AREA's 2023 Resort Collection Review

Amid the icy breeze of December, AREA has us all thinking to the sunny days ahead. The New York City brand dropped their Resort collection for 2023, and it’s very diverse. Known for the dynamic use of shapes and metallics, this collection does Resort with the AREA flair. I’m a huge AREA fanboy, and this collection made me super happy. There’s a theme of metal running through all the pieces, often taking the form of the staple Mussel Flower in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s an embellishment; sometimes, it’s a belt buckle; other times it’s the focal point of the piece. However, the peaks and valleys in the use of metal throughout the collection and the contrast of metal to color is what stamps it clearly as an AREA collection. There really isn’t a traditionally “boring” piece here.

One of the first things that initially stood out on reviewing the collection was the color palette used within. It’s extremely varied throughout the collection, yet all are complimentary of one another and used nicely in their own ways within. Greens, pinks, blues, blacks, purples, whites, and silvers are featured in this collection. However, the collection feels uniform. For example, the Deco Bow Mini Dress stands out for its colors, despite there being two variants of this dress within this collection. Both feature a houndstooth pattern and a metallic crystal embellishment, yet one is pink and black. They’re both unique and individual at the same time.

This extends further to the Deco Bow Slit Cropped Blazer and Mini Skirt set. This features a blazer with mirrored slits embellished with metallic crystals, all in a pink houndstooth pattern. The matching mini-skirt also features slits and embellishments complimentary of this. However, this set appears to be a counterpart to the Crystal Trim Heart Top and Trouser set. The set uses a black houndstooth pattern and crystal embellishments throughout, which appears to mirror the Blazer set. However, the Heart Top set is bottom-heavy, featuring floor-length trousers and two slits on the back, whereas the Blazer set is top-heavy, with the Blazer being bigger than the skirt. Yet both these sets exist perfectly within the collection. The colors help keep both sets unique, yet the pieces (with all their embellishments) help keep the individual pieces uniform with the collection—a clever way to define resort wear by using AREA’s own creativity.

Another element of this collection that stood out to me was its use of cut-outs. There is a varied use—for example, the Chain-Link Long-Sleeved Body Suit. The cut-out on this put an AREA stamp on it while also enhancing the use of the crystal embellishments throughout the piece. The same goes for the Crystal Rope Cropped Blazer. The design is unique, and the cut-outs help it remain so. Speaking of unique designs, the Rope Cut-Out Denim Jacket and the Cut-Out Denim Wide Leg Pant are star pieces within this collection. They give an air of elegance individually. But, when paired together, the coordination of the two pieces enhances that to an air of sophistication. The cut-outs work together beautifully and help merge the two pieces into one set. This is another example of AREA creating unique pieces but tying them together within the collection with a uniform feature.

My final thoughts on this collection are that it’s a hit. There’s immense variety here. Due to the use of color, fabric, cut-outs, and metallic embellishments, the pieces complement one another, but each has an air of individuality. My personal hard hitters of this collection all prove this point. The Rope Cut Long Sleeve Midi Skirt uses purple lamée to create a figure-hugging garment that is both sophisticated and playful. The intertwining chest detail ties it into the rest of the collection, but it stands out due to the fabric and the dress style.

Similarly, the Mussel Flower Strapless Mini Dress is to die for. A mini denim dress with such a gorgeous silhouette featuring the Mussel Flower accessory is the focal point of the collection. The silhouette isn’t the reason this stands out, though; this dress features belt loops on the chest as if the dress has been made from a pair of jeans. In addition, there are pocket details under the armpits and a fly detail down the middle of the dress. It’s this unique spin on a garment, such as a mini-dress, that keeps AREA so exciting.

Finally, the Mussel Flower Leather Bandeau and Mini-Skirt set. This is so stunning. Anyone who knows me knows that two things stand out to me when it comes to clothes; leather and the color pink. This has both. The use of the focal Mussel Flower pattern and the unique AREA spin on a leather top and skirt set means that this qualifies as an instant star of this collection. It shows off the body with a confident yet elegant air while remaining true to the thread of the collection. This fun, unique and fashionable Resort collection is one of the best for 2023.

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