A Boho-Luxe Affair with A Pea In A Pod Maternity and Sprout Miami

A wanderlust dream of bohemian raptures became a reality for me last week with a little help from my friends and some pretty amazing brands. Rocco's boho-luxe baby shower held at Love is Blind in Coral Gables (http://www.loveisblindrestaurant.com/main.php), was the epitome of ethereal delight- from the fashion to the flower crowns- and it brought together all the special women in my life to celebrate my baby boy. 

Whether I was expecting a boy or a girl, I knew I wanted a hippie yet elegant ambiance for this magical day. I envisioned what I wanted the flowers to look like, the kind of free-spirited mood I was hoping to capture, and most importantly, what I wanted to wear and feel on this festive occasion. Even Maya got into the boho spirit with her pink tutu and flower crown! My mini freshly squeezed fashionista picked out her own shoes ( pink cowboy boots of course)  for the family photo shoot! I'm a proud mama! 

You need a good photographer to bring this whimsical dream to life and I was so fortunate to have Ricky Iglesias from Simply Captivating (www.simplycaptivating.com), working diligently behind the scenes, capturing every detail, every baby breath, and every accessory of not only the shower, but of my hippie-at-heart look! 

Before the shower, Ricky and I ventured a few blocks to the iconic and stylish, Biltmore Hotel, to photograph this beautiful lace number from A Pea in a Pod Maternity (www.apeainapod.com). In all my pregnancy style posts, I often talk about how you can use so many of the pieces already in your closet through your pregnancy; but, its also wise to purchase a few key maternity items that will take you through your three trimesters with comfort and chicness. Some of the maternity pieces I have come from several different brands, some of which I have learned about through the blog. But most of them come from Destination Maternity/A Pea in a Pod. When I was pregnant with Maya, I invested in some maternity essentials (which I am now using for this pregnancy)  like bras, skinny jeans, two blouses, and two dresses to integrate with my wardrobe. The store carries everything from intimates to swimsuits to cocktail dresses. It's a maternity mecca for the fashionable pregnant set. 

 So when the opportunity to collaborate with the brand presented itself, I was literally smiling from ear to ear and doing a little happy dance. The Destination Maternity umbrella (www.destinationmaternity.com) is the largest retailer of brands for maternity fashion. Teaming up with them for this blog post is a huge honor. 

We decided on this stunning and feminine lace maternity maxi dress (http://www.apeainthepod.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=154120547&MasterCategory_Id=MC46), which retails for $148, because it meshed organically with the bohemian 'all white' vibe of the shower. This dress is not only effortless and seriously comfortable, you can wear it through any stage of your pregnancy, through any season (hello leather jacket), and you can dress it down for during the day adventures and dress it up for some sexy nighttime escapades! You can throw a kimono over it, an embroidered jacket, and over sized sweater or cardigan, even a pair of stilettos  There are endless fashion opportunities when you have such an easy and girlish piece like this one. 

The beauty of this dress is that it is a blank canvas for accessorizing and personalization. I love flower crowns. I don't care if they're overdone, underdone, dead this season, alive and well the next. I find them youthful and enchanted- an accessory that embodies that bohemian soul that allows you transform and escape into another world or dream. I knew that I wanted to wear the most glorious and over sized flower crown that would put all other flower crowns to shame. I wanted that effervescent splendor of what it feels like to be pregnant, beautiful and glowing. I also knew exactly where I wanted to get my crown made- Sprout Miami- a flower and coffee boutique in the heart of Wynwood that specializes in creating unique flower and plant arrangements for its customers (www.sproutmiami.com). Walking into their shop, feels like a miniature oasis of lush greenery. It's such a zen-like hidden hem to kick back with a cup of tea, browse through their floral selection, and admire (and buy) some of the cutest decor I've seen when it comes to a flower shop! The owner, Bianca, has cool chick written all over her. She's engaging with her customers and she has a knowledgeable quiet presence that makes it real easy when trying to figure out what you want and you know nothing about flowers (she's great on email too)! 

I gave her some feedback of what I wanted- a crown bursting with bright flowers mixed in with a little green. The end result was my initial vision multiplied by 1000! I was completely speechless when I went to pick it up. It was a broken record of 'OMG, this is absolutely beautiful. OMG.' It exceeded my expectations. The moment that crown touched my head, I felt like some divine fairy queen that spends her days frolicking in people's gardens. Bianca used a 'rockstar' rose, a mum, greenery, and limonium for the crown and it was perfection. 

If you know me and you follow my blog, you know that I'm a die hard boot girl. The scruffier the better. I live in booties and I can care less about the weather! To me, they go with everything and are a reflection of my style and personality. I love these beat up once from Steve Madden. I like that they are slightly oval, I like their gold detailing, and I especially like how they pair with lace.

