TREND ALERT: ROLLING OUT OF BED

'I woke up like this.' We've heard the popular expression time and time again and what brings it to life in its truest form, is the oddly-popular-yet-hard-to-accept, pajama trend. Sleepwear has gotten the street style treatment and more and more people (myself included) are jumping on the bandwagon. 

I'll admit- I was VERY hesitant about this trend- it could appear borderline sloppy or simply lazy- like you literally rolled out of bed and out the door, looking like a madwoman. Maybe it was part envy as well. Let's face it. We all want to be comfortable. Do you guys remember those Chinese pajama sets as kids?! I was OBSESSED. I must have had them in every color. Then Marc Jacobs came out with a collection sometime in 2001-2002 and I spent like $150 on a red Chinese top just because it reminded me of those Chinese pajamas and I wore it religiously. I remember back then thinking, 'I'm wearing a pajama top out in the street!' A very expensive pajama. Ha! 

Fast forward 16 years later, and the pajama trend has blown up. From runway shows to magazine shoots, it's a trend that has gained traction and many loyal followers. There are endless prints and patterns, fabrics, and silhouettes. You can rock anything from a slip dress to a two piece coordinating pajama set. I had done the slip dress trend plenty. It's actually really versatile and I throw it on with a pair of boots and sometimes even a tee underneath. For me, it was the two piece pajama look that I was tempted to try but couldn't get myself to do. 

I few months ago on a trip to Marshalls, I found this dusty pink set in the store's trendy Cube section. I was immediately drawn to the color, the Asian-inspired print, and the fact that the pants were culottes! That just sold me. Okay, I was going for it and there was no turning back now. 

I fell in love. Why was I so late to this trend?! I didn't think it was for me, didn't think I could pull it off, and now I was a convert. Dress me up in sleepwear any day! 

The trick to this look is how to dress it up properly so that you don't look like you're really just sleepwalking and someone needs to wake you up from the hot mess of your outfit. I personally wouldn't wear this look with any slipper-like shoe, unless you're really taking the look literally. I opted for a pair of athleisure pom-pom sneakers in the same color palette, so I was still comfortable without looking like I was ready for bedtime. 

Depending on the print and fabric, accessorize with a statement clutch. I would even do a fanny! It would look SO cute! I actually wore this look with a fanny and I loved it. Also, play with some statement earrings. Tassel earrings would look adorable with the PJ's! My focal accessory are these exaggerated heart-shaped sunnies with pink lenses. Hey, if you're on the street wearing pajamas, you can't take yourself too seriously! 

One last thing- makeup! You can make a statement with a bold lip color or a bright lid. Get playful! I kept it neutral with pinks and creams, but just think (no with this particular set) what a bold red lip or a hot pink hue would do to a look! 

When Danielle Margherite (Instagram @dmargherite)  and I got together to shoot this look, the newly renovated lobby of the Biltmore Hotel was just calling our name with this pale pink pajama set. The hotel lobby is vibrant and oozing of a marriage of Mediterranean architecture, mixed with elegant Old World features and some touches of new romantic modernism. One thing is for sure, the historic beauty, romanticism, and European grandiose is what continues to makes the hotel a popular landmark and travel destination amongst local and international travelers. 

The lighting and the mood literally set the tone for our photos. I may or may not have laid on one of the plush furniture pieces! I mean, I was technically dressed for it. Some of my favorite photographs from this batch were the ones alongside the Gothic-like standing chandelier. It gave me Haunted Mansion vibes! The staircase and fireplace added character and the lush curtain drapes were very extra- in a gorgeous and rich kind of way. 

So there you have it, folks. I am now a card-carrying member of the pajama trend and I'm already on the hunt for my next set. I've added dusters and pajama button down tops, but; what this gal needs is a new set. If you see one you think I would love, send your girl a DM! 

How do you feel about the pajama trend? 

In Style, 

Kat 

Red Hot Confidence is Right In Your Closet....And in Your Soul.

There's a reason why red is the color of the season! It's bold, it's loud, it's confident! Is there something that you wear that makes you feel confident? What is it about this color that just automatically makes you feel like you're a rock star walking on water (or basically, Beyonce)? Red commands attention. It makes a statement and it means you want to be seen and be acknowledged. Want to take it to to the next level? Dip yourself in red from head to toe, like I did when I recently went back home to NYC and took a photographic stroll with my photographer, Lauren, in the Village. I can't tell you how many compliments I got on this look while covering fashion week shows. I was thisclose to jumping on that runway because I was feeling oh so good and confident! You could read it on my face! There was that extra sparkle. Confidence to me is also a pop of red lipstick. It's an instant mood changer, and why not flaunt it some more with this all-red H&M ensemble?! Red is a big hit for fall, as are ruffles. Carmen Miranda your way into the season with ruffles upon ruffles on your next outfit- just make sure its red! 

We covered the clothes and now its time to cover the soul. Let's go deep and have a confident conversation. 

A few weeks ago while I was organizing Maya's homework packet for school, I started thinking about confidence. Here I am, looking through this little girl's classwork, and she's only five, hoping I'm doing the best job possible in instilling a sense of pride, confidence, and self-love in her mind and body. As a mother and as a woman, I do feel it is my job to equip her with the best tools I possibly can, and to constantly remind her of how awesome she is, how smart she is, and how kind she is, even if and when she reaches a threshold of doubt. 

How early in our life, does confidence begin to form? Are we born with it (no relation to the cliche commercial)?  Is it something that begins to take shape in early childhood or adolescence? The word 'confidence' encompasses so many different things to so many and I believe it is cyclical depending on where you are in life. There are those that confidence never wavers. Some are faced with the challenge of trying to find a healthy balance between confidence and self-esteem. Having confidence is a high like no other, but when you lack it for whatever reason or for whatever time, it can make you feel downright miserable and empty. 

