Event: Betsy Moss SS13 Fashion Show + Trump Tower + Bella Beach

I was invited to the Betsy Moss SS13 fashion show last weekend where I had the pleasure of spending a gorgeous Miami day, oceanside, with Kiana Barnes of Young Wilde & Free, and Maika of GLAM Life Blog.   We watched the Betsy Moss girls do their thing, looking gorgeous in their breezy and bright outfits.  

The venue: behind the Trump Tower International Hotel in Sunny Isles sits Bella Beach , a Mediterranean style restaurant that is on the sand, steps away from the ocean.  Tip: do not try the chicken satay but do definitely try the chorizo (so beyond simple yet delicious), and note that the cocktails are alcohol-intense!

Pedro of Betsy Moss's  team was really friendly and accommodating, I found him to be so sweet and genuine (thank you for taking the time to chat and be real!).  Sometimes these things can be so icy! But I found that this was really not the case with this show.  There was a great sample sale, and the two girls we met that were manning the sale were also unbelievably sweet.  The clothes are perfect for a tropical climate likes ours, because the fabrics are light, flowy and bright!  I also think that these pieces could work in colder temps as well because they would layer perfectly.  Get creative with your fashion, girls!

Click below for more photos and the rest of this post: 

OOTD: Laid back in a French Slogan Tee & Seven for All Mankind

This weekend was a no heels and a messy side-braid kind of weekend.  I was laid-back chic (just coined that one)  in ballet pink skinny jeans and a je t'aime logo tee by Juicy Couture (previously worn here with my Conversation Pieces striped skirt).
Wore this outfit to grab pizza with my honey in the Gables.  The weather's still great and I've successfully avoided any Ultra-related traffic or insanity!

The color of these jeans is perfectly pale, pink.  I recommend these specifically because they're so worn in and soft; they're perfect right from the store.  The Seven for All Mankind Slim Cigarette jean runs true to size, but the holes and distressing varies from pair to pair.

OOTD: How to Style Camo Pants

Updated links for 2014:

I was a little hesitant about buying a pair of Gap skimmers in camo print (now sold out).  Said hesitation mostly stemmed from childhood memories of  "chongas" (Miami reference) who, to me, were intimidating girls who wore oversized camouflage pants (paired with tight spandex bra-tops), who snarled and growled their way through middle school. Yikes!

Luckily, in adult hood, those girls are nowhere to be found and camo print got a makeover!

You can find these pants everywhere:

Affordable: Old Navy, Standards & Practices Skinny Camo jeans

Mid Range: Loft, Alternative camo leggings, relaxed fit camo

High End: Revolve, loving this white style, True Religion, Current Elliot Camo

*My favorite pair is by DL1961 - here.*

Loft even came out with a cool camo print skirt.

  Below are my tips on how to style camo or army print pants!

Here's my how-to for Camo wear: (under the link)

Design Element: Cross Body bags

Cross body bags are so chic! I have a little bit of an ongoing love affair with cross-body bags that dates back quite some time.  The first tale begins in my Mom's closet, as all good fashion love stories do.  Because that is where the chicest, most perfect, black quilted Chanel cross body bag lives. Then, later on, a renewed love came about for these bags,  all because of the Louis Vuitton BB Alma. Swoon. Vernis cross body heaven.

They're everywhere this year; after making a big splash on the fashion scene last year, the trend has continued strongly this season.  Below are my picks for the best cross body bags out there, broken down by categories.


Contemporary:

The Rebecca Minkoff Mini MAC is the most popular cross body I know of.  It has shown up on countless fashion blogs, in a variety of colors and textures.  I love the newest pastel colors, like the periwinkle blue color featured in my image above.  The Minkoff bag has recent competition from Botkier and the Valentina bag.  Both are priced the same ($195), both are a similar size and both have chain straps with metal detailing.  Is this a clever marketing strategy by Botkier or does it hit too close to copying? Which do you prefer?





Bucket bags: 

One of my favorite styles is the bucket-like bag that LV has been doing for years - the LV Petit Noe.   3.1 Philip Lim has a similar style out this season; their Scout Small Cross Body bag (floral version here)    I love the laid back feel of a bucket bag styled across the body rather than just hanging off the shoulder.

More affordable bucket options here, and here.

OOTD: Isabel Lu + Floral Maxi Dress + Neutral Cork Wedges + Florida Keys Living

This weekend we spent some time with great friends who have the most amazing view from their backyard.  When you walk out back in their home in the Keys, it leads directly out onto the ocean! It was the perfect backdrop for this floral, flowy dress by Isabel Lu.  I was definitely a little picture happy.  I liked some of the shots with the wind blowing on the dress.  I got it this year at the Gilt Warehouse sale...but Emma Roberts wore it last year ;)   Enjoy my weekend shots!

