PFW ’09: Night Three
by Eden Dawn
For tickets: www.PortlandFashionWeek.net
It’s the third night of fashion week and as my car idles up to the security gate the guard informs me press is to pull off into a new parking area and motions me to the side. I complied and for a moment I felt far off and wondered if I was being punished by the fashion rulers. I could not imagine what I had done. I keep my quirky use of mixing prints tasteful. White shoes do not even exist in my closet let alone after Labor Day. There was that terrible green hair fiasco in the mid 90’s but I thought all had forgotten about that. Then I turned the corner. Headlights were in a line as far as I could see. The show was shattering attendance records and just to get into the shipyards and get a parking space was a lengthy ordeal. I took back my silent cursing of the guard who had actually done me a favor and hoped my style sins were to remain a thing of the past.
Once in the door a raucous crowd was more than ready for a show to begin. Being friends with the house manager at this point was a major plus as Jasin Weiner scooted me in early so I could just get away from the mob. It took over an hour to get that amount of cars parked and people smushed in so by the time the techno started this was not just a crowd wanting a show, this was a crowd starving for it.
First up was Portlander Michelle DeCourcy’s La Vie collection. A mix of knits and viscose in dresses and separates the line was playful and youthful without limiting itself to only twenty-somethings. Favorite pieces were the pleated viscose highwaisted skirts in bright colors matched with delicate tanks.
Next was Jesica Milton, debuting her line combining the west coast casual attitude with the metropolitan lifestyle. An amazing vein print was a theme running throughout the spring collection adding texture without overplaying it. Another element present was the one shoulder asymmetrical neckline showing up in both tops and dresses showcasing the sexiness of the collarbone.
WyattOrr is a design team out of Seattle consisting of Liise Wyatt and Karly Orr who together imagined up sophisticated details to enhance basic pieces for anyone’s closet. Their strength is definitely in their intricately crafted jackets. The time spent in creating these is apparent with criss-cross seaming, asymmetrical zippers, decorative flaps and even an extra pocket tucked away in the back. Outerwear as thoughtful as everyday wear.
Idom is the brainchild of Modi Soondarotok, a graduate of Parson’s and someone who has paid her fashion dues working for Peter Som, Donna Karen and Armani before coming to Portland. Her canvas is the dress and she paints it with a variety of decorative elements. Her pieces are modern and structural without ever losing their feminine element. A soft gray dress with fabric twisted into roses and leaves made me briefly consider if I could get away with tackling the model, stealing the dress and running out of there before anyone stopped me. Then I remembered I could just buy one at her store.
Finally, Amai Unmei showed a diverse collection ranging from cocktail dresses to casual tunics. Her focus is on clean and simple lines with emphasis on fit and style. A gold dress with feathered bottom and sparkly top got the crowd revved up in its throwback to Tina Turner’s glory days. I believe Unmei’s standout pieces are her take on the classic shift dress. One in a bright mod print and another in satin with delicate piping details took a silhouette appropriate for all ages and pushed it to a new level of interest.
After the final march of models and bows from designers the rowdy crowd filed out without incident and piled into their cars buzzing with excitement. The fashion show bug has officially been caught.
MICHELLE DeCOURCY
JESICA MILTON
WYATTORR
IDOM
AMAI UNMEI
All photos: Ed Kavishe/fashionwirepress.com
