This season, it seems every designer is trying to smuggle
exotic and hand-crafted styles past the Fashion Police. Gucci
designer Tom Ford adopted Native American influences for his
Spring `99 collection, but don't expect trading-post prices--his
bead-hemmed jeans will set you back a lot of wampum. Looking
eastward, the house of Fendi showed more than a touch of Tibet
in its collection. But first, close your eyes and take a cleansing
breath. That mirrored handbag you covet is going to set you
back about $1,200. But nothing modernizes a wardrobe right
now faster than a little "global dressing." Adorning yourself
with touches from far-flung places and eras not only sets
you apart from the off-the-rack girl, it tells the world to
cut you some slack--you're still on Moroccan time.
As with any trend, though, there are pitfalls to encounter
if you choose to indulge. I probably don't have to note
the irony of paying designer dollars for a look that's largely
primitive. Save your big bucks for airfare--it's better
to see India than to look like you have. There are plenty
of chic and affordable resources to help you create a foreign
look.
1.
Matisse, at 2223 NE Broadway, has a variety of little suede
purses, sweetly embroidered, for only $15. The perfect solution
to the summer-wedding or garden-party "where the hell do
I put my lipstick" quandary.
2.
Add "oomph" to a simple sheath dress with a wristful of
beaded prayer bracelets. Only $6 a pop at Greg's, 3707 SE
Hawthorne Blvd. When crossing the fashion border, be careful
about cultural overload. Trying to carry off too much exotica
will get you busted. If the latent hippie in you is jonesing
for the exotic, skip the sari-and-dreadlock combo. A single
hit of ethnicity is your passport to cool. Pair an intricate
accessory with understated clothing, or let a single garment
be the star.
3.
East meets West at Urban Outfitters on Northwest 23rd Avenue,
where you'll find classic American baseball shirts emblazoned
with Asian graphics for $36. Try playing it up with a long,
simple skirt. Or slip a no-frills cardigan over a sundress
in colorful, Lurex-shot Indian fabric. You'll pay $64 for
the dress, and you've probably already got the cardigan.
Self-Service
Says:
Sometimes a box is just a box. But not when
it's an empty cigar box. Whether in wood or sturdy cardboard,
the appealing little package isn't just for school supplies.
Just ask James Defeo, owner of the Paradox Palace
Cafe on Southeast Belmont Street. Defeo finds his box to
be the ideal container for personal effects, carrying it
in lieu of a wishy-washy wallet. Pick up your own box of
possibilities at Rich's Cigar Shop for $1 to $5. Downtown
at 9th and Alder, or at Northwest 23rd and Irving.
"Wearing an SPF 8 is like wearing a condom with a hole
in it"
--New York dermatologist Dr. Patricia Wexler
Think this analogy is a little far-fetched? With deadly
skin cancer on the rise, avoiding malignant melanoma is
worth being pasty-legged all summer. Yet, despite warnings
about the sun's dangers, the average Joanna is still woefully
lax about applying sunscreen on a regular basis. The sun's
damaging rays can seem preferable to loading on this gunk--usually
tacky or greasy, with a scent reminiscent of Deep Woods
Off.
No more. Pick up a bottle of Eucerin Facial Moisturizer,
and use it every day under makeup. A light, fragrance-free
formula, it offers the peace of mind that SPF 25 brings.
Only $7.79 at Fred Meyer.
It figures. The girl with the cutest coif in town does
the job herself. O'Hara, who works at Cargo in the
Pearl District, says the `do is do-able by anybody who has
a good pair of shears. Just run your hand close to your
scalp and lop off whatever sticks up above your fingers.
You'll end up with hair that's roughly 1-inch long all over.
Now soften the front and sides by cutting in at tiny, random
diagonals. (This part's important; it's what makes the look
more Mia Farrow than Joan of Arc). Finally, use a dab of
pomade to create separated sections and a polished finish.
Be warned: This cut is best on the wide-eyed fragile girl
(you know who you are), and requires a few more feminizing
effects elsewhere in the habiliment, lest you appear to
be an extra in "Oliver!"
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Willamette Week | originally
published July 14, 1999
|
