PNW STYLEs

If you haven’t heard already, Oregon doesn’t have sales tax. That’s as good a reason as any to splurge a little, right?

The diverse retail scene could keep spirited shoppers on the prowl for days. But to find that quintessentially Portland look — a casual and playful take on timeless Western styles — you’ll want to explore the city’s alluring mixture of vintage shops, modern boutiques and storefronts dedicated to handcrafted goods.

Here are a few favorite outfitters that offer everything you need to dress like the expressive locals.

contemporary boutiques

Anyone under the impression that Portlanders are an exclusively flannel-clad crowd should spend a day shopping in the city’s fashionable boutiques, which specialize in apparel, footwear, jewelry and on-trend accessories. Here you’ll experience an independent designer-led scene that’s recently come into its own.

An obvious place to start in the West End is at shopping alley Union Way, which makes a convenient jumping-off point to explore other nearby boutiques. This modern take on an Old World arcade packs nine eclectic retailers into a full city block, including footwear icon Danner. One block away, Wildfang fills a corner gallery with tomboy-inspired styles.

Style in the city isn’t relegated to only one neighborhood. An exciting breed of boutiques has set up shop across town, stocking local designers and global looks they’ve imported. International streetwear takes the spotlight at MACHUS, which focuses on noteworthy menswear designers from around the world, including limited-edition adidas originals collaborations. While vintage may reign in Southeast, COMMUNION displays a contemporary take on casual classics for men and women, with labels culled from around the world.

handmade goods

Nothing exemplifies Portland’s style better than fashionable goods made right here. This is, in fact, a city of makers — meaning a dedication to craft and handmade products defines a number of standout retailers.

For an overview of the maker culture, pop into MadeHere PDX which showcase locally produced goods ranging from guitars and surfboards to couches and cosmetics. Many of Portland's entrepreneurial designers operate their own storefronts — such as women's clothing and home goods at North of West.

If you’re on the hunt for the effortless cool factor of local leather, try Tanner Goods for timeless accessories built to last a lifetime. Outdoor footwear brand KEEN makes many of their shoes at the nearby Swan Island factory — one of only a few footwear companies still manufacturing in the United States.

A few retail locations even let you witness design and production firsthand such as well-known OLO Fragrance; their workspace doubles as its showroom.