design: Sofada. photo: Pete Springer.
To file under the category of fashion show as spectacle, last night’s kick-off for Portland Fashion week was an appropriately glam affair that made the most of its venue high atop Big Pink. If anything, the 360 degree backdrop of Portland by night was the star(s) of the evening. Don’t tell that to the dressed hundreds (possibly as many as 5-600) who did the double-elevator vertical commute to bear witness to a show of Sofada’s spring 07 collection.
design: Sofada. photo: Pete Springer.
Congrats to the PFW team of Tito Chowdhury, Chris Cone, and Tod Foulk for a top-notch production: the backdrop, the runway, the projection, the lighting created from thin air�or rather a wholly unfinished space�a venue that would more than honor the work of any designer.
design: Sofada. photo: Pete Springer.
Alice Dobson’s line, Sofada, is among the more resolutely wearable in Portland. She does simple dresses (favoring strapless), femme sportswear, and swimwear. For spring 07 Dobson showed three main fabric families, a red/white/and blue…washed-red cotton woven, white dotted swiss, and lightweight denim; an open, delicate floral overlay for a number of skirts; and a very cool late-60s stamped floral print. The polka dots took a walk off the swiss and landed in various sizes on a number of tangerine, melon, and lime, frocks, coats, &c.
design: Sofada. photo: Pete Springer.
Best in show? Loved the wide-cuffed micro shorts in red (we’d love to see somebody take these shorts, shown with a sweet little white blouse, and wear them either with an indie sense of humor or serious grit) and the white low-waisted pique pants with black piping, but the floorlength halter dress was terrific. Because it was shown in the aforementioned teal/mustard retro floral, it is a dress for day, but what a day…maybe rooftop patio cocktails at dusk in August or your sister’s afternoon wedding on the lawn.
And it was a great surprise to see that the Sofada collection pamphlet was illustrated by Brenda Dunn. You’ll know her from her sultry pin-up girl art. She also owns Garment on SE Hawthorne.
design: Sofada. photo: Pete Springer.
But last night’s late start poses a tricky question for arrival this evening. Not wanting to cool heels in the lobby, do we go late tonight assuming that the show will start late (and risk missing show if it starts on time) or write last night’s delay off (even the Mayor was kept waiting downstairs) to first night jitters and show up on time?
updated Saturday October 21 2006 20:26
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