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A passion and love for art, fashion and the French Riviera inspired Los Angeles designer
Kirsten Sarkisian to create a luxurious line of swimwear, cover-ups, caftans and jumpers.
The Belusso bikinis, swimwear and cover-ups come in beautiful, sumptuous shades of
turquoise, aquamarine, coral, white, chocolate brown and black and the embellishments
make them even more unique. The line caters to the sophisticated, cultivated, well-traveled
woman who thinks of swimwear like she thinks of her designer attire. She wants to look
exquisite, even while vacationing on some island or resort! Sarkasian has created
swimwear and accompanying pieces that are beautiful, yet versatile and can be worn to the
beach, the pool and aboard a yacht sailing on the Island of Capri. The “Blue Grotto,” an
image of Capri par excellence is the inspiration for her 2009 Spring Collection, featuring the
‘ blue grotto print,’ and after viewing her creations, I just wanted to get on a plane and head
to the jewel of the Mediterranean!
FashionQandA.com had the distinct pleasure of meeting Sarkisian recently at the
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach Florida and attended her elegant,
casual and chic cocktail party at the Penthouse Suite of the magnificent Raleigh Hotel,
where models showed off the beautiful Belusso creations. Guests were treated to cocktails
featuring Chambord, Olo Brazilian Rum and a variety of sorbets, while taking in the beautiful
view of Atlantic Ocean. The editorial team of FashionQandA.com also attended the Swim
Wear Trade Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center and the opportunity to speak to
Sarkisian about her line. This emerging Designer is a sensation headed for success!
Kirsten Sarkisian to create a luxurious line of swimwear, cover-ups, caftans and jumpers.
The Belusso bikinis, swimwear and cover-ups come in beautiful, sumptuous shades of
turquoise, aquamarine, coral, white, chocolate brown and black and the embellishments
make them even more unique. The line caters to the sophisticated, cultivated, well-traveled
woman who thinks of swimwear like she thinks of her designer attire. She wants to look
exquisite, even while vacationing on some island or resort! Sarkasian has created
swimwear and accompanying pieces that are beautiful, yet versatile and can be worn to the
beach, the pool and aboard a yacht sailing on the Island of Capri. The “Blue Grotto,” an
image of Capri par excellence is the inspiration for her 2009 Spring Collection, featuring the
‘ blue grotto print,’ and after viewing her creations, I just wanted to get on a plane and head
to the jewel of the Mediterranean!
FashionQandA.com had the distinct pleasure of meeting Sarkisian recently at the
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami Beach Florida and attended her elegant,
casual and chic cocktail party at the Penthouse Suite of the magnificent Raleigh Hotel,
where models showed off the beautiful Belusso creations. Guests were treated to cocktails
featuring Chambord, Olo Brazilian Rum and a variety of sorbets, while taking in the beautiful
view of Atlantic Ocean. The editorial team of FashionQandA.com also attended the Swim
Wear Trade Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center and the opportunity to speak to
Sarkisian about her line. This emerging Designer is a sensation headed for success!
QA: Tell us about the Belusso swim wear line and how was it started.
Kirsten: Belusso grew out of my love of the way European women go to the beach…if you
have ever been to Club 55 in Saint Tropez, or Club Mallorca or the like, you understand
what I mean. The women look as chic and elegant as they would on the streets of Paris,
just in a casual way. It’s an art the French and Italian women have that I hope to introduce
here in the US. Also, I feel that many swim brands “dumb down” women…if a woman
loves to dress well, why shouldn’t that translate into what she chooses to wear to the
beach? I have no desire to wear Hawaiian prints on my clothes or my beachwear.
Similarly, bathing suit manufacturers tend to buy cheaper fabrics for their cover-ups (if they
even offer cover-ups at all!) whereas I bring in my fabrics from Italy.
Kirsten: Belusso grew out of my love of the way European women go to the beach…if you
have ever been to Club 55 in Saint Tropez, or Club Mallorca or the like, you understand
what I mean. The women look as chic and elegant as they would on the streets of Paris,
just in a casual way. It’s an art the French and Italian women have that I hope to introduce
here in the US. Also, I feel that many swim brands “dumb down” women…if a woman
loves to dress well, why shouldn’t that translate into what she chooses to wear to the
beach? I have no desire to wear Hawaiian prints on my clothes or my beachwear.
