WE LOVE LEE & LANI SWIMWEAR
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer/Blogger Photographer: George Whylie Videographer: Maxine Nolan
Great minds think alike and these two best friends certainly know what goes into developing not only a true and lasting friendship but an exceptional swimwear line as well.
On a rainy Sunday morning during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim 2013, I had the absolute pleasure of interviewing this talented design team known as Lee & Lani at Salon Allure in the exclusive ‘W’ Hotel in South Beach.
The girls are vivacious and spirited and so thrilled about a line that has been in the works for close to 2 years. The girls, Lee and Lani, met in fashion school almost 8 years ago and hit it off immediately sharing clothes and ideas. With a combined educational background of fashion merchandising and fashion design, it was the absolute formula for winning results. They strategized and wanted to capitalize on cutting edge fashion with a bit of the European influence as an extra added selling feature. With supportive parents both financially and emotionally and their parents having a strong belief in the girls’ aspirations, it gave Lee and Lani the opportunity to pursue their dreams and enter the swimwear world with passion and fervor.
When asked about a mentor that had an influence on their career path, Lani said without any hesitation that it had to be Margaret Maldonado, a strong and self-motivated designer that she used to work for who has a talent to make stars shine and one of the best designers in the industry. Her savvy sense of business has been inspirational and Maldonado instilled inner confidence in Lani giving her a distinct desire to succeed along with the will to follow her dreams.
The concept behind this inviting collection is really very simple but magically unique. Mix and match separates cater to each body type and the focus is on fit. Suits are curve-hugging and extremely flattering. Swimwear separates are adjustable and all stitching is done by hand. The line appeals to the masses from the beach-going teenager to the poolside mom. Some of the pieces can even be worn for a relaxing day at the park or a luncheon with a friend. All the swimwear is manufactured in the United States in Los Angeles, California. The design team are perfectionists in every sense of the word giving their customers a high-quality product. Rich luxurious fabrics and custom prints imported from Italy ensure that every suit is original and very well-made.
Tantalizing one-piece halter suits come with detachable criss-cross straps and high cut hip fit. An interesting tri-strap pushup bustier top moves into a shallow V-plunge at the center with triangle cutout.
Colors range from deep blues to alligator/brule to panoramic rainbow pastels.
The Monte Carlo suit can go from a high-rise to a low-rise with the fold of the fabric. Change it according to your mood of the day.
The suits are all named after exotic destinations such as The Maldives, The Sydney, The Santorini and The St. Bart’s. The Hamptons signature one shoulder one-piece with custom cross hatch detail stitching from hip to shoulder is one of my very favorites in white and it will surely be the suit for the tantalizing temptress.
Lee and Lani have a Beach Collection and a Private Collection with prints that you certainly won’t find anywhere else. For a look that turns heads on the sand and in the surf, Lee & Lani is the collection for you.
We are eagerly anticipating the next collection of the energetic team of Lee and Lani with coverups rounding out the collection as well. We can’t wait and it surely was a treat to be able to meet the girls and talk with them about their passion!
Comments are closed.