Seaplane

This WAS my favorite store in Portland, hands down!
Now… it’s so very awful i don’t know what to do. New location, new owner, new selection of clothes, and new creepy dude working there. Same guy that was mentioned in a variety of other posts. It’s all true, and he’s super creepy. Last time I went by there I had brought a friend to show my Favorite store in Portland, not aware of the major transformations that had occurred, and was so embarrassed we had to leave, quickly.
So sad… a tear.

Was sooooo excited to check out this place on Portland trip. My Portlandian host & I arrived at what we thought was the Seaplane location to find a large vacated store. We looked up their new location (Thanks Unilocal Mobile App!) to see that it was right around the corner on 23^rd. We perused the block a few times and finally decided that Seaplane did not in fact exist. After asking various store clerks, we were told that Seaplane is above the PopUpShoppe. So we go to the PopUpShoppe, wait around for them to open up (late) and finally get the real scoop– Seaplane is out of business.
Frustrating. Update your website please.

I think this place is great, although a bit expensive. Lots of cool, original clothes.

Ok, here’s the thing. I love that seaplane still carries local and independent designers even though they got bought out, and I love their new location. Why two stars? Because the annoying guy who was working drove us out of the store.
I went this weekend with a friend to check out some potential bridesmaid dress ideas. We walked by this dude playing his guitar on the sidewalk singing some random song. As we passed him, he said, «be right in, ladies.» At first I was confused and thought a busker was following us in, which was creepy. No, it turns out he worked there, and had left the shop to play on the street. A little weird, but whatever.
He then proceeded to but in our conversation, and loudly proclaimed that NPR was run by mass media conglomerates and wasn’t worth listening to. (Not the best thing to tell two potential customers who love NPR.) Then he started rambling about radio from Sweden that tells «the other side of the truth,» which is what people in power call «conspiracies.» My friend and I tried to ignore him, and she grabbed two things and headed to the dressing room. As she headed back, he said, «Let me know if you need any opinions on how things look on you. I’m pretty good at that.» Needless to say I ran back to the room to help/​guard my friend. Oh, and he kept singing about beautiful ladies under his breath the whole time we were there.
My friend tried the two things on as quick as she could and we bolted out of there. It’s a shame; there was a beautiful dress on display in my size that I wanted to try on, but I didn’t want to interact with that salesguy any more than necessary. Potential sale lost because of creepy/​annoying employee.
My friend and I talked about the experience afterward and agreed that he sucked and drove us from the store. I thought maybe it was just a fluke thing, but then I talked to a couple of other people about it and they had the same complaints! What the hell, Seaplane? Why are you still employing this guy? He’s driving away customers in a not so good economy. Fire his ass, and hire one of the plethora of awesome Portlanders looking for a job!

So sad, this shop used to be so great. I went in the other day and was completely dismayed at the selection. Not to mention the bored salesgirl could barely look up from the computer screen. They used to have such inspiring clothing and now it seems like a flea market. I will spend my hard earned money elsewhere!

I dream of selling my book or meeting a nice, yet very wealthy man so I can actually buy something in this gorgeous place. It’s full of local, hipster designers who make clothes you’d actually have some place to wear — plus, you’d be comfortable in them.
I can’t even talk about the dresses, they kind of make me misty eyed for a return to glamour and make me want it to be ok to wear a chiffon-​based shift while I laze about my apartment in the mornings.
The jewelery is equally amazing, and if you’ve got cash and want incredible one (or two) of a kind pieces, this is where you need to go. If any one sees my sugar daddy, do send him in to Seaplane to pick me up something pretty.
Nice salespeople — they never make me feel like I can’t afford to be in there. Even though I can’t.

Seaplane is the cornerstone for local fashion hailing from PDX and its been a fixture in the community since way back when it used to live on Belmont!
With innovative and beautiful fashions displayed in their windows, I was compelled to look here for a dress to wear to a friend’s wedding. I found the perfect dress and it was adorable and unlike anything I had ever seen.
If you’ve got the money and want unusual pretty clothes, go to Seaplane.

Seaplane. Quite possibly the mother of Portland fashion. I remember years ago after I had just gotten out of college walking into the old Belmont location and being amazed at what I found. It takes some time before a new Portlander realizes how much talent really does live here, and Seaplane was one of my first wake up calls. Sure, it’s expensive sometimes, but this is world class, locally designed fashion, and if it’s not going to be expensive, what is? Also they do have men’s clothes as well, just not nearly as much of it.

seaplane’s really great. definitely one of the best boutiques in town.
the clothes are beautiful (though i also tire of the deconstructed look) the jewelry’s really awesome, and whatever other miscellany they have lying about always seems like a justifiable purchase.
i’ve been in a number of times. there are a few ladies who are super friendly and helpful. there have a been a few times, however, when hardly a word was spoken. one of the owners was on the phone the whole time while i was the only person in the store. i understand that business must be conducted via telephone, but damn girl, i am a customer! in the store! right now! i totally would have bought something if she had considered engaging me, but alas, it clearly wasn’t that important.
it surely doesn’t stop me from going back, but it’s still a little annoying.
come on seaplane, help me love you!
p. s. they do sell some of my fav. shoes by melissa. they smell like gummy erasers!

I love this store — I don’t even live in Portland (or Oregon, for that matter) but I will always go out of my way to swing by when I’m in town. Beautiful, unique clothes, pricey but a better buy than something at Nordstroms that everyone will end up with. Plus, they support local/​indie designers, and when is that not cool?

Seaplane was formed by local designers years ago, when the Portland fashion scene was still in its infancy. In fact, Seaplane is perhaps the mother of the current Portland fashion scene. The most unusual tops, skirts, and jewelry can be found at this shop, but all the designers are small and the time spent on each piece if apparent.
There is an emphasis on layers of different fabrics stitched over each other, and the result is clothing that announces itself. It can also be ridiculous, but it’s fun to see clothing that is wild and unexpected. The things that I own from Seaplane are all things I’ve kept with me for years and will wear until they fall off.
Seaplane hosts fabulous fashion shows, including one with Pinkham Millenry on the roof of the Weiden + Kennedy building.

It has come a long way from the home sewing central that it used to be. Apparently a lot of people without a lot of talent thought that they could pass off poorly constructed pieces as «progressive’ and ‘deconstructed». Ummm, we’re on to you.
My bf got a killer jacket there a while ago and it is very well done and original, so my mind was changed.
They have some sweet accessories, but be prepared to shell out for them.
I give it one extra star since they were one of the few storefronts to carry the «VOTE» wristbands during the last election.

Everyone loves Seaplane — I think it has nice, but overpriced things. It is a good place to buy gifts for other people though.
NOTE: SEAPLANE HAS MOVED — it is now located at 827 NW 23^rd Portland, OR 97 210 503.234.2409

One of the best boutique stores in Portland. This is one of the reason’s why I’m convinced that Portland has better shopping than just about anywhere else. Everything in here is one of a kind. A bit pricy but totally unique and always beautiful. Nice space, great clothes.