Kelly Saks - Miami's Fashion Girl

Denim and Detoxing

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.

I've Got the Blues

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Between the high energy runway shows and late night soirées, 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.

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 soirée, (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 Beyoncé 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.)

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.

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.

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

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