Rude Suit

A S  A  style enthusiast, all my life I thought it only right convey my thoughts in some way- other than just wearing what I liked. The city I grew up in you really didn't have much in the way of fashion. It's a difficult thing in a little Northern Michigan town to see one thing and want to do something so different. I started with color. Wearing certain shirts that weren't really what others were wearing at the time. Seeing as I didn't know much about fashion, I did what I could do to set myself apart.

A long time has passed since then and my style has changed drastically over the years. Nowadays I find myself interested in exactly what I told my father I would never wear when I was a kid. Suits. I guess having been around it for so long I accidentally picked up a visual dialogue with suits and stumbled into passion for the clothing I once vowed never to put on.

Granted I do not put on a three-piece everyday, even though I do enjoy it. I prefer dressing-down what is a very put-together look and turning it into something totally different. I believe a suit can be whatever you want it to be. Versatility and functionality is the name of the game. There are so many options in the world today and none of them are wrong. If it's what you want to wear then wear it (within reason of course). The suit jacket and pants are just the basis for your look. I for one love to wear a suit with a tee and use other accessories to accentuate it. I don't go for much color anymore. I've found that simple colors such as black, grey and white are so timeless that the things you buy can stay in your wardrobe forever.

I have strong opinions on the subject of suits, but I also love a good meal, a good cocktail and being surrounded by family and friend. I also have a tendency of talking too much and loudly. Thus RUDESUIT was born. I don't think there is such a thing as talking too much or too loud on the Internet so I feel very much at home.

Spencer McQueen

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Culture Keeper

Ricky Cohete

Ricky Cohete is the only Ecuadorian fashion photographer I know. Ricky is the semi-nomadic set of good vibrations behind Dexter Magazine- a web-based collaborative fashion journal. Check it out.

In addition to his work with Dexter he is also a free-lance fashion-photographer, working with brands all over the world. He is also a musician- so check out this catchy number.

When you meet him you can tell that he is more than just another face in fashion. Ricky has ideas about religion and economics and happiness... Current life motto: "Se Feliz"

As we were chatting about his personal style he mentioned: "I can only say: I love hats, I love Indiana Jones and Frank Sinatra... and I like mixing black with brown for some reason. Right now I love leather."

Ricky will be spending the autumn in Miami, San Francisco and New York with the next issue of Dexter dropping mid-October. He makes his way to Paris in November, so stay tuned for tales of mis-adventure. Though we have only been friends for a short time I can already tell that fashion-mischief is afoot.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Colette Music Box

Last week I had the good fortune to join some friends for a party hosted by Colette. Of course, one would expect wonders from such a stylish shop- but this perhaps exceeded my expectations. There were more beautiful people present than I have ever seen in one place. Seriously. Several DJ's, a chilly terrace, and of course innovative fashions rounded off the night. 5am saw everyone scrambling for taxis to get home- the mark of a party-well-planned. This was my first Paris party... I'm not sure how many more I can handle, but it was fun none-the-less. Check out this vintage CK style feature on Colette.

 Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Farm Block Fest

H E R E  is a series of color images from my time spent out at Farm Block Fest. This was truly an incredible place full of incredible people and nature buried in the deep wilderness of Michigan's Keweenaw peninsula.

Ben // Marlee Grace // Jackie // Fiona //  Anthony

John Hanson

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Culture Keeper

Tour Preview

Tour pic by Michael Newsted. Of course.

Michael Newsted's band The Soil And The Sun is currently touring the U.S. They also have a new record out. In a few days Michael will be showing us what he has seen along the way and telling us all about the tour thus far. If we are lucky he might even share a bit about the hopes and dreams of the band, and provide a sneak peak at the secret project he has been developing all summer...

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Mae by Night

I T I S  a rare thing, in any profession, to achieve in the end exactly that which was desired. This shoot was that rare thing. When Michael Newsted and I talked about what we wanted the shoot to look like- this is what we envisioned- to the smallest detail. We wanted the shoot to center around a 1960's, collegiate, slightly-innocent-but-also-probably-not-recommendable girl. We were really pleased with Mae's performance. she totally took on that role. Not only that but the shoot was a blast. Start-to-finish my favorite shoot in my career thus far.

 

In case you missed the first installment here is Mae by Day.

Model: Mae Laubhan
Photography: Michael Newsted
Styling: Jonathan Randall Grant
Makeup: Bethany Sluiter

Jonathan Randall Grant

Michael Newsted

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Culture Keeper

Have Company

Marlee Grace of Grand Rapids, MI is working on a new project, and YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS IT. 

She is in the midst of raising funds via INDIEGOGO to start HAVE COMPANY : a micro residency & mobile shop featuring vintage clothing and handmade goods... In a 1967 vintage camper. 

As a member of the division avenue arts collective (The DAAC) and creator of Sass Fest (more to come on this fabulous event later) marlee is dedicated to making, moving, and sharing. 

