Adam Arnold Spring 06 photo Christy Klep
We will readily agree with those who put Adam Arnold in somewhat of a class by himself among Portland fashion designers. He does very sophisticated modern looks for women and men (a rarity among Portland designers) and does it all, sketch-to-stitch, as a one man band with no intention of supersizing his operation. Arnold has refined his overarching statement so that there is no lurching from season to season (like say, the frantic casting about of Marc Jacobs, for example) but a gentle swing that references past work while looking forward, never in a costume-y way. Look once and appreciate Arnold’s aesthetic, his simple, elegant shapes and fine fabrics. Look again and appreciate his workmanship (those porthole pockets!). These are the finest garments being made in Portland.
Barney’s New York fashion director, Julie Gilhart in a recent Vogue talked about searching out emerging designers for Barney’s and her requirement that the work be of the highest quality. “We can sell very advanced fashion,” she said, “but it has to be able to hang next to Alaia, Balenciaga, or Comme…. We have hard criteria.” Among our many highly creative designers in Portland, there are indeed some whose work could withstand the scrutiny of a Julie Gilhart. Arnold is one.
But tonight is about a show! And Arnold has a sense of sublime showmanship with undercurrents of provocation (the measured pace of his last runway show frustrated the fast-forward few while the clothes-lovers delighted in being able to linger on Arnold’s craftsmanship) that are always subtle enough not to interfere with viewing his designs.
See Adam Arnold’s Spring 2007 Show (along with hundreds of your future closest friends) tonight at 7 PM at Design Within Reach (1200 NW Everett).
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