Editor-turned-entrepreneur Lisa Marie Fernandez swiftly became a fashion favorite for the savvy cuts and surprising fabrics of her swimwear. Her flounced bikinis and patchworked denim maillots, for instance, are completely ocean-worthy, but they work off la plage, as well. Chalk it up to her years as a stylist: Fernandez began adding pieces like wrap skirts and shirtdresses to her collections early on. The news for Resort 2017 is just how large her destinationwear category is getting; according to the designer, it’s up 50 percent.
But it’s not just bigger, it’s bolder, too, with a look that she describes as “very Latin.” The colors are mood-elevating lemon yellow, tomato red, and deep sea blue. For trimming there’s crafty rickrack in those same vivid hues, and she’s also gotten deep into eyelet. Fernandez herself favors long bohemian silhouettes, but here she put an emphasis on short, flirty cuts in 3/4-length-sleeve and sleeveless variations. To belt or not to belt is up to the client.
On the swim front, bikinis in a new multicolored striped cotton that riffs on traditional Mexican blankets seem destined to be popular, as do the silhouettes with double ruffles. Fernandez has a good handle on her brand vibe and seems poised for growth. The question is: Which direction to go? We’d like to see how she’d approach knitwear—beach sweaters, please! Poolside accessories such as towels and pillows would likewise be a natural extension of the LMF universe.
