Kelly Saks - Miami's Fashion Girl: Floral Print

Summer L.O.V.E.

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.

SHOP THE LOOK

Photography: 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.

Tank, Skirt, Bag, Bracelet c/o Express | Shoes c/o Miss Trish | Lipstick: MAC ‘Relentlessly Red’

I love taking in the gorgeous views of my city by the water. The Grove Harbour Marina is home to Monty’s, a waterfront restaurant & bar that is pretty much a Miami landmark. If you’re a University of Miami alum like me, a happy hour at Monty’s is standard protocol on Thursday afternoons. The recently added Starbuck’s next door is just another excuse to stop by every morning. Views like this make getting any work done pretty much impossible, but I’m totally not complaining about the beautiful weather we’ve been enjoying while the rest of the country continues to freeze. (Sorry, not sorry!)

Seems like a no-brainer why EXPRESS chose the 3-0-5 to host their spring fashion show this Thursday. I’ll be co-hosting alongside my favorite Miami Fashion Bloggers, with special guest Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat, and a surprise celebrity host! There will be fun DIY shirts stations, hair styling, and DJ set by A-Trak. Check out the party deets below and don’t forget to RSVP!

You're invited to attend the EXPRESS Runway Show!

WHEN: Thursday, March 13 | Party at 4:00 pm, Fashion Show at 7:00 pm

WHERE: The Raleigh Hotel: 1775 Collins Ave. South Beach, Miami, FL

RSVP: Email rsvp@express.com by Wednesday, March 12

*Must be 21+ to enter.

Can’t make the show? Be sure to check out http://express.com/runway for live social media updates. Follow my posts from the show on Instagram & twitter by following me @kellysaks and hashtag #EXPRUNWAY

Photography by Max Reed

This post was made possible by Express.

Necklaces: Royal Fashion House Boutique (top) & Ann Taylor (bottom)

Dress: Chicwish, Shoes: Jean-Michel Cazabat (similar), Clutch: Nordstrom, Sunnies: Tous

If there's one thing I love about spring it's definitely feminine floral prints and delicate lace fabrics. This dress from e-tailer Chicwish is the perfect union of both, and a great piece that can work for both day or night. You may have seen me wear it on Despierta America a few weeks ago when I shared some styling tips for petites. Later in the day I wore it to an open house event for work. (Try it with nude heels, minimal jewelry and a white blazer for a more conservative work environment.) I added some sparkle by layering two statement necklaces that compliment the colorful floral print. What trends are you loving for spring? Let me know in the comments!

Photography by Bella Mente

Aqua Floral Blazer | ZARA Star Top (old) | Bakers Heels | Ann Taylor Necklace | Sunglasses c/o IVI

Aqua Floral Blazer | ZARA Star Top (old) | Ann Taylor Necklace

Just like some popular kids in high school, not all trends are what they're cracked up to be. But when it comes to mixing prints, it just took me a while to 'get it.' Although summer is long gone, this floral Aqua blazer (On sale $62, available at Bloomingdale's at The Falls) is perfect to usher in Miami's mild fall temps. It peeked out at me from the sale rack at Bloomies and I immediately started brainstorming how many different ways I could style it. See, I play a little game when I'm on the fence about a purchase- If I can wear it with at least two things I already own, it's justified. (Great strategy to avoid impulse buys.) At the top of that list was not a star print—or any print—but when I found these two hanging side-by-side in my closet, the fashion gods spoke to me.

Mixing prints isn't just for fashion editorials or bloggers, you just have to work with the right proportions and stay in the same color family. This unexpected combo works because the floral print is large, while the star print is on a smaller scale with fewer colors. The cherry on top is my gorgeous supernova necklace from Ann Taylor. (Big shout out to my boyfriend for this one, it's almost impossible to find!) Now it's your turn: Show me how you mix it up! Email me your best 'mixed prints' look to editor@kellysklosetblog.com & I'll post my favorites on Facebook.

Photos by Bella Mente Photography.

SHOP THE LOOK

While today officially marks the last day of summer, it doesn't mean you have to say goodbye to your favorite summer trends. Floral prints have popped up everywhere from blazers to skinny pants (like these super affordable ones from Prim&Proper,) and can easily transition into fall by pairing with dark hues & rich textures. I took this look from summer to fall by swapping my white and cream accessories for dark denim and brown leather, topped off with a burgundy felt hat.

Do you dare to wear flowers this fall? Let me know in the comments.