PDX COLLECTIVE SALE--THE shopping event of the season!

Buyer's Top Summer Sale Picks

It's super sale time here at Le Train Bleu and on top of already reduced prices on all Summer stock, we are currently running a site-wide 20% discount, bringing some prices as low as 90% off. Holy smokes! It's a good time to get some crazy good deals on warm-weather gear, and the discount it also good on new Fall merchandise, but just for a limited time.

I thought I'd share some of my favorite things with you. It's true I'm the buyer for Le Train Bleu, but this doesn't mean I love all the styles equally. I do my best to buy a range of styles to satisfy all the diverse Le Train Bleu shoppers, but here today I give you my totally biased and partisan opinion. You can contact me at buyer@letrainbleu.com any time for the same brutally honest opinion.

I begin with some toppers which, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, are a near year-round necessity. These are all lightweight options which will serve you well in Spring and Fall. They all have incredibly sleek and flattering cuts and unique details.

The Cirque de Nuit coat shown above is my number one favorite and one that will appeal to the girl with a soft spot for vintage styling and feminine silhouettes. The nipped waist lends an hourglass shape and the unique belled sleeves have a way of giving you a long and lanky look. Plus, that jacquard dot pattern evokes a theatrical vibe. Originally $308, this one is currently $123.20, which to me is a no-brainer.
The Paquerette Coat will have you looking sleek and gamine. The proportions on this one are very slimming with a youthful quality. I like to think of a Jean Seberg character wearing this thrown on like a cardigan over something spare and minimal. It's made of a sateen but don't be worried--the fabric is very matte and can work great for daytime and casual looks, though it does clean up well when the occasion arrives. Originally $250, current price $100.
First, let me warn you that this one is not for everybody. Wearing a tux-styled jacket like the Lili Marlene will attract a certain amount of attention. It will ward off guys who wear too much hair gel--in fact you will almost magically become invisible to them. Instead, you will be asked what you thought of the latest Werner Herzog movie. People will tell you that you remind them a little of Tilda Swinton in Orlando, which is partly cause you look that cool, and partly due to the elongated proportions and back pleat of this style which make it resemble an English riding jacket. I previously wrote about the iconoclasts who have donned the tux jacket before and if you read that entry you will see that when wearing this jacket you must be prepared to feel a bit, well, iconic. Was $237.00, on sale for $189.60.

We don't carry a lot of denim at Le Train Bleu but even the girl who emphatically "doesn't wear jeans," succumbs at times. And luckily, once in a blue moon, a denim line comes along that is special and cool enough to standout from the throngs. The 18th Amendment line from Australia fits the bill, and The Bacall jeans above are chic enough to wear to "work" (if you work in a place that requires a certain amount of polish). The high-waisted styles are great for lengthening the leg, but if you have a shorter waist you can go with Bergman or Garlands which have slightly lower rises, but still provide the same benefit. Originally $231.00, sale price is $92.40.
Every season we have certain stand-out styles and these Yumi Kim dresses would have to be our top-sellers of the Summer. We have just a few left in both the pink and navy--nab one to wear now and for something to look forward to next Summer. They are lightweight and flattering, keeping you looking pulled together in the hottest weather. Originally $204.00, with discount $113.60.
While playing favorites here, I'll let you know that I have a real soft spot for Tucker, the line by Gaby Basora. Her clothes always make me feel like a cool grown up and they often have a late 70's vibe that's right up my alley. The Tie Front top is one of her new "bodies" which is just silly fashion speak for styles. Like the smocked styles that launched the line, it is loose-fitting and versatile. At once casual, and dressy. The Helen's Patio Print is my choice for Summer, but the Egypt Desert Ride version would be a great year-round top which could be layered over a lean turtleneck in the colder months. Originally $249.00, sale price $99.60.
Admittedly I am not wearing these, because I'm chicken to show a lot of leg, but I admire the girl who would work these shorts. I think they look so cool with just a white t-shirt and a pair of flat sandals. For you fellow scaredy cats, we can get a similar look with the Humanoid Plus Fours, but we miss out on that retro satin fabric.
In my book, you can't go wrong with the Esme Sweater from Ulla Johnson which manages to be cozy and homespun but also clean and sophisticated. I think the curved cable neckline is such a pretty detail and the way the sleeves flare slightly is graceful and flattering. This is another great one to nab now because it will work well year-round. Very timeless.

The LTB Wedding Season Survival Guide

Wedding bells are ringing! Here are some suggestions from Le Train Bleu to help you enjoy the season.

The Non-traditionalist
No veil. No Bridal Magazine look-alikes. No skirt too long to dance or hop a train in. You’ll wear this one with your grandma’s short crochet gloves (they look perfect with the French lace trim) and a neat gardenia bouquet.


