Nautical and Beachy

Wearing my new anchor dress I bought in a small boutique on Block Island this summer by designer Escapada, and gold Maypol espadrille flats also a recent buy from TJ Maxx. I topped it off with an oldie but goodie pink Chanel quilted purse. Photography by Francisco Graciano. 

Hi there! 

Are you looking forward to your Labor Day long weekend? I have the perfect end of Summer beachy and nautical look for you. On a recent trip to Block Island I purchased this beautiful little nautical anchor dress from a small boutique on the main strip. The designer is Escapada. Nautical looks are absolutely everywhere for summer and can transition into fall beautifully too. My last look from Newport had the traditional white and navy stripes with a pop of yellow (which can be done with long sleeves jeans and a blazer or cute scarf once the weather gets colder). This week's look is more traditional with navy and pink anchors. We photographed on the water in Watch Hill, Rhode Island before hitting the beach. It's a simple beachy dress that can be dressed up or down.

I kept it casual with a pair of gold Maypol (made in Spain) espadrille flats that were a recent purchase from TJ Maxx. A gold espadrille is comfy, cute, and right on trend! I was looking for a pair like these all over and the Rochester, NY store had them but Manhattan had sold out. Jane Martin, store manager at the Pittsford Plaza TJ Maxx was kind enough to send the pair over to my closest Manhattan store so I could purchase them. That's amazing customer service! I will remain a lifetime Maxxinista for that.

My last accessory is one of my favorite Chanel bags I've had for a long time. You can never go wrong with a classic quilted Chanel and a gold chain strap. It will never go out of style and the resale value is high so these handbags are a great investment. I've sold older ones and put that towards new ones sometimes even making money. Talk about Maxxinista! I updated it with a black pom accessory bought at a small boutique in CT, but they are everywhere including the streets of Manhattan and H&M stores.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

xo, 

Carolina  

Holiday Party Dresses and Can't Leave the House Without Items!

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Party dress no 1 by Free People "Ginger Meadow Dress," vintage shoes. Photography by Francisco Graciano, shot in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Hi there!

So it's the holiday season (wopee!!) and I'm not sure about you, but for me it's certainly the time of year I pull shiny things out of my closet. And party dresses.  All of my party dresses (appropriate for winter).  In this post I want to feature some of my favorite party dresses as well as can't-leave-the-house-without items to be party ready.  The first dress above is from Free People (my fave, in case you didn't see my Nov 12th entry).  I'm a Free People Me stylist (Lina7) and I just LOVE this brand's look, customer service, and free people me program.  

This dress is called the "Ginger Meadow Fit and Flare" dress, and I love the lace and beading on the top attached to a cushy deep red velvet skirt.  It's whimsical and vintage and has a victorian lush feel to it.  I feel like a character in Alice in Wonderland in it, thus the idea for the shoot in a magical garden I love to visit in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  Photography again by my talented man, Francisco Graciano.

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Free People "Reflected Moonlight" dress, vintage shoes, Topshop faux fur jacket, and JCrew statement necklace.  Shot on the Gowanus canal in Brooklyn by Francisco Graciano.

In this second look photographer Francisco Graciano and I took to the streets of Gowanus, Brooklyn (or more specifically the Gowanus canal) to shoot Free People's Reflected Moonlight dress in nude and gold with the setting sun and water in the background. Also in this look are my vintage shoes, Topshop turquoise statement faux fur and JCrew statement necklace. I love a little sparkle around the holidays, and what better way to do sparkle than a metallic? I love how this dress contrasts nude with gold to make gold work like a neutral and match with almost anything. It adds a little festive flair to an outfit, and has you feeling glamorous.  I love the gold and black color combination which is why I went with my black heels instead of my favorite gold glitter peeptoe Louboutin heels featured in the photo below, which are very festive! I also styled this dress with a statement faux fur from Topshop, because a fun faux fur jacket makes an outfit look more glamorous and party ready! This outfit had me feeling like a rockstar.  Also at the back of my nude tights was a black seam going down the leg which adds a feminine and sexy edge to a party dress.

Can't leave the house without items...read below

Last but not least before embarking on your party adventure I always suggest bringing along my can't-leave-the-house-without items in your party clutch.  Stylist tape (shown above my Victoria's Secret fashion tape) to hold your dress straps where they should be, accessories like my Topshop earrings, Chanel powder to take down shine when you've been dancing away, travel perfume (I love Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel), Rosebud Salve lip balm, and a fun party bag like my Coach gold python clutch. In the photo I went with gold and pink accessories for my cousins' wedding in Brazil recently, to match my gold peeptoe glitter Christian Louboutins and pink silk Nicole Miller gown.

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Here was the final look! Pictured with my cousin Fernando whom I walked down the aisle with in the wedding party for my cousin Camila's wedding last month in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Xo,

Carolina

My Favorite Fall Color and Fall Florals

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Burgundy vegan leather pants and booties by H&M, turtleneck by Zara, jacket by Blank NYC, purse by Kate Spade.  Photography by Francisco Graciano

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In the same vegan leather H&M burgundy pants and black booties and Zara top as the previous picture.  Perfect for a fall family foliage stroll in CT!

Hi there!

I'm not sure about you, but this fall in NYC the weather has been a little nuts.  First it's cold, then it warms up to 70s, then it goes back to the 40s.  For this weather I find layers most suitable, but a fun color palette to play with makes layering so much more fun.  In the two above photos taken in 5th Avenue NYC (by my talented photographer boyfriend) and in the Connecticut shoreline with my parents, you can see I'm pretty into the color burgundy for fall.  This burgundy has been described as oxblood or bordeaux depending on the shade, but it's an unmistakable deep red that is so beautiful and fun to pair with black, pink, grey, army green, brown, and orange.  These vegan leather H&M pants are not only affordable but comfortable and can be dressed up or down.  I paired them here with a chunky heel lace-up bootie (also from H&M) and a black sleek turtleneck (and opted for straight hair to round out a polished look).  I've been layering a black jacket with it, army jackets, and my light pink vegan leather jacket in my photo below (see florals below).

