LEARN TO SWIM

This morning's big wave alert made me glad to know how to swim.  I was recently at the library doing some research.   I found this photograph in a book.  These are young navy lads learning to swim...on land.  So strange, yet so wonderful. Right?

MY IDOL, CIRCA 1971

THIS WEEK MARKS THE PASSING OF ONE OF MY MOST INFLUENTIAL STYLE ICONS, SHIRLEY BROWER.  SHIRLEY WAS THE GRANDMOTHER OF MY MAIN MAN LUKE.  HER TASTE WAS PERFECTION.  SHE WAS MORE COMFORTABLE IN HER SKIN THAN ANYONE I HAVE EVER MET.  SHE HAD A GLORIOUS LAUGH, AND IF I COULD BE AS PUT TOGETHER AS SHE WAS JUST 1 DAY A MONTH, I WOULD BE CONTENT.  SHE WAS A HUGE SUPPORTER OF JK.  I THINK OF HER EVERY DAY.  

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME SNAPSHOTS OF HER IN 1971. THE GORGEOUS MAN ON HER ARM IS HER HUSBAND NED BROWER.  NED WAS A FASHION MAN.  HE OWNED BEAU BRUMMEL CRAVAT HOUSE.  SOME OF YOU OLDER READERS MAY REMEMBER HIM AS THE MAN WHO GAVE RALPH LAUREN HIS START.  RALPH LIPSCHITZ  (THAT WAS HIS NAME BACK THEN) AND NED STARTED A HIGH END LINE OF TIES CALLED THE "POLO" LINE.  WHEN RALPH WENT OUT ON HIS OWN, GRANDPA NED GAVE HIM THE POLO LINE AS HIS PARTING GIFT.  WHAT A GUY.  

THESE IMAGES ARE FROM A SILK BUYING TRIP TO ITALY. 

STRAIGHT OFF THE YSL RUNWAY, RIGHT?

WITH A DAPPER SILK DEALER

NOT AFRAID TO STRIKE A POSE WITH A DOOR KNOCKER

SO PERFECT, MY GOD!

SHE BRED NEWFOUNDLANDS.  ONE PUP, NAMED BEAU BRUMMEL, 

WON BEST-IN-SHOW AT WESTMINSTER.  THIS IS NOT HIM.  NOTICE NED'S 

AMAZING LEATHER MAN BAG, AND SHIRLEY'S GUCCI MESSANGER BAG

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT SHIRL!

CASUAL BY THE SEA.  SO GOOD!

I MISS YOU BAD, GIRL.

A FOREST BURNED TO CHARCOAL, DAY INTO NIGHT

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF JESSE KAMM AND CLAIRE OSWALT.  WE WERE IN A FOREST ON A FRIEND'S PROPERTY.  IT HAD BURNED IN A FIRE LONG AGO.  THE TREES LEFT BLACK ON YOUR FINGERS.  IT MADE FACE PAINT. 

AND THEN THE MOON ARRIVED.

ONE FOGGY MORNING

THIS MORNING I WOKE UP TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FOG WHICH HAD ROLLED ALL THE WAY UP THE HILLSIDE TO OUR FRONT DOOR.  IT REMINDED ME OF A MORNING A FEW YEARS BACK.  I DUG UP THESE SNAPSHOTS OF ANOTHER FOGGY DAY... WE FELT LIKE WE WERE ON THE EDGE OF THE EARTH.

                                                                              CLAIRE OSWALT

                                                                                  JESSE KAMM

                                                                                 LUKE BROWER

                                                                                  SAM SHELTON

                                                                    JASON SCHWARTZMAN

           THE LANDSCAPE...

                              

WE ALL TURN TO DUST

IN JANUARY I SPENT A WEEK ON OAHU.  WE STAYED IN MAKAHA.  WE SURFED SOME NICE SWELL,  AND I GOT WHOOPED BY THE SEA.  I WAS TOLD I WAS GONNA GET WHOOPED BY THE LOCALS.  NOPE, THEY LOVED THIS HAOLE.  THEY THOUGHT MY PINK ZINC WAS RADICAL AND "OL SCHOOL, BRA".  I WISH I HAD A PICTURE TO SHOW YOU.  THE PIZZA HUT DELIVERY MAN ASKED ME IF I WAS IN THE SHOW "CATS".  I WAS GOING FOR MORE OF A WAR PAINT FEELING, BUT I DON'T THINK HE GOT THAT.

ONE DAY AFTER A SOLID WHOOPING,  I WENT FOR A HIKE OUT TO KA'ENA POINT.  THIS IS A SACRED PLACE FOR THE HAWAIIANS.  IT IS SAID THAT WHEN YOU DIE, THIS IS THE LAST PLACE YOU SEE BEFORE PASSING ON TO THE NEXT WORLD.  THAT SOUNDED PERFECT.   I FOUND SOME CREATURES WHO CAME HERE TO DIE.  THEY WERE ALSO PERFECT.

HAIKU BY HEATHER FRAZAR

I HAVE AN AMAZING FRIEND.  HER NAME IS HEATHER.  SHE WRITES JAPANESE POETRY.  SHE INSPIRES ME.  MAYBE THE FALL COLLECTION INSPIRED HER.  A HAIKU FOR EACH PRINT.

hypnotic geodes!

rude, unearthed sublunaries -

you don't burn alone

"Geode Storm" Jesse Kamm 2011

kaleidoscopic

hanker-chief patterns; tree leaves

gingko regalia

"Falling Leaves" Jesse Kamm 2011

JESSE KAMM LOVES LAWREN HOWELL

A SNEEK PEAK AT THE FALL 2011 COLLECTION... AND MY MUSE... THE GRACEFUL AND ELEGANT LAWREN HOWELL.  THE JK LOOKBOOK ALWAYS SHOWCASES THE WOMEN IN MY LIFE WHO INSPIRE ME.  THIS SEASON I ASKED LAWREN, WHO HAS IMPECCABLE STYLE AND TASTE, AND IS A CLASSIC BEAUTY. SHE IS ONE OF VOGUE'S WEST COAST EDITORS, AND MY HOMEGIRL.  SHE TOOK THE COLLECTION AND MADE IT HER OWN, BRINGING IN HER OWN RAD DIGS TO ACCESSORIZE... VINTAGE OXFORDS, PROENZA HEELS, PENDELTON HATS, SUZANNE DONEGAN JEWELS, AND A SMATTERING OF OTHER AMAZING PIECES THAT MADE ME WANT TO SNEAK AWAY WITH HER LANVIN BAG OF ACCESSORIES AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND BLAME IT ON AN INTERN.  JOKE.  SHOT BY MY MAIN MAN, THE EVER FABULOUS LUKE BROWER.  MORE ON FALL COMING SOON!!! ENJOY.