・゜・༻SPLASH༺・゜・ 

For Chet Lo’s Fashion East debut, the Asian American designer brings us to the tropical haven we desperately want to visit this year. In the grimmest days of quarantine, Lo, like many of us, wanted to snap his fingers and be instantly transported to paradise. That didn’t happen. Instead, he was able to create his oasis for Spring Summer 2022. A destination with no quarantine upon arrival, where mermaids exist, the swimwear is spikey, and the body is revered. 

Splash takes inspiration from the beauty of holiday life, the fluorescent drinks that always taste better on the beach, and the mystical romance found in the 1984 film of the same name. Unabashed sexuality and a futuristic take on knitwear are on full display. After a year of seldom celebration and play, this collection offers the pieces we will wear out again as we make up for lost time.

Lo uses his signature knit techniques and strategic pattern cutting to subvert traditional resort wear. Tracksuits have been reworked in lush terry cloth, panelled with his sheer spike knit fabric. He introduces swimwear with knitted bikinis and one-pieces, the latter paired with cover-ups that cling to the body reminiscent of water that sits on the skin after you’ve gotten out of the pool.

A warm palette pays tribute to nature’s purest gifts: tropical sunsets, the ocean and Long Island Iced Teas. Colour gradients of yellow, purple and pink reflecting the sunrise are found on sheer evening gowns and matching skirt sets. Lagoon blue and yellow sleeveless tops with high necklines accompany matching sarongs with sizzling slits. 

 Celebrated is the beauty and individuality of each body. Angled hemlines and considered cutouts accentuate the shoulders, stomach, and upper thigh. Ultra elegant dresses that scoop low in the front and even lower in the back to fit like a second skin.

Emphasised is the importance of not taking life too seriously. Pool noodles are worn as shawls and also create the framework for floor-length dresses. Lavender lifesavers skirts invite a youthful nostalgia when worn over one shoulder swimsuits and completed with vintage swim-caps.

Lo debuts footwear with the conch heel, a spikey kitten heel that can take you from the cove to the club. Bags come in three sizes; perfect for a night out, a last-minute escapade or an adventure with no return date. 

The makeup reflects a tan unlike any other. When the sun hits her skin, she tans, but it’s her inner light that radiates through. After a year of reflection, we can reemerge more sure of ourselves, not only accepting the skin we live in but reveling in it too.