design Garnish. photo Pete Springer
The theme of the final night at Portland Fashion Week seemed to be one of simple wearability: virtually every look shown, the exception being some of the more daring garments from Souchi, seemed ready to come off the runway and into Portlanders’ closets tout de suite.
design Habitude. photo Pete Springer
design Habitude. photo Pete Springer
Habitude designer Laura Chapuis, the lone non-local in day six’s lineup, led off with an unfussy collection of evening wear, with dresses in satin and jersey. Empire waists and babydoll proportions were a recurring theme, and the palette was a muted one, consisting of a subdued pink, brown, and black and white. The few non-dress looks were shown over a simple pair cotton/hemp wide leg pants. While many pieces look ready to take on supporting roles in someone’s closet, standouts such as a black jersey dress with a plunging shawl collar whose ends reaching past the bottom of the hem demanded the spotlight all on their own.
design Popina. photo Pete Springer
A name change didn’t mean much for the former Poppi Swim, now Popina: retro inspired swimwear in bold colors and prints were still the order of the day. Her press states that she was inspired to design when preparing for a vacation and unimpressed with the available swimwear options, and we’ll take her at her word; a number of the looks were clearly best left to those with model physiques, but an equal number also seemed designed for real people. One pieces and two pieces both featured 40s style low cut legs, built in skirts, and a ruffle or two. A conservative top over a long magenta skirt cover-up could have passed for street clothes until the model rolled up the skirt, revealing a bikini bottom.
design Garnish. photo Pete Springer
design Garnish. photo Pete Springer
Erica Lurie picked up where Habitude left off with her Garnish line of primarily eveningwear. Given what we’ve seen from her previously, tonight’s collection represented a major step forward, though in some cases she seemed to be still finding her way. A black chiffon dress with a lowlow 20’s style waist was one of the best of the entire evening, a dark blue look was shot through with sky blue tulle and a bright white silk dress with a bold polka dot print was also quite memorable. Watch this space: it is clear that Garnish bears watching.
design Lucina. photo Pete Springer
Sarah Wallace’s Lucia came in a little more casual, with polka dotted jersey and paisley and floral cotton recurring throughout. Basic t-shirt and skirt combinations alternated with the strapless dresses with fitted bodices. A cloudy blue wrap t-shirt was memorable, as was a dress version of the same design, in black.
design Souchi. photo Pete Springer
design Souchi. photo Pete Springer
design Souchi. photo Pete Springer
Portland stalwart Suzi Johnson rounded out the evening with her Souchi line of knitwear. Though not for the faint of heart (and, on occasion, breast) Johnson’s designs showcased the versatility of knitwear above and beyond the usual sweater, though there were plenty of those, too. Most striking were the almost mobius-like bends featured on several looks, such as a sleeveless top which had a scarf element, rising from the waist, looping around the neck, coming down the back, woven right into it. Other looks were almost as deceptive and as good: a sweater with ¾ length sleeves which looked ordinary from the front but was virtually backless save for a single strap coming diagonally from the waistband, and a dress which was not only one-sleeved, but half-backed, held together by two meager strips of wool.
design Souchi. photo Pete Springer
–Will Levin
WHAT TO DO NOW?