Kathy “Gidget” Kohner in Malibu circa 1956. ErnstLenart

I was having lunch with some friends at Duke’s Malibu the other day, when the most bubbly and charming woman came over to greet us. It turns out that she was Kathy Kohner Zuckerman, the inspiration for the Gidget book, film and television series. Kathy started surfing in Malibu in the late 1950s and her father, Frederick Kohner, chronicled her adventures as a model for the beloved character Gidget. If you happen to be driving through Malibu, Kathy is now the ambassador of aloha at Duke’s, and is there every Tuesday and and Sunday.

Frederick Kohner’s, Gidget, has been re-released and is available on Amazon HERE.

I was thrilled when artist Suzan Pitt invited me to come visit her Los Angeles studio. I have been following her work ever since I first discovered her brilliant hand painted raincoats and couldn’t wait to see them in person. Suzan first started to make one of a kind, painted coats as part of a show with NYC artist group COLAB in the 1980s. After spending several years painting and directing a number of critically acclaimed animated films, Suzan has begun a brand new series of graphic wearable art.


“I think of my painted coats as animated objects which can move about in the world- walking in the street, sitting at a bar, coming through a doorway, emerging from a car… Each coat is like no other- they are one of a kind artworks you can wear or hang on the wall. I’m inspired by images from popular culture (comics, advertising, historical paintings, trash and lettering found everywhere)and images from my films and watercolors. I love to juxtapose multiple images to create a chain of association to the viewer, much like my paintings but simpler- and I hope a coat will make someone happy- that the positive energy from the coat will surround the wearer and surprise those who see it.”-Suzan Pitt

Check out more of Suzan Pitt’s extraordinary work HERE.

Kamen and Adrien “I was being a “naughty boy” needing to meet a good guy as I was getting older – met Kamen – fell in love with his dog Bau Bau – and unexpectedly fell deeply in love with him. Kamen makes me be the best I can be – I’m styled by him especially my hair EVERYDAY! I am blessed.”                              – Adrien Yakimov Roberts I met Kamen and Adrien at this year’s Alta Roma events. It turns out that although they are a bit too young for Advanced Style, Adrien follows the blog regularly and even uses it as an example for his students at the Accademia Costume e Moda. I was thrilled when they allowed me to take their photograph and share a few words above.