Daily Front Row

2006 March 23

Birds of a Feather

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(LOS ANGELES) Hollywood’s fashionettes were flooding out of jewelry mecca Kaviar and Kind on Sunset Boulevard for Jesse Kamm’s presentation of her second collection, hosted by Sunrise Ruffalo and Kathy Ahmadi.
         
A former model, the tall Cali blonde Kamm counts style setters like Liz Goldwyn, Kirsten Dunst, Savannah Buffet and Jacqui Getty as fans. Her exquisite, limited edition pieces (signed and numbered inside on the hemline) are hand-printed in her West Hollywood studio. Using simple, body-flattering shapes and silk crepe and cotton gauze, Kamm’s ethereal, nature-based pieces are like moving works of art. This season, Kamm focused on feathers as imagery. On a white cotton gauze tunic, feathers appeared to be floating down the dress as if whooshed from the heavens. A hooded black silk reversible riding jacket begged for a stallion and a gallop through Topanga Canyon. “Everything I do is inspired by nature,” Kamm told The Daily. “The pieces flatter a lot of girls. I call them my little transformers because you can shape them in different ways.”
         
Kamm grew up with artsy parents in the country in Illinois. Her mother was a potter, and her father strummed the acoustic guitar in the living room every night while Kamm drew or molded clay. “We didn’t have TV. We were hippy dippy in Illinois, which is pretty funny.” A highlight of the evening was receiving a limited edition feather print from Kamm. Guests who left with the artwork included stylist Amy Hall Browne, costume designer (Shopgirl, Lost in Translation) Nancy Steiner, Audrey Bernstein, Abigail Chapin of the band The Chapin Sisters (just back from South by Southwest), Alex and Magda Berliner and Sierra French-Myerson, who just opened Wax, an uber-chic waxing spot on Melrose Avenue. Kate Schelter, in a Jesse Kamm halter gown, was going from the presentation to LAX to catch the red eye back to New York. “In terms of style and ambiance, Jesse’s event was the best of LA fashion week,” raved Schelter. “Jesse is LA’s next big thing.” We totally agree.
PETER DAVIS