Hello again, my dears. To continue on with the 4+ years of catching up we have to do, I thought I'd share some details of my 8 month stay in Portland, OR in 2012. Though the food, coffee, and independent fashion designers are all hard to top out there, I admit, I found myself longing for the smell of subway urine and the sound of a taxi horn blaring for a minimum of 2 whole minutes(as is NYC tradition). That being said, it was an amazing stay, and I can't complain that I had the chance to get above ground for a little while. I'd like to say it was sunny on the outside, but as I was warned, the Portland Winter proved to be a good 4 months of spritzy rain. This might have stumped any chances of a good hair day, but I had enough to keep me distracted with Portland's fabulous selection of good food, good coffee, and good boutiques.
was, and still remains, one of my favorite shops in SW Portland. With a minimal layout, the store showcases a range of innovative International designers whose conceptual work runs parallel to their clean and creative aesthetics.
was another favorite, featuring the collection of Etoile Isabel Marant, Christophe Lemaire, and Vetements (a new found love of mine) to name a few.
Lastly, the famous shoe super store 
couldn't be missed. Located right across the street from Odessa, it was a convenient all-in-one shopping visit on a rainy Portland day.
I'd be remiss in my west coast recount if I didn't mention my love affair with CAFFEINE that blossomed during my time there. When it comes to Portland in particular, there were far too many great cafes to choose from. 2012 was before Stumptown became a household name, and third wave coffee was a sensation that had yet to grace my little rat lips. I'd have to give my #1 vote to the superb blends of Heart Coffee Roasters, maintaining two beautiful locations on the Eastside and Westside of town. With a limited menu on any extra gimmicks, these cafes maintained a respectable business model of only doing one thing, and doing one thing EXTREMELY WELL. I still craaaaaaave this stuff. (Yes, that's me pictured, pretty buzzed). If you're ever in Portlandia, have a cup of heart coffee to go alongside all the vegan, gluten free, and other health concious food options that are in abundance (and a definite BONUS) on that side of the country. I say it's totally worth it.
Below are a few pics of my adventures just outside the big city. That's enough blabbing for now. Happy Autumn!
xo Litla
where I found a great Creatures of Comfort dress on sale. Ilana Kohn, Horses Atelier and Rachel Comey are only some of the brands they carry, including a good selection of menswear. 
