Another Hello, High-Low!

This Eskell skirt is beyond perfect. It seems so go with everything, is unimaginably comfortable and is a great piece for any season. Same goes for the Humanoid Costume d'Histoire jacket, they were meant for each other (and everything else in your closet). I've paired them with some ridiculously inexpensive finds from Old Navy, a cozy speckled waffle knit top and a navy belt with tan leather detail and a gold clasp. I can't seem to find the Old Navy items on the website, I'd look for them in store. Polish it all off with a pair of handmade feather earrings and seriously warm wool tights, these will keep you toasty on the coldest of Autumn mornings.



Humanoid Costume d'Histoire Jacket $367.00
Eskell Luella Skirt $233.00
Pheasant Feather Earrings $9.95
Old Navy Waffle Knit Top $9.50
Old Navy Belt $9.50
MP Cotton-Lined Wool Tights $45.00

Portland and fashion? You betcha

Here are a few backstage images from last night's fashion show "The Collections", a 10 member design collective who embody and fortify Portland fashion. These designers work to preserve Portland's unending strive for sustainability, DIT attitude, and local commerce. The group show was held in a shipyard (!!!!) and hosted by Portland Fashion Week.

Perfect Fall Shoes

A few blocks from Le Train Bleu is a shoe store called Olive...je t'aime, je t'aime! They are one of the few boutiques that carries London designer extraordinaire Georgina Goodman--hailed by her mentor Manolo Blahnik as the next thing in shoes. While her aesthetic varies greatly from Mr. Blahnik's, she has a die-hard devoted following just like him. Oh, and every single shoe is made by hand, or as she puts it, "made in love". One of her fans is style blogger Susie Q of stylebubble.com.
Along with Georgina Goodman, owner Ali carries Chie Mihara, Repetto and Elieen Shields among others. The lovely manager Anise has a knack for finding you your perfect sole mate. Yes, we made a shoe pun and we aren't sorry in the least bit about it.

Olive Shoes, located on NW Glisan and 10th. www.oliveshoes.com

Flaneuse

An intoxication comes over the man who walks long and aimlessly through the streets. With each step, the walk takes on greater momentum; ever weaker grow the temptations of shops, of bistros, of smiling women, ever more irresistible the magnetism of the next streetcorner, of a distant mass of foliage, or a street name.

-Walter Benjamin

The flaneur (from the French "to stroll") was seen as a detached observer of modern life yet has an inextricable role in understanding, participating, and ultimately helping to form the city it observes. The idea of the flaneur in Paris influenced modernists from Baudelaire to Benjamin, and us here at Le Train Bleu, although we tend to think more on the part of the flaneuse. Check back as we'll try to capture a flaneuse spirit out of the streets of Portland.

Le Train Bleu goes out...

...to White Eagle, a McMenamins bar in North Portland. There are several McMenamins joints in Portland and around and they're always a fun place to go. The two brothers who started these establishments in the early 1980s bought old run down hotels, elementary schools, etc and in keeping with the quirky history of each place retrofitted them into taverns. The LTB ladies sipped down spicy bloody mary's after the "The Collections" fashion show. Not a bad Monday night.

vote karen walker

Just testing to see how awesome I am at picking up "how to blog"
Do I rock, or fail miserably?

either way, my sunglasses are hott.

Our new plant

Here at Le Train Bleu, we have a soft spot for our plants--we have several in the store and two beautiful palm-tree planters out front. But when our talented flower girl extraordinaire, Shannon Covington, dropped this off our little hearts went all aflutter. Look at the crazy gourd! Look at the explosion of little flowers! Totally an exquisite feast for the eyes. If you're in Portland and need something as fantastic: smcalerney@gmail.com


Here are two more photos of some of our other little plants. We try very hard to not over water them.

Ulla Johnson Imogen Dress

After the Adam Arnold show in my new Lascaux print dress.

Yeojin Bae Interview

What kind of girl are you designing for?
This collection is very much for myself and my girlfriends. We love to dress up, wear something unique and appreciate beautiful fabrics and cut.

You worked for several notable designers like Marc Jacobs, etc. How did they influence you and what did you learn there?
I spent many years working for other designers and it was very exciting to see the design process of other creative people. I interned during a fun period at Marc Jacobs when they were setting up his diffusion line Marc.

When and why did you decide to launch your own label?
It really felt like now or never. I had built up so much experience over the last 14 years, but at age 30 felt ready to tackle my own business.

You love to travel–how does this inspire you and affect your designs?
Absolutely love to travel. My husband is from France so we go there a few times a year, and I love NY for its amazing energy. I have sourced lots of interesting fabrics and trims from India , Morocco and Budapest ..I think it’s important to see what is happening around the world.