When I was a little girl, I used to think that Daryl Hannah in "Splash" was the epitome of all that was beautiful. She was a mermaid. It just didn't get any hotter than that. And then that fiery redhead Ariel came along...

I think that San Francisco-based designer (and Fresh Faces in Fashion alumni) Susan Hengst might agree; at the very least, this former vintage buyer must have had the motion of the ocean on the brain when she went to work on her nautilus-filled collection for spring. The easy-to-wear pieces, which range from brightly-colored solar suits to high-waisted shorts to a sexy, deep v-neck little black dress, are just the kind of duds that every beach girl needs in her closet—casual enough to thoughtlessly toss on, but packed with enough polish to look like you planned your ensemble ahead of time.

An added bonus: Most of her streamlined suits can double as tops for the evening hours thanks to Hengst's use of sophisticated cuts and rich fabrics. Not having to run home to change before happy hour hits = more time for mojitos at Rose Bar. That's what I like to call a win-win.

Enjoy, sirens.

Hengst is available through their Web site; to place an order, call (415) 642-0841.

- Caroline Stanley

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