Just out., August 15, 2003, Page 28, Image 28

: IS. 2003
A sense of style
Continued from Page 26
“G o with ycxir feeling,” he advises. “Find stuff
that really prexJuces yixir personality...something
that makes a political statement. Be daring. Y cxj
might kxik stupid, but it’s OK. Treat yixjrself. It’s
an amazing feeling and a confidence Kxistcr that
I so many people deprive themselves of.”
He laments that mass marketing has institu­
tionalized blandness by “covering everybtxJy in
by M ichael E Barrett
the same type of clothing, because people are
ttxi afraid to go beyond boundaries." Although
Shultz eventually
ant to express yourself? Then
he’s not against prexJuction lines, Shultz prefers
returned to crocheting
m shut up and get dressed!
one-of-a-kinds. “Mass pnxJuction,” he says,
and, after moving to Port­
That’s the word on the
“often sacrifices quality for profit.” Luckily,
land in 1997, found pop­
street, and the voice behind
there are designers who aren’t sacrificing their
ularity for his creations—
the word is that of Jonny
creativity by “selling out...and becoming a cor­
mostly one-of-a-kind hats
Shultz, an up-and-coming gay fashion designer.
porate identity."
and scarves. “1 think I
Tlie 25-year-old operates Jonny Shultz
Clearly, Shultz is one of them.
was one of the first to
Designs, a startup fashion company based in his
“Fashion can give people a voice without
make
fuzzy
scarves,”
says
downtown Portland apartment. This Dayton,
opening their mouth,” explains Shultz. “ It can
Shultz of a fashion genre
Ohio, transplant found his passion for fashion
be an identity, an escape, a release. For many
that only a gay man could have invented.
when his grandmother taught him to crochet
people, hair, makeup and clothes are the first
Before long, he was matching colors and
as a child. He accessorized his family with hats,
place we experiment with ourselves and find
tones to personalities and body types and
scarves and blankets until the onslaught of
out who we are. Sometimes it’s loud and some­
found himself filling custom orders for
puberty and the gender conditioning that
times it’s subdued.”
loyal clients.
accompanies it. Put simply, crocheting “wasn’t
A s a designer, he loves seeing people
Shultz’s current fix:us is shirts and
compatible with what other boys were doing”
exhibit their individuality through what they
handbags— “1 think women should have
at age 1 3 in Middle America.
wear. “They are so powerful, and I Itxik at
hags for everything, even a hag for hags"—
Luckily, teen-age rebellion brought Shultz
them and I imagine, What would I put on
hut he says he’s dying to make a dress. His
back to his passion a few years later, largely out
them
that would marry their personality with
mission
is
to
“create
clothing
that
will
of a desire for self-expression. He found that
my fashion?”
access and reflect people’s personalities”
self-expression through clothing and style. He
Shultz prides himself on his grassroots
and, at least for the moment, to help peo­
says, “For me, it meant coloring my hair and
ple “identify themselves through the col­
going punk— my big ’screw you’ statement.”
Jonny Shultz uses a combination of fabric, grommets and approach to designing and marketing, and
ors they wear.”
crochet along with lots of metal and chains to create one- he considers Portland a cutting-edge place
for fashion because o f its low-key culture.
He’s especially
of-a-kind handbags that aren’t easily lifted by a thief. He
T
he difference between a fashion haven like
drawn to “neon
also designs original shirts with lace crochet detail.
New York City and the urban equivalent of
in small details,
an outlet mall like Portland is that “ in New
fit, which, in the Jonny Shultz Dictionary of
but not like it was in
York there are financial resources to put
the ’80s,” and he’s beg­
Fashion, is synonymous with balance. His
something on the scene faster than else­
ging you boys out there
modus operandi as a designer is about showing
where, but others are looking at Portland for
(hoyz, hois and men,
off the fxxly without being trashy.
inspiration."
“ Baggy clothing,” he cautions, “always
tix>!) to explore colors
Boys: Wear a formfitting shirt that shows off your body yet accom­
shows that you’re self-conscious about your
Shultz is clearly pnxjd of the positive out­
and be more creative
modates the heat and sweat factor. Wear tight pants, but allow those legs
side press coverage of Portland’s fashion scene
with what you wear.
fxxJy. You’re trying to hide something. If you’ve
room to dance (or not, if you prefer to strike a pose off the dance floor).
in recent years.
got the curves, show them!”
But Shultz says
Simple colors outlined with bright colors are in, and cute striped shirts
“ People are doing what they like and wear­
there’s more to self-
On the other hand, don’t cut off hltxxl cir­
are always fun. Also, every man needs a fun
culation
as
you
transform
yourself
into
a
skin­
ing
what they want, and the world just hap­
expression
and
a
gcxxi
little hag to carry around, whether for
pens to be Kxiking at us right now,” observes
Icxik than color: Your
tight piece of eye candy. You’ll nin the risk of
your shirt, the phone numbers you col­
Shultz. “ I think outsiders are realizing that
Itxiking trashy or giving yourself an aneurysm.
lect or other trinkets of the night.
Hxiy is the third
Portland is full of creativity and artistry.”
dimension of an oth­
In summary, if it doesn’t fit, throw it out...or
G irls: Skimpy is in! Wear a nice top
The insiders have their eye on Jonny
erwise two-dimension­ save it for another time when it mil fit.
with color that shows off your body. Try
Shultz, and so can you. in
Shultz likes uniqueness, too. He’s thrilled
al creation with which
on a midlength skirt with high heels.
you cover it. This
that more people, particularly those in their
Think low waistline for pants. Sleeveless
J onny S hultz D esigns /rroducts can he found at
fashion baron starts
shirts are really in right now for girls, espe­
late teens to late 20s, are shunning the pre­
Seaplane, 3352 S.E . Belmont St., and by custom
scribed catalog Ux)k in favor of clothing that
with the premise that
cially for showing off biceps. Rowers, not
order at nancyboy7@hotmail.com.
reflects themselves as individuals.
“everyone’s kxly is
floral, are in. Look for camouflage in differ­
Where to find such articles of self-expres­
beautiful, but you just
ent colors to splash onto the female fashion
M ichael E B arrett is director of marketing for
have to know how to
scene. And don’t forget that handbag!
sion? Not at Wal-Mart or Meier & Frank, hut
triangle productions! and manager of marketing
dress it."
on the racks of vintage clothing stores such as
Oh, and a special note to you Gapsters,
and operations for William S. Findlay and
Red Light and in local shops like Seaplane,
Abercromblings and Banana Republicans:
And size is no
Associates LLC. He's aLso a fitness instructor at
where Shultz sells his creations for women.
Baseball caps and khaki are O U T !
exception. The key is
—MEB
Maumcks Spirts Club and a Gay Games athlete.
to wear clothes that
And he encourages experimentation.
Dress code
Young designer recommends color,
dimension and self-expression
Opening the closet
Going out? Follow these tips
from Jonny, the Handbag Architect.
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