Narcisse

Unfortunately this awesome boutique is CLOSED. Even their website has disappeared:
This shop was a dark and gothic yet romantic gem, I’m extremely disappointed they don’t even have an online shop or Etsy store.

NARCISSE IS CLOSED. 9÷24÷2011
When I need some style inspiration or want to buy a skirt or dress that’s a bit unusual, this is where I come. Narcisse carries one of my favorite European brands, Noa Noa, from Denmark. The clothes are romantic with an edge, made of high quality fabric and muted prints, and basic black, of course. No neon or tiny miniskirts here. It’s one of the few places I can find an interesting skirt for work that isn’t too short or too dowdy.
The two owners are helpful and pleasant. It’s a fun place to shop — it’s a large warehouse kind of space with interesting antiques and furniture used to display the clothes. They also sell jewelry — some fun steampunk necklaces were there last time I went.
Nice atmosphere, nice staff, good quality clothes, shoes and jewelry you won’t find just anywhere.

WHAT A FEAST!
If you are, as I am, a «dark romantic» then this little shop will not fail to captivate you. Its for those who aspire to dress with inspiration!
I pride myself on finding those little shops that quietly put themselves out there with what they carry; Beautiful Edwardian inspired outfits! Most are euro imported and very unique to the Northwest.
The visual displays are deeply, dark oaky — blends nicely with the clothing.
Owner of this little is one fabulous cup of niceness as I greedily snapped up biz cards and quizzed on the clothing.
All I can end with is that you will surely find that unique piece here which will soon become a staple in anyone’s antique wardrobe.

Yesterday I treated myself, since it was my annual 29^th birthday… by popping in here to Narcisse. This is a little Victorian jewelbox of a place, if ever there was one! Actually, it is not that ‘little’ — the store is a large space with many little vignettes throughout, creating slightly different feels in each. The co-​owner, Dawn, is lovely to talk with & very knowledgeable about clothing, in particular the brand NOA NOA.
The shop has been described in other reviews, but let me add that this is NOT the place to go if you are into loud colors, big prints, or the ubiquitous Portland 70’s thing (sheesh — what IS that, anyway?!). Think: Victorian, slightly steam-​punkish, high quality fabrics with a European sensibility. Hopefully this makes sense. This is Romantic, but not in the manufactured sense a la Anthropologie where everything is dripping with doo-​dads. This is simpler, with gorgeous construction, simpler color palettes, and considerable attention to detail.
I bought a pin tucked cream colored Cape Cod cotton blouse and a gray shrug with terrific detailing. These 2 items cost me less than many of the jeans I have spotted around town, and are wearable for all seasons, including this latest cold snap. I am a very happy shopper & I plan on making Narcisse a regular stop whenever my wallet will allow. If you are in need of a gift or something lovely for yourself, this is the place to go!

I popped into nearby boutiques: Covet, Frances May, Odessa after coming here. I am not going to review those places because I’d probably give them an unfair 1 or 2 star review for being a stuffy white shoebox of a store with a dozen $ 700 size zero shirts scrambling to stay on their hangers. Clearly I am not the target market (or wallet?) for those stores.
Ahem. This is about Narcisse. Narcisse is not like those stores. It’s got some personality. The first thing that struck me about the store was the ambience. It’s dark but rich. The fitting room walls are constructed of antique salvaged doors. Props and such build a mood around the store. And the store, it is large — you can browse here. They have a range of sizes and prices.
It’s still a boutique to be certain, this isn’t a stuffed-​rack Anthropologie. The pieces seem hand-​picked and thoughtfully grouped for mood and ensemble.
The shop owner was kind and attentive as needed but yet didn’t make me feel weird or watched for being the only one in the store at the time.
I bought a cute NOA NOA dress which happened to be on the sale rack — yay! — for $ 135 I think.
Congrats on your one-​year anniversary, Narcisse. I’ll definitely return.

I’m going to be spending some serious time in this shop! They have beautiful, feminine, high-​quality clothing at prices you would expect from an independently-​owned boutique. I might describe the clothing in there as Laura Ingalls Wilder meets urban Victorian. Wow, that was a scary glimpse inside my head.
It’s a decent size — not one of those places that has a couple of dresses and a pair of $ 400 jeans. You can really browse here. There was a cool cross-​stitched looking necklace that I’ll be thinking about for a while!
Narcisse is in an area of PDX that is starting to get really interesting, with a few charming clothes shops. I had a chat with one of the store owners while I browsed — she was lovely and really friendly. I’ll definitely be back, and hope Portland’s commitment to supporting local businesses means this place is around for a long time!