INSIGHT | Naomi Newirth of ACACIA Swim

I'm so impressed with Acacia suits and I recall getting a package in the mail, trying on the suits and feeling so amazing, that it truly made my day, or summer for that matter.  The beautiful designer of Acacia, Naomi and her partner Lyndie live in Hawaii and are making big waves in the swimwear market with their boho chic design, sexy cuts and luxe campaigns.  Naomi took some time out (en-route to Bali to design the next collection) to answer our Insight questions.

Posted Up.  Maui, Hawaii

Inspired By.  Hawaii, nature, the ocean, the beach, other cultures, old native art and crafts like beadwork basketry and rugs. People who are living their passion and can master what they are doing.  People who are curious about life. I once heard someone say "if you want to be interesting be interested" -  meaning try to know others and life. Those are the people I want to be around.

Current Designer.  At the moment Isabel Marant, but there are so many others...too many to name. I am also in love with a friends line called Aila Blue designed by the fabulous Mai. She makes the most exquisite silkies I could live in daily. And another friend who has a leather line called Bai.Res by Heidy Clawson...who currently needs to go in for a name change to Misses Swift :).

Best Recent Purchase. Very particular James Perse tanks as they have the perfect stretch and never stretch out.  Besides Acacia's, tanks are my uniform and I live in them while at home and when I'm in Bali. 

Coveting. This beautiful Moroccan Rug

Favorite Websites.  That's a hard one. There are quite a few I love! To name a few, Oracle Fox, Garance Dore- has a french twist even though she moved to NYC, The Sartorialist- great photography of New York, people and trends. My go to bikini websites: Bikini Bird and Bathing News. 

Dream trip. A girls R&D trip to Morocco, Greece, and India. I would love to find great textiles and rugs.

Something about Me.  I don't think I am very funny but a lot of people tell me I make them laugh a lot. I think I am unique only because of my childhood and the way I was raised. Very alternative and with a Waldorf education. We had a 10 ft teepee we would take camping every summer and my mother always made it beautiful, with her rugs and cozy bedding.

Byron and Beyond

It has been a busy year in this little town of Byron and here are a few projects that have been in the works.

First the Aila Blue look book for designer Mai Miyama.  We shot on the beaches of Belongil with model Alyce Crawford.  Take a look at more of Mai's beautiful silky ikat designs here.

Next up was a impromptu shoot with the gorgeous Indonesian model Fa Empel and Spell Designs featured here on The Ben Trovato Blog.  Thank you for all the positive feedback!  We have received so many emails on this one.  I really enjoyed working with Fa, the Spell sisters and Johnny Abegg who made the short film, Freedom in Solitude.

NY cult magazine Lovecat Music Issue #4 with up and coming model Maddie Daisy Dixon as Anita Pallenberg (Rolling Stone muse and Keith Richard's wild woman partner).  I was over the moon to be featured in the issue with the cover and several fashion spreads being shot by Ellen Von Unwerth (Guess ad's fame) as well as many other talented photographers.  Special thanks to Ashlea Penfold who helped transform Maddie to her Anita character as well as the rest of the team that day!

In the works is the new Anna Beck Jewelry campaign in which we (Johnny Abegg and I) jetted off to Bali to shoot Indonesian model Salvita De Corte.  We also were lucky enough to produced an Anna Beck sponsored film on the courageous and giving Robin Lim, 2011 CNN Hero.  All coming soon.

Last but not least get ready for the music webisodes filmed at our summertime beach house project sponsored by Corona.  A surf boho residence where some of Australia's best artists come to unwind, relax and record and we get to capture their creative process.



Busy busy beautiful Byron -  I do love all the creative energy and people you hold in your heart!

INSIGHT | MAI MIYAMA OF AILA BLUE

Mai Miyama is an American designer living in Australia.  An old friend of mine, she's your quintessential gypsetter.  An enviable Japanese + American mix, legs as long as a giraffe and a heart as sweet as sugar...her next collection for her label Aila Blue is candy coated silks for days spent lounging in Ibiza or sipping cocktails at the Karma Kandara on the shores of Bali.

