I love that Beach Riot began with a school assignment. Nicole Hanriot-Tinkess was studying fashion design when a swimwear project caught her attention, and after designing for the Southern California label Tavik she launched her own line in 2012. The name grew out of people constantly mispronouncing Hanriot, which is the kind of origin story I would happily hear at a dinner party.

The first idea was simple: bright color, bold prints and pieces that could move from beach to street. The collections still start in an Orange County studio, shaped by travel and Southern California beach culture, and you can read her version on Beach Riot's own history page.

Then the point of view got wider. Sport Riot arrived in 2017 with sports bras, athletic tops and leggings, and later came Mommy + Mini. I like that the clothes still follow one idea across swim, movement and whatever comes after the beach.

The beach-to-street idea is at its most literal here: a sports bra and a throw-on layer can start the day at the studio and follow you outside. The Sara Sports Bra in Caramel Leopard brings the print, while the Anari Sports Bra in Shaded Spruce and the Winston Sports Bra in Midnight Bluebell stay solid and easy to pair. The Canyon Puffer Vest is the unexpected layer, and the reason I like this group beyond warm weather.

Picture her pulling the vest on for an early drive to the coast, a bra and relaxed trousers underneath. If you are buying a bra for actual training, check the support notes against what you want from a workout top. Otherwise I would let the color names set the mood and keep the rest of the outfit simple.

This is where Beach Riot feels more like a wardrobe than a swim drawer. The Libbi Mini Dress and Minette Dress are the shorter route, and the Levie Maxi Dress changes the proportion completely. The Leona Sherpa Jacket, Harvie Jacket in Caramel Leopard and Casen Jacket in Fairway Check are three different ways to add a layer, and the Ivana Maxi Skirt gives you a long line without another dress.

In my beach daydream, she throws the Harvie Jacket over a plain tank and takes the look from coffee to a late patio lunch. Keep print in just one piece and let the other layer or skirt stay simple. What I would skip: matching a printed jacket with a printed skirt. One item should set the tone.

I come back to Beach Riot for how one point of view carries from swim to movement to plans afterwards. Nicole Hanriot-Tinkess began with color, print and a Southern California sense of travel, then gave those instincts a home in activewear and matching family pieces. None of this needs a vacation on the calendar: pair a dress with a jacket, or wear a sports bra under a layer on the way between errands and an afternoon outside. Although I will admit the puffer vest is the piece I keep thinking about.