Spring Time Sweaters and Cardigans

Spring is near and spring time transition pieces are key to making the wardrobe-switch.  It's time to lighten the winter wear up a bit and move into more colorful, bright, light and airy pieces.  Spring time sweaters and cardigans are a great way to transition into the warmer months.  Little lobsters, bows and hearts; who wouldn't fall in love with these?

Below are my picks for my current spring time cardi and sweater faves.

Top row: Lobster Striped Sweater (Asos) / Bow Sweater (Asos) / Kate Spade Striped Greta  (love the neckline on this one!

Bottom Row: River Island Chelsea Girl Heart Print Sweater / Kate Spade Ruthie Bow Cardigan / Mint Green Polka Dot Sweater

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Top: Picture This Sweater / Neon Sweater Forever 21 / Madewell Sweatshirt Sweater

Bottom: AE Open Stitch Dolman Sweater / Lucca Couture Neon Chevron Sweater / Delia's Striped Sweater

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Top: Lush Lattice Lace Sleeve Tee / Free People Gnarled Songbird Pullover / Club Monaco Niki Sweater / Gap EverSoft Skinny Cardigan (love the lavender color) (20% off your GAP purchase with coupon code: GAPGIFT at checkout)

Bottom: Old Navy Women's Mixed Floral Print Cardi (15% off with online code DAYLIGHT at checkout) / Old Navy Women's Graphic print sweater (heart logo)  /
C&C California Striped Boatneck sweater (50% off)  and sparkly!/
Madewell Striped Pipa Pointelle Pullover (great yellow)

<3 

Cotton 24 Hour Runway Show: Miami

Happy Sunday everyone!  I had so much fun on Friday night when I attended the Cotton and People Mag 24 hour Runway show on South Beach!  24 hour runway show, you say? Yes! 24 hours, 1440 different looks styled with clothes made from cotton.  Who knew cotton could be so cool?

We've had a really off winter this year, with mostly warm weather and then huge (for Miami) dips in the temperature, and Friday was one of those nights.  The runway was set up along the ocean's edge, and the wind was really blowing! It was also raining, to boot, and super chilly!  The girls must have been freezing on the catwalk.

I was really excited for this event, because apart from being a cool concept, the hosts for the show were Giuliana and Bill Rancic and Lauren Conrad.  I'm a reality show junkie (guilty pleasure x's 100) and I love those guys.  Despite the media preview being cancelled, we were still able to get some great photographs from the pit, and mingle inside the media tent with some really cool people.

The highlight of my night? Meeting the lovely and patient Lauren Conrad.  She posed for pictures and was continuously gracious while she was basically mobbed for photographs.  Also, kuddos to her hairstylist, Kristen Ess who was on hand to tame any Miami humidty-imposed hair issues that may have popped up.

Lauren Conrad wore a black jumpsuit by Camilla and Marc, which was stop-in-your-tracks stunning.  The back had really cool criss cross detailing.

Camilla and Marc Calculation Jumpsuit here. 

I thought this event was really well executed considering the inclement weather: yummy light bites, full bar, a jazz-handy model coordinator and some pretty cool goodie bags...there was also zero hassle to get in, which is always appreciated (unlike the total cluster, and debacle at the H&M opening on Lincoln Road a couple of months ago)

Thank you to Jordan Shelton of Golin Harris PR for the great communication and for my invite. Well done, guys! 

Photos of what I wore down at the bottom of this post. 

Design Element: Springtime Flats + Cotton and People Mag 24 Hour Runway Show

See by Chloe hit it right on the mark with these perfectly executed, both functional and chic flats.  Regular ballerina flats are getting an update for Spring!  We're seeing so many pretty designs that are popping up on spring flats: metallics, ankle straps, neon colors, cutouts and big sparkly bows!  I think any of these would look very cute paired with pastel colored skinny jeans that have been
rolled up a bit.

1. Boutique 9 Pahana Flat Sandal  / 2. Etsy purple bow flats  3. Esty Nautical red anchor flats / 4. B by Brian Atwood Amata Snake Ballet flats / 5. Express Color Block Sandal (comes in pink and brown too, so summery!) / 6. Express Studded Pointy Flat 7. / J.Crew Lillian Suede Low Wedges / 8. J.Crew Elsie Canvas Mary Janes / 9. See by Chloe Corked Footbed Sandals 10. Kate Spade Jenie Flat 9. / Red Valentino Cherry Print Flat 10. /Joe's Kitty mint green pointy toe flat

11. Old Navy boat shoe, mint. 

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Miami Event: 

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I'll be stopping by this even tonight!  It looks like it's going to be fun...24 hours of fashion? 

Yes, please. 

If you're in the Miami area come and check it out, it's free, or watch it live on People.com