Kelly Saks - Miami's Fashion Girl: Bella Mente Photography

Red Lace

Photography by Bella Mente Photography//Styling by Kelly Saks

If you follow me on facebook or twitter you know that my birthday was a week long celebration, and probably got a glimpse of this amazing dress I partied in. With a colorful ribbon print & feminine pleats, my birthday dress was perfect for a girls' night out that ended with a dance-off against Wyclef Jean at Hyde Beach Miami. (Only in South Beach, natch.) Remember the lucite jewelry trend of 2010? Well clear, and yes plastic, handbags are the latest cheap/chic trend to hit the runways. I took the trend for a spin with this clear skull clutch courtesy of VanityGal. The fun part? Figuring out how to wear it without looking like a hoarder. So I kept just the necessities- keys, ID, credit card, lipgloss & powder- and tossed them into a cute pink coin bag. My fuchsia pumps from the Fashion For A Cause shoot were just the right shade of pink for the dress, and comfy enough to dance the night away in. Cheers to 26!

Birthday souffle at The Forge. Yum!!

Although I'm the birthday girl this month, I've got a present for you! VanityGal sent me an extra skull clutch to giveaway, offering one of you lucky readers the chance to show off what's in your bag. ~~Enter the contest below.~~ Contest has closed. Congrats to winners Bianca & Karoline!

For a limited time, shop www.vanitygal.com and get 20% off your purchase with code kellyskloset. Enjoy!

WHAT I WORE

Talulah Vintage Print Dress via ISA Boutique

VanityGal Green/Clear Skull Clutch - Enter to win one below!

Gold Tribal Necklace c/o AliExpress by Alibaba

Target Sunnies

Forever21 Bracelets (old)

Macy's INC Pink Pumps (on sale for $50!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After the very rainy (and windy) weekend Miami just experienced thanks to tropical storm Isaac, these photos are making me antsy for another sunny day! I can't complain really, considering us South Floridians enjoy a year-round summer... which is why bikinis, sunglasses, and stylish hats are staples in every Miami girl's closet. These Chloe aviators are my new go-to sunnies, and my favorite gift from Miami Swim Week thanks to Ditto. If you've ever been frustrated trying to shop for sunglasses online you definitely have to check out the innovative e-store; Ditto allows you to virtually try on a slew of designer frames by capturing a 3-D image of your face via webcam. Hassle free online shopping? Sounds like the perfect activity for the next rainy day. Later this week I'll be sharing what's in my beach bag - summer isn't over yet!

What I Wore

Eco Chic by Meadow Coverup

DvF Tote Bag

Baja Wedges c/o MLE Mia Shoes

Chloe Sunnies c/o Ditto

Septimo Ring

The Webster x Target Hat

Jamaica Bikini c/o Maya Swimwear

Photos by Bella Mente Photography

Photos by Bella Mente Photography

There's nothing better than a dress that you can just throw on and feel instantly pretty! This gorgy one-shoulder frock was sent to me by the sweet online boutique Prim+Proper and even got boyfriend's seal of approval. It's the kind of dress you just want to twirl in. Besides the fact that it happens to be the perfect shade of pool blue, the bell sleeve and nipped in waistline make it oh-so-very-flattering. Come fall I'll be wearing this baby with black tights and booties...and twirling.

Got the summer blues? (no pun intended) Shop Prim+Proper's Summer Sale & save 20% sitewide. This dress is practically highway robbery at under $40.

What I Wore

Dress c/o Prim+Proper

Earrings by Aldo

As a kid, back to school season meant one thing: back to school shopping! A new school year was a chance to reinvent myself, try out a new style, and forget the fashion mistakes (yes, everyone has them!) of the past. But every fall there are certain trends that just keep coming back... for my latest collaboration with Bella Mente Photography I took the classic school girl look and gave it a rock n' roll edge. Plaid backpack? Check! Circle Skirt? Check! Denim? Check! Studded leather pumps?....

I've been rocking glasses since the fourth grade and have pretty much perfected the geek chic look. (What, did you think Dwyane Wade started that?!) Thanks to Collins Bridge, these red Sagamore Glasses offer the perfect pop of color.

What I Wore

Glasses c/o Collins Bridge

Vinyl Skirt by Furor Moda

Bebe Ivy Spikes & Studs Platform Pump

Target Mossimo Plaid Backpack

GET THE LOOK

{ZARA Dress & Shoes - AtikShop Clutch - Forever 21 Necklace}

This is exactly how I want to spend the rest of my summer - lounging. (While this may look very glamorous, I assure you that I was sweating up a fierce storm in what felt like 100 degree temps.) My second collaboration with Bella Mente Photography looks like a watercolor painting, and is again set at the gorgeous Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami. The picturesque waterfall and surrounding greenery made me feel like I was vacationing in Italy! (I wish!) The landmark property was actually built to look like a 400-year-old Italian estate, commissioned by American industrialist James Deering in the early 1900's. Today Vizcaya is the go-to for bridal shoots and some of the most exclusive galas - and blogger girls looking to take pretty pictures. A dress this good deserved a great photo, after all.

Creative Direction/Styling by Kelly Saks | Photography by Andrea of Bella Mente Photography

{ZARA Dress & Shoes}

{Forever 21 Necklace - AtikShop Python Clutch - Henri Bendel Ring - OPI Simply Smashing Polish}

P.S. Don't forget there are 2 active giveaways: Techcessories (for a cool wireless mouse & iPhone accessories!) and Win Your Way Into Fashion Week for 2 tickets to Funkshion Fashion Week this Saturday!

P.P.S Check out the new Instagram tab above! Follow me on instagram (username: kellysaks) for a live photo stream from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim & other Swim Week events in Miami.

Welcome to my dark side! If the bright, neon, and patterned outfits I constantly post haven't given you a clue, I'm a big fan of color. From electric yellows to bold reds, I'm not one to shy away from making a bold color choice. When you live in paradise the last thing you want to do is mope around in boring black. Save for a sexy black bikini, of course - like this chic high-waisted s wimsuit from The Orchid Boutique. (Confession: I will happily spend the rest of my summer in it.) I wanted the photos to evoke major drama, and the historic Vizcaya Museum & Gardens in Miami provided the perfect backdrop. (For the locals: I got confused for a quinciañera during the shoot. HA!) Photography by Andrea of Bella Mente Photography; Creative Direction/Styling/Makeup by me.