Portland’s variety of local vintage clothing shops and second hand stores keep our shopping scene fun and interesting, and we’re happy to take a closer look at this one, which has an extra twist. Palace of Industry, a vintage boutique tucked away in North Portland, is more than just a cute collective of well-edited clothing and old fashioned décor — it is also part bar and café!

Putting our two favorite things together (drinking + shopping) in one stop is more than enough to get us in the door, and once we stepped inside we knew we’d be staying for awhile, and possibly calling friends over to meet us for a glass of afternoon Pinot, cup of homemade chowder and the chance to discover some well worn treasures.

Palace of Industry carries an excellent selection of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing, as well as household items, books, art, furniture, and other compulsory ephemera, with some new stuff thrown in to keep things fresh.

The atmosphere is so chill, you’ll feel like you’re hanging out in the basement of the some super cool grandma with killer taste (and booze) that you can shop from too! We’re gonna chock this up to another win for the North Portland shopping scene. Congrats, Palace of Industry!

Palace of Industry
5426 N. Gay Avenue; 503-477-7313
http://www.facebook.com/palaceofindustry

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Feel like spacing out in style this weekend? Fashion is all about fantasy, of course, and that makes the McMinnville 13th Annual UFO Festival a perfect weekend getaway or day trip for stylish Portlanders who want to keep it weird while still looking good.

The mothership lands in McMinnville, Ore., this weekend, taking over this picturesque little town about an hour southwest of Portland on Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19. Aliens in colorful costumes will invade McMenamins Hotel Oregon and the surrounding streets for a roster of events that includes an alien parade, UFO expert speakers, an alien pet costume contest, live music and more.

But why McMinnville, you ask? Because way back on Thursday, May 11, 1950, at a farmhouse just outside of McMinnville, a gal named Evelyn Trent spotted a large, metallic looking, disc-shaped object hovering in the sky while she was feeding her chickens. She and her husband, Paul, ran for the camera and nabbed two snapshots that are considered among the most credible UFO images to date. (You know, among folks who keep track of that sort of thing.) And furthermore, the Northwest is home to quite a few more historically significant UFO sightings, too. (You know, among folks who keep track of that sort of thing.)

But whether or not you believe in UFOs or little green men is hardly the point. The point is, you do believe in fashionable fun. And who can resist the opportunity to sip some cool drinks at the McMenamins Hotel Oregon rooftop bar and watch the spectacle unfold? Plus, we’re eager for an excuse to pop into some of McMinnville’s charming antique stores, book shops, boutiques and wineries, which tromp even the alien headquarters of Roswell, N.M., in terms of otherwordly charm.

You can view the complete weekend event schedule at www.ufofest.com. Grab your silver go-go boots and go-go check it out!

McMinnville 13th Annual UFO Festival
Friday, May 18 and Saturday, May 19
McMinnville, Ore. (1 hour southwest of Portland off OR-99W)
www.ufofest.com

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By NEAT SHEET staff

It’s once again open season on the PDX fashion landscape, thanks to The Portland Mercury’s 8th annual Open Season spring fashion show at Sandbox Studio, 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 12.

Each spring, The Mercury’s managing editor Marjorie Skinner (M.O.D. fashion editor extraordinaire) manages to round up much of the best design talent Portland has to offer. How this woman manages to run a newspaper while simultaneously producing such a fantastic and locally loved fashion show is truly impressive, and this year’s lineup is as exciting as ever.

For the 2012 runway show, you’ll see the latest from Portland-area talents Jesseca Anne, Julia Barbee, Sara Bergman, Haunt, Isaac Hers (above), Martine, Dawn Sharp, Shadow Sisters, Siljan, Poler, R.A.W., and Reif (right). Our Portland fashion talent is breeding at an alarmingly awesome rate, and Skinner promises pretty things will happen.

See a full designer preview with gorgeous pics in today’s Portland Mercury Ladies in Waiting fashion feature.

“Open Season” – The Mercury’s 8th Annual Fashion Show
7 p.m. Saturday, May 12
Sandbox Studio, 420 N.E. 9th Ave.; 503-501-5870
$18-$20; Tickets on sale here and now

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Stylish Portlanders lined up for three blocks to shop the H&M grand opening in Portland last week, but little did we know those super-stylish Swedes were holding out on the best stuff. Expect long lines again tomorrow when the Lanvin for H&M collection arrives at 8 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 20. Yes, we said 8 a.m. You weren’t planning on sleeping in or anything, right?

