Trendy Tuesday: Local Designs & Unique Handmade Pieces at Frock

December 21, 2010

Mix some vintage styles with some Burning Man inspired fashion and you have Frock–a unique boutique that sells independent designs and small runs of rare, one-of-a-kind pieces, and handmade items. As local as it gets, Frock is committed to the local, living economy with a product mix consisting of 90% locally designed and produced items supplemented with 10% regional, independent, and other goods.

It doesn’t matter your age or sex because Frock has something cool for everyone. They have a plethora of items and it was really hard for me to choose my favorites, but here they are!  For women, I would recommend the Stumptown Tee, Peacock Tank Top, Red Floral Applique Tunic, a belt buckle by Namaste, the bike earrings by Handmade Julz, and the What’s Your Poison necklace.

For kids, I love the Octopus Onesie, the Hotdog Hi Five Tee, and the Cat Eye Sunglasses. How cute are these little models by the way!

For the men out there, check out the Cock Tee, Oregon Undies, Lucha Mask Socks and The Hole In One Sweater Cap.

Frock is located at 1439 NE Alberta St. in Portland, Oregon.  Enjoy your holiday shopping (hint, hint) !

Forkfly Merchants Gift Guide

December 15, 2010

Are you scrambling to assign a gift to everyone on your list? Look no further than Forkfly, where our excellent deals with stellar merchants make it easy to find gifts for family and friends. We have a couple suggestions for shops where you can find *stuff* to give, but mostly we focus on experiential gifts — a pilates class, a zoo membership, and other presents that will get your friends and family out and on the go, creating memories and enjoying life.

Shop Adorn

We only have a few retail clothing stores registered with Forkfly, but Shop Adorn‘s amazing Forkfly discount makes up for it. Get 20% off your entire purchase at Shop Adorn with Forkfly! Shop for men, women and kids at shop adorn online, and go in to the store at 4759 NE Fremont to use your Forkfly coupon.

Geometry Pilates

Maybe exercise class isn’t everyone’s idea of a great Christmas present, but I know some people who would love the chance to try a new pilates or yoga studio, and you have to admit, it’s a very wholesome gift. Best of all would be if you bought a private or semiprivate class for yourself and a friend or two. Check out Geometry’s schedule and rates here. Geometry Pilates is located at 821 NW Flanders Suite 225.

Oregon Zoo

Support the Oregon Zoo and show your love for a family (or an individual, or a couple) in your life with the gift of a zoo membership. The Oregon Zoo is easily accessible by MAX, and some memberships include guest passes, which are great for entertaining out-of-town guests or kids’ friends during the long holiday break. Zoo Lights goes on until January 2, so get this present ready for immediate use! The Oregon Zoo store, a great resource for kids’ gifts and toys, has a 10% discount with Forkfly, so get over there to buy for your dinosaur-loving niece or nephew.

Moxie

I have to feature these Tom’s Wedge shoes here because they’re on my personal wish list. So keep that in mind if you know any 23 year old women — not that my taste is universal. Anyway, at Moxie at E Burnside and 24th and online, you can get 15% off one regularly priced item by pulling up your Forkfly mobile site and showing your coupon. Moxie has clothes for men and women, but I like their accessories best — look here for watches, necklaces and wallets for stuffing stockings and decking out wrapped packages.

Oblation

Oblation Papers and Press at 516 NW 12th Ave can be your source for gift cards, holiday cards, craft materials for making presents, or for journals, card sets and other items that can be given as presents themselves. Take a look at their beautiful merchandise online here and stop in the store to buy for your crafty and artistic friends.

Inn @ Northrup Station

My boyfriend and I like to take short “staycations” — that word is so cheesy, but it’s more fun than you realize to get a hotel room outside Portland or even just on the other side of town and spend an evening or two eating out, exploring a new area, and not having to make the bed. If there’s a couple in your life, consider sending them to the Inn @ Northrup Station for a night or two in January to unwind from all the holiday madness. Located at 2025 NW Northrup St near NW 21st and 23rd, Northrup Station offers easy access to shopping, art galleries, theaters and breweries, and I bet it will feel like a whole new city for an East side couple.

