Best of Portland: Cruise Wear

« Read the full blog

January 27, 2010 by Katelin | Comments (3)

I love living here in Portland. I love my regular coffee and cupcake spots in town. I love my roommates, Casa del Matador’s happy hour nachos, and the view of Mount Hood on my drive up I-5. That being said, there is only so much rain a girl can take, and I have hit my limit. This Portland precipitation has intervened with many a good hairdo, crept up the hem of my jeans too many times; and with endless showers on the way, I can’t think of a better time to plan a cruise to somewhere tropical. Doesn’t sunny and seventy sound wonderful? Here are a few great places to find the on-deck essentials for those of you planning an offshore getaway this spring. Anchors away!

Sunglasses: Mink, Free People, Sunglass Hut

While the sun is still on hiatus, it can be hard to find shades here in Portland. Popping into smaller shops like Mink on Hawthorne Street, or Free People on NW 23rd could turn up some vintage, funky frames. Otherwise, the Sunglass Hut at 638 SW Alder St., stocks a wide variety of sun-blocking spectacles year-round. The Sunglass Hut’s staff skillfully helps customers find frames perfect for each unique face from a stockpile of well-respected brands.

For those of you with prescription needs, we’re told Blink is the place to go. With a tirelessly helpful and friendly staff, even the eye exam is rumored to be enjoyable! Stop in and say hi to Dr. Armstrong and his fantastic selection of frames at 2719 SE 21st Ave.

Swim Suits: Poppi Swim & Sport

Featuring its own line, Popina, this bathing suit boutique stocks a great supply of vintage inspired swimwear as well as contemporary pieces from Tommy Bahama, Jantzen, Kechika, Jag, L*Space, and many more. Taking into account the needs of the shoppers they encounter on a daily basis, the staff is directly involved in the creation of the Popina line, creating countless fantastic suits and accessories. Tops come in sizes up to an E cup, and individual pieces can be custom designed to include fabrics or cuts specific to each shopper’s taste. Poppi Swim & Sport is located at 4831 NE 42nd Avenue.

Sandals: Ether & Shoefly

While you may plan to kick them off for the majority of your cruise, you’ll need a pair of good sandals for trekking around on docked days. A great place to start is Ether on NW 23rd. Located amidst the often-unaffordable boutiques of NW 23rd Ave., Ether comes as a welcomed surprise with a great selection of trendy footwear at shockingly low prices. These shoes may not last forever, but they’re perfect for a season or two of wear. Ether also has a great stock of bags and jewelry at equally affordable prices that will compliment your cruise wear collection flawlessly.

If you’re in the market for slightly fancier footwear, but still very affordable, stop into Shoefly on NW 11th Street. This shop stocks shoes by Frye, Sam Edelman, Shie Mihara, and many others, in fun and trendy styles like retro wooden platforms and faux snakeskin sandals. The selection is great and the sales are even better. Shoefly’s stock may start out pricey, but during the ‘buy one, get one half off’ sales, they become much more affordable! Join their online mailing list to stay updated, and find this fantastic footwear in the Pearl at 718 NW 11th Ave.

3 Responses to “Best of Portland: Cruise Wear”

• MegExpressions Says:
  
  January 27th, 2010 at 12:10 pm

  Great shopping tips…I love Mink on Hawthorne, and just stepped into Free People for the first time last weekend. Will be in FLA in March, may have to invest in some sun gear!

• Susan Says:
  
  February 1st, 2010 at 8:15 am

  Great article & shopping tips! Making a checklist is great for an upcoming cruise vacation so you don’t forget to pack anything!

• elizabeth Says:
  
  February 3rd, 2010 at 10:41 am

  Thanks for the update! How about a nice Sun Bonnet for those cruise adventures? I have some new styles in linen and cotton, sold through me and other select vendors. Please contact me.
  Crave keeps us all in the loop!

Leave a Reply