the biggest of deals).2. Completely mute the volume on one of the videos - the audio is identical on both so you won’t be missing out. If you want to see each of the videos individually in full screen, return the volume to normal levels for the one you muted (obviously). Depending on your internet connection and the processing capabilities of your computer, you may have to watch these videos independently for smooth playback. We tried our best to make each of the videos entertaining on their own.
3. Press play on one video and then as quickly as possible press play on the other video. Then go back to the first video and pause it for a split second to compensate for the difference in start times.
4. When the opening sequences start up, the videos should be identical, pause and unpause accordingly to get them synchronized as closely as possible. You should be all set after this.
Let the hot girls, good times in Portland clubs and even the scary ending be your inspiration for this weekend's parties. In the meantime, plenty of info on PDX shopping and fashion over on MOD. Oh, and dibs on the black fringed mini-dress!
I can't take credit for rounding these up—that would go to the fabulous Ashkan of the Day After—at least one of which has already joined the ranks of hilarity on Regretsy, but you need to know what's out there on Etsy. Shop carefully.



$135 DOLLARS????!!!! Oh yes, and there's more. Hit the break, and check MOD for some less sarcastic fall picks.
Nothing clashes worse than bad ideas. The good news (to some) is that as an official New Moon promotional event, attendees to the Nov 5th show at downtown nightclub Invasion will have a chance to win free tickets to the film's Portland premiere. The bad news is that the vampires of Twilight are most often seen wearing windbreakers.

Hit MOD for details and an update on which Portland designers and retailers are going to be a part of this, er, "fashion show."
Sunday's Content '09 event was not your average fashion show, as you can see.

See pictures from the nearly 30 rooms of the Ace Hotel that were transformed for the night over on MOD. And if you missed it, I'm thinking there will be a Content '10.
The coolest fashion show during Portland Fashion Week... didn't happen at Portland Fashion Week. See a complete slideshow of looks by Fuchsia Lin, Liza Rietz, Emily Ryan, and Idom from their "Fashion Collective" show on Monday at the Armory over on MOD. (And read more about it here.)

One of the many photos taken by Minh Tran.
It doesn't make any less sense than a padded bra (which I've always thought is a needless exercise in building, and then dashing, favorable expectations—seriously, who needs the lies, the drama?) or the padded ass:

The New York Observer goes to surprising levels of detail and introspection on it here.
“You feel more confident,” Mr. Lopez said. “You have people who wear the skinny jean, and the only thing you see is the bulge. These work with the whole body.”And then: “Would you like to try a pair?”
“Sure,” I said. An instrumental, smooth jazz version of the Beatles’ “Come Together” began playing on the speakers as I walked to the dressing room, clutching the Body Jeans like a secret.
They were a breakthrough! Such comfort, such support! And yes, my confidence was bigger! It looked bigger, at least.
GODDAMMIT!! I just bought the "Three Keyboard Cat Moon" T-shirt, and now I have to buy this one too?!?
Fine. Just empty my bank account, whydon'tcha??

Moon howls to The Uniblog.
Last weekend I ventured out to the first fashion show I've ever been to in my life. It turned out to be pretty interesting. The stories behind these three photos over on MOD.




I should know, because I've been looking at her all goddamn week. It's Portland Fashion Week! AHH! I've been putting some blogs (and my life) together over on MOD. Keep up, and don't miss the scathing comments from the peanut gallery. You guys are mean! I like it!
I hate to be cruel, but I think even people who don't ordinarily care about fashion should be up in arms about some of the things that happened on Wednesday on the first night of Portland Fashion Week:


See more photos and read my very generous comments on MOD, and check back for ongoing coverage of all the fashion shows this week.
The official reception doesn't happen until tomorrow, but you can stop by Nationale anytime through November 8 to see Anna Weber's paintings, drawings, and (of particular interest to me) necklaces. You may have encountered Weber's past work as a contributing costumer for Cartune Xprez and Mirah, and while many of her soft sculptures are wearable (a sperm suit, a squirrel suit, a giant rainbow beard, an entire set of internal organs), they are difficult to find an occasion for outside of performance art and Halloween unless you and I are going to very different parties. Necklaces like this, on the other hand, I can totally do:

Stop by the shop from 6-8 pm (don't forget to huff on some of the amazing small-batch fragrances they've got and maybe pick up some fabulously simple soap, mayonnaise in a tube, or one of the other many Francophilic delights) tomorrow evening for added schmoozing, and hop over to MOD for more local fashion and store happs, including coverage of Portland Fashion Week month.