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor R. Brown

Trendy Tuesday: Designer Lables at Here We Go Again

December 14, 2010

Many of my friends who dress in an eclectic “Portland” style shop at Red Light and Buffalo Exchange, resale shops where low prices and a hip selection allow for larger hauls than mall stores or even Forever 21. Here We Go Again is also a resale shop, but they do things a little differently, and they have their eye on a more high-end array of products.

Resale shopping is an art. You have to be patient and persistent to find just the right item, and you have to be willing to go with your gut and buy on impulse when you love something because it probably won’t be there next time you go in. Here We Go Again ensures that you will always have something to marvel at by focusing on designer labels and top-condition merchandise. I’ve often had my clothes turned away at Buffalo Exchange, and I think they’re probably even pickier at Here We Go Again. Check out the instructions for consignment and the list of “Labels We Love,” including Bebe, Burberry, Chanel, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana… you get the idea.

Of course, the discriminating taste at Here We Go Again is what makes it a “deluxe resale boutique,” and they have some truly amazing clothes and shoes for prices way below retail. Take a look at these ankle boots they featured recently.

I’m crazy for ankle boots this winter. So many high heel styles are inappropriate for our rainy Portland winters, but ankle boots pair practical coverage with the irresistible cuteness of heels. Here We Go Again stays on top of fashion trends, and these boots from their John’s Landing store are the most recently featured items on their Web site and Facebook page. Keep in mind that these might already be gone, but if so, they’ve been replaced with something just a little different and just as cute. Oh, the excitement of resale shops.

As you may imagine, along with designer labels come handbags, wallets and pouches in high quality leather and other materials. Two recently posted items that caught my eye:

Here we have two purses with widely varying prices, which I think is great for a resale shop, especially one focusing on high-end labels like Here We Go Again. The purple cross-body purse is by Linea Pelle and costs $69; the big leather bag is by Gustto and selling for $255. That’s a lot of money, but the bag retails for $625, so it’s an amazing deal.

The four items pictured above are from the John’s Landing location, at 0511 SW Carolina St in Portland. Here We Go Again also has a location at 2438 NE Broadway. With the city-wide coverage provided by those two locations, you have got to swing by one (or both!) of their stores and see for yourself the amazing selection and prices offered by this deluxe resale boutique.

Trendy Tuesday: The Urban Cowgirl

December 7, 2010

Uma Thurman in “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” brought a home-on-the-prairie-meets-casual-New-York-chique style to her character.  The cowgirl hat mixed with her rawhide jacket and striped cotton shirt was the perfect combination of new and old style.  Based on the current collections available at Free People, many designers apparently agree.

Slip dresses, fur vests, long flowing skirts and denim jackets line the walls of  the clothing boutique Free People, located at 817 NW 23rd Ave.  It is a look they call “Easy Rider” and the clothing really embodies the freedom and edginess connected with that name.  Some of my favorite pieces available right now are The Easy Rider Dress, Levis Denim Vest, and the Chiffon & Lace Slip.

But it is Free People’s gorgeous western inspired jewelry and accessory collection appropriately titled “the Old West” that really turns any outfit into a cowgirl masterpiece.  The collection contains a lot of leather, fringe, jade, copper and feather pieces, like the ones shown below.

For these and other great styles head on down to Free People’s shop in Portland, or find them online here.

Trendy Tuesday: Fall Fashion at Shop Adorn

November 2, 2010

I go to school at Portland State, where I like to spend time between classes sitting in the park blocks and watching people as they go by. It’s not unlike window shopping; every day I spot a style I’d love to emulate. Shop Adorn, a NE Portland boutique with a website that ships all over the US, offers designer styles at non-designer prices, and they’re carrying some of the fall fashions seen around Portland.

First, the all-important fall jacket.

Portland in the fall is all about layers. While heavy coats will emerge later in the season, for now Portland is rockin’ the hoodie-under-a-jacket look. Hoodies are pretty indispensable considering our wet climate (and our reluctance to use umbrellas), and a jacket that fits comfortably over your favorite sweatshirt will keep you warm and dry all autumn long. Above on the left is a men’s bomber jacket by Obey for $108; on the right, a women’s Kut from the Kloth jacket in Olive for $60.

