Undrest By the Sea // SS 2012

Blame it on a recent trip to The Parker Palm Springs to ring in the New Year poolside — I have swimwear on my mind. Just a few days ago I wandered into Undrest By the Sea, a French-inspired beach boutique in Venice, CA just down the street from where I live. Founded by Maria Paz Navales, the swimwear line is designed and handcrafted in Los Angeles, but sold worldwide.

Navales draws details from her favorite destinations around the world like Biarritz, Rio de Janeiro and Zanzibar and weaves them right into her designs. A simple ruffle on a maillot, a graphic chevron print knit, or a slight variation on the cut of a Brazilian bikini bottom, all take the ordinary swimsuit to a new level of extraordinary. The collection features Malibu surf-worthy one-pieces as well as bikinis in the same beautiful earthen colors I recently saw in the Southern California desert.