Gentle Men

[December 5th, 2001]

The holiday season is the worst time to try out new things on your man--especially in the clothes-buying department. So no matter how much fun it is to shop for thongs, there is no way in hell that swell feller of yours is actually going to wear that "present" once the big day is over. But that doesn't mean you can't have some fun shopping for your man. Dress him up in style by sticking to basics--suits, comfortable sportswear and loads of sweaters. And who knows? That little present of yours just might warm up your relationship long past winter.

BREAKIN' OUT LARGE
You've heard of Prison Blues , haven't you? It's that line of denim clothing made by actual inmates at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institution (a.k.a. the Big House). Reasonably priced (jeans run around $27.50, jackets go for approximately $48) and extremely well made, PB items can be found at a number of local stores. Andy & Bax Sporting Goods (324 SE Grand Ave., 234-7538) carries work jeans and some hickory shirts . Portland Outdoor Store (304 SW 3rd Ave., 222-1051) carries work jeans, men's relaxed fit jeans and yard coats . Jower's Shoe Store (8801 N Lombard St., 286-1818) carries men's relaxed fit jeans, work jeans, yard coats and hickory shirts . And little old Linnton Feed & Seed (10920 NW St. Helens Road, 286-1291) carries work jeans and hickory shirts . While none of these shops are currently carrying PB T-shirts and sweatshirts (they sport the catchy phrase "Made on the inside to be worn on the outside), you can purchase them at www.prisonblues.com.

RIGHT ON TARGET
Sometimes all that big kid of yours needs is a good laugh. Keep him in stitches with a pair of playful lounge pants or a camp shirt ($11.99 pant/$7.99 shirt, Target, 11826 NE Glisan St., 251-9997, and other locations) covered in retro-looking product logos. Current cover-ups in Target's inspired Sign of the Times clothing line include everything from Cooties and Nerds to that freaked-out dude from the game "Operation." It's hard not to crack up at someone covered from head to toe in a Twinkies print.

HATS & MORE
You'll think you died and went to the men's clothing store in the sky once you step into the comfy confines of John Helmer Haberdasher (969 SW Broadway, 223-4976). Outfitters of true distinction, this is the place where the fashionable male peacock goes when he needs a few new head feathers. Not only can you find a jaunty European beret ($10 and up), but you can also find your favorite baseball cap of yore ($45), a straw boater ($60 and up) and a nifty wool-felt ($35-$60) or fur-felt ($80-$105) fedora just like Grandpa used to wear. John Helmer is not just hats--it also carries a full line of men's apparel, including suits, sportscoats, slacks and the nattiest bow ties in town.

ATTACK OF THE COMFY SWEATER BRIGADE
Cozy up to something warm this winter. Buy that man of yours a funky sweater. Big stores like the Gap (Washington Square, 684-8838, and other locations) carry a huge selection of wool and cotton sweaters ($29 and up) that can be zipped up, pulled over or slipped into whenever there's a chill in the air. For a more retro-fitted look, Red Light Clothing Exchange (3590 SE Hawthorne Blvd., 963-8888) carries vintage V-neck sweaters ($10 and up) in tons of different styles, as well of plenty of ski sweaters ($10 and up) that sport more of a '70s gay-porn look.

SLACK-ERS OF YORE
Sta-Prest slacks were all the rage in the 1960s, but they're a bit hard to find today--that is, if you don't shop at Portland's premier vintage clothing outfitters. Decades Vintage Company (328 SW Stark St., 223-1177) carries new--yes, new--Sta-Prest pants ($35 and up). DVC's owner, John Cosgrove, is able to stock his store with what's called "dead stock" (never worn) apparel. That means you can actually wear a pair of slacks just like your dad's without stealing them from his closet. DVC also carries suits from the '30s to the '60s, plus a wide assortment of accessories. Best of all, DVC now has its own gift registry, making it super shopper-friendly for everyone in the family.

SUIT HIM UP, COACH!
There comes a time in every man's life when a pair of jeans and a ratty T-shirt just doesn't cut it. Problem is, that time often comes when his paycheck isn't cutting it either. What can you do for such a sartorially strapped fella? Head to Northeast Broadway and pick up his new look at one of Portland's only new and resale men's designer clothing stores. Well Suited (2401 NE Broadway, 284-5939) offers a large assortment of reasonably priced men's suits ($100 and up, depending on the condition of the garment and the designer). Owner Henry Goy has worked hard over the last six years at providing the best menswear at the best prices. Here you will find everything from Abercrombie to Armani in close-to-mint condition. In-house tailoring is available, and Henry has just recently added women's fine and business clothing as well.

LOOKS GREAT UNDER THE HOODIE
Stiff-fitting Carhartt outerwear is not just for the working stiff anymore. Besides the bibby industrial workwear that has been adopted by every weekend hammer-jockey in town, this American company has also created a line of shirts that spell Carhartt C-O-M-F-O-R-T. G.I. Joe's (3900 SE 82nd Ave., 777-4526, and other locations) carries cargo loads of Carhartt gear, including smart-looking, logo-covered T-shirts ($14.99), polos ($23.99) and denim short-sleeve shirts ($24.99). Now for that tool belt....