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Over-the-knee leather boots by Nordstrom, patchwork suede mini skirt by Zara, purse by Celine.

Here's another example of burgundy done in a patchwork suede mini skirt I recently purchased at Zara.  I paired it with over-the-knee black leather boots from Nordstrom and my brand new fall splurge: the Celine nano cross body luggage handbag in beige.  As you can see the skirt has suede patches of beige, black, and navy to go with the burgundy.  I styled the skirt with the same black turtleneck, an older necklace from Urban Outfitters and my new Celine nano luggage tote. I was ready for a night in Lincoln Center last weekend to see Marcelo Gomez's choreography premiere "After Affect" at American Ballet Theater. Of course this required I pay homage to my bunhead days and sweep my hair into a high bun!

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Shopping at the famers market in fall florals.  Vintage skirt, shoes by H&M, top by JCrew, jacket by Zara, and purse by Chanel. Photography by Graham Scott.

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For outfit credit see photo above.  Photography by Graham Scott.

Lastly, in these two photos you'll see I styled the same H&M lace-up platform booties with hose, a floral mini skirt, an army green (with black vegan leather collar) silk button-down blouse, and pink vegan leather jacket with my matching light pink Chanel tote bag.  This spring-looking outfit can be worn into fall when the weather isn't too cold, layered with a jacket, long-sleeve, and hose underneath.  This look was so much fun to wear to buy pumpkins and fall flowers. I love the way light pink looks with army green (just like in my maxi dress from my previous post), and florals can easily transition from spring into fall.

Xo,

Carolina

Fitness & Fashion Merge

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Dress by Haute Hippie, shoes by Aldo, bag by Chanel.  Photography by Francisco Graciano.  

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Dress by Haute Hippie, shoes by Aldo, purse by Chanel.  Photography by Francisco Graciano.

Hi there!

For my second fashion blog entry I wanted to talk about the merging of fashion and fitness.  As a professional dancer, fitness is a big part of my life.  Maintaining a healthy fit body is exceptionally important for a long, successful career.  This doesn't mean we can't have fun doing it.  Lately I've been really into merging my passion for fitness with my fashion aesthetic.  It all sort of started when I was invited to a Fitness & Fashion night in September by my friends at one of my favorite brands: Haute Hippie.  They are the epitome of chic hippie style with a high fashion edge.  In the two photos above (shot once again by my talented photographer boyfriend Francisco) you'll see me in a Haute Hippie army green maxi sleeveless dress I've been rocking on these warm fall days we've had lately.  To buy this dress (on sale currently I believe!) head to www.hautehippie.com.  I layered a Zara cream lace vest over it and Aldo metallic gold espadrille sandals that I bought over the summer.  My bag is an older Chanel tote that I cherish, and the baby pink is fun to transition into fall with neutrals such as army green, tan, and cream.

On the evening I went to the party in my Upper East Side neighborhood, I looked at the fall lines of Haute Hippie, Zadig e Voltaire, and Rebecca Taylor all in the cool townhouse setting of the exclusive Fitness Cell gym.  I had a moment as I photographed the clothing and mingled with fashionistas and personal trainers.  There's no reason these two loves can't all be combined.  Check out my fun new workout-wear looks below of new Free People and Athleta sportswear I've added to my fitness clothes.  These are pieces that can be worn under street clothes to add a sporty chic look to an outfit, or can be worn in a complete going-to-the-gym look that looks great and makes you feel like a rockstar.

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Athleta spokesmodels in all Athleta looks at the Wanderlust Festival in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.  I'm in the middle wearing Athleta pants, bra, and sweater. 

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Here I am heading into one of my favorite fitness studios: Flex Pilates.  Ready to get my sweat on in my new Athleta pants with Under Armour top, Louis Vuitton bag, and Aldo shoes!

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Top by Free People Movement, yoga pants by Head.  Taken after an antigravity yoga class at Crunch gym. 

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Here I am upside down after antigravity yoga class at Crunch gym with the same Free People Movement top.  I love the detailing of the top that you can see in the back mirror.

In all the above photos you saw some great athletic-wear that can transition into day to day outfits.  I've worn the Athleta pants everywhere and the pink sports bra under street clothes, as well as the Free People Movement top which has a great neckline to show off toned shoulders, and cutouts in the sides and back to show off muscle.  With leggings and an ankle boot and fall scarf and sweater its perfect for a sporty everyday look.  I chose the burgundy color because I'm sort of obsessed with this color for fall.  

I also wanted to let you know of some great fitness opportunities out there that are money-savers and a fun way to check out new classes.  I participated in the Athleta Fit 6 challenge after Wanderlust festival which allowed me to take some workout classes at new studios at half price, and recently I began a two week free trial of Class Pass which is a great way to take unlimited workout classes per month at participating studios.  I've been taking everything from barre classes to pilates, antigravity yoga and regular yoga, kickboxing, boot camp, pole, and even dance classes (there are all levels on class pass).  My favorites so far have been Joyce Wong's antigravity yoga at Crunch gym, any of the barre classes at Exhale Spa, and pilates with the reformer machine at Flex Pilates.  Let me know what your favorites that I should check out are in your comments!

Xo,

Carolina