Designer Kari Ann Peniche is already somewhat of a celebrity; she is a former Miss Teen USA who was stripped of her title in 2003 after posing in Playboy. Her brother Tony Dmitri also has a clothing line called Dmitri Apparel that presented its S/S ’09 line on Day 3 of Portland Fashion Week. He was the inspiration to Kari Ann to start her own clothing line after the ups and downs of fame – she called it “Strung Out” – and founded a line of swimwear that is sexy and L.A.-chic. She worked to ensure that the swimwear was cut correctly – both low in the front and the back so it would not sag while wet -and that her beach wraps could double as hot clubwear for later on. She took “all the good stuff from the 80’s mixed in with stuff from today,” creating a rock-and-roll-themed collection with studs and detailing, metallics, sexy cuts, and sparkles. See more at StrungOutGirl.com
-Carly J. Cais
