design: K. Sims. photo: Jaycob Desrosiers
One of the most dramatic events in history is the Ides of March – the famed assassination of Julius Caesar. Portlanders feted this day in history with a fashion show at the newly open community art spaced called the Pancake Club House (www.pancakeclubhouse.blogspot.com). There was even a vague hint of New England maple syrup in the air. The venue was less Roman and certainly not breakfast house but more like a post modern Alice in Wonderland. It was sitting room only on a black and white checkered floor with wispy white cotton clouds dangling off the ceiling accented by snow white tree branches. One guest leaned into me and murmured “this is chic hippy.” The fashion show presented approximately twenty five new looks from former PNCA sculpture student K.Sims. The theme, according to Sims, was “recycled fashion concepts exploring the ideas of deconstructed luxury, reincarnation, beauty and individuality.” The musical score was performed on a metal saw and Theremin – adding more to this capricious flight of the imagination.
design: K. Sims. photo: Jaycob Desrosiers
Structured military looks are as familiar as denim in contemporary fashion, but most designers retain the masculine quality of military. However, Sims created a more feminine approach with a short version of the military jacket over a white tutu.
design: K. Sims. photo: Jaycob Desrosiers
The concept of women and form continued with an Erte inspired look. An ornamented paisley, airy skirt was paired with a precisely detailed blush champagne colored, satin blouse completed by an oversized grey hat. Oversized hats play with femininity by creating a mystery as to what’s beneath the hat. A strategically gathered banana colored dress was perfect for the hot August days to come. A pink rose pinned at the shoulder added local symbolic flavor.
design: K. Sims. photo: Jaycob Desrosiers
In this allegorical fashion fantasy, even the Mad Hatter manifested himself in the form of a modern Victorian meets Gothic black dress with a black top hat. A ballerina dress floated across the room with a piping-accented corset comme Proenza-Schouler. Sims finished the look with her use of larger, tutu inspired skirts beneath.
design: K. Sims. photo: Jaycob Desrosiers
The fashion show was unrelenting and we yearned for more. Picture our disenchantment when the lights came on and we left Wonderland to re-join reality. This historic day may have been the death of Caesar, but it was the naissance of the next important designer in Portland.
–Ashkan
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