Portland’s most stylish New Year’s Resolutions

So, The Neat Sheet put its finger on the pulse of Portland’s most stylish citizens (a finger coated in peachy Palm Springs polish from American Apparel’s new nail color line, by the way), and we asked our Portland fashion friends for their 2010 New Year’s resolutions.

It turns out we’re all working too hard and wearing painful shoes. Also, even the most fashionable among us tend to dress like slobs. Lord knows that’s all true here at Neat Sheet headquarters, where our own resolutions for 2010 include taking actual lunch breaks, learning how to ask for help and finding more professional looking jammies.

Here’s a look at some stylish Portland New Year’s resolutions for 2010:

“I resolve to start dressing better every day. I am a designer, but I dress like a bum. Time to break out the pumps and get creative and have fun! I want to finally explore a little personal style, mix things up and not just put on jeans and T-shirts every morning!” ~Janeane Marie, fashion designer and Project Runway 7 competitor (right)

“Kiss more often, just for the pure fun of kissing!” ~Laura Fitzpatrick and staff at Oh Baby lingerie boutique

“Balance! Fitness: Get to the gym and feel good about it. Personal: Spend more time doing things I love, hang with my family and pups more, cook more, knit more, read more. Work: Keep doing what I love, but stop with the 20 hour work days!” ~Mai Tran, owner of CravePortland and Rouz Marketing

“Make slow passionate love to life in 2010. Like my dear friend Hana says, ‘I keep trying to hump life, and life keeps humping me back. You’ve got to learn to make slow passionate love to life.’” ~Celestial Sipes, co-owner of Radish Underground

“More song and dance. I have always been a total ham, but as it turns out, sitting behind a sewing machine is not really ‘performance art.’ Maybe I’ve been watching too many ‘Glee’ episodes, but I am definitely inspired to belt it out in 2010. By year’s end I hope to have, at least once, really, really embarrassed myself onstage. Bonus: embarrassing my boyfriend, too.” ~Elizabeth Dye, designer and owner of The English Department

“1) Love more. 2) Vacation more. 3) Be more patient with myself and others. 4) Work out more (this one keeps rolling over year after year). 5) Find rain boots that are stylish and waterproof (this is so long overdue. No more wet toes!) 6) Stop, reflect and bask in the art and beauty around me, through photography. 7) Continue to trust the positive creative force inside that drives me. Work smarter not harder. 9) Find more balance in life – work, motherhood, home, husband, personal life. 10) Develop some new reconstructed sweater designs.” ~Jen Neitzel, Knot Ugly designer + founder of DIY louge (right)

“I resolve to support local shops and restaurants, except for Patagonia where I will buy my new puffy coat in three different shades! ~Bette Sinclair, publicist

“My New Year’s resolution is to introduce a new sophistication to the mix of work that is coming out of this city. Something I have been working on for the past decade. To create and promote a new aesthetic that I believe will in the future be regarded with singular esteem. Not all taxidermy, eco jersey, rusty metal and ironic timber usage, but an inimitable, cool, practical, elegant and meaningful way of dressing that makes sense for the people who live here. Something that will truly make the rest of the nation, no, the world, shrivel in envy.” ~Adam Arnold, designer (above)

“Resolutions: Personally, to buy more local, and to perhaps learn a new art – like knitting!” ~Nicole Prevost, Union Rose

“For 2010, I resolve to lose weight and read more – the standards – but also to be more conscious of the decisions I am making as a consumer: Buying locally whenever possible, and to consider environmental impact of every item. I resolve to be more magnanimous. Lose the scorecard in all relationships: Stop keeping track of who did what, said what, cooked what, took what, ate what.” ~Bruce Carey, co-owner Bluehour restaurant

“My New Year’s Resolutions are to not fret the rain, pounce in mud puddles, visit the zoo more, make time with friends, entertain more, and to always shop local because small businesses appreciate your business, lots more than the mall does.”
~Anne Bocci, owner of Anne Bocci Boutique (right)

“My resolutions are to begin reading more again. I have been working so much I have fallen behind on all things personal. Reading is very important to me, so I am going to try and read a novel a month. On a shop note, we would like to add more local designers to the shop. Our goal is three more for 2010.” ~Carla Mink, owner of Mink Boutique

“My New Year’s resolutions include starting up my own business consulting company, expanding on my jewelry and clothing line, and I already recycle like a fiend, but to find better ways to reuse what we already have and reduce my carbon footprint (for a lack of better words). And somehow find more time to spend with my family.” ~Dee Bell, owner of Moxie boutique

