Tutorial: Holiday Braided Chignon



Whether you're headed to a large Noche Buena feast, or an intimate Christmas dinner with friends, the holiday season calls for a little more glam and sparkle. One of the easiest ways to kick your look up a notch is with a chic braided chignon. If you're bored of your go-to mermaid waves, or long and sleek look, this is the perfect style to get out of your rut. Aside from adding length and highlights, my Hotheads Extensions are perfect for creating voluminous up-do's and pinterest-worthy braids like this one. Hotheads stylist Aurezu whipped up this look for me with a simple step-by-step.

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Sombre Tutorial with Hotheads Hair


I'm so excited to finally share this hair tutorial I worked on with Hotheads Hair! (You may have spotted my long hair, don't care instagram photo before I left to France.) Since I chopped my hair off last fall it's been a constant struggle deciding whether I wanted to keep it short or grow it out. With Hotheads I can have the best of both worlds because there's no long-term commitment. When I'm ready to go back to my shorter length, the extensions will slide right out with an alcohol-based solution.
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Elie Tahari Fashion Show at Bloomingdale's Aventura 11/15


Join me this Saturday 11/15 at Bloomingdale's Aventura  as I host the Elie Tahari fashion show. The fun starts at 1pm on Level 2, with models hitting the runway at 2pm. Elie's brand experts will also be available to help you shop from the latest collection. Did I mention it's Bloomingdale's Friends & Family right now?? (Extra 20% savings on all purchases!) If you live in South Florida I hope you will join us!

For more details or to register: RSVPAventura@bloomingdales.com



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Lashing Out: Why I Quit Mascara


While I openly admit I’m a total beauty junkie, mascara has always been my drug of choice. I just don’t feel “done” without it on. No mascara? Might as well not even bother with the rest of your face. Lush lashes instantly open up your eyes, can camouflage a long sleepless night, and even distract from a devastating pimple. My one issue with the rich black potion is that it takes precious time to apply just right so that your lashes don’t clump or look spidery. One swipe of the wand can be the difference between looking like a doe-eyed angel and a side show act.

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Win the Ultimate Transformation from Hotheads Hair


Everyone's BFF Giuliana Rancic recently entrusted her stylist with Hotheads Hair Extensions when she debuted her new blonde locks. Whether you want to make a drastic change like G, add subtle highlights, or grow out your summer bob overnight (a la BeyoncĂ©,) Hotheads offers the highest quality tape extensions that blend so seamlessly they're virtually undetectable. I personally love Hotheads because they're incredibly quick to apply, and don't damage your own hair. Bored of your look and ready for the ultimate transformation? Hotheads is celebrating reaching 10,000 fans and is giving away a $500 Hotheads Gift Certificate!


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Back to Cool in Black x White

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Glow by Valmont x The Spa at Vicerory Miami


My skincare regimen is undoubtedly the most important part of my beauty routine. Now that I'm in my late twenties, I've moved beyond over-the-counter creams and serums and think it's important to start focusing on "preventative" products. 

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All Tied Up: Pre-Fall Shoe Trends


It's Shoesday Tuesday so I thought I'd share some new favorites I just added to my shoe closet this week. (I'm a shoe hoarder - check my twitter profile.)

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For the Love of Shoes | 9West & InStyle Launch Party at Dadeland Mall

NineWest_miami@timeinc.com
 
 
When I was a kid I loved back to school season solely because of back to school shopping and, of course, new shoes. Mom knew that shiny new kicks were a great educational tool. Smart lady. Now as an adult any excuse is good enough for new shoes! Wouldn't you love to be rewarded for your shoe shopping addiction? It's totally happening this Thursday, August 21st, at Dadeland Mall. Join 9West and InStyle Magazine to celebrate the launch of their exclusive Fall shoe collaboration and you'll go home with a luxe swag bag of InStyle approved goodies in addition to your sweet new footwear. (While supplies last.) The party starts at 6PM at the Nine West store!
 
Make your feet happy. RSVP to NineWest_miami@timeinc.com


This post is sponsored by Single Edition Media on behalf of InStyle & 9West. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
 
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Misfit Right In


I used to despise skinny jeans. True story! They didn’t make me feel “skinny” at all, but rather self-conscious about my curvy and petite frame. Recently I’ve had a change of heart about skinnies, partly because part of me changed. It was a little more than a year ago that I switched up my fitness routine and started working with my friend and personal trainer Monika Paez of Bella Forma Fitness. At the time, I had a fancy gym membership and would go to yoga and pilates sporadically, but I hated working out. (I’d be lying if I said I actually like it now, LOL.) With a little dedication and consistency Monika helped me say “peace out!” to my thunder thighs, and I gained the confidence to rock super skinny denim without hang-ups. I’m currently living in these high-rise denim leggings by Express, which are just as comfy, yet more stylish, than actual leggings. They’re a great alternative to yoga pants when you’re having a low-key day or have errands to run before you hit the gym. That was the case when I wore this faux-leather trimmed version last week before trying Exhale Spa’s cardio barre class at the Loews Miami Beach.

