Miami & workout-wear! + promo code

Hi there!

I just got back from a lovely stay in Miami (who doesn’t have a great trip there, especially when getting away from the cold, amiright?) and I wanted to share some workout-wear and later some resort-wear I got recently!

I’m wearing Constantly Varied Gear leggings in all my looks above. They are a small business out of Massachusetts and they have great products! They are also made to last and fit a curvy and athletic shape well. I found the elastic to be strong in the stretch of the pants but it also hugs well and you feel sucked in like a good pair of workout pants should make you feel! Additionally, I’m loving that they stay up where they should during a high intensity workout or a stretch and tone workout like yoga. I’ve worn them for both and they pass my test! Use code “Carolina” for 10% off your order!

Finally, in my photos below I’m wearing a Free People movement set called the “genesis bra and legging” set in rose water. It’s a lovely soft stretch fabric that hugs you in the right places and is flattering. I love the scalloped detail on the bra and leggings too!

Happy workouts guys! It’s almost the holidays when I eat so much so I’m gearing up for that. Exercise also just makes me feel so good! I used to be a dancer full time so I still stay active nowadays whenever I can, whether I’m on a dance or acting project or working for my blog:)

Xo,

Carolina

Winter Whites

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At "On Your Feet" Broadway wearing my Celine Nano Crossbody bag in nude, Aldo suede booties, Brandy Melville grey long skirt, Free People "Prima Ballerina" white top and earrings from Brazil. Photography by Francisco Graciano.

Hi there!

I recently had a date night to go out and see "On Your Feet" on Broadway (go see it if you're a Gloria Estefan or any kind of latin music fan, it's wonderful) with Francisco, and we took the opportunity to shoot in the well lit escalator area.

In the dead of winter I love to wear winter whites, since they feel cozy and snow bunny-esque.  This recently purchased top from Free People is one of my favorite winter white tops because it is warm with its long sleeves while still sexy since it's tight and has the shoulder cutouts.  I paired the "prima ballerina" top with my Brandy Melville long grey skirt and nude ankle booties from Aldo and matching nude Celine Nano cross body luggage tote bag. It made for a casual yet dressy and cozy date night outfit to go see a Broadway show and have dinner.  My earrings are from a small accessory store in Brazil.

To complete the outfit I wore my fluffy white Free People "Koda Brushed" scarf and long coat you might remember from a past post, and I also love to wear this scarf as a shawl to wrap up in when I'm feeling chilly indoors.  It's the softest scarf I've ever worn!

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Stay warm out there!

Xo,

Carolina

Suede, Fringe, and the Reformation

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Wearing the Rosetta Dress by Reformation and fringe sandals from a boutique in Madrid, Spain.  Photography in San Antonio, TX by Francisco Graciano.

Hi there!

I was recently in San Antonio, Texas visiting Francisco's family when we thought the backdrop of this park would be perfect to shoot my new Rosetta Dress by Reformation.  I wanted to convey the movement of this dress and showcase the color (seen here in cognac) as well as the neckline bow detail and billowy sleeves.  I love how figure-flattering this dress is, as well as transitional from warmer fall days into winter when worn with tights and boots. In New York the weather has been so unpredictable that it is helpful to have pieces such as these in your closet at the moment!

I really love Reformation because aside from their clothes being fabricated in the United States, they are a sustainable and eco-friendly company.  Their clothes are all recycled and made with fabric that doesn't harm the environment.  Also, the company takes into account the costs associated with creating fashion.  They actually track the pounds of carbon dioxide emitted and gallons of water used to make and wear their clothes, and in exchange they help plant forests to naturally capture CO2 from the air and invest in clean water solutions. They also use very minimal and always recyclable packaging when they ship. They are awesome.  Follow @reformation on Instagram to find out more.  In addition to posting their Ref Babes wearing their clothes, they provide frequent tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint which is really helpful.  You also might have seen some famous faces in their clothes.

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Still dancing in my Reformation Rosetta Dress, fringe sandals and 12th Tribe faux suede Ferris Fringe jacket.  Photography by Francisco Graciano.

As you can see I was still dancing in the photo above where I styled my Reformation dress with my fringe shoes and new faux suede Ferris Fringe jacket by 12th Tribe.  I love the movement in the fringe jacket, and as a dancer I'm naturally drawn to movement.  I'm loving the suede and fringe trends for fall and winter, they have a 70s boho feel that is so much fun to wear.  I picked up this jacket in the camel color because it's a neutral tone and matches with a lot of other options, and can be dressed up with a dress or skirt, or dressed down with jeans.  I'm new to the [12th] tribe babe having actually discovered them recently on Instagram.  They have a beautiful boho vibe and funky clothes.  I'm loving their clothing! Their team is super friendly also.  I wish they would come to New York, but in the meantime I'll gladly have their clothes shipped from California.

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Wearing all Free People in a recent Free People secret stylist shoot in Manhattan's Upper East Side styled by Jessica Hill and shot by Isabella Nicole from FP UES.