Lanvin artistic director Alber Elbaz created the affordable Lanvin line for H&M, designing a full collection of 30 pieces and 15 accessories for women, and 25 pieces and 10 accessories for men. The women’s line is full of frothy dresses and short skirts with ruffles and vibrant prints, and it’s all so impossibly French we’re surprised they’re not selling live poodles to accessorize with.

As party season kicks into gear, this is an affordable option for party wear and cocktail dresses. Our neat picks include metallic ruffled and one-shoulder cocktail dresses, ’80s inspired skirts and cool evening coats in slick prints.

View the entire Lanvin H&M Collection here. And good luck with that whole 8 a.m. thing.

H&M for Lanvin Shopping Party
8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20
H&M Portland at Pioneer Place
700 S.W. Fifth Avenue; 503-228-5800
www.hm.com

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By Anna Reed, NEAT contributor

Whether or not the moniker ‘betsy & iya’ rings a bell in print, you’ll recognize the bold and beautiful pieces from jewelry designer Betsy Cross as ones you’ve seen dangling from the necks, wrists and ears of Portland’s best accessorized ladies — her wares know no bounds when it comes to size, color and sass. For a company started somewhat on a whim, betsy & iya’s old-meets-new aesthetic has landed in Portland and hit the ground running, being featured in many of your favorite local boutiques, as well as in retailers across the country.

Much of this success can be attributed to the down-to-earth nature of the woman behind it all. Cross is humble, and genuinely flattered when consumers gush over her unique pieces, as they are often apt to do. Her willingness to collaborate and customize gives each design a spark of personality and ensures maximum satisfaction with every purchase.

NEAT People is proud to profile the designer as the grand opening of the newly expanded betsy & iya studio and showroom in Northwest Portland draws near. Cross invites one and all (that means YOU) to her store from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. this  Frday, Nov. 19th for a pre-holiday sale complete with drinks, discounts and a free copy of the event soundtrack, compiled specifically for the opening.

A dancer turned theater graduate student turned jewelry designer who also moonlights as a personal DJ?! Ladies and gentleman, the multi-talented Betsy Cross:

Congratulations on the new space! How did it all come together?
Thank you! I was operating for two years out of a much smaller unit in the same building. I caught wind that this space would be available in April and things just started to fall into place. We moved in that same month, but haven’t had the time to devote to a grand opening until now. The main goal of our event on Friday is to serve as a sort of “coming out,” a chance to say that we are here and open for business. I welcome the chance to meet and chat with people coming in to the shop, as it can sometimes get very reclusive when its just me working away in the studio.

How did you decide on the name ‘betsy & iya’?[ sound it out with me: ‘bet-see & eye-uh’]
The name comes from the idea of opposites coming together in a harmonious way. The unexpected combination of old and new, the beauty in the perpendicular. The ‘betsy’ part is obviously taken from me, but it also represents a name that is very traditional and old timey. Combine that with ‘iya’ which is new, exotic and foreign, and you have exactly the fusion that defines my work. I love mixing vintage with handmade and I wanted a name to reflect that. It is also an homage to my older sister, Ashlyn. I couldn’t quite pronounce her name when I was young, so I called her ‘iya.’ She has been a life-long source of comfort and motivation, always pushing me to do my best. We are also very, very different people, so again, the name is a combination of two separate worlds colliding to create a strong bond.

Tell us about your background and how you got involved in jewelry making. Did you come out of the womb with wire cutters and a sketch book?
No, thankfully for my mother’s sake! This whole venture came later in life. My original intent was to become a dancer. The dance program at my college was housed in the theater department, and I quickly shifted my focus to acting. My performance based background still helps me today and manifests itself in a sense of movement and fluidity that is hopefully conveyed in my pieces.
I moved to Portland in 2006 after finishing up my graduate degree in theater and I fell in love times two, with both Will and with the city, and saw so many opportunities for my artistry to grow.

