I last ran into the talented Ms. Kate Jones while she was on her way to deliver some olive oil cake she had just made to La Colombe, who she does some baking for. I couldn't get olive oil cake off my brain for some time after that. But that's neither here nor there. Quite simply, Kate's one of the most stylish women I know(proof; HERE). I've long admired her for her distinct singularity and effortlessness. In addition to being such a stylish lass, she's also the creator of the equally unique Ursa Major Collection, a line of jewelry she designs and is so very often wearing the hell out off. You can also check out the Ursa Major blog, the always inspiring Pointer Stars. I'm stoked to have had such a great response from Kate and with great pleasure, I present the three things(maybe four) that have Kate Stoked for Fall.
Bags are carried, backpacks are worn. And not since slinging around the classic LL Bean book bag, writing on it and generally beating the crap out of it as a grade schooler, have a worn a backpack. As a bike rider, I have carried a number of various messenger bags, my ZO and ReLoad(who incidentally offer a nice waxed canvas backpack)being two greats. Off the bike, I've stuck mostly to Filson totes and the like. And there's been no shortage of shine given to all the various "manly" totes here over the years. But the idea of the simple, classic backpack or rucksack has been growing on me as of late. During the mountaineering equipment boom in the 70's, seems every hippie(no offense to hippies.I love you lefty pinkos. wink.)had a sewing machine and a dream, producing their own variations of the classic rucksack. 30 years later, vintage rucksacks can be found at most any flea market or thrift store. While I'm not up in the Gunks, scaling the Trapps all too often(i.e. never), leaving the house can sometimes feel like an adventure in its own right and in this spirit, I did a little digging and came up with a short list of a few of the best out there today.
It may be hard to believe, but Supreme opened on Lafayette in '94. The past sixteen years is the subject of a new book published by Rizzoli. Contributors include Glenn O'Brien and Aaron Bondaroff, with an interview between founder James Jebbia and artist and frequent collaborator KAWS. Available at SUPREME.
Always on point, SUPREME ushers in the coming heat with some serious heat of their own. SS10 is full of striped pocket tees, more Zip Zingers (a particular fellow blogger should be especially stoked on those pictured), Ripstop Crushers, chino workshorts, clean s/s oxfords, dope outwear(as usual) and you know I love the nunchucks. Looking forward to cruising the city streets this summer on one of those decks. If there'r even any left. Get over to Lafayette st. or N. Fairfax while the gettin's still good.
Without a doubt, as iconic of a spot as any. I first visited the banks in '91, while in NY to visit some schools. I remember being just totally overwhelmed by the entire experience. Washington Square, getting 40's from any corner bodega, being wild in the streets. But more so, to skate such a spot and with total rippers, and not be in Cali. Being there felt like a rite of passage. Back then, felt like there was such a focus on the west coast, EMB being this Mecca(a pilgrimage I would make a few years later myself) for skateboarders and ground zero for what skating was moving towards. But there have always been such rippers on this side of the country, having to make due and compete with the shitty streets, the weather, cabbies, over-zealous security guards, etc. SHUT, ZOO YORK, SUPREME...born from these streets. And too many skaters to name. Brooklyn Banks will be under construction until 2014. Whether they will be skateable once construction ends remains to be seen. Among the clips below, Edison, New Jersey native Mike Vallely makes a last trip back to his old haunt and tells it like he remembers.
I last ran into the talented Ms. Kate Jones while she was on her way to deliver some olive oil cake she had just made to La Colombe, who she does some baking for. I couldn't get olive oil cake off my brain for some time after that. But that's neither here nor there.
