Who needs NYC? There's plenty of shopping to be had in the Rose City

R: This weekend,  I was in Portland visiting two dear friends who have been necessary fashion partners in crime since the inception of freshman year. Our most successful trips generally happen in the Rose City where vintage stores and independent boutiques abound.  While there are numerous neighborhoods to gallivant about in—Hawthorne, Burnside, the Pearl District, 23^rd, Mississippi—I want to steer your attention to a few notable shops to visit next time you find yourself with a couple hours to kill in Portland. 

The first resides on Burnside and is nestled among a number of great independent boutiques and vintage costume shops.  By far, this area is my favorite stretch of shops to visit when I’m in Portland.  The place I’m referring to is called Redux, and it is honestly the best jewelry store you will ever find.  I own 3 necklaces, 3 rings, and 2 bracelets—my way of telling you that jewelry is something I am infinitely picky about.  But just about every item in the store makes me coo with wonder and pick it up to try on.  I’ve talked to the owner a couple of times and in addition to being a very friendly lady, our conversations have revealed her extensive knowledge about and investment in the people who make the jewelry she sells.  Her eye for aesthetic is impeccable, but her interest in the designers she sells definitely puts Redux in a category all its own.  The prices of her products range, but most of the store is college student friendly.  My favorite piece of jewelry to date—a eagle-snake ring—came from Redux. 

Still on the east side, sits a boutique I’d never seen before Saturday, Chapter Four.  Owned by a charming woman with a hard-to-place accent (German?), Chapter Four offers a tightly edited selection of clothing.  Don’t let the relatively small amount of product fool you; the boutique on Albina had item after item that I wanted to try on and love for years to come.  Much of the store was on sale and featured familiar labels as well as lesser known ones like Ark and Co..  I settled on a silk open-backed dress for a very reasonable price and saw a number of other things I would have liked to buy had my wallet been a little more padded.  A bit off the beaten path, but definitely a boutique worth stopping in next time you’re visiting Portland.

Lastly, the iconic House of Vintage.  I was wary to head into this monstrous store for fear my allergies would flare up and I’d be overwhelmed.  With a bit of coaxing, we entered and began traversing the cluttered maze that both adds and takes away from this thrift store’s charm.  Unlike many of the other thrift stores in Portland, it has remained relatively cheap, and I snagged a pair of leather, perfectly worn cowboy boots for twenty bucks before making it out of the labyrinth.  You have to look hard to find things, but if you have the time and energy, House of Vintage is definitely worth the trip. 

Despite the incessant rain, my spirits never get down when I’m in Portland.  There’s too much shopping to be done.

(Flipping you the bird:  The snake-eagle ring brought to you by Redux)