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Two weeks ago there was a fashion show held at the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland. The Ace is a historical venue that most students are familiar with, mainly due to the fact that it neighbors the wonderful Stumptown Coffee, which is a common java stop.

Holding the fashion show at the Ace Hotel was very fitting for Portland, it expressed the eclectic style that is Portland fashion...

While waiting in line, you were first greeted by live models posing in the windows, a nice touch, and definitely a good way to pass the time while creeping toward the entrance. When you finally got to the lobby, there was a live band and a bar, as well as a place where you could pick up a light snack...pretty much everything you needed to gear up for the adventure that was ahead.

After getting your snack and booze fix, you then made your way up to the second floor of the Ace where the real fun began.

Then entire floor was filled with designers. They each had their own hotel room that was decorated in a way that reflected their individual styles. I was very impressed by the diversity of each room, much like the streets of fashion where diversity is screaming at you around every corner.

There were a few designers that really stood out. Adam Arnold showcased a scene that combined fashion and horror. His room was set up to look like a murder scene which was very interesting and fitting for the season. It was great because you had people in very nice attire that had blood stained bags on their heads. Duchess and Gatsby were also fun to see. Their room was set up to bring you back to the time of Great Gatsby, with old time music and flapper girl attire. It definitely was a fun site to see. Lastly, Sara Seven was a room that also stood out. Not only is she an Ai alumni, but her work was magnificent. Her pieces were very feminine; she uses chiffon with hand tacked pleats and flowers. She was also very willing to answer questions and talk to anyone who had an inquiry; she was very enthusiastic and friendly.

After you finished viewing all of the rooms, or at least the ones you were interested in, you were guided back down stairs into the lobby of Stumptown where people gathered to gab about the designers and sip on booze and coffee. All in all the show was wonderful, and I would definitely recommend going to the show next year.

The only thing that was mildly frustrating was the fact that, if you wanted to go back and do a double take on a room, that wasn't allowed. You had to keep moving forward. I guess the system worked to help with the flow of things, but it's never fun being told what to do, especially when it comes to fashion.

By Mindy