New Yorker Mary Adams is known for her custom party dress collections—her clients include Amy Sedaris, who wrote the forward to The Party Dress Book, in which Adams lets spill some of her favorite techniques so that you can DIY your own couture at home (although be warned, this is not a beginner's sewing book. I would refer beginning crafters of all sorts to the published output of the previously mentioned Sedaris). What many in Portland's youthful independent apparel scene may not know is that Adams is originally from Oregon, and began her design and sewing career in Portland in the '70s before striking out to New York in 1983. She's now touring with her new tome, making an appearance at Powell's main branch this Sunday at 4 pm for a presentation and signing, as well as interviewing on KABOO on Tuesday at 11:30, and making a second appearance at the Ristretto cafe on Williams on Thursday at 7 pm. Check out the book and meet the legend—I'm dying to know if she's poked around the work of current Portland designers, especially considering some of her founding influences are Japanese (Liza Rietz! Emily Ryan!) and Americana (Church + State!).
