I always like it when someone arrives in fashion by the side door. Desiree Deravi trained as a podiatrist, and then an impromptu trip to Bali dropped her into a creative expat community and made starting a label feel possible. She moved there with no fashion-industry experience and taught herself fabrics, patterns, sizing, production and shipping, which sounds like a very steep hill to me.

 

The label she built, S/W/F, is about natural-fibre fabrics, signature prints and classic shapes from past eras with a modern twist. The story on the brand's own site puts it better than I can. That soft-meets-strong balance is what I see in this edit: fluid dresses next to tops and relaxed separates, with room to change pace from afternoon plans to evening.

Deravi's archive-aware point of view works best in dresses. The Fluid Drape Maxi Dress, the Spaghetti Strap Midi Dress and the Shirred Embroidered Drop Hem Maxi Dress all have long lines with plenty of movement, and the Off Shoulder Pleated Mini Dress changes the proportion for a night out. The Ruffled Bodice Maxi Dress adds a little structure to the romance, and the Cheongsam Mini Dress is the sharper shape. If you want to keep going, Benni Dresses: The Ariel Maxi Worth a Look is the one I would read next. I went deeper on a related idea in AMOR MIA Dresses: What's Worth Your Money.

 

The Fitted Balloon Mini, Tiered Sheer Mini Dress and Ruched One Shoulder Mini Dress are the playful end of the rack. In my fashion dreams, the Fluid Drape Maxi Dress comes with a quiet sandal and one clean earring, and the drape does the talking. These cuts differ so much that I would choose shoes and layers around each one, and only after trying it on.

The tops keep the feminine line but make it easier to build an outfit around things you already own. The Lace Trim Babydoll Top and Off Shoulder Wrap Top bring softness at the neckline, while the Tube Slip Top and High Neck Flare Top go for a cleaner route.

 

Picture her at a late lunch in the Off Shoulder Wrap Top with a straight trouser and a flat sandal, then carrying the same look into dinner with a small heel. I like a romantic top against a plain bottom, rather than one delicate detail piled on another. If you are choosing between the four, start with the neckline you reach for most. It will get more wear than a color you are unsure about.

The Sheer Relaxed Pant and Balloon Pant bring the airy, easy-moving feeling, while the Embroidered Short and Pleated Flounce Mini Shorts add detail to shorter proportions. I would keep everything else quiet with the Sheer Relaxed Pant, maybe a simple top and a longer layer for coverage, and let the Balloon Pant sit under a compact fitted shirt.

 

The embroidered and flounced shorts already have texture and shape, so a plain tank or close tee keeps the balance. It is the label's beach-to-bar idea in practical form: one expressive piece, and the rest of the outfit supports it. A small tip from me, check how sheer a pair is and how the hem behaves when you sit, especially in the shorter styles.

The first dresses already cover long and soft, so this is where I would widen the silhouette instead of repeating it. The Rosette Frill Trim Mini, Scoop Neck Slip Mini and Scoop Neck Ruffle Mini keep a short hem in play, each with a different job: one is the center of a dinner outfit, another is the easy choice when I want a simple shoe to do the work. The Mottled Maxi and V Neck Fringe Dress bring two kinds of movement to the longer line. I would save the maxi for a plan that runs into evening and give the fringe dress room to swing, with small jewelry.

 

The separates make this group useful beyond dress occasions. The Parachute Draped Wide Leg Pant and Straight Leg Pant give the tops a quieter landing, while the Asymmetric Cowl Neck Cami, High Neck Asymmetric Top, Soft V Detail Cami and Peplum Cami cover different levels of polish. I would try the cowl cami with the straight pant, then the peplum shape with a cleaner bottom. The Satin Bermuda Shorts are the polished short option, and the Long Sleeve Ruched Mini takes the mini idea into cooler evenings.

 

Try each top with both pant shapes before choosing shoes, because the proportions change the whole mood. What I would skip is stacking ruffles, fringe and a busy accessory in one outfit. One expressive detail gives these pieces room to breathe.

What stays with me is how Deravi's unlikely route into fashion shaped a label with a recognizable center. S/W/F is romantic without being precious, and its dresses and separates leave space for the person wearing them to set the mood.

 

I would start with the piece that solves a real invitation or weekend plan, then build around its shape instead of buying a whole look at once. That feels right for a founder who learned the work from the ground up. Although I suspect the first dress will not be the last.