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Wearing all Free People in a recent Free People secret stylist shoot in Manhattan's Upper East Side styled by Jessica Hill and shot by Isabella Nicole from FP UES.

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close-up outfit details

I was recently fortunate enough to be gifted some beautiful Free People pieces and then instructed to head to my local Upper East Side Free People store and meet my secret stylist who would style me for a Free People photo shoot.  Remember a few posts ago where I mentioned how good Free People is at inviting their FP Me stylists to events and things? This is a perfect example of their awesomeness.  Anyway, Jessica Hill my fabulous stylist and Isabella Nicole (find them under those names on FPMe, I'm Lina7 if you have the app) the talented photographer and I got ready and hit the streets of my beloved Upper East Side neighborhood to showcase the look. In this outfit I'm wearing all current Free People pieces: the Swingin' Suede dress (worn as a coat), the Midnight City Embroidered Top, the Denim Super Flare, and the Koda Brushed Scarf in off white. I loved how the outfit came together: the neutrals offset with the black jean, the soft texture of the oversized scarf next to the embroidered flowers on the billowy top.  The third photo showcases the texture and details in this outfit really well.  What you can't see in that photo is that this top also has a drawstring at the waist which allows the top to be synched and folded over to create a crop top perfect with the slightly low rise jeans I was wearing. 

This shoot was serendipitous since it gave me more outfit inspiration of ways to wear my current obsession over suede and update a 70s bohemian chic look.  Jessica and Isabella and I all agreed that the way the outfit came together incorporated my love of boho (which Free People does so well) with an updated uptown flare so fitting for the Upper East Side neighborhood the store is located in and where I'm proud to call home.  Thank you Jessica and Isabella for your eye and willingness to play with me, and of course a big thank you to Free People for always being so good to me!

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

Free People and Fall Nail Art

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 Free People Movement drifter pant and white flowy top, Aldo booties, Zara vegan leather jacket, Urban Outfitters beanie, and Chanel purse. Photography in Brooklyn by Francisco Graciano.

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Free People floral corduroys and slouchy top, Aldo booties, and Rebecca Minkoff fringe purse.  Photography in SoHo by Francisco Graciano.

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For outfit credits please see photo above.  Photography by Francisco Graciano.

Hi there!

For today's blog entry I wanted to talk about how much I love Free People.  Free People is a clothing store chain that to me captures the essence of the style I love.  They combine rock and roll with festival and traditional hippie fashion that can either be rough around the edges or girly.  It's not too fussy or contrived, and the pieces I buy from Free People I find to be timeless.  Check out my Free People Me (#FPMe) account under Lina7, where I've styled a lot of other Free People pieces in my wardrobe.  The fact that this brand allows for consumers who may or may not be bloggers or stylists to style their FP wardrobe and post on the FPMe app is genius.  There you can see how other people styled the pieces you are wanting to purchase and get ideas about fit and styling beforehand.  Free People also holds events for Free People Me stylists a few times a year.  I've been invited to rooftop dinners, yoga sessions, and scored dress benefits.  You guys seriously rock.

If you look at my images above you'll see a few "oldy but goodie" favorites.  The first image has some Free People harem/slouchy pants (called "The Drifter Pant") that I wear day to day or to dance class or yoga styled with my Aldo studded booties, Free People baggy white top, and my Zara blush vegan leather jacket I talked about in my last post.  I finished the look with my hair naturally curly, a berry lip and cat eye, and an old Urban Outfitters black beanie that is a fave of mine once it starts to get colder.  My quilted chain strap Chanel is a classic and goes with any outfit. The Free People pieces in that outfit are versatile from the yoga room or dance floor to a casual stylish day look.

The second two photos include my Free People floral corduroys from last year (their actual name is the "FP Printed Cord Skinny") that I will be re-wearing this season styled above with the same Aldo booties and Free People top. I completed the look with my natural curly hair and my Rebecca Minkoff fringe black cross body bag I scored at last year's sample sale.  This outfit is casual and comfortable with a bohemian and slightly edgy vibe that I just love.

Did you know Free People is the same company as Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie? Well now you do.  All 3 of those stores have a similar aesthetic but a slightly different target demographic.  Anthro and Urban have insanely beautiful stuff too, and Anthropologie has some great sales.  I'm currently eyeing a coat at Anthropologie!

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Nail Art done by Marie Nails (Nolita location) for a recent print shoot showcasing fall runway nail art trends. Photography by Prime Content Studio NYC.

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Another fall nail art trend for my recent print shoot.  Nails by Marie Nails (Nolita location), photography by Prime Content Studio NYC.

In the above two photos you'll see a couple of fall nail art trends that were seen on the fall runways this year.  The former of the two photos is a spin on the black and gold as well as glitter trends (I am obsessed with the detail in the leaf nail, they are wizards at Marie Nails).  The latter photo is a spin on the paint trend as well as red and black seen on runways such as Desigual (the Barcelona designer famous for mixing things up).  Which one's your favorite? They are both gel nails with nail art design, and they lasted a really long time.  My favorite was the black and gold because I had never had studs on my nails before, and I absolutely loved how it looked.

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