Similarly, bathing suit manufacturers tend to buy cheaper fabrics for their cover-ups (if they
even offer cover-ups at all!) whereas I bring in my fabrics from Italy.
| Written By: Rose Smith, Senior Executive |
QA: It is very interesting that you went from fashion lawyer to fashion
designer, what made you change vocation?
Kirsten: Everyone thinks that I went from law to fashion, but in reality, I went
from fashion, to law, and returned to fashion since it was always my first
love. I had been working for a large law firm, Buchalter Nemer, that has an
excellent Apparel Industries group, and felt that each case I handled for a
garment manufacturer was an education in what not-to-do! I think that
practicing law gave me the confidence to run my own company. I used to
leave my office during every lunch hour and scour the garment district for
fabric sources, etc. It did not happen overnight and it took a lot of
perseverance and commitment to make it happen.
designer, what made you change vocation?
Kirsten: Everyone thinks that I went from law to fashion, but in reality, I went
from fashion, to law, and returned to fashion since it was always my first
love. I had been working for a large law firm, Buchalter Nemer, that has an
excellent Apparel Industries group, and felt that each case I handled for a
garment manufacturer was an education in what not-to-do! I think that
practicing law gave me the confidence to run my own company. I used to
leave my office during every lunch hour and scour the garment district for
fabric sources, etc. It did not happen overnight and it took a lot of
perseverance and commitment to make it happen.
you recall when you realized that you had made it as a swimwear
designer?
Kirsten: As I mentioned above, I chose swimwear as my primary design
choice because I felt no one had addressed fashionable women in the
swim market. I wanted to create a new paradigm for swim…one that
bridges swim to fashion, which explains why many high-end clothing
boutiques carry my line.
QA: Your Spring 2009 Collection was inspired by “Blue Grotto” on the
Island of Capri, can you tell our readers about this phenomenal place,
what you loved about it and why it inspired this collection?
Kirsten: The Blue Grotto is not a place that is easy to describe in words.
Fascination with the Blue Grotto (or “Grotto Azura”) dates back to Roman
times; many Roman statues were discovered in the grotto in the 1800’s.
The mystery comes from what happens to light as it illuminates the cavern.
Sunlight passes through an underwater cavity and bounces off the sea floor
to create spectacular blue light on the walls of the cavern. When you see the
“Blue Grotto” print in my latest collection, it makes perfect sense. Another
reason the grotto is so special is that you have to sail around the island of
Capri to get to it…it is not accessible by foot at all. Once you arrive at the
cavern’s opening, you must wait in your boat for the waves to recede just so
and, at exactly that moment, you must duck you head down in the boat to
pass into the tunnel that leads back to the grotto itself. The whole experience
makes the Blue Grotto a “must-see!”
designer?
Kirsten: As I mentioned above, I chose swimwear as my primary design
choice because I felt no one had addressed fashionable women in the
swim market. I wanted to create a new paradigm for swim…one that
bridges swim to fashion, which explains why many high-end clothing
boutiques carry my line.
QA: Your Spring 2009 Collection was inspired by “Blue Grotto” on the
Island of Capri, can you tell our readers about this phenomenal place,
what you loved about it and why it inspired this collection?
Kirsten: The Blue Grotto is not a place that is easy to describe in words.
Fascination with the Blue Grotto (or “Grotto Azura”) dates back to Roman
times; many Roman statues were discovered in the grotto in the 1800’s.
The mystery comes from what happens to light as it illuminates the cavern.
Sunlight passes through an underwater cavity and bounces off the sea floor
to create spectacular blue light on the walls of the cavern. When you see the
“Blue Grotto” print in my latest collection, it makes perfect sense. Another
reason the grotto is so special is that you have to sail around the island of
Capri to get to it…it is not accessible by foot at all. Once you arrive at the
cavern’s opening, you must wait in your boat for the waves to recede just so
and, at exactly that moment, you must duck you head down in the boat to
pass into the tunnel that leads back to the grotto itself. The whole experience
makes the Blue Grotto a “must-see!”
QA: You describe Belusso swimwear style as being “laid back luxe”. who are
your clients and what makes the line luxurious?
Kirsten: Belusso has a growing following of celebrities and socialites such as
Mariah Carey, Sienna Miller, Eva Longoria, Miley Cyrus, Lady Victoria Hervey &
Elizabeth Banks to name a few. What makes the line luxurious is the attention to
detail, the excellent fabrics not found in other swimwear lines, and the cut.
