A lifestyle story: Portland, OR. We’re approaching the year-and-a-half mark of the COVID-19 pandemic and Governor Brown has rolled out a plan to reopen the state in June if 70% of residents aged 16 and older have had at least one dose of vaccine. Many people are champing at the bit to dress up, get out, and socialize. Nonprofit leaders are hoping they will soon be able to have in-person galas! Town & Country magazine is calling it the season of revenge glamour as people tell the virus, enough is enough! Tiffany & Co. at 330 SW Taylor is ready for shoppers who want to splurge. Anya Taylor-Joy (above) admires jewels from the iconic brand. Economic recovery is key because researchers say foot traffic plummeted last year in Portland. During the height of the holiday season, foot traffic was down more than 80% from the previous year. Now, with more Americans vaccinated, retailers have a rosier outlook for a brick-and-mortar recovery.
Gucci has opened a new 6,500-square-foot store at Pioneer Place. The boutique is the luxury fashion brand’s first store in Oregon and features a wide range of men’s and women’s shoes, handbags, luggage, jewelry, and other products. The store officially opened on Feb. 12th.
Mario’s at 833 SW Broadway in Portland, and Mario’s 3.10 at Bridgeport Village, has Manolo Blahnik shoes ready to roll.
Mario’s features Prada, Lanvin, Brunello Cucinelli, Ermenegildo Zegna, Isaia, The Row, Kiton, Vince, Rag & Bone, Helmut Lang and more.
Mercantile Portland is at 729 SW Alder St. and has high-end clothing for women. Mercantile recently held an Elaine Kim trunk show. @elainekimcollection
Sharon Chuter (pictured above) is making a name for herself at Nordstrom. She founded UOMA Beauty. Chuter speaks to building Black wealth, facing down Western beauty standards in Nigeria, and building a global community.
Nordstrom is featuring a debut collection from Givenchy creative director Matthew M. Williams. It’s a lineup of “bold, gender-fluid designs evoke effortless, raw energy—signaling a new era at the Parisian house.”
Charlotte Tilbury (pictured with her niece Sofia Tilbury on the right) is a hot make-up line at Nordstrom. Managers are hoping to have an uptick in sales as the country reopens.
Counselor Jane Webber says people should be excited to get out into the world again, no matter what they wear. She explains, “Because we are human beings who thrive only with social connections, and because our life is full and fresh when we’re with other people. Isolation was not in any way fun; we survived it, but we still don’t feel human. It’s just scary to take that first step.” She adds, “I’m grateful for the people in my life, even if we haven’t reconnected in so long and I’m a little embarrassed about how that’s going to go. When I finally see them, I’m going to take a breath; I’m going to smile and I’m going say “Glad to see you again.”
Portland, September 6th. The Rose City was transformed into a model’s runway for Portland’s 3rd Annual Fashion’s Night Out. Local fashionistas were checking out the latest styles at shows in Directors Park and doing some evening browsing at over 25 stores which stayed open late for the occasion. Shoppers were treated to free munchies, mini-makeovers from Sephora, pedicab rides and swag bags.
The event drew thousands downtown for the warm September evening.
A raffle, with the prize of a $1,500 downtown shopping spree, benefited New Avenues for Youth. New Avenues for Youth provides a variety of outcome-based programs and services designed to empower youth to exit street life. The event was a collaborative effort between the City of Portland, Downtown Marketing Initiative and the Downtown Clean & Safe District managed by the Portland Business Alliance.
Here’s a video clip:
This fall, jackets are big. Designers suggest you choose traditional fall jacket fabrics like tweed, corduroy, denim or menswear plaids; or go luxe with velvet, leather, brocade.
Retailers from across the country joined in the after-hour festivities.
Fashion’s Night Out was originally created in 2009 by Vogue‘s Anna Wintour to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence and boost industry sales during the recession. Since then, the event has been launched in dozens of US cities and internationally. In many communities, charities benefit. For example, in New York a portion of the proceeds went to the New York City AIDS Fund.
Participating retailers for Portland Fashion’s Night Out are located in the retail core, Pioneer Place and West End District. All hosted in-store events including fashion presentations, designer appearances, refreshments and gifts with purchase. (Thanks Director’s Park for the nice photos.) Participating stores include:
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