Stripes & Gingham Pants

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

Boho Vibes: Hoss Intropia Spring/Summer 2014

Hoss Intropia Maxi Dress & Bag (Available at Bloomingdale's Aventura) | Henri Bendel Gold Chain Cuff | Zara Pearl Bracelet | Briana Evil Eye Bracelet | Tous Motif Ring c/o | Express Hoop Earrings | Photography by Bella Mente

The past month has been so busy, I'm glad I managed to sneak in a short trip to Disney World last weekend. (Nothing says disconnecting like wearing Minnie Mouse ears and eating way too much ice cream.) Monday's reality check hit hard, with a marathon of events looming, including styling two fashion shows, and Miami Fashion Week kicking off today. When my schedule gets this crazy it's hard to find time (and energy) to keep my look together, but as you've probably surmised, I'm not a jeans-and-a-tshirt type of girl so I find ways to make it work. My solution? A chic maxi dress. Hoss Intropia's latest offerings just hit Bloomingdale's Aventura and my eye immediately went to this dress, with an unlikely combo of black and white stripes and a very bohemian floral pattern. The best part is the halter straps are long and can be wrapped in a multitude of ways. I'm not embarrassed to say I spent close to 15 minutes tying and untying them in different ways. Chic and convertible - winner, winner!

Join me this Saturday, May 17th at Bloomingdale's Aventura as I host the Spring/Summer 2014 Hoss Intropia fashion show. If you loved last year's must-have red lace gown, you'll fall in love all over again.  

EXPRESS Takes Miami!

 

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.

Print on Print

Starry Eyed

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.

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