Mabel and Zora

I am such a fan of quality retail not too far from home! I went to this boutique looking for a specific type of dress and found more than what I was expecting! They were able to help me find exactly what I was looking for. I also love that Mable & Zora’s is online so I can always browse from home. I will definitely be shopping in the future at this great boutique!

Another new boutique on Alberta! I can’t keep track of them all!
But I find myself gravitating to them everytime I visit the homeland of P-​town.
We walked in and immediately began sifting thru the racks… HOWEVER, I am not rich, therefore a dress that is priced at $ 150 and not very flattering (remember the «I’m short» comment?) I walk away from.
And then there was the sales rack.
Oh the sales rack.
I found the cuteness in the form of $ 50 (NO SALES TAX, BITCHES!) & bought it right then and there.
And I supported a local business. *grin*

Being a person that loves to support local businesses, especially those close to home, I was so happy the first day I found Mabel and Zoras. I wouldn’t call myself a fashion maven, as I don’t really have the budget or time for that, but Corey always makes me feel like a princess when I’m there and a diva on my way out the door. Corey and his wife Tiffany have created a fun, upbeat, bright and cheery (SO nice on a dreary PDX day!) store that any girl can’t bear to resist. The couple take frequent trips to L.A. and Vegas to bring back the latest styles while making sure that the prices aren’t Madison Avenue expensive. Mabel and Zoras is my go to for the I’m-dying-for-something-new or the must-​have-​new-​dress-​for-​work or it’s-my-girlfriend’s-birthday-and-we’re-going-out outfit.
I mostly shop the Alberta location — a quick trip from home. The way Corey and Tiffany have set up this shop just seems to make sense to me… clothes are organized by style, color, trend. Knowing what colors work on me and what doesn’t, while usually having in mind what I’m looking for, allows me to move through the store easily. That being said, Corey has a GREAT eye for fashion and has often suggested items to me that I’ve ended up absolutely loving. He’s also honest — I trust him when he says to pass on it! I love that he doesn’t try to ‘sell’ me into every thing I bring into the dressing room.
New styles and pieces come in every week, if not every day, so I’ve never been to the store and seen the same things twice. Bags and jewelry, local and imported, complete the look and save you trips to multiple stores. I also appreciate that Mabel and Zoras supports local designers like Sofada (Alice — you rock, girl!), which helps reduce their carbon footprint as well as puts dollars back into our local economy.
If given half the chance, I’d make M and Z my personal, gi-​normous walk-​in closet. Until then, I guess I’ll just have to share it with my fellow Portland fashionistas.

as a former boutique owner (in san francisco), i look at shops with a certain eye. this one caught mine in a big way. i’m on a yellow, black & white kick right now (also the colors for my wedding cocktail hour) — so i’m especially smitten. i love the cute décor details — which i think is very important in a shopping experience. the little vintage inspired owls, the darling & accessories, merchandised wonderfully by color and relatively affordable.
now if only i could buy these wares wholesale like i’m accustomed…

Mabel and Zora was the first stop in my dress shopping adventure yesterday. They had lots of cute dresses, but only 2 in my size that I thought would work for me. And the first one I tried on fit! That never happens. Sadly I didn’t totally dig the print. The guy manning the store (I didn’t catch his name) told me I looked gorgeous and offered to hold the dress for 24 hours so I could continue shopping since it was my first stop. I wish the pattern was cuter, but the fit was perfect, and for that and the mere $ 70 price tag for a fancy dress they get 4 stars. If you’re not so hard to fit you’ll find tons of cute things here.

What can I say, Tiffanee and Cory have this retail thing down. The finish out, the marketing, the merchandise, all executed flawlessly. I haven’t been to the Pearl location yet but the Alberta one is bright and inviting. I adore the Doris Day theme. They offer great fashions in a wide range of sizes and prices. Oh how I keep thinking about that luggage with the fuzzy vintage-​looking fabric they carry. And shoes! I purchased some awesome white boots adorned with green crows from them last year. If you are out for a day of browsing best not to stop here because you will be opening your wallet!

