“Just as I was finally reaching a point in my life where I was beginning to feel a part of something, I’ve become restless for a new me.” The slogan of the Quiksilver Women ad campaign sums up the reason that after 40 years Quiksilver has decided to develop a new women’s line. Since its start, Quiksilver has been focused on creating clothing for the surf guys. Eventually, the company developed Roxy for the beach directions. However, Quiksilver decided to go away from the beach with their new women’s line that focuses on a more mature and fashionable woman. There is still a surf culture influence behind the new line, but the clothes have a more dressed up feel to them. It’s the Roxy girl when she goes away from the ocean and into the city.


Summer Rapp, vice president of design, describes the Quiksilver girl as being “sort of tomboy-chic, pretty and feminine, but not afraid to spice things up.” This resulted in dresses, sweaters, shirts, and pants that are feminine with masculine influences. Almost all of the shirts and dresses are meant to be a little oversized, which is perfect for when you want to look put together but don’t want to have to worry about showing some cupcake weight in a fitted top. Leave any feelings of self-consciousness behind with the Roxy girl in her bathing suit. There is definitely some grunge influence with the various plaid patterns throughout the line, but it is balanced out by other pieces with ruffles and mini polka-dot print. Many of the tops and dresses, both tomboy and feminine, had tuxedo bib fronts. Personally, I don’t like to wear that many ruffles, but I can appreciate them on other people and Quiksilver did a good job with their designs. My favorite thing about the women’s line is how they made quite a few shirts and tops eco-friendly. It’s great when large clothing companies try their best to reduce the amount of chemicals and pollution they put into the environment.

An interesting side-project Quiksilver is doing in conjunction with the launch of their Women’s line is something called siteLA.Quiksilver is giving six women the resources they need to pursue their creative passions. The women will be able to have events and showcase their projects at siteLA. All of the women have very different goals ranging from Beth Jones who wants to open her own vintage store to Jesse Rodato who wants to develop mobile playgrounds, skate parks and urban shelters for inner city youth. All of the projects are unique and innovative, and I’m excited to see what the end results will be. I definitely suggest reading more about siteLA.

Below are some of my favorite clothes from the collection. I may have outgrown my California surfer phase, but these pieces from Quiksilver Women’s fresh start are perfect for me now.