GarBelle Clothing just got started this year and while they still have a lot of work to do in terms of marketing, their dresses hold a lot of potential. I haven’t had to chance to personally touch and feel the craftsmanship of the garments, but looking through their pics, they seem to be doing everything right stylistically. Pockets and hoods on classic cuts paired with shorter, fuller skirts - pretty fresh stuff. The only problem is they have got to get a better design on their MySpace page and they need a real website too, if they are going to take and be taken seriously. And while they’re at it, they should send Synthesis one in a size 2 so I can model  it and put it in our upcoming digital magazine, and then maybe I can has new pretty sundress for summer??? Ya? iLove…

This weekend I had the chance to spend some time in Portland, OR’s wonderful Hawthorne District, which is like a cleaner, better, all-around more awesome version of San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury. After grabbing some pizza at Vincente’s, which besides just having badass pie also serves Pabst 40s (FUCK YES), I cruised into a little boutique called Local35, which looked like it was going to be overpriced as f. The Portlandite accompanying me even warned me that the place was out of my rather meager price range, but maybe it was my lucky day: not only was there the sale of all sales happening at Local35, but the staff people were anything but the pretentious uber-hipsters I’d come to expect at similar stores in SF and elsewhere. They were totally down to earth, rad people, willing to chop it up even with a dude in scuffed Adidas and cheap denim. I had my eye on a pair of Celtic green Paul Cousy PF Flyers I had seen in the window, and lo and behold: the floor model, one of only a couple pairs left, was actually in my size (which seriously never happens) and the shoes were 35% off to boot (no pun intended). I walked out of Local35 with some new kicks, as well as a Cheap Monday shirt and a Gentle Fawn sweater for my lady, all for well under $100. Next time you’re bored in the PDX, definitely check out Local35. You’ll be glad you did.

I recently got turned on to The Devil Makes Three. They are a trio of guitarist Pete Bernhard (frontman), stand-up bassist Lucia Turino and guitarist Cooper McBean. They don’t have a drummer and have some pretty eclectic sounds that mix styles of rockabilly, folk, ragtime and country. Lucky for you they’re on tour right now. Check out their Myspace for all the dates & see if they’re coming to a city near you!

Listen to P. Brown give the best interview of his life (so he claimed) with The Devil Makes Three on SynthesisRadio.net here.

Here’s a great song and bizarre video from the under appreciated cult alt-indie band, Chavez. “Break Up Your Band,”circa ‘95.

Check this out. It’s free, and you might like it.

Australian fashion label, Sass & Bide, have a new summer collection and it’s hott. Sarah Jane Clark and Heidi Middleton are the brains behind the quirky operation with their unusual styling. A big plus: they have a wide range of styles and sizes. A negative: high fashion = high prices.. BOO! BUT ordering online can have benefits like FREE SHIPPING @ www.revolveclothing.com.

Besides being totally cute, the pieces in the collection have funny names. Who doesn’t love that? Some of my personal favorites from the summer line are the “Big Band Sequin Shorts” and I will definitely wear any bustier dress that is called “Be Free”! (both shown below) Do you feel me ladies?