QA: Women are concerned about what swimwear accentuates their figures.
What material, cuts, or shapes do you use in the Belusso line that enhances the
body types of your clients?
Kirsten: I have always believed that “coverage” does not have to mean a suit is not
curvy or sexy…I walk the line between the two. Also, if you use heavy weight elastic
around the leg opening, it tends to “lift” a woman’s derrière.
QA: Tell us about your Project Runway experience and how it helped you realize
your dream of being a fashion designer.
Kirsten: For me, Project Runway was the perfect way to give me credibility as a
designer. However, I’m glad that I wasn’t on the show for too long…as Audrey
Hepburn's character Holly Golightly said in Breakfast at Tiffany's, “There are certain
shades of limelight that can ruin a girl’s complexion.” Said another way, reality TV is
not the best platform to launch a luxury brand! Happily, the only criticism the judges
had was that one of my designs was not up to the taste level they expected of me.
QA: What aspect of your work gives you the most pleasure?
Kirsten: My favorite part is finding the inspiration for the new collection. It always
means great vacation to exclusive resorts! I also love perfecting the fit and pattern for
each piece.
your clients and what makes the line luxurious?
Kirsten: Belusso has a growing following of celebrities and socialites such as
Mariah Carey, Sienna Miller, Eva Longoria, Miley Cyrus, Lady Victoria Hervey &
Elizabeth Banks to name a few. What makes the line luxurious is the attention to
detail, the excellent fabrics not found in other swimwear lines, and the cut.
QA: Women are concerned about what swimwear accentuates their figures.
What material, cuts, or shapes do you use in the Belusso line that enhances the
body types of your clients?
Kirsten: I have always believed that “coverage” does not have to mean a suit is not
curvy or sexy…I walk the line between the two. Also, if you use heavy weight elastic
around the leg opening, it tends to “lift” a woman’s derrière.
QA: Tell us about your Project Runway experience and how it helped you realize
your dream of being a fashion designer.
Kirsten: For me, Project Runway was the perfect way to give me credibility as a
designer. However, I’m glad that I wasn’t on the show for too long…as Audrey
Hepburn's character Holly Golightly said in Breakfast at Tiffany's, “There are certain
shades of limelight that can ruin a girl’s complexion.” Said another way, reality TV is
not the best platform to launch a luxury brand! Happily, the only criticism the judges
had was that one of my designs was not up to the taste level they expected of me.
QA: What aspect of your work gives you the most pleasure?
Kirsten: My favorite part is finding the inspiration for the new collection. It always
means great vacation to exclusive resorts! I also love perfecting the fit and pattern for
each piece.
| "I chose swimwear as my primary design choice because I felt no one had addressed fashionable women in the swim market. I wanted to create a new paradigm for swim… one that bridges swim to fashion…," dishes designer Kirsten Sarkisiantr |
Kirsten: Elegant, luxurious and chic.
QA: Who are your fashion icons and how have they influenced your work?
Kirsten: They are different every season but at present I am crazy about Marisa Berenson and
Verushka in the late 60s. As far as business goes, my idols are Tamara Mellon & Monique L’
Huillier (a personal friend of mine from Mommy & Me class!).
QA: What’s your favorite beach/resort destination and what is your favorite swimwear to
wear to the beach or pool?
Kirsten: Club 55 in Saint Tropez is the spiritual home of my line…but don’t expect to get away
with just a swimsuit! You would need a great fashion-forward cover-up that completes the
look.
QA: What’s in the future for the Belusso line and what is your marketing strategy to
promote the line?
Kirsten: Our marketing strategy is to let the buzz grow organically and allow our fans to
discover the brand on their own…usually through chic, fashionable friends.
QA: Our theme for this month’s issue is Haute Summer Nights…what is your favorite
summer nighttime activity and what do you wear?
Kirsten: Dinner aboard a yacht with dear friends off of La Plage Pamplonne… just wear your
Belusso cover-up from earlier in the day with a pair of shorts.
QA: How much work was required for you to get prepared for Mercedes Benz Fashion
Week Swim and what are expectations during the event?
Kirsten: Getting ready for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (MBFW) involved my entire
team…every person was maxed out! I am so lucky to have such a great team. We want to
establish new accounts from vacation spots around the world—and it looks as though we’ve
done so!!
www.belusso.com
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