“1) I’d like to handle everything in my life more simply. 2) Try to take a deep breath before I anxiously worry about something that, in the end, doesn’t matter all that much. 3) Be easier on myself. 4) Take scheduled breaks and stick to them even if I’m coming up against deadlines. 5) I’d like to be cooler on a more consistent basis. 6) Weekly yoga. 7) Sit on my squeaky new husband’s lap more often – it’s fun! Be a better person in general. You know, the best I can be. 9) Eat more chocolate. 10) ride my bicycle to the coast with good friends.” ~Betsy Cross, jewelry designer for Betsy&Iya

“My New Year resolution is try to play more and work less. We shall see how this one will work out.” ~Modi Soondarotok, designer for Idom Designs

“In 2010, I’m going to find a way to source unique, exceptional specialty items for occasions like chandeliers, beautiful chairs, and linens that make you really care about linens. And I’m going to put an even bigger focus on our waste. Watch our water usage, recycle anything and everything we can. And make good use of our flower scraps. Compost watch out!” ~Liza Lubell, co-owner of Quince Flowers and Events

“My New Year’s resolution is to buy at least one pair of sensible shoes!” ~Tiffanee Bean, owner of Mabel and Zora boutique (right)

“Garnish’s New Year’s resolution is to really listen to our customers this year and provide the products they are most in need of.  In light of that we are going to focus more on the casual end of our line. We will still have plenty of pieces that you can dress up or down and dressier items to wear to a special event, but since most of us need flattering, unique every day pieces we will have plenty to choose from.”  ~Erica Lurie, designer and owner of Garnish Apparel

“Just like my ‘wishes’ are always the same on birthdays, with shooting stars and such, I only really have one resolution: to be a better me in the coming year, continually improving on who I am and how I interact with the world around me.” ~Wendi Martin, designer for WeMa and founder of pdxboutique.com

“Professional: 1) Renew commitment to supporting designers who manufacture in the US. 2) Expand my Gatsby line by finding local sources to produce lingerie at an affordable price. 3) Find local bath/beauty products to sell at Lille. Personal: 1) Eat more fruits and veggies. 2) Find a gym with a pool. 3) Start meditating and breathing more to reduce stress!” ~Sarah Wizemann, owner and designer for Lille Boutique

“Enjoy the present moment for all it’s worth. Spend even more time with family and friends. Tell my husband how much I appreciate him every day. Sleep in as much as possible. Go skiing/boarding & fly-fishing & floating on the river. Adopt another animal!!! Preferably a runt! Make every purchase a local purchase. Get to the bottom of the laundry pile and keep on it every week. Least likely to happen is the laundry one, ha ha. These aren’t really just for ‘10 – these are just things I’m trying to make a part of life forever. Last year’s resolution was ‘stop being a slob and start doing what you love for a living before you turn 30!’ I actually did that one.” ~Katy Kippen, Grayling jewelry designer (and former Nolita manager)

“In 2010, I resolve to accept that I wear size 11 shoes and to stop trying to cram my feet into size 10s (in other words, stop buying adorable shoes that are too small!). It’s hard to find good 11s (especially if you like vintage, like me) but that is no longer an acceptable excuse for destroying my feet.” ~Erica Easley, founder of Rock Socks and manager for Red Light Clothing Exchange

“We’ve worked very hard to expand Amai Unmei and have designs available nationwide. We want to keep this momentum going and expand to new territories and have Amai Unmei designs available in every state by the end of 2010. Our other goal is to continue growing our customer base for the Amai Unmei flagship boutique. Especially with wedding season right around the corner, spring and summer tourists visiting, and customer’s looking for fabulous unique finds for special occasions.” ~Vanessa Urenda, for Amai Unmei boutique (right)

Well, there you have it. Good luck staying resolved throughout 2010. And if we may help just a bit: Janeane, have you seen these magnificent red, waterproof pumps at Stand Up Comedy? Betsy, have you tried Missionary Chocolates? Amazing handmade vegan truffles! Jen, have you seen Sorel’s cool waterproof Sorellington rain boots? Win a pair here! And for all of you who resolved to read more, pick up  “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” from Powell’s Books. It’s such an engaging story you’ll have no choice but to stop working and give yourself a nice relaxing read. Have a wonderful 2010!

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