MUSICEYES & EDGE May 02, 2013
Solestruck, Punk Fashion and a Blackbox Block Party
Until a year ago, Solestruck didn't have a men's presence, said Henry Bae, the assistant men's buyer for the brand.Much like the broader world of fashion, Solestruck primarily caters to women. The brand showcases edgy women's shoes, including chunky high heels, silver metallic loafers and combat booties with a sole so thick they look like they could tread tracks all over you. But Bae, who wore a pair of flower-patterned Dr. Martens to our interview, believes there is a place for well-made, quality men's shoes too."Men's fashion is really categorized," Bae said. "So we try to represent what girls do. Girls have lots of different styles. That's what we try to do."To boost the Solestruck name in men's shoes, Bae helped design Solestruck's latest punk-themed lookbook of men's shoes by Vivienne Westood, K.T.Z. and the Adidas collaboration with Opening Ceremony and Jeremy Scott, among others. Bae chose the punk movement because it's currently influencing so much of fashion. For instance, there's an exhibit about punk at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, he said."The punk movement is kind of against everything that fashion is," Bae said. "Fashion is aristocracy, caste system, hierarchy... so we knew that we couldn't capture authentic punk, because Solestruck is fashion." So Bae spun his own fashion take on punk. Men's fashion tends to be bland, Bae said. It either leans toward the Japanese street style-influenced outfits of hip hop artists Kanye West and Pharrell Williams, or East Coast prep. He hopes that his careful curating of men's shoes introduces Portland men to Solestruck's pioneering spirit and against-the-grain attitude."We like being that place for people who don't feel like they fit in with any fashion movements," Bae said.Solestruck and fellow shops Yo Vintage!, Reveille, Tanner Goods and Poler -- all of which are housed in the same black building -- are hosting a Blackbox Block Party. Solestruck will have perks of 15 percent off everything during the event, plus complimentary gifts, drinks and music. (And as if you needed another reason to go, Jeffrey Campbell shoes will be 30 percent off.)Blackbox Block PartySaturday, May 4. 2-5 pm.SW 13th Avenue and Burnside Street Written by: Dominique FongFollow @dominiquefong //
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