Kelly Saks - Miami's Fashion Girl

Michael Kors: Macy's American Icons

When it comes to All-American style, Macy's has always been the first place I shop. With designers like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, and of course, Michael Kors, shopping for classic and chic attire is a one-stop job. This eye-catching colorblocked blazer from MICHAEL Michael Kors is the most beautiful shade of aqua blue, and a great update to the typical blazer silhouette with a modern zipper detail around the waist. Paired with classic aviators and sleek pair of MK cotton shorts, it's the perfect summer uniform.

I'm excited to be partnering with Macy's to host the launch of Macy's American Icons this Thursday, May 15th at the Aventura Mall from 6 to 9PM. I'll be joining radio & TV personality Michael Yo, my friend and fellow fashion blogger Kristin Clark of Living in Color Print, and a slew of guest performers for a night of festivities including a fashion show, DJ battles, and live art. Click in below to see the invitation. Hope to see you there!

Zara Skirt | Anne Michelle Heels | Express Bowler Bag (sold out online) | Rose Tactic Bangle c/o Swarovski Sunglasses available at The Closet Boutique in Miami

When I came across this skirt at Zara I didn't think twice about taking it home with me. What did bum me out was that I would have to wait a week to wear it because I was leaving to Washington, D.C. the next day and the nation's Capitol was still too cold for my thin Miami blood. I originally styled it with a white long sleeve sheer top for a TV segment on Despierta America, but later changed because the day was really warm. I found this cute crop top at a random discount store in the mall last year and always end up reaching for it. Don't you just love those cheap little gems that end up being your favorites?? Fellow blogger D'ana of Collections+Volumes captured these shots after a lunch meeting at Crumb on Parchment in Miami's Design District. There's nothing like a delicious quinoa salad and fresh iced tea on a gorgeous spring day.

SHOP THE LOOK

My weekly manicures are as much a treat as they are a ritual. I can't remember how young I was when I started having my nails done professionally, but suffice it to say I could probably paint my way to the moon with nail polish by now. A true beauty junkie through and through, I've tried every nail trend out there... like that time I got acrylic stiletto nails for New York Fashion Week, and ended up with brittle little stubs when I finally got tired of refilling them. This time around the latest in nailcare is actually good for you.

When you’re barely five-foot-five and packing Cuban hips, shopping for jeans can turn retail therapy into a nightmare in about 2.5 seconds. Though I do most of my shopping online, buying denim typically requires a lengthy store visit that includes me wiggling in and out of at least a dozen pairs of jeans that are too long, too tight, or reduce my butt to a pancake. No bueno. That’s where Saks Bal Harbour Shop’s Denim Bar comes to the rescue! With thousands of jeans to choose from it’s nearly impossible not to find the perfect pair (or two…or three.) During my latest visit, Saks’ denim specialist Leslie took a quick glance at me and immediately knew what brands and styles would work best on my body - like a pair of uber soft Genetic Denim skinnies which felt like pajamas and accentuated my curves rather than suffocating them. My fitting room was setup with a handful of jeans and coordinating tops, making the visit short and surprisingly sweet.

Experience the ultimate Denim Bar with me this Thursday alongside my fabulous girlfriends Maria of TheWordy Girl and Martha of Princess Martha Blog. We’ll be dishing on our fave new denim looks with you over bubbly and sweet treats. Skinnies, overalls, or cutoffs - the choice is yours!

Knit Top, Printed Shorts, Espadrilles c/o Benetton | Barbados Mesh Tote c/o TOUS

Benetton Leather Wrap Bracelet | TAudrey Initial Plate Bracelet

It's always great to get reacquainted with a brand that you grew up with. In this case, United Colors of Benetton. I have memories of shopping there as a kid, (remember the Coconut Grove location at the Mayfair Shops?) and lusting after the expertly color coded collections that seemed all too grown up for me at the time. Fast forward to today and I'm so excited to have teamed up with the new Benetton as a style ambassador for their 2014 summer collection! Inspired by Italy and the Mediterranean, the line offers chic basics in amazing knits and printed textiles that will take you from a coffee date to a Sunday stroll down Collins Ave, or your choice of exotic summer getaway. Can we talk about these amazing espadrilles? I'm not taking them off anytime soon.

Join me tomorrow to celebrate the new collection at Benetton South Beach and enjoy a special VIP discount all night. Check out the invitation below and RSVP by emailing me with your guest names here. Don't forget to tag your photos & tweets with #BENETTONBEACHBASH. Summer is calling, see you on South Beach!

Photography by Bella Mente

The moment I was told I would have the opportunity to interview Kate Upton at the Express Runway Show last week, I went into glam overtime. I mean, what else are you supposed to do when preparing to face a Sport’s Illustrated bombshell? I squatted, juiced, exfoliated, and tanned – it was almost like preparing for my own swimsuit competition. In my defense, I wore a (fab) blush tone crop top and high waisted short shorts, so said regimen was needed. I completed my look with a metallic envelope wristlet, and a stack of bracelets including this evil eye and medallion charm bracelet, all from Express, natch.

When I finally had my 15 seconds with the new brand spokesperson, I asked Kate the question that was on everyone’s mind – why Express? In addition to the coveted SI Swim cover, she’s graced the cover of Vogue, twice. She recently had a campaign with Sam Edelman, and could undoubtedly work with a slew of major fashion brands. Her response was as simple as her natural charm, she grew up wearing Express because it was both stylish and affordable, so it felt right. P.S. She’s just as beautiful fully clothed as she is in next to nothing, promise.