She will be traveling to New Hampshire in October to learn new skills in dancing, crafting, & business planning. Upon her return she plans to make HAVE COMPANY a reality. It will take a lot of work and a lot of hands. Gutting & and refinishing the inside, stocking the shop... and planning the residency will take patience and care. But if there is one person to do it, it's marlee grace.

Images by Alex Defiglia and Jon Clay

So take a moment. Consider donating. Prizes range from a $10 GIRL GROUP MIXTAPE to a $100 RESIDENCY RESERVATION. In between you can find hip totes, t-shirts, and so much more.

make good things happen. know more, do more. 

Marlee Grace

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Culture Keeper

The Youth of France

F O R the past week I have been  hosting creative workshops for the youth of the American Church in Paris. Each afternoon we meet in an old library to work on some writing prompts, make books, put together assemblage and protest posters. Yup, protest posters. How French is that? As the resident artist I will be helping here for a few weeks, and enjoying the great community this church offers. Seriously. incredible diversity. The youth here are fantastic- each eager to create and explore.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Fashion Ranger

O N  A  recent boating trip my friends from Parsons referred to my style as "Fashion-Ranger". The more I thought about it the more I liked that term. My style has been fairly National-Park lately.  The Combination of shorts with boots will do it every time. No one seemed to notice this summer in Michigan, but on the streets of Paris shorts tend to get a lot of attention.

Now that I am back in Paris you will be seeing more style posts. This particular photo was taken my a friend who will only be know as M/W. She is a great photographer, but somehow I cannot convince her to set up a portfolio site. Culture Keeper will however be featuring more of her work in the future.

Jonathan Grant

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Culture Keeper

Street Style: Saint Ouen

A R T  historian Linda Stratford peruses a map near the market- surrounded by style. 

Check out her book about French Landscape Paintings. 

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Brand on the Rise: Ernest Alexander

I ' V E  O N L Y  recently been introduced to Ernest Alexander, but I'm already smitten. E.A. is a clothing/accessory brand that specializes in durable yet stylish goods. They craft every piece to last for a lifetime and are committed to local, ethical manufacturing. It is pretty much everything you could want, right? Nearly every week I am asked for recommendations of where to find great bags. Well, friends-bags happen to be their specialty. This is the company we have been looking for.

Megan Gilger will soon be posting soon about a party she co-hosted with E.A. in NYC, which sounds like a fantastic fashion-adventure. Stay tuned, because this is only the beginning of the magic from Ernest Alexander.

 I am currently in LOVE with Ernest Alexander's "Mustard Wax Banker's Zip Folio" and "Forest Green iPad Carrier Sleeve". They are perfect for city adventures, business, and looking good this autumn... check em' out:

These brilliant photos are by Eric Ryan Anderson. Be sure to check out his other work as well.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

John Hanson Strikes Again

I N T H E  coming months, Michigan-based photographer/musician John Hanson will be joining in and collaborating with Culture Keeper. Be sure to Keep and eye out for a how-to guide with fellow contributor (and girlfriend) Marlee Cook-Parrot. Hanson will also be sharing his dramatic photographic vision, as well as a look at the forthcoming EP from his band Strawberry Heritage. Meanwhile... enjoy these black and white still lifes Hanson captured on a recent trip to the Upper Peninsula.

Vintage John Hanson // Culture Keeper? Find it Here.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

The Zoo Payne

I R E A L I Z E D  a long time ago that I would never thrive on a farm for any serious length of time. I adore farms, I love hard, dirty work and I like animals- but- I just can't handle it all the time. These days I have been living vicariously through my friends, many of whom have their own farms. On days when I cannot visit them, I catch up on this adorable blog...

Zoo Payne is the farm/blog belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Payne and their two daughters. The Paynes are currently living their dream on a farm in Norway, punctuated by various adventures around Europe. 

Here is a brief look at their pastoral world...

Be sure to check out The Zoo Payne blog. Its like a charming day in the country. 

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper

Mae by Day

A f t e r  the successful venture of the Lake House shoot in June, Michael Newsted and I were eager to collaborate with other friends. On a visit to Grand Rapids we were sitting on a porch with our friends Bethany Sluiter and Mae Laubhan. Someone pulled out a magazine and we spent about an hour pointing out what we liked and disliked in each photo-spread. One thing led to another... a few hours later we were digging through a pile of clothes and back-combing Mae's hair to get more volume.

Mae is a brilliant photographer, but we really had no idea how amazing she would be as a model. She really transformed. In person, she is sweet and charming, but in front of the camera she gained an entirely new energy. Watching as she developed this really powerful and dynamic persona was rather electric.

It was the first time all four of us had collaborated together, and if measured solely on the amount of enjoyment, it was a grand success. Here is part one: Mae by Day...

Model: Mae Laubhan
Photographer: Michael Newsted
Stylist: Jonathan Randall Grant
Makeup: Bethany Sluiter

Joanna Perry of The Soil and The Sun was gracious enough to lend us her cute little house in the Eastown neighborhood.

Jonathan Randall Grant

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Culture Keeper