Miami Swim Cruise 13: Kooey Australia
Nikki Silverthorne, Kooey Australia designer and owner, was inspired by the country’s national gemstone to create her Cruise ’13 collection. “[Opals] come in so many different colors, which is why we’ve got more color in the range this time,” she said. “We think it’s beautiful, and it’s got such a fluid effect to it that we think it works beautiful with the ocean,” she added. The collection was made in bright colors—such as turquoise, orange and purple—and vibrant opal-esque prints. Color blocking was utilized for contrast, and a turquoise underwire bandeau one-piece with printed side panels was a standout. “We’ve gone with really bright colors because we think that it is something that’s really quite unique to the Australian lifestyle,” Silverthorne said. “We always wear color; not many people wear black and white.” This season, the Australian brand branched out from its aboriginal art prints to make the collection more commercial. There was a wide variety of cuts and body styles—including bandeaus, triangles and underwires—as well as plenty of easy resort pieces to complement the collection. “This is the first collection that we’ve done where we’ve got everything from a kaftan through to skirts and dresses,”said Silverthorne. “It’s something that you can wear to the beach, or you can wear it to lunch or even dress it up and wear it out at night.”
—N.J.S.
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