Believe it or not, but it took me almost my entire week here in Portland to realize that just on the opposite side of the block that the Ace is in there was a boutique bursting with some of my favourite labels, notably Rachel Comey. I’m not completely oriented here even though we’ve been walking and riding public transportation everywhere. I spotted Comey’s Metalsmith’s dress in the window of Frances May when I happened to glance out of the bus window and knew I had to stop in.

Well, today I did and am I ever glad I did. The selection is fantastic and skillfully edited, and Ashley who was watching over the shop while we were there was amazing. Portlanders, you are some of the nicest people I’ve met yet. I’ve been nothing but continually impressed with how friendly and open everyone is and it’s been an utter joy to shop here. Ashley gave us the scoop on Portland (her family has lived in Portland for four generations!), cool places to visit (including other clothing boutiques), and we even got to have a laugh over our dairyland, my dear diary, and livejournal histories.

Aside from lots of great pieces from Rachel Comey, I spotted items from Clu, A.P.C., Vena Cava, Bodkin, Mociun, Lover, Duskin, YMC, and many others. The coolest part about Frances May is that it’s owned by Brooklyn art school graduate Pamela Baker-Miller and her grandmother, Connie Codding. Fantastic, no?

I know I’ve stumbled over the website a few times in the past, but it got lost in my bookmarks and I’m ever so glad to have rediscovered it. Brannan and I both found some fantastic pieces on the sales rack, and I got to try on the Metalsmith’s dress for future consideration-hee. Again this is another really special boutique in Portland that needs to be added to everyone’s regular bookmarks. Don’t forget all that you can enlarge the photos by simply clicking on them!