I love a good trip to the mountains, but being near a beach, laying out in the sun with a frozen cocktail in hand is where I really thrive. The spring and summer vacation season is also coincidentally when my wardrobe thrives; thinking up outfits when coats are in the picture is not my forte, so when the time comes I relish in coordinating two-piece linen sets and breezy maxi dresses. Plus, breaking out the crochet, raffia, and juicy, saturated colors just does something to my senses. All this is to say, that when it comes to resort wear-focused brands, I know most from A to Z. When Louisa Ballou made big waves with her graphic tropical prints, it was something that caught my attention pretty early on. In a similar vein, other indie brands with a resort wear focus are also emerging as names to know ahead of the summer season. But if you’re also looking to shake up your getawat outfit rotation, these brands should take priority on your list. From New York to Bali, these 5 brands are proving to be heavy hitters in my vacation wardrobe for 2023. Keep scrolling for an introduction to them all.
Nia Thomas is a master of cool crochet, but she’s also one designer that I’m most excited about this year. Her palette consists mostly of flattering neutrals, but where the colors are muted, the designs take flight with statement details and eye-catching construction. Each of the pieces are easily coordinated, and mix and matched so its perfect if you don’t like to think too hard about looking sophisticated.
Boasting radical prints and endorphin-boosting colors, Siedres was founded by Ceylin Türkkan Bilge and Emir Bilge in 2019. Still relatively new on the scene, the brand has already emerged as a fashion-girl favorite with its printed two-piece sets a particular favorite. Everything about Siedres makes me feel happy when I’m wearing it—from its flower-shaped crochet bras to its soft ruffle dresses, the pieces are so cheerful and light-hearted.
Summer is when crochet truly shines, and Akoia Swim does it best. While Akoia serves up netted cover-ups and dresses, crochet bikinis are the brand’s signature. All of its garments are made by artisans in Bali with organic, renewable fabrics, and in the future Akoia aims to cut out chemical dyes and further reduce its carbon footprint.
It seems like Asta Resort popped out of nowhere to be the go-to brand for it-girls jetting out to tropical locations. Asta Resort is a complete brand in the sense that you can go from the pool with its vibrant bikinis to a fancy dinner in its pretty elegant sequin dresses. Releasing two resort ready-to-wear and two swim collections each year, Asta Resort prides itself as a ” summer all-year-round” type of brand. And it’s true, Asta Resort’s shimmering sequin dresses and high-intensity palettes make it hard to its pieces away come winter.
The brainchild from Jamaican-born designer Rachel Scott, Diotima is a rising star especially among editors worldwide. Inspired by the Caribbean and its culture, Diotima makes use of crochet in elaborate designs and details along with crisp tailoring. This year Scott was announced as an LVMH Prize finalist, so the brand it just getting started.
