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.

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! 

Bohemian Summer

Nothing says summer more than a bohemian free spirit. My team and I just shot this session at the beautiful Desa Seni village resort, with Ukrainian model Olga, using pieces gathered from all over the world. A jacket from Rajasthan, a tribal necklace from Papua New Guinea, bracelets from Africa.

We at the Style Collective hope your summer is full of exotic travels, sunshine and love.

Necklaces from India, bathing suit from C Boutique in Seminyak Bali

Vintage jacket from Rajasthan

Tribal Necklace from Papua New Guinea

Fur Vest from Zara, leggings from Forever 21, bracelets from India, boots by Mogil

Dress by Skye Grace, necklace by Dannijo, bracelets from Forever 21, ring by John Hardy

Rajasthan Turban, Kain T-shirts at net-a-porter, pants by Alexander Wang, bracelets from Biasa Bali

Dress from Anthropologie, bathing suit available at C Boutique Bali

Robe purchased at vintage store in Byron Bay, dress by Indah, headband by Mimco

Necklaces purchased in Africa, sunglasses by Cassius

Dress by Zara, necklaces by Biasa Bali

Special thanks to my production team, Jenifer Brizendine and Anja-Makeup. Also to Olga of LVDK Productions.

Pretty In Pink - India

"I adore that pink! It's the navy blue of India," declared Diana Vreeland, former editor of Vogue and source of many aphorisms. By this she meant that, just as navy blue in our culture tends to signify conservative respectability, pink exemplifies tradition and balance in India.

"The existence of universal stylistic and psychological color reactions is therefore placed in doubt: what we would consider a wild, flamboyant, and feminine color is, in India—at least according to DV—considered refined and conventional." - David Byrne of Cabinet Magazine

When Diana Vreeland declared this quote she was no doubt fashionably hanging out in Jaipur in Rajasthan, India where I recently had the pleasure of visiting.

This is just a quick peak into shopping in Jaipur as I could go on for ages here. But I will give you the bit of info that was given to me by my stylish friend Lisa.




The store, Hot Pink India was where I was able to source some higher end product (after completely exhausting the local markets of course). It is also where I stumbled on a book by Fiona Caulfield's Love Travel Series on all the best places to go in this jewel of a city... from the local markets to a decadent lifestyle fit for a Rajasthan king. This became my bible- a handbook for the "luxury vagabond". The rest of the discovery and adventure I will leave up to you but here's a glimpse into both the boutique and what's available in the markets.




Happy Traveling!