N. A WAY OF LIVING WITH ELEGANCE OR GRACE; IMPECCABLE TASTE
They're the designers, boutiques, and artists who put a twinkle in your eye.
Karelle Levy Krelwear
Born in Paris, raised in Miami, and educated at RISD, designer Karelle Levy exploded on the Miami scene with Krelwear, a unique line of playful knits. This summer she debuted her retro-styled, made-to-order resortwear, which won over all the Rita Hayworth wannabes. Read more
Arriving in One Piece
Krelwear’s Resort Collection
You’d love to get nailed against a wall. Is it your masochistic side?
Nope. Just your desire to emulate Rita Hayworth.
While you may never be a pin-up girl, you can look like one in Krelwear’s new resort collection. Homegrown designer Karelle Levy created the retro loungewear to evoke Miami’s former flare.
The sexy hand-knit pieces come in a variety of gumdrop shades, stripes, and vintage silhouettes. A rainbow-striped bandeau top matched with high-waisted bottoms is apt for hotel pool crashing, while the cap-sleeve onesie’s breast-baring neckline is best paired with a man and a mojito.
The one-of-a-kind pieces are crafted of 90 percent biodegradable and sustainable fabric. All are made to order, so it could take up to three months to receive your special something.
But you don’t mind a little delayed gratification.
Available by custom order at The Standard Boutique, 40 Island Avenue, Miami Beach (305-704-3927). To see previous collections, go to krelwear.com.
Bianca Coletti Bianca Coletti
The local swimwear designer was raised in Puerto Rico by Argentinean parents. Launched two years ago, her line of sultry bikinis in colorful prints hint at her tropical background. Look forward to the upcoming resort collection: hand-sewn silk dresses. Read more
Tropic Zone
Bianca Coletti Bikinis
All you ever got from your mom was a pot roast recipe and varicose veins.
Not so for Bianca Coletti.
Raised in Puerto Rico by Argentinean parents, she inherited a hot sense of style. Her new bikini collection smacks of tropical weather: The eponymous line is all sexy, sleek suits in vibrant colors and patterns.
Some are playful, like the turquoise string top paired with a floral bottom; others are more sophisticated, like the black bikini with attention-drawing gold rings at the hips and midbust. For a preppy-tiki feel, go with the bandeau top: It ruches around a bamboo hoop and has green leaves on a bright pink background.
You’ll probably want one of each. You do, after all, have good taste.
You got that from your pops.
Available at Steam, 5840 Sunset Drive, South Miami (305-669-9991); Rebel, 6669 Biscayne Boulevard (305-758-2369).
Nazly Villamizar Ecoist by Nazly Villamizar
Colombian Nazly Villamizar has made Miami Beach her home. With a distinct, cutting-edge style, she created an eponymous line of colorful, hand-stitched leather bags. This year she teamed up with local earth-friendly designer Ecoist to create a collection of biodegradable purses. Read more
Bag of Tricks
Ecoist by Nazly Villamizar Collection
In slow-to-green Miami, environmentalism can seem like a stealth mission.
Like Operation Recycle: Wear camouflage. Hop the neighbor’s fence. Toss bottles in blue bin. Run.
Do-gooding doesn’t have to be perilous. Ecoist, local purveyor of ecofriendly accessories, has teamed up with Nazly Villamizar, Miami’s purse guru, to create a line of biodegradable bags. (Once you’re done with them, they disintegrate. Unscientifically speaking.)
The new collection is made of jute, a natural fiber, sustainably grown in Colombia. The textured totes come in three styles: Eyes, an oversize clutch in green, mustard, or black with finger holes at the handle and side pockets; Cubik, a shoulder bag with quilted squares; and Trenza, a braided clutch with zipper charms in bright solids or tri-tone beige.
What’s more, Ecoist plants a tree for every bag sold.
Mission accomplished.
Available at Septimo, 6374 Bird Road, South Miami (305-740-8368 or septimofashion.com); online at ecoist.com.
