Publication ranks Portlanders among the worst dressed in America

Something my friend and BDN Business Editor Matt Wickenheiser once wrote of Forbes magazine I can now begin saying about Travel + Leisure: Another week, another mention of Maine.

For the most part, Travel + Leisure’s got good things to say about Portland. The nationwide publication called 555 one of the country’s best brunch spots, and previously touted the city’s Farmers Market as one of the tops.

In its latest rankings, however, Travel + Leisure is listing Portlanders among the worst dressed citizens in America.

Maine’s largest city comes in No. 8 on the unflattering list, sandwiched between No. 7 Atlanta, which is blasted for the gaudy attire displayed on the reality TV show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and No. 9 Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., teased for being home to a museum exhibit dedicated to the bolo tie.

But even in describing why Portland has been placed in this dubious ranking, Travel + Leisure is kind enough to sugar coat it a little. The “worst dressed” list was developed using the results of a reader survey, and Portland did well in other parts of the survey, the publication points out. Here’s the blurb corresponding to the city’s entry on the list:

With some of the most limited shopping options in America and one of its least diverse populations, Portland isn’t where you come to try on cutting-edge clothing. But that’s just fine because the city slays the competition in other areas, placing first in five survey categories, including best summer destination and best drivers.

If you’re wondering, Anchorage, Alaska, is No. 1 on the list.

And don’t forget, it wasn’t too long ago that Men’s Health proclaimed Portland No. 2 in the country in terms of “where the babes are.”

Seth Koenig

About Seth Koenig

Seth has nearly a decade of professional journalism experience and writes about the greater Portland region.