“Fun, nostalgic, and sparkling” – three words founder Helena Ammitzboell and Design Director Jasmine Ammitzboell used to define the ASTA RESORT girl to V Magazine. 

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ASTA RESORT has unveiled its Pre-Fall ‘25 collection, PISCINA IN PUGLIA – a sensual performance of leisure, memory, and effortless allure animated by inspiration pulled from Italy’s languid rhythm and sun-drenched south. Launched May 8th, the collection illustrates a lucid silhouette of a summer that unplugs from chaos and splits into a grounded, indulgent pace. 

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Crafted by the sister-led team of Helena and Jasmine Ammitzboell, the line takes inspiration from Jacques Deray’s La Piscine, the 1969 French film known for its sun-soaked suspense and quintessential poolside style. “When Jas and I were ideating the type of day that our character would have wearing our new collection, we knew it should be a slow one with not too much movement around town, in an Italian region known for quaint art and tranquility,” said Helena. 

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Piscina in Puglia recaptures the beloved ASTA silhouettes like the Natalia, Ana, and Carolina in fresh seasonal hues and tactile updates. Think diamond halter necks, new sparkling yarn, and limited-edition Natalia dress embroidered with organic beaded motifs. The collection’s showstoppers include pieces from the Yasmin series – mini, midi, and maxi dresses hand-beaded by artisans in India. 

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With a connection rooted to place and memory, from their upbringing between Denmark and Australia to summers spent chasing sunshine in Europe, the Ammitzboell sisters infuse every piece with an imprint of warmth and self. 

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The collection is available globally through ASTA’s website and retail partners, including REVOLVE, Selfridges, Flannels, and KITH. 

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V chatted with the ASTA RESORT sisters, Helena and Jasmine, to learn more

V Magazine: Jacques Deray’s La Piscine is a striking reference—how did its cinematic style influence your creative choices, visually and emotionally? 

Helena Ammitzboell: The film was shot at one location – a villa on the Côte d’Azur – for almost its entirety. It lets you watch the characters’ arcs and behavior closely, and see how a day unfolds in this paradise. When Jas and I were ideating the type of day that our character would have wearing our new collection, we knew it should be slow, with not too much movement around town, in an Italian region known for quaint art and tranquility. So in the little film we made for this campaign, you see our ASTA girl start her day off in an empty art museum down a quiet laneway, followed by a slow day by her pool, that leads into a spontaneous dancing evening with lots of dessert. Additionally, we paid homage to the main color palette in Deray’s film… the perfect swimming pool turquoise, naturalistic olive greens and blues from the shrubbery, and the clear skies. The orange came from the beautiful shot where Romy Schneider is on the phone wearing her tangerine colored pool towel. 

Jasmine Ammitzboell: We loved the ‘lazing’ around the villa, having nothing to do except escape the heat and enjoy a lavish breakfast. It reminded me of our holidays growing up, where we would do as little as possible and soak up every moment. We were also drawn to the 70s pool party, thrown together effortlessly. Dancing your heart out with strangers amidst a pool-lit backdrop. Whilst shooting ‘Piscina in Puglia’, we had a small party ourselves, setting the scene so it felt real. I think the best results come from spontaneity and indulging in enjoyment.

V: ASTA has such iconic silhouettes and memorable pieces—how, in your own words, does this season reimagine those while staying true to the original essence of the brand? 

HA: Thank you! We look at these classic silhouettes through a different lens, each season and each story we come up with. Our slinky paillette knit styles we felt were in harmony with the La Piscine atmosphere already, we changed staple camisoles into diamond-shaped halter necks to expose even more shoulder, and gave our signature sparkling yarn a Puglia-inspired color palette. We also feature a limited edition “Natalia” Dress this season that is hand-embroidered with beads in organic motifs for an even more shining look. 

JA: We adapted our signature pointelle flower motif into a darling headscarf and mini dress. It nods to ‘La Piscine’s’ effortless 60s/70s dress code and Jane Birkin’s ultra-mini dress uniform in the film. We also extended the Celine styles into a silky, flowing maxi dress, mini dress, and camisole. My favourite pieces in the collection feature different methods of hand embroidery. 

V: With your roots in both Australia and Denmark, how does your personal sense of place and memory shape the atmosphere of this collection? 

JA: Much of our inspiration comes from childhood memories and personal experiences—traveling together, vintage shopping, and chasing summers where we could dress up to walk down the street and get gelato. Helena and I are the type to show up to an aperitif looking like it’s a candlelit soirée. That’s why we have such a strong connection to our customer—she recognizes that ‘ASTA feeling’. We uphold our brand values of living for experiences and dressing for joy. 

HA: I’d agree. We light up when we see anything that seems to belong to a bygone era or to travel’s golden age—like a slinky shimmering dress hanging in a tiny boutique window in a glittering port town, or craft markets in old villages. We’re also drawn to the adventure stories of female protagonists in 1950s and ’60s films that capture youthfulness and pure freedom.

V: This collection features some beautiful hand-beaded elements—can you tell me more about the craftsmanship involved and your decision to include it? 

HA: The shimmering ‘paillette’ (translation of micro-sequin) yarn was found on one of our sourcing trips to Italy, it quickly became the signature of ASTA, it weaves a veil of lustre into life’s most special moments. 

JA: Collaborating with artisans in India to extend the ASTA sparkle into a hand-beaded line was a natural evolution in materiality. Our “Yasmin Skirt” is close to my heart because so much went into its development, and the hand-beading work took a lot of perfecting. Recently, I went to India on a sourcing trip, which was incredible to see the work being done in front of me. It is truly an artistic skill passed down through generations of practice. I hope to bring awareness of the true craftsmanship that goes into these pieces, capturing slow fashion and styles designed to be worn season after season.

V: What excites you most about this launch? 

HA: We’ve been coming to Italy, Portugal, and Spain for years—first for holidays, now also to visit our factories. Claude Lelouch said, “I want to make propaganda about the things I love,” so that’s just it. Swishy white skirts, peaceful villages, blue bikinis, fresh olives, good espresso, and lots of sunshine. 

JA: I feel like this collection captures our real lived experiences. I’m excited to share a piece of our memories with our customers and the designs we would dream of wearing on these vacations.