The Portland Style Council! Liz of Xtabay

February's Portland Style Council interview is with Liz Gross of Xtabay.
Xtabay is located at 2515 S.E. Clinton Street

-How long have you owned your store for?
   
I have owned the Xtabay since August of 2001. 

-How long have you been collecting vintage clothing for?
   
I started collecting vintage clothing when I was a junior in highschool.

-What got you into vintage clothing?
   
A girlfriend took me to Value Village for the first time and I was absolutely blown away, back then you could find amazing stuff for like 69 cents--nobody really cared about it back then.

-What are your favorite eras of clothing?
   
I love the 60's, the really structured mod stuff that makes you look encased in fabric.I love the 50's for the really curvy wiggle dresses that give your body the most incredible hourglass shape.

-Who are some of your favorite vintage designers?
   
Peggy Hunt--who made these incredible silk cocktail dresses with alot of sheer netting to create the illusion of bare skin, I try to collect her pieces, also I love Teal Traina, B.H Wragge who did all these fabulous 60's silk prints and always put the date the dress was made on the label. A girlfriend just bought one here the other day for $98- a total steal for such an incredible work of art.

-Who are some of your favorite modern designers?
   
I love the prints Prada comes up with and the over the top glamour of Dolce and Gabbana...Though I've never owned anything by either of them. I like their ads though.

-What would be your ultimate vintage find?
   
I have had this Fantasy for a long time of finding a warehouse filled to the brim with deadstock 70's space-dyed cowlnecks, every color, never worn, Ah... it sounds so delicious I cant stand it!

-Where do you do the majority of your vintage shopping- garage, estate and rummage sales, thrift stores, vintage stores, online vintage stores or eBay?
   
Most of my collection comes from Estate sales and kind people that invite me over to go through their closets.

-Who are some of your favorite style icons?
   
Elizabeth Taylor and Little Edie Beale--I love a woman in a turban! I also love the look going on on the cover of Lazy Afternoon by Barbra Streisand...

Growing up I loved Erica Kane on All My Children and was totally inspired by her.

-Do you collect any other types of collectibles or antiques?
   
These days I collect glamourous pill containers, old perfumes and cocktail rings...

*Thanks to Liz for participating in our Portland Style Council interview!

*The fabulous picture of Liz posted above was taken by Ann Ploeger

You too could be featured on Shop Vintage Portland's Style Council!

  Just email me- shopvintageportland (at) yahoo.com a photo of yourself wearing vintage clothing or a photo of yourself standing by whatever it is that you collect and answer my Interview Questions:

    -How long have you owned your store for? (Question for store owners only)
    -How long have you been collecting vintage clothing for?
    -What got you into vintage clothing?
    -What are your favorite eras of clothing?
    -What do you like about clothing from these eras?
    -Who are some of your favorite vintage designers?
    -Who are some of your favorite modern designers?
    -What would be your ultimate vintage find?
    -Where do you do the majority of your vintage shopping- garage, estate and rummage sales, thrift stores, vintage stores, online vintage stores or eBay?
    -Who are some of your favorite style icons?
    -What are your favorite vintage movies, music and television programs?
    -Do you collect any other types of collectibles or antiques?

    *You must live in the Portland, Oregon Metro Area to participate*
   
    *Anyone who is a collector or store owner of any type of cool and interesting vintage stuff can participate- just change the words vintage clothing into whatever it is that you collect- for instance- "How long have you been collecting vintage furniture for?"