Scarf It Up

I'm all about the summer scarves, head scarves to be exact. Partly because they look badass, and I'm still nursing a bad hair cut. The photographer, Jason Kinney from the bike shoot at Rocky Butte contributed a killer scarf to the wardrobe. His scarves are silk, hand dyed, hand silkscreen and color wood-blocked that will rock your mind. And your body. You can find them on etsy and see more pics on flickr of previous versions.

I'm so buying one of the smaller scarves with wood block print red crosses.

Portland Mercury Forecast Photoshoot

Here are the pics from the Portland Mercury Fashion issue to highlight designers in the Forecast fashion show this Sunday. I did the hair and make up for the shoot. I think the pictures are pretty nice. It was cold, wet and rainy but I think there are some good spring shots here. That llama, Bandit in a party hat! Too adorable. The pieces here represent all local Portland designers with pieces (most one-of-a-kind) made in Portland.

Forecast is Sunday, April 26, at the Armory, 128 NW 11th, 8 pm, with emcee Wm. Steven Humphrey and DJ Beyonda. Tickets are $10-12.


I like this photo the best. C'mon! An outhouse and toilet paper! Jacket, Hunt & Gather; bralette and stockings, both Gatsby; teddy, Moth Love; wellies, editor’s own.


On Bandit: hat, Cloud Society. On Rachel: hat, Cloud Society; dress, Liza Rietz.




Tiara, Frocky Jack Morgan; dress, Kate Towers; umbrella, photographer’s own.


On Rachel: blouse and jumper, both Adam Arnold; socks and shoes, model’s own.


Shirt and belt, both Dust; necklace, Sword + Fern; slip and sandals, model’s own.

MLK+UNICORN+VALENTINE'S=Thrift Jackpot

The adventure continues at this thrift store:

I spied the most incredible motorcycle jacket in a tinsy-tiny size, which is super rare. I unhooked the jacket and slid it on. OH, man it felt amazing, stiff, perfectly worked in and RAD antique hardware.

Riding the high of finding a perfect leather jacket for mere pittance, I start looking closer.

Langlitz Leathers is a local Portland motorcycle leather wear company producing 5 pieces daily and only one outlet in America but 50 licensed dealers in Japan (!). They've been around for 62 years, since 1947!
Behind the jacket was a pair of itty bitty leather riding pants.


I bought the jacket and left the pants behind. I didn't see how anyone would ever fit in them, definitely not me.
We left the store and I started checking out ebay and vintage sites trying to find something similar and things got interesting.




I looked up the name on the inside pocket, "Mrs. Bert Taylor", well Bert Taylor really. And found he was a professional Norton racer in 1927. This was his wife's custom made leather.
Finding the provenance and history I felt guilty about separating the pants from jacket and returned to buy them for $14.99.

It took me a few hours to find any information on this particular jacket. It was older than all the Langlitz Leather jackets online. I FINALLY found this page in a Japanese book about the history of leather jackets (for sale on ebay).
(click to enlarge)
JACKPOT! A 1950-1956 Langlitz Leather horsehide Columbia leather jacket with matching pants. I'm hoping to go to Japan and have a good chunk of my expenses paid with these babies. First, I'm going to head to Langlitz and talk to Dave (who is a minor celebrity in Japan) and see what he has to say about cleaning and treating the leather. I also would like to find out more about the jacket and possibly what it's worth since I haven't found any online from the 50's for sale only a few from the 60's. I have learned a whole hella of a lot about vintage leathers, I'm now a huge fanatic!

Reminds me of the first time I encountered a Langlitz Leather jacket, 2002 working at Music Millennium.



Check the hat. Benicio is a bigger fanatic than I, bless him.

Thrift Heaven Valentines Day

My fella and I decided to take a spur of the moment trip to the coast Friday the 13th. We decided to go to Astoria, OR (yes, Oregon--I get confused) and ate at the cheesily named but delicious Baked Alaska. Then we didn't go too far before we found a hotel that accepts dogs, kind of a mistake. It was a dump. Next time we sneak Johnny in to a fancy place. Best part was hotel TV: Cosby Show marathon. HEY-OH!

After waking up with cricked necks and smelling like smoke (in a non-smoking room?)we set out to explore Astoria and it's surrounding parts. wasn't going to leave without (finally) seeing the Goonies House. Mission accomplished.


There's a constant stream of people walking up the drive to this house. I suppose if you wanted to make a Goonies/Israeli statement that's cool.

That's Data's house.
We headed home and hit every thrift store on the way back to Portland, including the thrift mecca of Longview. There's like 6 thrift stores in a row in the downtown area. I started taking picture of every thrift store and was really into the thrift store as political messageboard. See?

MLK + unicorn (a super good omen). The woman behind the counter told me that she too had a dream. It was to open a thrift shop. She keeps the picture to remind her of the importance of having a dream.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Love these shoes::::from Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Carried by Stand Up Comedy in Portland
811 E Burnside Ste 119

Watch out for the shoot I'm doing for Adam Arnold some time next month.