All my accessories were courtesy of Rocksbox (www.rocksbox.com) The black tribal ring is from House of Harlow, the gold geometric bracelet is from Urban Gem, and the pearlized necklace is Margaret Elizabeth. And can you spy my Chip and Chisel nameplate necklace that I can't live without?! It has both my babies' names on it. I kept the accessories simple and classic since the flower crown is the biggest and boldest accessory of them all. 

I threw a Forever 21 lace cardigan over the dress in case I got cold inside the restaurant. It complimented the dress as well the bohemian vibe of the look! 

I wanted to give a special shout out to makeup artist, Jessie, and hair stylist, Ana, from Makeup Artistry by Jessie, for being my go-to glam team (www.makeupartistrybyjessie.com)! My makeup was absolutely flawless and Jessie even matched my coral lipstick to the rose on my crown, and Ana did a fantastic job of creating exactly the low chignon I wanted to keep me cool, chic, and looking effortless! 

It's hard to believe that my little family of three will soon be four in just a few months! We are all anticipating the arrival of Rocco Sebastian and just can't wait to meet the little boy that's already stolen our hearts! Even his fashionista big sister keeps asking when he's coming out of the belly! It was important for me to take a few snapshots of us three on this special occasion, so that one day, Maya and Rocco can look back at these memorable moments with love and joy. 

These are the moments that make life SO worth living! 

On Me: 

Lace Dress- A Pea in a Pod Maternity

Booties- Steve Madden 

Lace Cardigan- Forever 21

Flower Crown- Sprout Miami

Jewelry- Via Rocksbox and Chip and Chisel 

Photography- Ricky Iglesias from Simply Captivating

Hair and Makeup- Makeup Artistry by Jessie 

Locations: Love is Blind Restaurant and The Biltmore Hotel 

In Style, 

Kat 

Miami Style Map: Mixed Media and a Fresh Pair of Blood-Red booties

Now that my bubblegum teen pop whirlwind with One Direction has come to an end and my feet are firmly back on planet Earth (well, not completely. I'm still hitting the replay button on my teenage dream), I'm ready to dive right back into the blog with a fresh post you are sure to love. I'm taking a ride on the polka dot and plaid train and hightailing it straight to Wynwood to show you how to style these two adored classic prints. 

Oh the places you'll go with a plaid flannel! Just ask me. I have ten. It's an accessible basic that can take on many style personalities and flavors. It can fluctuate from lumberjack oh-so-chic to permissibly avant garde with the right counterpart and accessories. Usually there's a grunge affinity to my plaid- not very dressed up and more inclined to comfort and coziness. With this look, I didn't eliminate the coziness, but I did add some girlish innocence with the polka dot skirt. I gave the flannel some ladylike legs and dressed it up with a midi skirt and the right bling. 

Instead of letting it hang or wrapping it around my waist, I opted to tuck in the flannel by giving it a more polished finish. I love the combination of polka and plaid. Most people probably wouldn't pair the two, but their pairing is more cohesive than you think. Neither print outshines the other and instead claim double spotlight for their individualized dash of panache. The combination is eye-grabbing and it makes a statement. 

These Aldo blood-red booties are my EVERYTHING right now. I have three go-to shoes at the moment and these blood-red booties are on the list. Everything from the gold hardware, to the pointy-toe scream boho-luxe to me. I have been on the hunt for the right pair of red booties for quite some time. A few years ago while vacationing in Europe, I scored the most insane pair from Zara, and in a moment of impulse and frustration because I had temporarily fallen out of love with them, I gave them away (almost like a boyfriend or girlfriend you regret breaking up with). It was a dumb move and one I regret and I promised myself I wouldn't do it again. Cue to a few weeks ago when I was on Aldo's Instagram and saw these babies giving me that "buy me" face I couldn't resist. And now, these Chloe knock off 'zapaticos de rosa' are on my feet and dancing the day away thanks to my better half (Happy early Christmas to moi)! PS. How cute is this petite Coach saddle bag? 

Take a few moments to admire my shoes while I cross the street in Wynwood. I was a having a Beatles moment in the pic above but you can actually get a great view of these sole stunners!

Hey, the boys of One Direction loved my booties so that takes their cool factor up a notch. 

Spruce up an everyday plaid shirt by adding some fancy flair to the mix. It's such a simple way to dress up any look. I added this crazy fabulous Aldo necklace that never fails at being a conversation starter. People are blown away when I tell them just how affordable this swanky gem is! 

I was very excited to share this look with all of you, not just because I love the outfit or because I always love capturing the dynamicity of Wynwood, but because I got to team up with a really cool photographer from the Simply Captivating family, Ricky Iglesias. Ricky is a Miamian-turned-Madrileno and speaks my city language fluently. He was such a pleasure (and easy) to work with and he was very open to challenging himself when it came to exploring different ways to photograph the outfit in Wynwood's urban landscape. He's got an eye (get it?) for style and I look forward to working with him again. 

Now I challenge you to go where no other fashionista has gone before! How do you pair your polka dot and plaid?