American Apparel Flea Market, PSU's Smith Memorial Student Union Ballroom, 1825 SW Broadway, Tues Sept 29, 9 am-8 pm, free admission
Dear 20th Century Fox—
Thank you for sending us a novelty fox tail tie in order to promote your upcoming film Fantastic Mr. Fox. We put it on the dog. She tried to eat it.
—Erik Henriksen, Film Editor

What is it about mustaches that automatically turn people into serial rapists? Check out this 1973 commercial for Quick Curl Barbie and Mod Hair Ken, where Barbie gets carried away by Ken's new rape-o 'stache… LITERALLY!
This has been a public service warning from MOD.
I compiled everything you need to know right now about Portland fashion on MOD, which took me seriously like 2,000% longer than it will take for you to read it, so check it out if you want to hear which local designer got a grant to execute her new collection from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the line-ups of several upcoming major fashion events, two of which are international, plus sales and opportunities to break out onto the scene.
And I'm not just throwing this up here because it's a beautiful girl in underthings whose stance on sandwich consumption neither you nor I know a goddamn thing about. I want your opinion: Is this too much bra?

As promised, here are the complete shots taken by Minh Tran of Leanne Marshall's Spring/Summer 2010 show in New York on Saturday, in handy slide show form!
Leanne Marshall debuted her Spring/Summer 2010 collection in New York on Saturday night, where both Minh Tran and I were in attendance (the gang's all here!). Just having blown back in to town, until Minh has a chance to get his photos together, which I'll post ASAP, Style Coalition has a video. It's not the best quality picture, and it doesn't include all of the looks, but when you can't wait you can't wait!
Click over to MOD for a bonus backstage interview plus a split-second cameo from yours truly.

But it’s not just baseball. Continuing to build credibility, d2bcorner says the Nutty Blocc Crips even wear NBC hats (though this video begs to differ). British Knights shoes stand for “Blood Killers.” Can you see where this is going with CK jeans? Yeah, d2bcorner says they’re gang symbols, too. They stand for "Crip Killers."
I may have to go shopping.
I just put up a slideshow of photos from the Last Splash pool party/art & fashion show up on MOD, so check it out, especially if you missed out on the fun. (Or if slideshows make you dizzy, the Flickr gallery is equipped with the extra bonus of informative text!)

Design: Adam Arnold
Photo: Minh Tran

It's been nearly a couple weeks since the Portland Trail Blazers announced the throwback attire to commemorate their 40th year of roundball, and as much as I want to like their new look, I still think the jerseys are uglier than Ha Seung-Jin's face.
Granted, the Blazers red jersey is a classic, but alongside the modern baggy shorts it's a far cry from the glory days when that look was synonymous for being plastered skin tight on the pasty frame of Bill Walton. I doubt the team's current crop of players will want to indulge us all—come on Rudy, do it—by rocking the '70s "nut hugger" short-shorts just for the sake of celebrating an era that happened long before they were born. Remember when the Lakers tried this a couple years ago and wore long tights beneath their shorts? And that's why we hate the Lakers.
The white Rip City option is far worse. If this Bill Schonely quote made the cut, how long until "Boom-Chaka-Laka" finds its way to a player's chest? These jerseys resemble something you'd find in the (new) ABA. But since this is clearly not my area of expertise—I normally wear either a burlap sack, or wooden barrel with suspenders, everyday to work—I turned to our resident fashion expert, Marjorie Skinner of MOD.
"It would be nice to see what the shorts look like on, I hate the super long b-ball shorts... I just don't like the ones you could make a fort with in your living room."
She's right. Nut hugging is always better than living room fort.
Portland Fashion Week is coming up in a few short months (click that link if it's been a while... the web site's been redesigned, and it's better now) and they're looking for a few good models to walk the runway on a work-for-trade basis, with the added bonus of being splashed around in the media, becoming a permanent part of a rising designer's portfolio and of course, networking. I sure hope to see a lot of new faces and a variety! Here are the basic requirements:
Females:
MINIMUM 5'8" - 6'0"
DRESS SIZES 0-6
BRING HEELSMales:
5'10" - 6'2"
Waist 28-32
Jacket Sizes Up to 42L
Open auditions are taking place this coming Sunday, August 30 at the Art Institute of Portland from 2-5 pm. You should also check out Project Green Search, a Greenloop-sponsored "green model" search that's working in symbiosis with PFW, and which offers some sweet prizes and opportunities for the winner.

Stay informed on local fashion with MOD!
Part of Mayor Adams' "Green Jobs for Everyone!" economic plan is to attract a major sportswear retailer to Portland within five years. Via Twitter, Adams mentioned this afternoon that he's got his eyes set on a this Chinese company:

I don't know anything about this Li Ning Company Limited but I deeply crave the skills they will bring Portlanders. Not shoe-stitching or sweat-wicking-jersey-making skills but their apparently superhuman abilities to control and commune with fire. On their website, calm athletes hande basketballs of fire, tennis balls of fire and even fly through fire with nothing but the help of inspiration slogans.


Tomorrow's a big day for Portland shenanigans, with the Soapbox Derby up on Mt Tabor, followed by The Last Splash pool party/art and fashion runway show featuring experimental swimwear from some of PDX's most interesting visual artists and designers—in a pool! Check out the floating runway-in-progress:

Where else can you watch an avant garde runway show while floating in an 82-degree junior Olympic-sized swimming pool? Nowhere, that's where. Mark it: 6 pm tomorrow at the Peninsula Park Pool at 700 N Rosa Parks, $8.
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