Going away dress: time to run off into the sunset
Now that you’re hitched you’re feeling rather lady-like. Leave the party in this smart Heidi Merrick dress as lovely as a ray-of-sunshine.

The Bride and Groom may take the presents but you can take the cake
Cakewalk perfumed candle from D.L. & Co. Long after the bride and groom have left the party you’ll still be kicking up your heels in a cloud of Madagascar vanilla and chicory.

The Best Dressed Guest
The Fleur Wood Field of Flowers dress is perfectly perfect for attending just about any wedding, whether in a chapel or in a back yard. Not for shrinking violets—the wedding photographer will be following you around all day.

Sweet Memories
An enduring sweet—Flavigny Pastilles are the very first candy confection ever made, dating back to 1591. A perfect keepsake and memento for those in your wedding party adorned with a romantic, pastoral illustration.

A dress for the beach-bound bride
The Madame Tirocchi Dress from objets trouvés is elegant and unfussy: an artful silk dress with a delicate hand-drawn white-on-white design resembling sea urchins.


An endearing gift
The lovely couple will think of you every time they fill this pretty vase with flowers in the years to come. Definitely better than the chip and dip set.

For your ladies in waiting
They curled your hair making you into a pageant queen for a day. They even danced with your drunk uncle Marv. It's payback time--here's a start.


A warm honeymoon destination calls!
The show’s over and now it’s time to bear your shoulders in the sun and practice saying “My husband…”

Saks.com, target.com, and...letrainbleu.com?!

Whoa, weird! I'm still rubbing my eyes in disbelief but somehow Le Train Bleu made it onto Instyle's Top 20 Online Shopping Sites amongst big guys like Saks, Target, JCrew, and Bergdorf Goodman. It was nearly 5 years ago when I launched the site out of my studio apartment with zero retail experience and nearly the same amount of money and I never in my wildest dreams imagined this day. It's a true testament to how the internet has vastly changed the world of fashion retail.

What I'm really proud of is the "Best for" category that they bestowed upon us. It wasn't Budget Bags (that was Target), or Beach Accessories (that was JCrew), but best for Under the Radar Designers. Another win for the little guy!

What they said about Letrainbleu.com:
It's that little boutique where you want everything--from the retro-print tops to the ruffle-knit dresses. Many sites feature emerging designers--Revolveclothing.com and Kaightnyc.com--but nowhere are the items as lovingly chosen as on the Web outpost of Le Train Bleu, a Portland-based boutique named after an early 20th-century ballet with Chanel costumes and a Picasso backdrop. You might not recognize designers like Heimstone and Eskell, but rest assured your fashionista friends will be jealous.

As Luck Would Have It

Yup, it's time for a Lucky Breaks code at Le Train Bleu. This is the 3rd time we've participated in Lucky Breaks and it's always a flurry of boxes and tissue and happy shoppers. The code this time is luckybreaks1 and it's good for a 25% site-wide discount through June 1st. Happy shopping!

Ah, You Say the Nicest Things...

I just received an excited email with these scans from Yumi Kim where they'd just spotted their Joey Butterfly Top in the British Vogue article featuring Le Train Bleu. Also featured were the Grace Sun Waterfall Dress, the Rachel Comey Sneaky Pleat Dress, and the Heimstone Jefferson Sweatshirt.

As you might imagine, I am an avid online shopper and well versed in the benefits, but for those "across the pond" who need some extra inducement, the favorable exchange rate, along with this informative article, should provide a nice kick in the pants.

Isn't She Lovely...

Referring to her eponymous line, Fleur Wood says:

"I enjoy the juxtaposition of styles and mixing the unexpected. Whether I am putting something ethnic on a vintage fabric, or using vintage styles in contemporary colours, the result is modern, individual and timeless. I love creating these pieces and hope that my customers get as much joy owning items from my range, as I have designing them."


So far at Le Train Bleu, we've found the pieces to be largely vintage-inspired both in their shapes and in their prints and fabrics, but we're certainly not complaining. You just can't find vintage clothes like these anymore and if you do luck into them, they are very costly and/or falling apart. Let's hope Fleur will continue to travel the globe for our benefit seeking treasures in Paris fleamarkets for inspiration and utilizing the best craftspeople to recreate such lovely clothes.

Check out some of our favorite Fleur Wood styles, The Sunny Day Blouse and the Field of Flowers Dress, in these editorial shots from Shop 'till You Drop:

You can view the Fleur Wood SS 07/08 runway collection from Australian Fashion Week here:

Heimstone's Silent Movie Star

She stole our hearts dancing in the streets of Paris last season, and now the lovely moptop Heimstone girl is back modeling styles from the Spring collection. Stay tuned to the end where you will catch a glimpse of the designers Alix Petit and Delphine Delafon (I know, they sound like storybook characters and are just as pretty).

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.