On Me: 

Plaid button-down- Forever 21

Polk dot skirt- Forever 21

Saddle bag- Coach

Booties- Aldo Shoes

Necklace- Aldo Shoes 

In Style, 

Kat 

In Your Polka Dot Midi, Girl!

The versatility of this black and white polka dot midi skirt continues to channel it's many en vogue personalities. And special thanks to the amazing Melissa, from Simply Captivating, for not only a most divertido shoot, but for capturing some fun and flirty shots of my All-Americana/Western-chic/Uptown girl fashion trifecta. 

For this look, I paired the midi skirt with a classic sleeveless denim shirt and a cream colored blazer. I love how the blazer pops against the denim and the dots. It gives the look a bit of a modern feel. 

Let's get to the nitty gritty of this outfit- the deets! Sometimes the best way to jazz up a look is through accessories. From my patterned nails, to my rainbow of bracelets, the proof is in the details. I especially love the bright yellow of this Stella and Dot Norah necklace. It's such a unique statement necklace and does a swell job of upgrading the classic denim shirt.

And these peep toe prettys, are one of my golden oldies. I remember buying these shoe babies at the Marc Jacobs store on Bleeker Street and being so giddy with excitement, I literally had a frozen smile on the train ride home.

And special thanks to my beauty entourage- Jessie, from Makeup Artistry by Jessie for the fabulous makeup application, Emilano from Warren Tricomi for my killer blowout, and Lucy Rodriguez for my brows.

On me:

Skirt- Forever 21
Denim top- Forever 21
Blazer- Urban Outfitters
Shoes- Marc Jacobs 
Necklace- Stella and Dot 

In Style,

Kat

Black Tie Optional

 

I've been very fortunate to get to work with a talented cluster of photographers on some of my blog posts and one of those photographers is Melissa Perez, from Simply Captivating. Introduced through a mutual friend, Melissa photographed my family for our first holiday session as South Floridians. She's sweet, smart, and has an eye for capturing those unforgettable moments. 

So it was a no-brainer for me to ask her to snap some head shots for my Freshly Squeezed Fashionista blog. What started off as a straight forward shoot, turned into a couple of hours of silliness, girl talk, and fashion fun! 

I am so excited to finally share this look with my fashionistas because nothing says "Let's have a good time" like a band of bow ties! And the Eva Franco Ora dress is nothing but fun. This sassy little number is one of my favorite dresses from Rent the Runway. I loved it so much, I wore it twice in one week! Yep, I double dipped. 

I've never been shy about my love for Rent the Runway. Never has such a brilliant idea come around that has taken the fashion industry and millions of women's checkbooks by storm. Gone are the days of splurging big bucks on a designer gown for a festive occasion. Times are tough and spending has been curbed. 

Rent the Runway will be your new best friend. Trust me, it's mine. I cannot tell you the last time I actually purchased a dress at a store that I would only wear once and then it would spend the rest of it's existence collecting dust on a plastic hanger in my closet. 

And the options are limitless! 

 I paired my bow tie dress with my signature hat and a pair of two- toned Marc Jacobs peep toe heels. And I love that they're the same hue as the cream and black dress. Another way to pair this dress is with a cool pair of motorcycle boots or with a boyfriend blazer, tights, and Mary Janes on a crisp fall day. The possibilities are endless! 

I couldnt' complete this look without the help of my glam squad. Thank you to Jessie from Makeup Artistry by Jessie for my fresh face and to my Mane Man, Emiliano (at the W Hotel) for my bouncy blowout and for always making me look oh so good! 

On Me: 

Dress- Eva Franco from Rent the Runway

Shoes- Marc Jacobs

Hat- Urban Outfitters 

In Style,

Kat 

A Vintage Throwback in Coral Gables.

For our first holiday photo shoot back in Miami, I wanted to do something different and special by creating something that was chic for the whole family but also something timeless. I had my outfit and Maya's outfit all planned out (I have a fashion rolodex in my head) and given the location, a green and lush spot on an old Coral Gables corner, I knew it would be a home run. 

Melissa Perez, from Simply Captivating, did an incredible job of capturing beautiful images of our family and I am so excited to share some of my favorite shots from the shoot. But first! Let's talk outfit. 

I love lace details. And I love a lace dress. I found this short stunner for $10 at H&M. The black motorcycle boots gives the flirty lace a dash of street cred. I absolutely love the jeweled headband worn on my forehead. It gives off a 70's retro look that's very free spirited. 

My flawless makeup was done by none other than Jessie from Makeup Artistry by Jessie. 

 Jeweled headband from Forever 21.

 Cuff bracelet by Rodrigo Otazu

Here are some of my favorite shots from the shoot. I feel so blessed and fortunate to have these two people by my side. 

 My mini fashionista, Maya B, and I are rocking the lace and boots look. 

 My heart. 

On Me: 

Lace dress- H&M
Boots- Steve Madden
Headband- Forever 21
Bracelet- Rodrigo Otazu 

Photography by: Simply Captivating

In Style, 

Kat