Express did a phenomenal job with the set-up at The Raleigh Hotel. Models were seemingly walking on water with the runway suspended over the iconic pool. Lots of sleek, black looks made their way down the runway, with my favorites being a chic strapless purple dress with palm tree print (love!), a zebra print midi skirt, and super sexy suede fringe heels which you can get right here (under $100!) You can shop the looks straight from the runway at express.com/runway. If something you love isn’t available, keep checking back as new items will be updated weekly.

Before the show with my girl Annie (The Fashion Poet)

Shop My Look

Photos courtesy of Express and Skinny Intern.

This post was made possible by Express.

A huge smile comes to my face when I recall my dinner with George Kotsiopoulos last week. The E! Fashion Police star was in Miami to celebrate the launch of “Glamorous by George: The Key to Creating Movie-Star Style.” Guests were invited to meet the celeb stylist at the Swarovski boutique on Lincoln Road, with the first 20 attendees receiving a signed copy of the new book. I met George a couple of times prior to this and must say, he is always so gracious and sweet with all of his fans. No selfie request was denied!

Later, we headed to Cecconi’s at Soho Beach House where the Swarovski team hosted a lovely dinner for us bloggers and a few journalists. We ate carbs on carbs on delicious carbs, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Miami fashion girls EAT, ya’ll! (George does, too.) We laughed about instagraming at the dinner table (normal), complained about poor cellphone reception (#bloggerprobz), and learned that Joan Rivers is, in fact, (1) amazing, and (2) actually nice!

My Favorite Excerpts from Glamorous by George

“Stand up straight! Posture is everything.”

“The wrong shoes can change your overall impression from starlet to star-struck.”

“Don’t worry about trends. You can always incorporate parts of trends in shoes and accessories, but you should really focus on what styles look best on your body.”

“You are lying when you sport a fake bag. If you’re a rich lady with a knockoff, you’re cheap and a liar.”

“The number-one rule when it comes to behavior: be polite!”

What I'm Wearing

Top c/o Express

Skirt c/o Shop Akira

Jacket: ZARA (old)

Shoes: Michael Kors

Clutch: Aldo

Necklace c/o Tous

*Special thanks to The Wordy Girl, Maria, for the photos!

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

I spent my Valentine's Day celebrating the marriage of one of my dearest friends at Coral Gables' famed Biltmore Hotel. We were surrounded by so much love, there was no other place I would have rather been. Coincidentally, this is the second year in a row that Eric and I spend V-Day at a wedding. (He's had it so easy!) Check my instagram for photos from the special day.

I hope you'll join me and four of my favorite Miami blogger girlfriends, Kristin, Ginger, Daniela, and Erika, this Thursday at the TOUS boutique at Aventura Mall! We'll be in store starting at 12:30pm to celebrate the launch of "Tous in the Tropics," and invite you for a fun afternoon of shopping, refreshments, and special gifts. Known for their adorably chic signature "teddy bear" jewelry, the family-owned luxury brand also offers a chic selection of handbags, fragrances and sunglasses.

BlankNYC Jacket via Nordstrom | Akira Bandage Dress | ZAC Zac Posen Bag | Bebe Boots | H&M Ring

There's something about a motorcycle jacket that will always be so effortlessly cool. At this week's Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour spring fashion show, Fashion Director Ken Downing confirmed this notion, declaring it's the jacket every woman should have in their closet. (Take note: pastel pink is the IT color for spring 2014.) I've been living in this vegan leather version from BlankNYC, and love the slim, almost blazer-like, cut that looks great with anything from skinny jeans to a full skirt. I styled this look for one of my fashion segments on Univision's Despierta America (watch here,) and while I know most people are "so over" the bandage dress, the unconventional plaid pattern of this style from ShopAkira.com is what caught my eye. Paired with black tights and booties, it's the chic way to style a skintight dress without leaving too little to the imagination. Always keep it classy, ladies.

Photography by Bella Mente

Express Sweater | Qmack Skirt | Heels c/o Via Spiga | Baublebar Necklace | ZAC Zac Posen Earth Tote

We're already halfway through the first month of 2014 and I can't think of a better way to describe it than with this Baublebar necklace - Happy! (Thanks, Coki!) It was so refreshing to recharge my batteries over the holidays while everyone was on vacation. We celebrated our first anniversary living in our new home in Coral Gables, (which has been the perfect backdrop for outfit photo ops like this!) enjoyed time with family, and set both personal and professional goals for the year to come. Now it's back to work, and back to basics - so to speak.

When I'm shopping after Christmas sales, I always look for classic pieces that will add value to my wardrobe, rather than trendy one-offs that I'll only wear once and forget about. Case in point this Qmack plaid skirt I scored from Macy's (only $14!) A "grown up" school girl look is perfect for the cooler weather we've been having in Miami lately, and I love that it's professional enough to meet my real estate clients, yet comfortable for doing errands. I'm just smitten with these Irving heels I received from the Via Spiga Resort 2014 collection. I'm thinking they'll be perfect for a Valentine's day outfit.

What makes me almost as happy as a great start to a new year? A fabulous blow out, natch. What if I told you this 'do cost me only $25? It's true, and thanks to a welcome new addition to the Gables! Check out "Blow Dry & More" located at 142 Giralda Ave. and ask for Marcos for a full-bodied or sleek style that won't break the bank.

SHOP THE LOOK

Photography by Bella Mente

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