P.S. Exhale’s cardio barre class will also help get you into your skinny jeans. Holy workout.


Lyfe Brand Tank | Express Plaid Boyfriend Shirt (similar) | Express High-Rise Jean Leggings | Lululemon Lab Sports Bra | Shoes: Shoedazzle | Wristlet: Express | Hat c/o French Connection | Ring: Express | Sunglasses: Celine Traveller | Necklace c/o T’Audrey | Lips: MAC Relentlessly Red Matte


T'Audrey Autograph Plate Necklace, Celine Traveller Sunglasses




Photography by Bella Mente 
SHOP THE LOOK




This post is sponsored by Express. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Summer Essentials with Olay Total Effects + Miami Swim Week Giveaway


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Featured in Disfunkshion Magazine

Shout out to DISfunkshion Magazine for featuring me as one of four "Bloggers to Know" in their just released Summer issue! How cute is the layout? Not cuter than my girl Jana, featured above me. ::waves:: The issue is available for purchase in bookstores nationwide. You can check out DISfunkshion online and on instagram at @disfunkshionmag.
 
 
 
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Summer L.O.V.E.

 
 
Tank & Skirt c/o Express | Necklace c/o Taudrey | Shoes: Manolo Blahnik 'Pacha' (also here) | Bracelet: ZARA | Sunglasses: Wildfox 'Catfarer' | Lips: Bobbi Brown Art Stick in Sunset Orange c/o


Bring on the short hemlines and shorter hair, summer is officially here! No need to sound an alarm, I didn't get scissor happy with my 'do. I have been itching to cut it a little shorter, but this faux bob was a fun way to try the style with zero commitment. It's not the most difficult style to achieve, but I was lucky to have it done by one of the great hair/makeup artists at Despierta America last week. (Click here to view my segment on men's summer fashion trends with Express.)  Besides beachy chic hair, I'm currently crushing on bright colors, and fun, mix-matched prints. I'm a bigger fan of teaming stripes and floral prints than I thought, since this outfit is practically version 2.0 of this look from earlier this year. Which is your favorite?

To polish things off, a bold lip is never a bad idea. Bobbi Brown's Art Stick is the perfect all-in-one lip color for the sticky summer months because it goes on smooth like a pencil, but offers the rich color of a lipstick with staying power. It'll likely be my go-to for Swim Week since I know it won't melt off or get stuck to my hair in the breeze.



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Photography: Bella Mente

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New GAP Now Open on Lincoln Road



Welcome back, GAP! After closing it's doors early last year for a major construction project the new and much-improved GAP on Lincoln Road officially opened to the public today. The new store at 1001 Lincoln Road now has an additional 4,000 square feet of retail space with two floors to shop from instead of just one. Along with a larger footprint, the store has also expanded their selection to cater to every type of customer, with products now including women's, men's, GapKids, babygap, GapMaternity, GapBody, and GapFit.

Embracing the vibe of its home on Miami Beach, the new GAP Lincoln Road teamed up with local instagram influencers to capture our city through their own lenses. The photos can be seen both inside and outside of the store on a huge electronic billboard, warmly greeting us with "Hello Miami."

Make sure to stop by and see the beautiful new store this weekend and get some shopping done! You'll get to customize a fun limited edition tote bag (like mine above) with your initials totally gratis when you spend $75. (*While supplies last.)

Get a preview of what's in-store at www.gap.com and say hello at http://facebook.com/gap and http://twitter.com/Gap. Use #HelloLincolnRoad to join the conversation.






This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Gap Miami via Burst Media. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Event: Summer Fashion Bash x Bloomingdale's Aventura

 
 
Did summer sneak up on us? The longest day of the year, aka the summer solstice, is this Saturday! +Bloomingdale's is celebrating with their annual Summer Fashion Bash and I'm excited to be hosting it  once again. Whether you need to stock up on Team USA/4th of July gear, bikinis, and gladiator sandals, or just want to cool off indoors and enjoy a fun fashion show, Bloomingdale's Aventura is the place to be tomorrow from 5-8PM. Lots of great giveaways are in store for guests, including a chance to win an outfit straight off the runway (!) and tickets to the new movie "Begin Again" starring Adam Levine (hottie alert!!) We had a full house last year so make sure to reserve your seat by RSVP. See you there! xx
 
RSVP to rsvpaventura@bloomingdales.com or call (305) 792-1211.

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White x Neon | Miami Fashion Week 2014


 
 
 Pixie Market White Eyelet Short Set | Jewelry: c/o Tous | Shoes: Jane by Saint Laurent | Bag: Zara
 
When I walked into the Miami Beach Convention Center on the second night of Miami Fashion Week no one could have known that I was gritting my teeth hoping I wouldn't trip. Yes, trip! I've never met a heel I couldn't strut in, but I was literally taking my first steps in my shoes as I was posing on the carpet. I felt a J-Law moment could happen at any second. Earlier that day, I was pacing around my home office waiting for my shiny new Saint Laurent babies to arrive like an addict waiting for their next fix. (Hi, I'm Kelly and I'm a shoe-a-holic.) I was about to grab a pair of nude heels to wear with my chic eyelet set from Pixie Market when the UPS guy rang my doorbell and saved the day, just moments before I left for the shows. The pop of neon was the perfect touch to my otherwise simple outfit, which I topped off with delicate gold jewelry thanks to TOUS. Would you dare to wear sky-high heels fresh out of the box?

