It’s no secret that consumers look to Cult Gaia designer Jasmin Larian Hekmat for her beachy vacationwear, so naturally her prefall assortment zeroed in on getaway style once again. This year Hekmat focused on what she called the “harmonious fusion of sea and land”—infusing natural, earthy elements into an assortment of cheery sundresses and suiting.
The color palette was airy with an emphasis on breezy pastels. A pink, puff-sleeve mélange suit—Barbie-core, anyone?—could be dressed up for dinner, while a blue knit dress featured asymmetrical cutouts at the hip and shoulder for a sexier slant. Her most ambitious design was the Arya gown, made of crystal cording that reveals the form underneath—a look that’s certainly not for wallflowers.
For evening she went for big statements. A ruched halter dress draped with strands of pearls looks as much like jewelry as ready-to-wear. A golden starfish-shaped bra top could be worn with a black evening trouser—or jeans and a heel. Even the take on a classic LBD had extra pizazz via the oversized copper-like buttons running along the front.
To complete all of these looks, Hekmat of course had fun with the bags—one of the signatures of the brand. One style featured a pearlescent clutch set inside a bigger clear box clutch. A sleek crossbody bag also had a strap adorned with hefty wooden beads. Sure beats a beat-up raffia beach tote.