What else inspires your designs?
I have always been inspired and intrigued by native American and African tribal cultures. Color, dance, narrative, all speak to me very strongly and breathe life into the ideas that can begin from a simple image or piece of art. As a part of my grad work, I taught in Mexico City and was extremely inspired by the Mayan culture, ruins, remains, and the idea of adornment that has been around for so long. And I do feel inspired by people, but there is not one specific designer that I aspire to emulate. Through my work, I just want to find out who I am and be different from what is already available out there.

How would you describe your design process?
Perhaps due to the fact that I do not have formal training, designing is freeing for me because I do not get hung up on a certain step-by-step protocol as being the correct or incorrect way to create. The design process is so organic and expansive. It often starts with an idea and then blossoms and grows, which cannot ever be forced, it just has to happen. I seem to get my best ideas when I have moments of calm and silence, when I do not have to be any place but where I am in that moment. Flights are very good times for this head space to occur because you cannot be anywhere but on the airplane. My Morse Code pieces (right) were inspired by the lines and circles created by crops and grain bins seen when I peered out the window on a flight. Conversely, the actual production process is more mindless and structured, so I often set manageable goals for myself in order to accomplish pieces efficiently. I’ll give myself till the end of a song to complete a certain task and that helps keep me focused.

Wow, SO much of your hard work is put into each piece, your website even describes the items as being “lovingly birthed.” Do you ever find it difficult to part with certain babies, er, pieces?
Yes, absolutely. A necklace that I recently crafted from an old apartment number (#3) just sold and that one was difficult to let go, although somewhat relieving because I am close friends with the buyer. It is those one-of-a-kind pieces that shock even me when I actually see them finished. And it is hard to let them go, especially if I haven’t taken the time to properly document the piece before it is sold. All that being said, the process is overwhelmingly positive. Just the fact that someone wants and is willing to pay for something I’ve created never ceases to amaze me. Making work that is accessible and that people feel a response to eases the separation anxiety.

Clearly, jewelry can be pretty personal stuff. What tips do you have for giving jewelry as a gift this holiday season?
It is important to be aware of who you are buying for, but I also think it is much more interesting if you put a part of yourself into what you’re purchasing. I would suggest narrowing it down to a few items that you are drawn to right away, and then edit down based on the recipient’s personal style and what you could actually see her wearing. An initial necklace is a great gift item that is both unique to the person and easy to wear. Just don’t over analyze; go with your gut and what you think is cool. If it is coming from a place of love, it is probably going to work out.

Let’s talk a bit about your own fashion sense. Describe your own style in three words or less:
A Victorian break-dancer.

Whoa dang! I think I just saw one of those on Burnside St. last night.

What can we most often find you wearing?
Boots. Neutral colored T-shirts. Cords. My personal style is comfortable with a masculine influence, especially when it comes to my shoes. I have three pairs of boots that I have in steady rotation. I got married in this pair of red cowboy boots that have been resoled countless times. I rarely wear heels. I do like to spice things up when it comes to my accessories, though. I’ll throw a belt from an estate sale around my waist to give my basic T-shirt some shape. Colored and patterned tights look great when paired with a simple dress and boots. Yes, big shock, I mention boots again!

Oh, you know we understand! Boots are in fact made for walking, and we definitely plan on strolling by your grand opening. What else should we know about the event?
It is truly meant to be a celebration of this new space and an invite for people to shop and mingle. We’re offering 10 percent off every purchase, as well as greater discounts on some discontinued items. There will be a raffle to win one of three gift certificates worth $25, $75 and $100, respectively, and the only way to enter is by showing up! Oh, and everyone gets a free CD featuring songs played at the event. And did I mention champagne yet?!

Sales, drinks, jewels…let’s all rejoice at the death of the “omg.what.am.I.gonna.do.on.Friday” question for this week at least. Thank you so much for taking the time to chat, Betsy. I believe there is a hammer calling your name, we’ll let you get back to all the opening preparations.

betsy & iya Grand Opening Party
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19
1722 N.W. Raleigh St.; 503-227-5482
www.betsyandiya.com

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Flora is four-a (ok, sorry, we couldn’t really help that)… and downtown Portland’s most luscious botanical boutique will celebrate its fourth anniversary with a party and sale from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Wednesday, Nov. 17.