Oh my… this store is a dream come true. I would say I love about 80% of the items in this store, which is pretty high for me! Usually, at other stores, it’s a monotonous routine of sifting through the so-​so items and finding a gem in the rough. At Mabel & Zora, EVERY item seems to be (and probably is) hand-​selected to be cute, cool, fairly-​priced, and chic. I have been to this store 3 times, and have purchased something every time. It has honestly gotten to the point where I know I will spend money when I enter, so I have to enter the store judiciously! The owners, a husband-​wife team, are very friendly and the store staff are as good as personal shoppers. Usually I am not interested in unsolicited advice or being haggled by salespeople, but at Mabel & Zora it’s like I miraculously love everything they suggest. Today they happened to have some sort of occasion and were serving champagne and cupcakes while you shop. Seriously heaven!

So I’ve never been to the store. I won’t lie.
BUT, today at the Bargain Hunting 101 event, I was helped by the nicest people and got pretty much the best purse ever for $ 12! And on top of it, a cute cute CUTE dress for $ 25. I would have kept looking if I wasn’t getting run over by hoards of people trying to get the same deals. I will definitely be visiting the store ASAP so I can shop without fearing for my physical safety.

Laura rhymes with Zora.
Will you adopt me?
I’m not too sure who these famed «Mabel and Zora» figures are, but I betcha they’re young… betcha they’re smart… because they have managed to put an affordable collection of the cutest clothes, shoes, art, jewelry, and other odd bits under one roof.
And I want to live there… inside of a Doris Day movie. Forever.

Cute clothes
Cute clothes in my size.
Cute clothes in my size and price range.
Cute clothes in my size and price range and a big bucket of blocks to entertain the small child.
Mabel & Zora is one of the adorable girly boutiques on Alberta that I’ve walked by a million times thinking that they’d have nothing in my size, price range, and would give me the stink-​eye for bringing in the small child. Wrong on all accounts. Awesome retro-​inspired screaming green winter coat: $ 98. Black swing skirt with hand-​sewn flowery appliqus that made small child go «ooooh, buy it momma»: $ 60. I wanted to try on everything in the store but refrained. After one visit, I’m sold.

Remember that skit Molly Shannon used to do on SNL where she was the talk show host that would get up on her upholstered chair, and kick one leg out while shouting, I love it, I love it, I love it??? That’s me in this store. I love boutique shopping because I hate the teen meat market scene you get at the mall, but I hate boutique prices. $ 300 for a t-​shirt — WHAT???
But at Mabel & Zora, they have cute, trendy clothes that won’t break the bank. And the owners and staff are very friendly and will help you look for that unique little something you’ve been looking for.

Mabel and Zora’s is one of the many boutiques on Alberta that stocks pretty dresses and bags in a tasteful decorated retail space geared for well-​dressed ladies living in Northeast Portland. Some of their brands include French Connection, Hazel, Sweet Pea, Jaloux, Sweetees, Joe’s Jeans, and Catherine Manuell Designs.
With Doris Day as the inspiration for this locally-​owned boutique, the clothes and the store itself are (to be expected) cheery and colorful.

Walking into Mabel and Zora’s is pure-​yummy-​happy. Picture the set of a Doris Day flick with cheery yellow walls and elegant drapes flowing from the ceiling and you’ve got the vibe of this charming boutique.
The selection of clothing, accessories and jewelry is sassy-​elegant with a splash of pep and personality. And the dresses… oh the dresses… they will turn you into a giddy girl who swoons over Cary Grant and Clark Gable movies.

Michelle B. beat me to the punch. I thought long and hard about Unilocaling this darling boutique for fear that word would get out and all of the clothes I have been hoarding and saving for would be gone. I love this boutique so much. It may not be for everybody but I walk in there and pretty much every item calls to me. They have some upper end things that are pricey but most of it is very reasonable.
Best of all the couple who owns the joint have the sweetest story. The boutique just opened last summer and they sold their house in Arizona to come to Portland and invest the money in their dream clothing boutique. They have the right idea for sure and I don’t mind supporting their nest egg one bit.
The jewelry here is also fantastic. I believe just one woman designs it all. She can be found in the store from time to time and she also will custom design something for you if you just ask. Her items are reasonably priced as well. All in all this place is my haven and I try to stop in once a week to get my fix.

Two little owls sit outside of Mabel and Zora and beckon you into the fun little boutique. The style is definitely laid back in here with cotton prints dominating the scene and bright colors punching through the usual black staples. The prices are downright reasonable which gives me something to hoot about.