Posted Up. Cairns, Australia
Inspired By. Strong fearless women living unconventional lives, showing the rest of us women that we can live out our dreams and still be mother wife sister daughter.
Current Designer.  The list is always revolving. At the moment I can't get out of my Acacia bikinis. The finest Italian fabrics and beautiful cuts, they are beyond gorgeous.  I love that the girls behind Acacia (Naomi Newirth and Lyndie Irons) are changing the game of swimwear.  Showing women how to embrace their curves and tastefully flaunt it.  No more baggy bikinis!
Best Recent Purchase.  My black Valentino studded stiletto boots. They make me want to jet back to my LA stomping grounds and drink dirty martinis til 3am with my best girlfriends.
Coveting. A classic black Chanel bag, every girl should own one.  A teacup Yorkshire terrier.  A white cowhide rug for my office.
Favorite Websites. I'm always on bloglovin catching up on my favorite blogs.  And I adore Etsy!
I love how you can search things like antlers or chevron or boho and come up with the most incredible one of a kind treasures. 
Dream Trip. India!  I haven't been and it's all I think about! The vibrant colors, textures, culture and spiritual vibrations.   A sensorial paradise. My best friend and I plan to go soon, we haven't taken a trip together in over 10 years.
Something about Me. I'm getting married this year and I feel like a deer caught in the headlights!  I have no idea what I am doing.  I am so impressed and in awe with women who seem so together and instinctively know how to pull it all together. I seriously need bridal 101.  Wish me luck! 

Ellery S/S 2011 and the Ellery Gazette

I flew down to Sydney yesterday with my good friend Mai Miyama (designer for Aila Blue) to check out a few shows at the Rosemount Australia fashion week.  The most coveted ticket in town was the Ellery show at the White Rabbit Gallery.  The collection was so beautiful to see in person-the quality, details, tailoring and presentation.  Each guest (and all guests got a front row view) were presented with the premiere issue of the Ellery Gazette, a thick glossy magazine that the designer and her team brilliantly threw together.  The photography in it is so gorgeous and there's more that I couldn't post here.  If you can get your hands on a copy it's like sitting in her studio with her and seeing how Elleryland runs. She dishes about her collaborations, team, inspiration and much more.  

Images from Vogue.com.au 

Editors Letter from the Ellery Gazette.  Is there anything that Kym Ellery cannot do that isn't design perfection?

Sandlocked Editorial by Holly Blake

Black and White Images from Darren MacDonald and Andrew O Toole

For insight on Kyms design inspiration and backstage madness check here.

Aussie Goodness and Bali Uniforms

I've certainly done a lot of dreaming about fantasy wardrobes, most of which are much better suited for Fall in New York or Winter in Paris. The truth of the matter is, I live in Bali which has its own wonderful magic and style, albeit a bit warmer than most. So who are my go to designers here in paradise? I’m going to let you in on a little secret of the amazing Australian designers living and working in Bali to create what has become part of my daily and nightly uniforms.

Elissa Coleman - I was lucky enough to style her first winter collection shot by our friend the talented Nick Morley. Elissa is an amazing interior stylist and designer and one drools over her clothes merely by touch. She employs a team for hand painted silk treats via a waxing technique. I wish I could show you shots from the line we worked on, gorgeous black silk kimono jackets, but here’s a line from her Spring/Summer this year…the rest of the winter line pics are still on hold waiting to cast their fabulousness onto the world.


Woodford and Co. – Sheree Commerford is a good friend and one of my favorite people I’ve met on my travels. She’s drop dead gorgeous and has the warmest heart. And this girl knows clothes. Every season she drops me a bag of amazing goodies. Her dresses have become my go to dresses for evening and I always get compliments. Even Gossip Girl and Sarah Jessica have come calling for these original and classic with a girly-ness and sophisticated twist.

Alice McCall - if you haven’t heard of Alice, you are missing out. Her designs have to be one of my all time favorite. Edgy, sexy and unique. Did I say my all time favorite? See for yourself.

One Teaspoon - One teaspoon is an old favorite of mine! I remember when I started visiting Australia over 10 years ago and would come home stocked with cool t-shirts. Jaime is still going strong and better than ever. Just recently I asked for the list below and am eagerly waiting my package for everyday wear that is on trend but innovative, comfortable and has major attention to details. On top of it all Jaime is as cool and fun as her clothes.

Aila Blue - And a shout out to my good friend Mai, an American designer who’s debut line Aila Blue is coming to a boutique near you. Her silk print ikat dresses and fit like a glove jersey sexiness will win you over for day and night. There is a lot of special stuff coming from this designer and line… so be on the look out at your favorite boutique!