B.W. COOK -- The Look

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and the rest of the world is sitting

by the fire taking Pepto-Bismol. But here in Newport, the beach beckons,

even on a brisk sun-filled fall day.

And if the beach calls, or even the shopping malls on this the busiest

shopping day of the year, what is the best dressed surfer dude wearing?

DRINKWATER.

This very smart line of male surf wear came on the scene this past

May, sold exclusively in a contemporary shop at 2211 W. Balboa Boulevard,

right off the beach in central Newport.

Created by the triad of Kathleen Prusia (the business brain), Justin

Bower (the marketing, graphics and sales brain) and Steve Prestel (the

fashion design brain), DRINKWATER is fast becoming the talked about and

seen surf label. Their goal is to have 10 stores in the next 48 months,

with Huntington Beach the next destination.

The DRINKWATER style is more fashion forward than much of its surf

wear competition. It might be described as Donna Karan and Calvin Klein

go surfer cool. Fabrics range from cotton to silk to spandex, colors are

both bright and subtle, and the lines of the garments tend to be very Jil

Sander sleek.

“We are so excited about this line, and we are very proud of our

success,” said Prusia, who also managed to recruit two handsome young

Newport men to model her clothes.

Joey Snelgrove, 18, is a senior at Newport Harbor High School, a star

water polo player on the boys’ varsity team and a lifeguard with the city

of Newport Beach. Snelgrove will be off to the U.S. Naval Academy next

fall for college.

Ozzie Clarke, 19, is a sophomore at Irvine Valley College. Clarke is

studying culinary arts but is also considering a career in fashion

design. He is a graduate of Newport Harbor High School.

“DRINKWATER is really innovative,” said Clarke, a former paddle champ

in local canoe races. “These are the kind of clothes I like to wear.”

CUTLINES

Ozzie Clarke (shaven headed)

1. Ozzie Clarke shows off cargo shorts in black ($36) with a silk

Velcro sport shirt in khaki ($42).

2. This long-sleeved T-shirt in gray sells for $20 and is worn with

cargo-style walking shorts ($36) and the DRINKWATER logo hat in red

($16.25).

3. Clarke wears satin and nylon board shorts in gold ($34) with a

hooded shirt in white ($36).

Joey Snelgrove (tall and blond)

1. Joey Snelgrove models cargo shorts in khaki ($36) with a cotton

plaid Velcro sport shirt in a beige color ($38).

2. This long-sleeved T-shirt comes in steel blue ($20) and is worn

with cargo walking shorts ($36).

3. Snelgrove shows off this satin and nylon pair of board shorts in

red ($34) worn with a crew-style sweatshirt in navy blue ($26).