Walk into the exhibit, “Portland Fashion in the Aughts,” in a Portland State University building , and you’ll experience a snapshot of what the Rose City felt like in the years between 2000 and 2010. On the first floor, a small room contains mannequins wearing garments made by some of the designers who helped define the scene. The clothing – an intentionally distressed version of a slip dress, an individualistic take on a gown with a pink skirt and a corset-style long top made of what looks like blue quilted jacket material, and more – reflects some of the rule-breaking, do-it-yourself ethic that was a key element among artists, musicians, writers and other creative people.
Grainy videos play on a screen beyond the clothes, showing funky fashion shows held in modest locations, clothing made from repurposed fabrics, and experimental images. Up on the second floor, a large, white room lit by sun shining in from a wall of windows displays framed photos of models, some with carefully unkempt hair and messy makeup, wearing more pieces by local designers; garments that include a white shirt with red writing across the back (“Hold Me Love Me Kiss Me”); and a fascinating video loop of interviews with people who share thoughts about what Portland was like in the early days of the aughts. The clothing, images, and words all evoke what Marjorie Skinner, curator and producer of “Portland Fashion in the Aughts,” describes in a panel introducing the exhibit as a period th.