The cool weather calls for some warm staples, like this heavy cotton button-down and this gray sweater dress. (That cowl neck keeps you warm the same way a scarf does, and the silk blend fabric is insulating — stay cozy all day in this dress!) Lanzo shirt by WeSC, $68; L.A.M.B. dress, $195.

And the finishing touches on this fall wardrobe are accessories you can throw in your backpack and pull out when it gets a little nippy or the rain starts coming down. Fingerless gloves are essential for those of us with touchscreen smartphones; these Coal gloves are only $15 and they’ll be handy all winter long. The $25 acrylic hat, also by Coal, will keep you dry and warm.

Visit Shop Adorn at 4759 NE Fremont to stock up on your fall staples, and use Forkfly to get 20% off your entire Shop Adorn purchase!

Written by Forkfly intern Eleanor Brown

Get the Rock Star Treatment at Bishops Barbershop

October 12, 2010

Getting your hair cut is much more about the experience than the actual cut itself these days.  Salons and barbershops have stepped up their game and are giving their clients some perks that you can’t find at a place like Supercuts or from the corner barbershop your grandpa has been going to all his life.  Alcohol, fashion, free concert tickets, and art work are just some of what you can expect from these high-end shops.

Bishops Barbershops, located all across Portland, are known for their edgy cuts, styles, and their love of rock n’ roll.  Tattoos aren’t a requirement to work there, but it sure doesn’t hurt.  All genres of rock music are played at some point during the day  in the shops, and if you are 21 and over you can enjoy a nice cold Miller High Life while you are waiting.  They also support the local music scene with free concert ticket giveaways.  But the best part about Bishops is the great conversations you have with the hairstylists, and the juicy gossip you usually overhear.

Bishops isn’t the cheapest place to go for a haircut that is a given, but it is well worth shelling a few more bucks out to actually enjoy going to the hair salon.  I for one hate going to a place where I am going to be forced to listen to soft rock and get my hair cut by a gal whose idea of style is emulating 90210 characters.  Plus, you can get $5 off a cut at all Bishops locations through our Forkfly app!

Trendy Tuesday: The Brazilian Blowout

October 5, 2010

A few days ago my boyfriend asked me if I knew what a Brazilian Blowout was.  He was truly puzzled by the name and had heard mentions of the procedure in ads around town several times.  Knowing where his mind was going, I quickly assured him that a Brazilian Blowout has nothing to do with waxing, and that they are two completely different things.  I first learned about the blowout treatment a few months ago while visiting the salon SmashCut Studio in The Pearl District, and so I was able to give an accurate description of this hair procedure to my boyfriend.  But this got me to thinking, there is probably a lot of people out there like my boyfriend who think the blowout is some powerful new hair remover, and so I thought it would be nice to set the record straight.

The Brazilian Blowout isn’t  new in the celebrity/modeling world, they have been using the procedure for years, but it is still relatively new for the majority of us who don’t have personal hairstylists :)  The blowout is a hair smoothing treatment that is supposed to leave your hair frizzless, shiny, strong and a lot healthier.  It is a professional treatment, and so it can only be performed by a licensed beautician in a salon.  The entire treatment takes 90 minutes or less depending on your hair type, and is recommended for anyone with colored, dry, frizzy, curly, poofy, or unmanageable hair.  I know that years of dyeing my hair crazy colors has left my hair in a weak, brittle state, so I would be a perfect candidate for this procedure.  I also read that this treatment is safe on and beneficial for those with hair extensions, like me.

You will be able to see results from the treatment for up to 12 weeks, and after that period your hair will return to normal but still be slightly healthier than before.  The more you get the treatment the healthier your hair will permanently become.  Check out these before and after photos.  They are pretty impressive!

Visit The Brazilian Blowout website for answers to any of your questions on this procedure and to locate a salon near you.  If you live in the Portland area, Forkfly merchants SmashCut Studio and Amore Salon Spa are both certified to perform this treatment, and SmashCut is offering a free consultation to Forkfly users!

