Ashley Paige for Girls Gone Wild Spring '08
Los Angeles-based designer Ashley Paige made the jump into Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Miami Swim at The Raleigh hotel in Miami Beach on July 13 with the runway debut of her licensed line, Ashley Paige for Girls Gone Wild. Taking inspiration from a rags-to-riches fantasy, Paige said her muse was a “trailer-park girl who suddenly became very, very rich.” The collection was packed with Paige’s trademark playful sex appeal and plenty of cheeky references to the “free love” 1970s. Coverups and sportswear from the Girls Gone Wild line, designed in collaboration by Paige and stylist-turned-designer Jen Mallini, complemented the swimwear with a vintage surf-rat vibe. A terry patchwork poncho, shrunken T-shirts, hot shorts and striped linen serape-style hoodies were shown with more luxe pieces, including a chic gold-knit bandeau-top bikini, a high-waisted skirt and tailored trousers. Paige, who for her own eponymous line of high-end swimwear uses knit and crochet fabrics exclusively, delved into traditional swim fabrications for her Girls Gone Wild collection. The result is a slightly younger, more beach-friendly feel. “It’s great to have a different outlet,” Paige said. —Erin Barajas
