furry hats-LOVE

I am completely obsessed with furry hats right now (actually just cute hats--I'm wearing my koala hat at the moment, even though my apartment is like 80 degrees). I first encountered one a few weeks ago. I saw a green faux fur crumple at Rosabode and was like, "what the?". Then I picked it up and saw the ears, and giggled. When i put it on, I refused to take it off for hours. I fell in love. I felt like a Muppet...a very fashionable Muppet. These adorable head warmers will soon be available at Rosabode in Portland, but until then, check out Miss Karina's etsy shop.


KOALA!! If only I could eat eucalyptus. Sideways and Up has soooooooooooooo many cute and outrageous animal hats. New adds: owl and dragon! Winter is only moments away, and with these hats, I'm never going to be cold!

The happenings

Why, hello again! It has been quite some time, so I'll fill you in on what's been happening!


Local designer of the week on Portland Picks on June 25th!

Select apparel available on a new North West designers only online consignment shop called Fashion Mouse. Have you seen the Alice dress in cranberry? OMG, so cute!

Also, joined a new website called Sense of Fashion and updated my etsy page. So excited when I found the Anna Jacket added to the "want" treasury by newberry. much love!

Did I cure my plaid phobia? Perhaps, on this fabulous rendition of the Alice dress. This limited edition print is only available at MINK on 3418 SE Hawthorne Blvd.

Love and hearts

As a designer, I am so fortunate to know so many talented people, and even more fortunate to be close friends with many of these creative folks! I want to show my love and support for all of them.

Today I received the most adorable hat I have ever seen from the lovely Mary Flanigan of Sideways and Up. She makes the cutest animal hats. I chose the koala because I love, love, love the ears. Check out her other hats at her etsy site!

One of my best friends, Rita Hudson-Evalt, of Hubris designs just made a to-die-for knit mini skirt. I tried one on and squealed. So f-ing cute. I think its available at Suite 6 on Alberta St. in Portland. She makes amazing knits for all body types!!

Oh, accessories how I love thee. And I now can't live without my vintage beaded lace collar necklace from Lilly Zenner. It can be worn dressy or with just a tank and jeans. And for those environmentally conscious dressers, check out my roommates green line, Green Scene. She makes these necklaces out of bottle caps and scrap fabrics from our studio. In a city known for beer, her necklaces are a must have!

Love you guys!!!

Fanny packs are making their comeback

Is the fanny pack back? hhmmm maybe, but its definitely not the same fanny pack from the 80's. The pack has been re-invented for the '10s and is more of a purse worn around the hips than the touristy fanny pack.

These shoulder/hands free purses can actually be quite fabulous. Phillip Lim, Alice Roi, Baby Phat, and MARC by Marc Jacobs all sent these new hip packs down the runway.

My ex has been sporting a fanny pack worn on his side hip (termed the "hip pack") for the past 6 years. Has he been ahead of the times, or stuck in the past? Maybe both, but I guess all good styles come back around. And the "hip pack" is honestly a genius design. I hate dealing with purses falling off my shoulder, or setting down clutches and forgetting them. So, I designed my take on this new/old trend: the hip pocket!



The Hip pocket has a top zipper pocket with snap on the flap and a smaller zipper pocket in the back.




Want more options? Choose the Convertible hip pack/purse. With D-rings on the sides, this hip pack can easily be adjusted to be worn over the shoulder as a purse.

Modified Style recap

Modified Style raised almost 6 thousand dollars for its three local charities. The show took place on May 16th at the Jupiter hotel on East Burn. 60+ designers, with varying sewing experience, transformed a random bag of fabric/trimmings into fabulous wearable designs.


My gorgeous model, Sarah Banta. She totally rocked the vintage inspiration.


Found this in the window of a vintage store across the street from the Jupiter Hotel.



Fashion shot.

I earned 2nd place at the show. Here is my trophy...yes, it is a barbie in a stiletto spray painted silver. Pretty excited for my sewing award!!


My fabulous friends/fellow designers.

To see more photos from the modified style event check out my facebook page and Micheal Zaugg photography

2nd Annual Modified Style Fashion Show

What happens when over 50 talented and creative people are given a bag each of random scrap fabric? The Modified Style fashion show! This year will be the second annual show to raise awareness and money for Sisters Of The Road Cafe, Out to Pasture Sanctuary, and Caldera. After the show, all the garments are auctioned off for these local non-profits.

