Frankie Belle Stark Launches Swimwear Brand Dipped in Blue in St. Barths

The 22-year-old designer and youngest member of the Chrome Hearts family opens a new store for her brand on the Caribbean island.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Frankie Belle Stark, the 22-year-old designer and youngest member of the Chrome Hearts family, has launched her swimwear brand Dipped in Blue with her best friend Konoka Lulu Smith. The brand's first brick-and-mortar store opened in December 2026 in St. Barths, a Caribbean island that holds special meaning for Stark, who grew up vacationing there with her family. Stark didn't initially plan to get into fashion design, but launching a swimwear line felt natural and like "kismet" for the Malibu native. The brand's aesthetic blends the carefree vibe of St. Barths with a touch of '90s grunge, taking inspiration from icons like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.

Why it matters

Frankie Belle Stark's launch of Dipped in Blue represents the next generation of fashion designers emerging from iconic luxury brands like Chrome Hearts. Her decision to open the brand's first store in St. Barths, a place that holds deep personal significance, also highlights how young entrepreneurs are putting their own stamp on the industry by tapping into their unique backgrounds and experiences.

The details

Stark and her business partner Smith, who have been friends since childhood, decided to start Dipped in Blue as a creative outlet. Though Stark grew up in a family deeply rooted in fashion through Chrome Hearts, she initially aspired to become a dancer before finding her calling in design. The brand's aesthetic blends the laid-back vibe of St. Barths, where Stark's family would vacation, with '90s grunge influences like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell. For the St. Barths store, the brand is offering exclusive collections featuring sequins, bedazzlements, and vibrant patterns.

  • Dipped in Blue opened its first brick-and-mortar store in St. Barths in December 2026.
  • Stark and Smith had the initial idea for the brand when they were younger, around the age of 12.

The players

Frankie Belle Stark

The 22-year-old designer and youngest member of the Chrome Hearts family, who launched the swimwear brand Dipped in Blue with her best friend.

Konoka Lulu Smith

Frankie Belle Stark's best friend and business partner, with whom she co-founded the Dipped in Blue swimwear brand.

Laurie Lynn Stark

Frankie Belle Stark's mother, who had previously launched a swimwear line called A Bet n Gav in the 1980s.

Chrome Hearts

The ultimate insider luxury label founded by Frankie Belle Stark's family, which she grew up around.

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What they’re saying

“When we were younger, everyone was like, 'Don't start a business together; it's going to ruin your friendship,' and we were like, 'No, we're different; it's not going to'—and it hasn't. If anything, it's made us so much closer, and we've been able to learn a different side of each other through it.”

— Frankie Belle Stark, Co-founder, Dipped in Blue (ELLE)

“Later on, I found out that she actually had a swimwear line [A Bet n Gav] in the '80s. That made me fall in love with it even more.”

— Frankie Belle Stark, Co-founder, Dipped in Blue (ELLE)

What’s next

Stark and Smith plan to continue expanding the Dipped in Blue brand, with the designer expressing excitement about "everything" that's to come for the label.

The takeaway

Frankie Belle Stark's launch of the Dipped in Blue swimwear brand in St. Barths represents the next generation of fashion designers emerging from iconic luxury houses, putting their own personal stamp on the industry by tapping into their unique backgrounds and experiences.