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STYLE
If Montecito designer OLIVIA JOFFREY 's flirty cabana dresses and tunics seem like they belong in Santa Barbara, it's because her collection, like our town, has roots in Andalusia. “My collection is a love letter to Spain, wrapped inside a love letter to
my mother,” says Joffrey, a recent transplant from Northern California and mother of two. The most popular silhouette in her collection—the swiss-dot Capitola cabana dress ($395)—finds inspiration from traditional flamenco dancers. “My mother was an expatriate in Andalusia for much of the 1960s and early ’70s before moving back to Santa Cruz, where I was raised,” says Joffrey. “My family's record collection included a lot of Spanish guitar and flamenco music. I would stare at the album covers, admiring the dancer’s sinewy arms and volumes of polka dot ruffles.” The Capitola dress is delicate, with short fluttering sleeves, yet made for function with double side slits, making the long, narrow shape easy for walking. “I wish I could have worn this dress to my own wedding. Against one’s body it feels like a nightgown, but to everyone else, the impression is 100 percent Spanish femme fatale.” A L I C E R Y A N O L I V I A J O F F RE Y.CO M
KATE ’s super rich crème
($20, kakoon@me.com).
Top to bottom: OLIVIA JOFFREY at home; Joffrey’s inspiration.
Syle
Making a Splash WHO Swimwear designer Sonia de Mello WHAT “I started in the swim business in 2000, but this July
marks 10 years since I launched my own brand, So De Mel. It has been a long journey, and I run the business wearing most of the hats. Passion and persistence are key to keeping focus and to adapting to an ever-changing fashion marketplace.” WEAR “So De Mel has been true to its roots—clean lines, an easy color palette, comfortable fit with luxury fabrics, which is how we live here.” WHERE “The 805 is a true backdrop of inspiration—from the mountains to the sea to each culture I interact with around town. We are very diverse here; it’s fabulous to sit at a table where every person is from another country. I love Santa Barbara for that.” G I N A T O L L E S O N
Sonia’s
MUST HAVES The MONTECITO MAILLOT ($250, sodemel.com) is chic and timeless—a one-shoulder fit you can wear at the beach or out to dinner. The SUNSET SKIRT ($498, pictured above) will turn heads poolside or at a beach cocktail event—not to mention you can wear it as a dress too.
SO DE MEL ’s Coast
Village Road showroom.
Smooth Operator KATE MCMAHON , designer and arbiter
of all things cozy and beachy chic, curates summer gems for her own pleasure as well as her private Kakoon Knits cashmere clientele. McMahon recently scored an all-natural essentialoil lotion made in small batches from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. “A friend turned me on to it and I contacted the makers directly,” she says. “The scent is warm and earthy. It has an attractive quality that elicits inquisitive comments when you walk into a space.” G . T .
PHOTOGRAPHS: OLIVIA JOFFREY, CHRISTY GUTZEIT; SONIA DE MELLO, STUDIO ARNA
VIVA LA Joffrey