Photo: Explode La Mode fashion show @ Someday Lounge, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2008
Explode La Mode : PDX Fashion show served with a side of fabulous
“That designer is a genius. People will look at that at just go. ‘Wow. Cool Hoodie.’ But they don’t understand how ridiculously difficult that is to do.” The guy behind me, directly behind me—the Someday Lounge this Saturday night is packed tighter than a can of StarKist tuna—has an Erhart sticker on his lapel and is, like everybody else here tonight, a slickly-dressed twentysomething ready to fashion rumble. His catwalk commentary is in reference to a zip-up hoodie with asymmetrical triangle-shaped patches of multi-colored cotton on the elbows. The leggy model showing off the garment has stomped out onto Someday’s stage-turned-runway to accommodate Explode La Mode, the first in a series of Portland independent designer shows.
Two and a half months ago, Explode co-organizers Josh Jones and Emilia Marchetti decided they’d like to help “jump start the fashion scene” in Portland. Josh, a 31 year-old Sound Designer at Sony Playstation by day and deejay-loving fashion show host by night had taken part in six years worth of similar shows (called Explode La Mode) in San Francisco, where he was living at the time. “I love the fashion scene,” he said. [In Portland] “I wanted to add the music scene into the mix to create a more dynamic type of event.” Jones brought 28-year-old computer technician and friend Marchetti on board to help out with the production side of things. The pair hit the fashion-savvy streets of town and dug up a mixture of well-established seasoned seamstresses and new kids on the block. Designers Mischelle Jonston and Colton Marchineo are two of those faces fairly new to the scene. They’re both currently enrolled as fashion students at the Art Institute in Portland. Explode La Mode was their first catwalk. “We were trying to make sure we let the newcomers and the experienced designers all get a chance,” Marchetti explained. “We didn’t single anyone out”.
With a dizzying lineup of 18 local seasoned and beginning designers, the “walk” started on time (11 pm), lasted one solid hour and was seamless for an event of this size; no interruptions, trip-ups, technical difficulties or drama ensued. Well, save for a few overzealous fans who dotted the thick, sweaty crowd and became animated for particular models and inspired by particular outfits, shouting out Top 40 hip-hop chorus catcalls like, “Shake your money maker!” and “Dip it down low!”…but even that added to the general giddiness in the warm air. A pair of decks set up in the corner were manned by house and electronic deejay and local sweetheart Joee Irwin, who also wore a hoodie and bounce-rocked continuously throughout his high energy, high BPM set. The deep bass soundtracked the flashing black and white images that splayed across the back wall of the stage; bunnies, clover fields, naughty nurses administering medicine ticked behind the models casting ever-changing shadowed hues on their outfits.
Since the show ended promptly at midnight, a two-hour post-set played out with electro deejays Kassette from PDX and Syzygy from Seattle.
As much as Portland is trying and slowly achieving national status as a fashion hub, tonight’s show had small-town indicators everywhere. The two small side VIP rows of chairs set up lining the catwalk, which extended with a small staircase from the stage onto the dance floor area of Someday, were filled with especially non-diva types, and the few professional photogs were discreetly set off to stage right a bit. Instead of an invite-only audience, the evening’s entrance donation of $5 went to benefit the nonprofit p:ear. And even though there were folks spilling out onto the sidewalk in front of Someday, you were able to make your way up front to get an unblocked view of the catwalk.
The irony, of course, is that while there still exists a naïve preciousness due to Portland’s diminutive size and fledgling hip-ness, many of the designers that were featured are brilliantly creative and ahead of the fashion curve. Not just for Portland demographics, but for fashion and trends in general. Designer Amy Snyder models’ faces featured jet black lipstick drawn in a single thick line down the center of each model’s lips, huge feather and fabric earrings dangling out of just one and sometimes both, ears, ornately stylized faux-hawks, gobs of elaborate tattoos (one model showcased an enormous equestrian etched across her entire back), bright nail polishes and heels plucked fresh from Nordy’s latest offerings (a pair of fabulous black frayed leather Bebe gladiators were spotted). Snyder’s line showcased an abundance of gold and silver lame party dresses fit for Pretty In Pink and decadent bathing suits crafted out of stretchy gold-flecked Lycra. A favorite included ’80s-inspired overall straps and a hood. The bathing beauty theme continued with tightly-knit crocheted suits and bikinis by Moop Clothing. Other evening standouts included Estate, Tony Dimitri, Alyson Clair, Erhart, Cera Crockett, Aiguille et Fil, Beauty Mark Designs, Oh Buggy!, Different By Design, Garnish, Sky and Boat, Robin Forsythe, Jolie Benner, Rachelle Waldie and Colton Helfrecht.
Jones says he and Marchetti were overwhelmed by the night’s turnout and now their goal is to offer Explode, “every 3 or 4 months but we’ll have to see if that’s possible.” So if you’re a designer with a passion for flashing (and fashion), contact Explode. If their premier success is any indication of threads (and things) to come, Portland may develop a reputation as a style maven to match that of our hand roasted espresso.
All photos by Minh Tran / minhternet.com
Thanks!
I wasnt able to make the show, but great reporting Sara, sounds fun!!
Awesome review. Thanks for coming!
http://www.beautymarkdesigns.net
I can’t believe that I was "singled out" in this event!?! It was all last min. & I was guarenteed that if I showed up to the rehearsal, I was would be matched up with one of the designers to model that night. Told that alot of the designers still were looking for models. Not me though! That did not happen, but they did show me some love on my Birthday – VIP style. I would hope that they would have me in future events. We could make up then? I haven’t even seen any of the professional pics that were taken of us (models) at rehearsal and/or any ones of me NOT MODELING! Not cool at all!!! http://www.myspace.com/Megadocious1