Stop by to save 20 percent storewide on modern, nature inspired designs for you and your home. Everything in the cheery shop is hand-picked or hand-made with a botanical bent, including colorful art, jewelry, cards, tea, scents and lotions, personal accessories and more.

Enjoy tea and cupcakes while you shop for new treats, including Theo and Cleopatra fragrances; local leather wallets and handbags from Nicole Cipriano; candles and soaps from Lucia; jewelry from Paper Wings and more. Plus, to celebrate the event — and give you a nice way to relax post-shopping — Flora is offering a special giveaway for The Neat Sheet readers:

Win a post-shopping relaxation spa gift set! As part of Flora’s four-year anniversary sale event, the boutique will gift one lucky Neat Sheet reader a set of natural modern spa goods. The set includes Rose Aqua Vitae floral water fragrance; three French Broyee soaps; an Ayate exfoliation cloth; a Lucia Tea Leaf and Wild Honey organic soy candle (shown top); and Le Palais de Thés Fleur de Geisha muslin tea bags. To win this set (worth $68), just leave a comment on this post or send an email with the subject title “FLORA” to neatsheet@karenvitt.com. We’ll pick a random lucky winner on Wednesday, Dec. 15 — just in time for relaxation before the holidays kick into full gear, or to gift to a friend.

Now do you see why we got all excited and started rhyming?

Flora
917 S.W. Washington St.; 503-227-056
www.florapdx.com

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As fall starts to close its fabulous curtains on Portland, we went out searching for the perfect winter coat (following these local coat shopping suggestions from our neat Portland style guru, of course), and we spotted social work student Nicole Cook in the perfect winter warmer of her own — this insanely cool fur-trimmed Navajo inspired winter coat.

Cook was shopping at Pioneer Place in downtown Portland, wrapped in a stunning wool blanket coat by BB Dakota (get your own similar style online here) in earthy shades of brown and tan with teal and orange accents that added interest and balance to her overall outfit.

Cook said she is naturally drawn to indigenous designs and color palettes. “I’m half-Cherokee, so I like native prints and Pendleton’s collection with Opening Ceremony,” she said. She got this coat, which also has a faux fur hood and horn toggle fastenings, at the Urban Outfitters online store. She toned down the eclectic pattern with Silence and Noise jeans, also from Urban Outfitters, and solid reddish-brown Frye riding boots.

We must give her accessories a shout-out, too. The amazing 1970’s bangles on her left arm and turquoise silver ring are from her mom, she got her gold double-ring from Lower East Burnside’s Redux, and the tan shell ring is from local hippie-luxe jewelers The Gold Door Jewelry and Art on Hawthorne Boulevard.

Besides digging through her style savvy mother’s closet, Nicole takes style inspiration straight from street blogs. Her favorites are The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman and his girlfriend’s blog, Garance Doré. Hmmmm, maybe now she can add The Neat Sheet to that list.

Photos by Neat STREET style reporter Sora Yi. If you like what you see on The Neat Sheet, please consider becoming our Facebook Fan, following us on Twitter and/or linking to us from your website or blog. We need your help to spread the word so we can keep it up!

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Our roots are showing and they’re fantastic! The literal Neat SHEET is back for November with holiday endorphins on our side. We’ve gathered up a few of our local fall favorites for your purchasing delight: Bubbles for spiking your bath, things to set and stock your Thanksgiving dinner table, the perfect dress and accessories to cook and consume in, and activities that will keep your November nights filled with neat stuff your friends will place at the top of their wish lists. These local goods are just waiting to be gobbled up, by you!

