Meet the Duchess Team! Part 1: The Showroom
DUCHESS CLOTHIER
is made up of a wildly talented team of folks with varied interests and insatiable curiosity.
We’re excited to meet ya!
At DUCHESS, we are a small but mighty team of creative powerhouses.
Comprised of 6 human folks, 1 kitty staffer and a lovable support team. Between the Showroom (front of house), Alterations Annex (behind the scenes) & Support (behind behind-the-scenes) - we often find ourselves overlapping roles, because we just cannot be contained.
Allow us to introduce:
our Showroom folks
Katie Reynolds Yang
General Manager / Consultant
Pattern slasher. Fabric Hoarder.
Ex-coloratura turned bespoke suit goblin with a "notions" addiction.
Aries - Built for client consultations, textile tantrums, and running on espresso and melon hi-chew
Scrappy - Sentimental - SENSITIVE (can't lie)
Film/TV that’s inspired my sense of fashion, or just outright blew my mind with wardrobe:
… also early Vivienne Westwood and Comme des Garcons runway shows, random sewing patterns from thrift stores; and that one episode of Hoarders with the vintage prom dresses.
Favorite (hidden) talent: singing (emphasis on hidden, haha)
Language I’d most like to learn: Korean
Favorite ice cream flavor: Black Sesame
Favorite snack-food: Pickles, crumbly salty cheese, tomatoes, crusty bread & soft pretzels
Books/Films that should be required reading/viewing:
Most memorable experience of media:
Seeing the Alan Vega Archive at Boo-Hooray in Chinatown
Favorite PDX Food cart: Nong's prob doesn't count anymore, but it's my favorite of all time.
Portland Delight: There are a ton, but one biggie is the costume/prop display at Movie Madness.
Baili
Consultant / Alterations Assistant
Never half-ass; always full-ass.
Gemini
chaotic-good cat lady
Film/TV that’s inspired my sense of fashion: Hear me out…
Ally McBeal -
I will never get enough of the iconic mini skirt/oversized blazer look
Favorite (hidden) talent: I'm like 99% sure that I can talk to cats. Ask any of 'em! ;)
Favorite ice cream flavor: Salt n Straw olive oil!
Favorite snack-food: I know they're not really a snack, but I could eat my weight in pickles if given the means and opportunity.
Favorite travel destination: I fall in love with Stockholm a little more every time I visit.
Language I’d most like to learn: Svenska!
A Favorite Duchess project:
Easily this little number I made for a Vegas wedding a few years back.
It was 100% worth the painstaking hours spent attaching the fringe and applique. My hope is that everyone can feel as badass in their suit as I felt in mine!
Bucket list concert or show: Cage the Elephant, SZA, Shania Twain, just to name a few.
Most likely to listen to: 9/10 times if I'm listening to music, it's Babygirl. Look them up!
Song lyrics that best reflect my inner self/view of the world:
The entirety of "Wide Open Spaces" by the Chicks. It never feels irrelevant.
Most memorable experience of media:
Moulin Rouge! Movie and/or Broadway.
Books I think should be required reading:
I've read all of Thomas Hardy's works, but I reread this one (Far from the Maddening Crowd) time and again. It's so under-appreciated!
And Dahl’s Matilda is probably the book that most influenced my development.
Favorite PDX Food cart: GNARLYS!!
Portland Delight: You never have to go far to find some solid vegan food. You don't realize how much of a blessing it is until you leave town.
Foley
Showroom Manager
Display design & maker extraordinaire
Sagittarius
Problem-solver - Artist - Shark expert
Talent I’m most proud of:
I am a very skilled Cat Father. I fostered a litter of kittens and though their momma was a foster fail (she stayed with us), all her children have gone on to happy homes where they are thriving. Helping raise them is honestly one of my proudest achievements.
Favorite ice cream flavor: Mint Chip
Favorite snack-food:
White cheddar popcorn
…that I share with my cat, Robin
Dream / favorite travel destination: Japan or Scotland
Languages I most want to learn: Japanese or Korean
Most likely to listen to: D&D Podcasts - Dimension20, Worlds Beyond Number, Tales of Rude Magic, The Adventure Zone, Critical Role. And even though it’s not D&D, if I need a little radio drama horror, I love The Magnus Archive and its spin off, The Magnus Protocol. Basically, please tell me stories!!
Favorite/most recommended podcast:
World's Beyond Number - The Wizard, The Witch, and The Wild One
(original artwork for Worlds Beyond Number - by Corey Brickley)
Most memorable experience of media:
Every Florence and the Machine concert I've been lucky enough to see… every one but the original Lungs tour.
Favorite PDX Food cart: Taqueria Luna! Specifically the Luna Burrito… that thing has bacon and jalapenos in it. It’s divine.
That’s our Showroom Crew!
Come back to meet more of the team in our next post:
Alterations (behind the scenes)
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