Come, have a drink, enjoy a fashion show, and then maybe score a one-of-a-kind garment and help out a good cause. Last year was a blast and this year can only be better!


Here is a sneak peak of my design...yes plaid! It took a while for me to get inspired, due to my strong hatred of plaid and the other colors included in my fabric bag. But sometimes when you are pushed outside your comfort level, you create something far more amazing than you thought possible.

Modified Style

Sunday, May 16, 2010 at 6:00pm
Jupiter Hotel: East Burnside
$15

The Interiors New Clothes

It is the last week to come explore the "Interiors New Clothes" exhibition at Anka Gallery. Local interior decorator, Jason Ball, teamed up with local artists, including apparel, head wear, and jewelry designers. It is pretty sweet and some of my coats are on display there. Also, I am totally in love with the amazing couture hats from Pinkham Millinery and the stunning geometric dresses and jackets from Emily Ryan.



Feather Cloche, OMG its gorgeous!









Spiral Pleats dress. This dress blows my mind. It is truly engineered by an artist




Come check it out. Anka is located on 325 N.W. 6th Ave. Its between Flanders and Everette. Only open until April 30th!!

Alice + Wonderland

I thought I fell down the rabbit hole yesterday. A writer for PDX Neat Sheet contacted me to feature my spring collection in an Alice + Wonderland inspired design article. I wouldn't say that for spring I was originally inspired by Alice, but our photo shoot was kind of a fairy tale. Being on a beautiful property with an Italian style villa, it was as though we had stepped into a new world. One in which anything is possible. We played in gardens and stopped everything to look at the grazing deer. Pretty sure we were one step away from having a tea party with them and if the roses were blooming, we probably would have painted them red!

Spring 2010

Spring is right around the corner but my spring collection is here! Nikita Lee, my photographer and artistic director, had an AMAZING photoshoot. Here are a few of the photos that have been edited so far. Thank you, thank you, thank you to Cameron Whitaker, who is responsible for making our models even more beautiful than they already are. And to all of the models. You guys are rock stars!

Top: Erin in the Yukie dress in cranberry



Kelly modeling the Kelly dress in teal. Don't worry, this dress will be longer!



Amanda in the Kelly dress in taupe paired with the Mabel jacket.



Christiana rocking the Amanda dress in blue bird and Amanda looking gorgeous in the Alice dress in blackberry.

Stay tuned to find out where you can purchase my spring collection!

rest in peace Alexander McQueen

Sad news hit the fashion world yesterday as the death of one of the greatest high fashion designers, Lee Alexander McQueen, was discovered. He was know for always putting on a show and shocking his viewers and fans. In a time when we think we have seen it all and nothing new can come out of fashion, McQueen always seemed to create that something new. His designs were dark, cutting edge, impeccably tailored...in a word: extraordinary.

His runway shows were theatrical. Even if you didn't know a thing about fashion, you would be entertained and awe struck. His shows were unconventional and lavish, he pushed the envelope and never stopped. This tragedy will leave a hole in the fashion world for quite some time.

This photo is from his last runway show in Milan last month. McQueen will be greatly missed. He was a genius and his shoes will be very hard to fill.

Tights are NOT Pants

As the new year began, I realized that I needed to start blogging. But, what do I say? What would other people want to read? Then the epiphany happened: this is MY blog, so I can write whatever I want. So here goes my first blog ever...

Tights are not pants! There are no exceptions. I'm not knocking on tights, I actually love being able to wear summer dresses and skirts all year around while keeping my legs warm(ish). But, tights are undergarments. Even if you are 6'2" and 135lbs and gorgeous, tights are still not pants and should not be worn with just a shirt. If you can see your ass, you are not fully dressed. It is trashy and inappropriate.

I was bitching about this epidemic to a male friend, and he was like "its totally hot". This is why straight men should not be in the fashion world. If it was up to them, women would all be running around in their lace panties and bras and nothing else. What I find to be the exciting thing with fashion, is looking sexy while being covered up. It is really easy to get guys' minds in the gutter by stripping down. No brainer. But, when you get that compliment or that look when not showing a ton of scandalous skin wearing a dress, or better yet a jacket, that is respectable sexy success.

I just want people to look good. Hopefully in a few years these girls look back at photos of themselves wearing tights as pants and see where they went wrong. I thought we already learned that after the '80s, but I guess each generation has to figure it out for themselves.