InStyle’s Senior Market Editor/Digital Correspondent Dana Avidan-Cohn is constantly keeping a pulse on the market. In this series, Avidan-Cohn identifies who’s who in the swimwear arena and finds out what inspires them to create their lust-worthy designs. You’ve heard it here first!
Morgan Curtis has fashion in her DNA.
She is the daughter of N.Y.-based designer Jill Stuart and has been attending her mom’s fashion week runway shows since she was a kid. Now, Curtis is making a name for herself. In 2012 she launched a lingerie collection called Morgan Lane (a personal favorite of mine) and recently she’s added swimwear to her repertoire with an equally exciting venture: Solid & Striped. Curtis is designing the women’s collection while Lisa Yu, formerly of Band of Outsiders, handles the men’s. We took a moment with Curtis to find out a bit more about places she loves and drives her creativity.What most inspires your designs?
Slim Aarons’s poolside series or the series he did at Hotel Il Pellicano (pictured below, top). Also, Laura Helms, editor of Lady the magazine, has an Instagram I admire (@laurakitty). She always posts great vintage editorials and I feel inspired by all her posts, especially the architectural images. For movies, I love Back to the Beach and Weekend at Bernie’s.
What is your favorite warm weather location for travel?
Water Mill, N.Y., in the summer and St. Barts in the winter. One of the coolest places I have been is José Ignacio in Punta del Este, Uruguay. I stay at the Playa Vik (pictured above, bottom). The vibe is so relaxed and the hotels are magical. If it wasn’t so far, I would go every year.
What are your beach bag essentials?
Backgammon set. I have a number of them but my favorite one is by Ralph Lauren. And Garrett Leight sunglasses. My favorite frame is the Rialto ($290, openingceremony.
To shop the styles pictured below, head over to solidandstriped.com.
