Holiday Party Dresses From Five Portland Designers

Portland is called many things—clean, green, progressive, friendly—but "fancy" is not often one of them. Even if the fleece-and-hiking-boots stereotype doesn't tell the whole story, this is still a city where people wear jeans to the symphony and sweatshirts to four-star restaurants. And while that laid-back, anything-goes attitude is what makes this such a livable and dynamic place, it can lead to some truly lazy looks. Doesn't anyone else miss the fun of playing dress up as much as I do? That's why the holiday season is my favorite time of year. With a flurry of dinners and cocktail receptions and parties and performances, this is our chance, ladies, to wear the sequins and sparkles and satin that are out of place at the farmers market. And since we only get a few rare chances to break out our finery, we better do it right. Sure, it can be fun to buy a trendy, disposable frock from Forever 21, but wouldn't you rather have a handmade, one-of-a-kind dress fitted specially for you? A dress that makes you feel more beautiful than you ever could have imagined? Several local designers make this easier than you think, offering both ready-to-wear and custom pieces at prices far lower than what you imagine when you hear "couture." Which is, in essence, exactly what you'll get—these designers offer incredible personal attention, fittings, alterations, even personalized changes and additions, resulting in a dress literally made for you. So for the same price as that Banana Republic dress hundreds of other women will own, you can invest in both our creative economy and in looking your most gorgeous by shopping local. Here are five Portland designers who will keep you out of the mall this year.

Elizabeth Dye

The English Dept. is the dress shop of your dreams, filled with racks of rainbow party dresses and rows of elegant wedding gowns. Since her first collection in 2001, and through a few incarnations of the boutique, owner and designer Elizabeth Dye has made a name for herself for her custom bridal looks, which often feature rare fabrics and vintage details. In addition to designing for that big day, Elizabeth also creates distinctive dresses that echo a bygone era (often inspired by literature) but are absolutely fashion-forward. Her latest, the "Storyville Dress," is simple but stunning, with the scalloped shape of the strapless top emphasized by the graphic stripes—stripes that are a bit Wall Street and a bit vaudevillian at the same time. The dress can be styled many different ways, but one of my favorites would be with one of Elizabeth's high-collared silk shrugs, with ruffles softening the stark lines. In addition to a few more of her designs—included a black ruffled mini layered with metallic vintage lace—visit The English Dept. for a wide variety of pop-perfect dresses by designers like Thread and Jenny Yoo, as well as custom consults if you have your own look in mind.

 

Holly Stalder

One of Portland's pioneering designers, Holly Stalder co-owned indie fashion mecca Seaplane until recently, when she sold the shop in order to focus entirely on her own line. Her aesthetic is often based on antique fabrics and trim; she salvages and reuses the old-fashioned details on modern designs, serving up some romance of the past for the thoroughly modern woman. Case in point: this silk backless dress, available in black ($240) or ivory silk ($220) with a chiffon overlay. The frothy ruffle trim elevates the mod shift to party status even before that plunging back ups its sex appeal. It's a dress that perfectly balances delicate whimsy with sassy allure. These and a few other dresses are available on Holly's Etsy shop; her studio is open for custom design appointments, including wedding dresses and accessories.

Modi Soondarotok

After a childhood in Bangkok and experience working for designers Donna Karan and Armani in New York, Modi Soondarotok brought her global influences and sleek metropolitan experience to Portland, launching her own collection (and NE Alberta boutique), Idom, in 2006. Her designs are decidedly sophisticated yet still playful—and sustainable, as Modi travels to her native Thailand to source natural fabrics and support the indigenous economy by employing local seamstresses in fair working conditions. Idom has been known for dresses with intricate draping and polished shapes, but perhaps thanks to the boutique's June move to NW 23rd Ave, the latest collection shakes things up a bit. Autumn/Winter 09 sees Modi inspired by the music of Bob Dylan and exploring a look that is "very masculine and raw, yet also has an underlying softness to it." So in addition to her first pants and tailored jackets, we get the lavender silk "Down Along The Cove Dress" ($250), toughened up with metal studs and intricate pleats. And my favorite from the Fashion Collective Show, the "If You See Her Say Hello Dress" ($386), with a folded, hand-loomed Thai silk bodice and metallic printed linen tulip skirt. The former is more romantic, the latter a bit edgier, but both are supremely wearable, pretty, and modern. These and other dresses, including "Romance in Durango" ($396) made entirely of the same printed linen with an oversize bow waist, are available at the Idom boutique.

Erica Lurie

Erica Lurie's goal as a designer is to celebrate beautiful women of every shape and size. There's no "small" or "large" at the NE Alberta boutique; instead her garments are sized in "Extraordinary" and "Foxy." It's a small, cheeky example of the attention that Erica pays to making her customers look and feel their best. The name of her line and shop, Garnish, is just as thoughtful—every basic item can be customized with garnishes like ribbons, buttons, and complementary fabrics. Three years as a designer at Adidas left Erica with a keen sense of what cuts, fabrics, and details will be flattering yet comfortable. Since each customer works with Erica to create her ideal piece, Garnish designs become timeless staples whether they're left simple or adorned to the extreme. The "Dorothy Dress" ($220), for example, starts as a simple strapless silk dupioni number, but I prefer it garnished with dramatic rosettes (shown in chocolate; also available in black or ruby red) or a custom shawl or sash. The lace "Nadira Dress" ($138), meanwhile, is probably best left as is, a slightly gothic turn on lady-like elegance. (The underlying slip is sold at Garnish for $74). Several more dress styles are available at the Garnish boutique, which is also a great place to watch Erica turn your vague design ideas into a gorgeous reality.

Sarah Seven

Natural and recycled vintage fabrics, a percentage of sales going to charity (Compassion and International Justice Mission), and irresistible candy-colored mini dresses? It's no wonder Sarah Seven is one of the city's favorite up-and-coming designers. Her dresses, ranging from tutu-like shocks of fabric to flowing maxis, all feature innovative folds and layers, combining a retro attention-to-detail with contemporary structure. Soft pastels and Grecian curves are certainly lovely—and well-suited for her custom bridal designs—but for the party circuit, I'm loving the bright and zesty strapless minis, including the "Raspberry Perfection Dress" ($495), with an awesome silk flower gathered bodice, and the "Robin's Egg Dress" ($385), a tulle confection reigned in with precise pleats and a gold ribbon waist (also available in deep purple and bright pink). Both dresses—and a dozen more on her site—are custom-made, which takes 4-6 weeks, so order now and make sure you have hot plans for New Year's.