When Jasmin Larian Hekmat of Cult Gaia started conceptualizing her new resort collection, the designer kept having visions of her wife in a fairytale setting. “It started with this vision of a castle in the distance,” Hekmat said. A story for the season then emerged. ‘She has her basket and starts collecting beautiful things she finds along the way: strawberries, flowers, butterflies. They become objects that you see in the clothes she wears. It was this idea of spontaneity, elegance and discovery: it’s a very dreamy collection.”
For a brand like Cult Gaia – which specializes in cheerful summer dresses and fun holiday clothes – creating a collection that focuses on fantasy and escapism is not that far a stretch. But the designer strove to include whimsical details that were a little sweeter and more playful than the usual fare. Her long maxi dresses, for example, had lavish flowers running over the shoulders, or crocheted floral work all over. A pink statement pleated dress also had a sculpted flower at the bust, as if in an arrangement. “It will be everyone’s summer wedding dress,” says Hekmat, who is no stranger to tailoring dresses for special occasions.
The collection’s color scheme featured vibrant pops of color throughout. “I liked keeping the colors grounded and then adding a few different accents,” she said, “but I really wanted her to feel as grounded as possible.” Her mint green dress, with a draped back and ruffles in all the right places, was such an injection of color; The grape-shaped handbag she designed to go with it was just as fresh. Other standout accessories for the resort include a new clutch in the shape of a vase with flowers sticking out of it, and strappy sandals with sculpted lilies. The designs emerged from a completely spontaneous idea and nodded back to the collection’s theme of playfulness. “I literally grabbed a flower that was in my office and just wrapped it around my foot,” she said.
While the range focused on Cult Gaia’s signature dresses, Hekmat also introduced more casual offerings, including a foray into denim, a new category for the label. “Denim is becoming a much bigger part of our collection,” says Hekmat, who recently collaborated with Gap. “Being able to dress her beyond just an event is so important.” The new jeans feature heavy gold hardware, and she also showed khaki two-piece sets featuring cropped jackets with corsets and cargo-style pants.