A Fresh Take on Beach and Resort Looks This Summer

Beachware doesn’t have to be boring and resort or cruisewear doesn’t always have to be nautically-themed. Trust an Australian designer to bring a breath of fresh air to one of our favorite travel fashion staples.

Zandra Stone was founded by former model and fashion creative Alexandra Stone, who is also co-founder of celebrated Australian lifestyle brands Bluestone Lane and Husk Bakeshop. Raised in Melbourne, Alexandra grew up like most Aussies with a love of the beach and the outdoors—she was even a national track athlete in her youth. But long before the influencer boom, she was interested in a curated life, drawn to the intersection of style and wellbeing as the ultimate form of self-expression. Stone’s forays into the fashion industry came via her own love of vintage and treasured heirlooms, sewing, then years spent living and working in New York, Europe, and a successful international modeling career.

Now a busy entrepreneur and mother of three, Stone holds to the philosophy that fashion should support a woman’s lifestyle. Her label, Zandra Stone, gifts modern women with timeless, mood-driven pieces that move effortlessly between coastlines and cities, suitcase and closet, the quotidian and the celebratory.

Rooted in Australian coastal ease and shaped by global sophistication and a life of travel, Zandra Stone suits worldy women who want to look good and feel free.

One of our favorite items from the Zandra Stone collection is the pareo. This versatile wrap of fabric, traditionally from French Polynesian culture, can be styled in various ways and evoke different moods. Primarily, it’s used as a beach cover-up, but can also be worn as a skirt, halter dress, headscarf or a shawl to protect the shoulders from the sun or a cool evening breeze. In the Western world, pareos are often associated with beachwear and casual fashion, converting from a beach accessory, to a stylish garment for resort evening wear if need be. In Zandra’s world, they have all the ease of a sarong, all the elegance of a Hermès scarf, and the pattern of Portuguese tiles or Minoan frescoes. And as with sarongs, pareos are very gender neutral.

Garments from the Zandra label are carefully designed to evoke multicultural travel while giving relaxed Aussie vibes, and are made in small batches so that you likely will not see your design out there, but feel its uniqueness as an expression of your own. We caught up with Stone to find out more about her label—and which beaches she recommends this Summer.

---

Where do you call home and if Vacationers were coming to visit what are 3 top things they must do there?

Alexandra Stone: Home is Melbourne, Australia for me. While I’m living in Southern California USA right now, my Australian heritage has grounded and sculpted me in most unique ways. The three top things to do in Melbourne:

• Walk “The Tan” an old horse path around the Botanical Gardens, then follow it with a contemporary classic Australian brekkie at Cafe Domain—ensure to order a flat white!
• After this wander High Street, Armadale. This has beautiful independent designer shops and stunning interior design concept studios that remind me of a harmony between laid back Australia and Scandinavian color blocking. See Fenton & Fenton in particular.
• Finally, head to the west side of the city and go to dinner. The fusion of cuisine is enriched by the amazing blend of cultures what Melbourne is, from Asian Fusion to Contemporary Italian, you can’t go wrong on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy.

Tell us about your adopted home.

Alexandra Stone: Southern California stands out for this dry heated tranquil weather, and mesmerizing surf waves. The beaches remind me of the eastern seaboard back in Australia. A little rugged, but beautiful in its ocean loving community. Three must-do’s:

• Salt Creek Beach, and lunch at the taco stand, Young’s Beach Shack is a must.
• If you want an unexpected adventure, head to San Juan for some cowgirl antique shopping! The main street is lined with consignment stores, finish with dinner at Mayfield.
• Finally mark your calendar for the one music festival you need to know about. The Ohana Festival its highlighted by Eddie Vedder every year, it’s a great blend of boho indie rock. Imagine a music festival on the sand, under the stars and palm trees—truly bliss!

The fashion business can be tough, what do Australian designers and entrepreneurs bring to a field so dominated by Northern hemisphere nations, economies and cultures?

Alexandra Stone: There is no denying the fashion industry is a dense industry, however it’s my belief the Australian brand brings a unique harmony between a laid back energy while still keeping that sophistication and elegance. I think the essence of the culture shines through, via the styling and the creative direction of the brands. This is a mentally to the fashion landscape that is fresh and different simply because there is less thought and more exploration with color, shape and context. This is also an alluding charm to sharing our Australian way of life through the lens of fashion, and those that are encouraged to travel to Australia one day, might begin the exploration through the means of wearing Australian brands. So in many ways I see Australian brands being a gateway to the wide picture of global travel.

My design process is inspired by the intersection of women I see globally and the Australian values of care free and adventure. For example, while boldness of color in Spain and Portugal are amazingly inspiring, I twist the inspiration to align with our values of approachable, elevated without being fussy.

The Portia Pareo and the Lindsay Maxi Dress (and the Beattie shorts) are so light you can just throw them in a suitcase and be confidant that you’ll look fabulous at the resort! The patterns and colors also feel globally inspired. Can you tell me a bit of the background of these garments?

Alexandra Stone: The versatility of the garments are critical for our brand, we dress a dynamic woman, one that by heart adores travels but also needs her wardrobe to adapt to her everyday life. These pieces were inspired by the Iberian culture, the colors of the scenery and the fluidity for the personalities brought us to these print concepts. We want women to be able to pack less and yet still have variety in their suitcase, as these pieces reach that. As a set, a stand alone dress, or through the multiple ways to wrap pareos, a woman has ways to look amazing while spending little time styling, and more time soaking up their travel adventures.

You seem to have lived a life of travel. When did that first start and what are a few of your travel highlights so far?

Alexandra Stone: I have lived and worked across 5 countries so far, so I have a deep understanding of differing fashion mindsets and needs of women. It’s been a truly enriching journey, so many highlights to discuss, but living in Paris and working within the Dior house was an amazing opportunity. These experiences further consolidate the true artisan that goes into garment making, and design in general. From conception to creation, the whole journey continually intrigues me to keep expanding upon.

Do you have anywhere left on your bucket list you can’t wait to do?

Alexandra Stone: I don’t think life is long enough for my list! My goal for the brand is to expand our network for artisans we work with, and through our growth enrich their lives. We have many long standing relationships with partner manufacturers that have been generational skills, and its honor and privilege to keep learning with and alongside them. I’m fascinated by handmade craft and ancient traditions, so I hope to be able to dive deeper into this and bring this to our Zandra community to ensure our collection is always unique, and unexpected.

What does your Summer look like—home, beach, resort, staycation?

Alexandra Stone: Summer is a great mix of slow mornings at home, afternoons on the beach with sunsets and suntan lines! Each long school holiday break, we add an overseas trip. This year we are heading back to Portugal for me to meet with some of my manufacturing partners, and then onto Spain for some family time.

Which of your Zandra garments will you be packing in your suitcase for travel this Summer?

Alexandra Stone: Pareos for sure—the balmy nights and long days at the beach call for this. The designs are so fun, so versatile while they take no packing room whatsoever. The style possibilities of these are endless, so where I go they come with!

When it comes to beaches both Aussie and international, do you have any favorites or secret spots you can share?

Alexandra Stone: I have a secret hobby of rating beaches. Recently, we shot our collection in Turks and Caicos and the clarity of the water was something else, I have only ever seen that before in Western Australia, in Esperance.

Another beach which is special but in an old-world way, is Carmel, California. I adore the foggy mornings it can bring, there is a mystical effect of this coastline which is captivating. Oh, and finally I have a soft spot for Hvar Croatia. It is a hidden European gem, the beauty of the Italian coast without the crowds and fuss!

Shop the full line of Zandra Stone here.