LOBA Dresses: Lace, Color and Best Buys

LOBA feels less like a uniform than a permission slip to change your mind. Cindy Kimberly, a Spanish-Indonesian model and designer born in Amsterdam, launched the line in May 2023, with a first collection shaped by the summers she spent on the coast of Spain. The idea was that style can hold several versions of a person at once, which is why the launch came with a film, Dear Mila, that she wrote, directed and starred in.

I like the way the pieces let softness and structure share the same frame. A lace-up bodice looks precise, and a floaty skirt keeps it from taking itself too seriously. Corset tops, lace, flowing skirts and cutout dresses all sit in the same family, and the point is not to pick one persona and stay there. I went deeper on a related idea in Anna October Dresses: The Best Buys Right Now.

The dresses are where LOBA's romantic side plays with structure. The Lucie Lace Mini Dress makes black lace feel more evening than costume, and I would keep the shoes simple and let the texture carry it. The Letica Mini Dress is a clean ivory option for a warm night, and the Lucienne Lace Midi Dress allows a longer line to feel languid rather than formal. If you want to keep going, Best Lace Dresses is the one I would read next.

For color and sparkle, the Addison Beaded Mini Dress and Angelica Mini Dress go bold and baby blue, while the Brookelle Mini Dress is quieter. The Ziva Tiered Mini Dress has soft movement, and the Agata Ombre Maxi Dress brings a sunset wash. Picture her heading to a rooftop dinner with one ornate detail doing all the talking.

Let the lace or beadwork lead. A busy bag and heavy earrings would only compete.

I would start with how the top sets the temperature of an outfit. The Ella Satin Top is smooth and delicate, and the Zoe Ruffle Blouse reads softer and more romantic. The Iliana Ruffle Top adds volume around the neckline, so I would balance it with straight-leg trousers or a clean mini skirt rather than another ruffle. The Danica Tweed Top is the sharper note, with a texture that makes denim look considered.

In my fashion dreams, she slips the satin top under a light blazer for dinner and leaves the jacket behind once the night warms up. If a top already has lace, ties or ruffles, I keep the jewelry small and the bottom half simple.

These pieces ask for a light hand. The Ella Mini Skirt and Cecilia Pickup Maxi Skirt are two ways into LOBA's soft, feminine mood, one easy with a cropped top, the other steadied by a fitted tank or a tiny knit. The Iliana Ruffle Shorts add texture for daytime, and I would pair them with a plain tee so the trim does not get too precious.

The Violetta One Piece brings the playful palette to the beach, and I would happily wear it under an open shirt afterwards. Picture her walking into town with the swimsuit under a linen layer, then changing into the maxi skirt for a late dinner. What I would skip is piling accessories onto a hem or neckline that already has detail.

LOBA leaves room for more than one mood: sweet lace, an architectural corset, a sheer layer, a bright note of color. I like that each look feels like a different answer rather than a uniform, and the pieces work best when one texture does the talking and the rest of the outfit gets to breathe. If I were building a small evening rotation, I would begin with one dress I can picture wearing in three different settings, then style around its best detail. Although I will admit the beaded one keeps pulling me back.