Saddle Up For Style: Holly Stocks Talks Swimwear

When a ranch girl swaps her denim cutoff shorts for bikinis, you know something bold is about to happen. We sat down with our glam-meets-grit collaborator, Holly Stocks, to talk about all things fringe and seaside sass in her swimwear collection with Salty Mermaid. Inspired by her roots in the rodeo and her love of sun-soaked days, Holly’s designs are where wild west attitude meets wave-chasing style. So trust us, you're going to want every piece.

Grab your sunnies and a spicy margarita — we’re diving in!

Q: What inspired you to collaborate with Salty Mermaid and what does this partnership mean to you personally?

A: “I absolutely loved the quality of the swimwear right off the bat and I loved the styles, so that sold me first. For me, it means the world for brands to trust in me and my style enough to want to collaborate together.”

Q: How would you describe the Holly Stocks girl in three words?

A: “Outgoing, confident, and edgy.”

Q: You chose two bold prints - pink camo and snake. What drew you to these patterns and how do they reflect your personal style?

A: “I feel like each one represents me. I love snake print anything and everything so that was a given and I knew I wanted it to be neutral and go with everything. As for the camo, I love camo everything but I wanted to make it a little more feminine so that’s why I went for a subtle pink.”

Q: What was your favorite part of the design process? Did anything surprise you?

A: “The photoshoot in Joshua Tree. I love seeing the final product and getting to style the swimsuits how I would wear them. I don’t think anything really surprised me, I can say the amount of women who complimented and congratulated me made me feel so happy that we all support one another.” 

Q: The cuts in this collection range from cheeky to full coverage. How important was versatility and body confidence in your vision?

A: “I know that everyone has certain styles they want and feel confident in so I wanted to give that in my collection but also reflect my style.”

Q: We know you’re a country girl at heart so how does this collection blend your roots with beachside glam?

A: “I feel with the camo prints to snake prints it shows you can be a little edgy but keep it country.”

Q: What’s your go-to way to style these bikinis off the beach? Are you a boots and bikini girl or more of a sarong and sunnies vibe? 

A: “Let me tell you something, I did boots and bikinis right from the beginning. People used to say ‘cowgirl boots with a bikini hmmm.’ I still have the photo that started it all, I will always be a boots and bikini girl. Just be who you are no matter what they say.” 

Q: If you could wear just one piece from the collection on repeat all summer long, which would it be and why?

A: “Definitely the snake print one-piece suit, it’s so cute and flattering and also can be worn as a bodysuit with shorts.”

Q: What’s one song that perfectly captures the energy of this collection?

A: “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” 

Q: Any advice for women who are just starting to feel confident in bold prints or cheeky cuts?

A: “Wear it and wear it well. If you act confident, you will feel confident so don’t waste your good boob years covering them up! Haha!”