1) Handmade vegan Hot Toddy Bubble Bars, inspired by the traditional Scottish drink, $7 each at Lush, 708 N.W. 23rd Ave.; 503-228-5874. 2) Prairie Pheasant Earrings, $68 at Owlita, 17 S.E. Third St; 503-888-2411. 3) Diestel Organic Free-Range Turkeys, available raw, cooked or for curbside pickup, $16-$60 at New Seasons Market (10 area locations), or call the Turkey Hotline at 503-473-8695. 4) Reverdito Barolo 2006 Wine, $21 at Great Wine Buys, 1515 N.E. Broadway; 503-287-2897. 5) She-bible Carpenter Dress, $135 at Pin-Me Apparel, 3705 N. Mississippi Ave.; 503-281-1572. 6) Unison Larch Cotton Tablecloth, $80 at Relish Design, 1715 N.W. Lovejoy St.; 503-227-3779. 7) Belgravia Linens Kitchen Apron, $17.95 at Kitchen Kaboodle (five Portland area locations), 1520 N.E. Broadway; 503-288-1500. Totes Bubble Umbrella, $16.99 at Target (12 Portland-area locations), 9009 S.W. Hall Blvd., Tigard; 503-624-0273. 9) Kombucha Brewing Starter Kit, $30 at Lion Heart Kombucha, S.E. 78th and Division St.; 503-956-2980. 10) Let it Bead Beading Parties, $20 per person per hour at Let It Bead, 1426 N.W. 23rd Ave.; 503-228-1882 (beaded necklaces shown by brokenfab of Paris.)

If you have local goods you’d like to see featured in the December Neat SHEET, please e-mail ideas to neatsheet@karenvitt.com. If you like what you see on The Neat Sheet, please consider becoming our Facebook Fan, following us on Twitter and/or linking to us from your site. We need your help to spread the word!

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By Karen Vitt, NEAT editor in chief

Popina Swimwear is all set to make a splash with its second location, opening in downtown Portland’s Pearl District tomorrow night. As we reported last month, Popina will celebrate the second addition to local swimwear designer Pamela Levenson’s retro-inspired swimwear empire with a Popina Swimwear Pearl District Grand Opening Party from 6 p.m to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 4 (First Thursday!).

Stop by the grand opening party for a swimwear fashion show produced by Back Fence PDX, drinks and treats, manicures and hand massages, plus you can enter to win two round-trip Alaska Airlines tickets to Hawaii (drawing will be December 31) if you sign up for Popina’s mailing list, Club Maillot.

The 1,800 square-foot space will be the largest women’s swimwear store in the Northwest, and in addition to the Popina Swimwear collection (top and right) you can shop for brands including Vitamin A, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and Aerin Rose. And as if all that isn’t enticing enough….

Win a free Popina Swimming Suit! As part of the grand opening celebration, Popina Swimwear will gift one lucky Neat Sheet reader a Popina swimming suit of your choice! You’ll be able to choose any suit you like from Levenson’s new collection, and the Popina Swimwear experts will help ensure you find a flattering fit. To enter, just leave a comment on this post or send an email with the subject title “POPINA” to neatsheet@karenvitt.com. We’ll pick a random lucky winner on Wednesday, Dec. 1.

Popina Swimwear Grand Opening Party in the Pearl
6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 4
318 N.W. 11th Ave.; 503-282-5159
www.popinaswimwear.com

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By Karen Vitt, NEAT editor in chief

‘Tis the season. Not just the holiday season per se, but the beginning of Portland’s seasonal pop-up shopping. The Flurry Pop-Up Shop, home to a host of local designers offering clothing, accessories, jewelry and gift items, will open its temporary holiday home in downtown Portland this Thursday, Nov. 4.

Back for its second year, Flurry will show and sell goods from a stellar lineup of local designers including Michelle DeCourcy (right), Betty Jean Couture, Lizzie Parker (of Seattle, as seen above at Portland Fashion Week), Christa Taylor, O’Pearl Jewelry, Brehan Todd Jewelry, The Opulent Project, Qunique Shoes, The Real McCoy Handbags and more.

In addition to offering a unique local holiday shopping experience, Flurry will hold stylish events every week, including trunk shows by many of the featured designers, shopping happy hours on Friday afternoons, and free parking at Smart Park garages on Thursdays in December if you enter between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Stay tuned to The Neat Sheet for deets on weekly Flurry events as they happen!

Flurry Pop-Up Shop
720 S.W. Yamhill St.; 503-267-5505
Mon.-Sat. 10-7; Sun. 12-7
Open Thursday, Nov. 4 through Friday, Dec. 31

Top image courtesy of Lizzie Parker. Michelle DeCourcy photo by Yi Yin. If you like what you see on The Neat Sheet, please consider becoming our Facebook Fan, following us on Twitter and/or linking to us from your website or blog. We need your help to spread the word so we can keep it up!

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