P.S. Would love it if you could vote for my look in the XOXO Style/Off over on FashionIndie; the contest ends this weekend and you could win a $500 XOXO wardrobe! More deets in this post.



SHOP THE LOOK




Photos: Bianca Sanchez

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White Hot with XOXO


XOXO Dress c/o | Zara Heels | TAudrey Plate Bracelet | Tous Clutch c/o | MAC 'Relentlessly Red' Lipstick


Every girl has her go-to LBD (little black dress,) or if you’re like me you have an el-bee-dee for work, special occasions, date night, girls’ night, and I-can’t-decide-what-to-wear nights. With summer approaching it’s time to ditch the black and get yourself a little white dress. Thanks to Miami’s state of eternal summer I live in white year round, but a crisp white frock always looks best with a tan. The problem with finding the perfect LWD is that white can be tricky. You have to wear the right undergarments (nude, not white, please!!) and make sure the fabric isn’t completely sheer in bright lighting. This bodycon style from XOXO is the perfect fit with on-trend mesh insets, thick yet breathable fabric, and even a built-in bra – genius. It gets bonus points because it’s under $100, just like the majority of the XOXO collection. You can check out this hot little number and other celeb-inspired dresses from XOXO in-store and online at Macy’s, Dillards and Carson’s stores, and on Amazon.com

Win your own head-to-toe look from XOXO by voting for me here as your favorite style inspiration and submitting your own XOXO inspiration on Instagram. Share anything from your XOXO outfit to an XOXO moment (smooching your beau or your pooch!) to be entered to win $500 worth of XOXO goodies. Make sure to tag @therealxoxo and use the hashtag #XOXOmoment to be considered. Contest ends June 2, 2014. Good luck!


Photography by Bella Mente


This post was made possible by XOXO.
  
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Brunch at Eden Roc Miami | Miami Fashion Week


Dress: Hoss Intropia (Available at Bloomingdale's Aventura) | Bag: Tous 'Barbados Mesh Tote' c/o (last seen here) | Shoes: Aldo (old) | Lips: Bobbi Brown Art Stick in 'Sunset Orange' c/o | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban | Jewelry: Everything But Water (similar), Vintage


Between the high energy runway shows and late night soirĂ©es, Miami Fashion Week invited their blogger ambassadors to a more low key gathering at Miami Beach's Eden Roc Hotel on Saturday morning; the only business on the schedule was brunch. Just because we weren't covering shows doesn't mean there was a lack of style, or instagramming for that matter. I mean, what do you expect when you invite over 20 fashion bloggers to a party? Selfies are practically mandatory.
The day was absolutely perfect for sipping mimosas and catching up with my favorite girls. I might have snuck a delicious croissant in there, too.
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Andres Sarda FW14 at Miami Fashion Week

Photo: Humberto Vidal

Andres Sarda brought a Vegas-style party to the Miami Beach Convention Center for the second night of Miami Fashion Week on Friday. While I missed the opening night soirĂ©e, (I was hosting Macy's American Icons,  I was interested to see what MFW had to offer this year, as they've made an effort to collaborate with bloggers for the first time. The show was in one word - spectacular. From the incredibly chic blinged-out bodysuits, to the strobe lights, video wall and EDM music, I felt like I was transported to one of the hottest clubs in Las Vegas. The lingerie and swimwear pieces weren't just sexy, they were art pieces. Complemented by bold jewelry pieces from TOUS, models strutted down the endless runway in looks ranging from futuristic dominatrix's, to Studio 64 bad girls. Sarda created a world that seemed only suitable for divas like BeyoncĂ© and Rihanna. I wouldn't be surprised to see either one of them in Andres Sarda sometime soon. After the show, we were invited to celebrate at the after party hosted by TOUS at the Surfcomber Hotel. (See photos on my Instagram @kellysaks.)
 
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Secret Garden

Hoss Intropia Dress (Available at Bloomingdale's Aventura) | B Brian Atwood Heels (Sold Out) | Furla Cortina Bag c/o (similar) | Midi Rings by Nasty Gal, Tous, Francesca's | Francesca's Collections Bracelet | Photography by Bella Mente


More mint, please! This is clearly a color I can't get enough of right now. (Have you seen this post?) Just another beautiful dress from the Hoss Intropia Spring/Summer 2014 collection, which you can see more of at tomorrow's fashion show. Expect a variety of day-to-night shift dresses like this in beautiful pastel shades, chic lace, glamorous beading, and even on-trend palm print. There are also some striking straw clutches and statement necklaces you'll want to add to your resort wardrobe. Guests will enjoy a 25% discount during the event, a sweet treat because Hoss rarely ever goes on sale. (Time to stock up, ladies!) If you're not local to South Florida, you can call to order this dress by phone at (305) 792-1041.

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