Trendy Tuesday: The New Girdle for the 20th Century

September 21, 2010

The days of uncomfortable and often unsafe girdles may have passed, but society’s desire to tuck, hide, and smooth out our imperfections are still just as strong as they have been for centuries.  The modern girdle comes in many different styles, shapes and is designed to combat several different problem areas.  Ardyss International specializes in body contouring.  They carry what they call body shapers for your abdomen, bust, posterior, hips, and thighs.  Ardyss claims that their product will give you the look of having just had liposuction done.  They also say that instead of crushing your innards and giving you a lack of breath, the body shapers actually support your upper and lower back and wearing the garment will help burn fat.

They also have garments for men, which I would be curious to find out if a man would really wear one of these products, or if they would be too embarrassed.

Not sure if the products work the way they say they do, but they definitely have peeked my interest and are more than worth a try.  You can get some great deals on these products and more on Forkfly!

Trendy Tuesday: Little Urbanites

September 14, 2010

Portland has a unique, hip sense of fashion that extends to the kids. Parents here like to let creativity run free, both in their selections for their children and by letting kids dress themselves. Little Urbanites, a children’s store with a wide variety of clothing, furniture and accessories for kids, has its finger on the pulse of kid’s fashion. Little Urbanites has embraced the proper-looking British-inspired trend seen around Portland in their clothing selection, offering styles like double-breasted pea coats and Peter Pan collars in organic fabric.

This Kate Quinn Organics top has been paired with a jumper, tights and a big bow, creating a really cute, put-together look.

Here the model rocks another monochromatic outfit with matching orange hat and shirt. The clean-cut and aesthetically conscious trend reflected in these photos leads to some good looking Portland children. Little Urbanites also peddles kid-sized versions of Portland fashion staples, like this organic cotton bomber jacket.

Little Urbanites offers more than clothes for kids. They have apparel for babies, and furniture and art to make your child’s room as colorful and pretty as her wardrobe. Toys, books, strollers and other gear round out Little Urbanites’ selection.

Check out their blog here for posts about kid’s activities, community news, product info and more. Check out the store at 916 NW 10th Avenue, shop at their website, and look out for deals on Forkfly for Little Urbanites merchandise!

**Blog written by Forkfly intern Eleanor Brown

Trendy Tuesday: New Shop “Rebel Row” Brings a Rock ‘N’ Roll Pin-up Style to Vancouver

September 7, 2010

Rebel Row owners Brian and Brittny Houghton are not new to the retail scene; in fact, the couple have been toting their unique wares to conventions, car shows, and festivals all around Portland and Vancouver for quite a long time.  I just discovered them about six months ago while attending a classic car show.  I loved absolutely everything they had on display: coffin belt buckles, metal and rock t-shirts, pin-up style dresses, and classic horror stickers and patches.  It is not every day I am able to find a boutique that satisfies my love of pin-up, rock ‘n’ roll, and classic horror, so of course my first question was where is your shop and how have I never heard of you guys before?

It takes a lot of time and money to open up your own retail clothing store, but the huge reactions from customers like myself, demanding more from Rebel Row, convinced the Houghtons that they just couldn’t put off opening up a store any longer.  Brittny was born and raised in Vancouver, WA and always had a dream of opening up her own shop that focuses on the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle that she loves so much, and Brian, being in the rock ‘n’ roll music scene, felt the same way.  They both were unsatisfied with Portland’s retail scene, and were frustrated with the high prices and limited choices, and quickly found that they weren’t the only ones that felt that way.  After a long period of selling their stuff out of booths, Rebel Row opened up their official shop a couple weeks to rave reviews.

Located at 1901 Main St. in Vancouver, Rebel Row has made it self right at home amongst other thriving businesses that line Vancouver’s Main strip.  They carry over 20 different clothing/accessory lines, and are always hunting for more.  They love to support the local music and art scene, and not only play music by local rock musicians in their shop, but encourage local designers to show them their stuff, as long as it has a rock ‘n’ roll or pin-up theme of course.  Check out Rebel Row’s website here, and follow them on Facebook.

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