I consider myself a pretty confident person. My friends joke I have 'bullet-proof' self-esteem. That didn't happen overnight. The events in my life have absolutely determined my growth in confidence, and at times, my decline. Everything from being an honor roll student and doing well in school to the death of my mother, have been factors in my confidence. Little things with big worth like being a helpful individual or being a good friend or a good wife, are jolts of confidence boosters for my soul. Moving to New York, fighting for what I want, getting what I want, and not letting anything or anyone deter me from my goals, no matter how arduous they seemed, shaped my confidence. Becoming a mother really cemented my confidence in so many ways- talk about a roller coaster! Then there are those moments that make you question your confidence. Am I doing a good job as a parent? Am I being a good romodel? Do I still have what it takes in my career? Will I be able to coexist amicably with my anxiety? Am I doing this whole life thing right? There are no answers to some of these and that's when confidence kicks in- that's where I get my answer. Confidence is resilience and I've proven to myself again and again, that I am resilient. I'm confident because I know that when I set my mind on doing something, look out world, because I'm getting it done. It's knowing that I'm a fucking great parent, but that I also have bad days, and that's perfectly okay. Confidence is making shit happen. It's putting on my favorite red lipstick, messy hair, and strutting out into the world like, "look at me. you should know me." It's taking it one day at a time believing that you are capable of absolutely anything and everything. It is trusting in God, when sometimes its hard to do so because you don't get why things are happening. 

Above all, it's loving who you are and realizing that you are an awesome human being. 

What does confidence mean to you? I wanted to find out- and who better than some of my closest friends and followers. To read all these responses was extremely inspiring! I love the honesty, the positivity, and the motivation in each of these personal definitions. Confidence is not just one thing. It can be physical, mental, and emotional. Heck, its pretty much a combination of these or all three! Confidence is that good juju and it looks like we're all trying to live our best life with a very important ingredient- CONFIDENCE! 

As to how early confidence starts to become a topic of thought and conversation, well, just ask the little ones! I didn't want to exclude our tiny philosophers from this blog experiment  so I asked a group of kids what confidence meant to them. It also turned out to be a great little exercise in communication between parents and kiddos, and that, is always a good thing! 

Go on, read below and get inspired! 

Confidence is sexy. It’s caring for yourself and showing others that you are comfortable in your own skin. - Viviana

I seldom have it.  -Rachel

Confidence is not being afraid of what others think...especially when it comes to taking risks in your career. - Tiffanie

Trust builds confidence. Trusting yourself to do/say what is on your mind or to express how you feel builds confidence. Surrounding yourself with people you trust where you can be honest, builds confidence. And you can therefore take that confidence and build upon it in a wider audience. - Sheila

Confidence is the ability to be yourself.  Your true, unfiltered self and being able to stand by that. - Maureen

Confidence is seeing the good in yourself through all the imperfections. - Becky

Firm belief in myself and others. Confidence means helping others become better versions of themselves. Confidence means promoting love and support. - Karla

Confidence to me is carrying myself with grace, style, and positivity! And that no matter what, I feel proud and beautiful, even when others try to tell me otherwise! And that my confidence is so bright and full, I share it with others and it rubs off on them. - Lydia

Confidence is when a person (or any creature, for that matter) believes in himself or herself and truly believes he/she can achieve whatever they set themselves to do. It requires one to have value themselves. When someone is confident, they are able to take risks and achieve things that having any self-doubt would limit them from doing. When a person is confident, they don't care what obstacles or criticisms come their way, they go one being their merry self because they know they're awesome! - Jenise 

Being confident is finding strength in vulnerability. - Carmen 

Finding confidence and having confidence can be tough sometimes, but its about pulling through, putting your best foot forward and just going for it. Go big or go home.  -Claudia 

Confidence to me is wearing a bomb pair of shoes that sound like power when they hit the ground. Its my bad ass bounce. - T

It means that I'm not perfect, I make mistakes, will have bad days, but no matter what comes my way, I will overcome it, make the best of it, and keep smiling! - Yamile

Confidence is trust, especially when there's no safety net to catch you. -Kristine  

Confidence is an individual's feeling of being sure or certain of oneself ..that creates an inner positive drive in believing they can accomplishing or tackle any task. - Gina

Little voices, BIG impressions! 

Confidence is believing in yourself and trusting yourself. It means to concentrate when the teacher tells you to so you can do your work. - Maya, 5

Confidence is trusting in God. -Gaine, 7 

It means believing in yourself. - Drew, 5 

Confidence is being happy about what you are doing and not being scared. -Emma, 9 

Confidence is doing rainbow writing the way my teacher wants me to, and putting my hand up when the teacher asks who could do the pins safely. - Sarah, 5 

Confidence means I feel good about something. -Kaitlyn, 7

Confidence is being kind and standing up for people. It means helping people up when they feel down. - Reagan, 8

Confidence is that you believe in yourself. To be strong and know that you can do it. Be brave. It means you're nice. Confidence means you can do it and then doing it, like when I say I'm going to ride without training wheels and I do it. -Lucy, 6 

In Style, 

Kat 

NY Style Map: I'm In A New York State of Mind

It gets me excited to post and share my NYC adventures with you because it gives me a chance to relive wonderful memories and an amazing NYFW trip. You can always find me in a 'New York State of Mind,' because quite frankly, it's in my blood. If you guys remember, this trip marked my first 'momcation' since the birth of Rocco- away from both kids for the first time. I'll admit, the night before my flight, I had the worst anticipatory anxiety -as expected. The morning of, I cried through getting dressed, brushing my teeth, kissing the kids a gazillion time, and feeling miserable for leaving them. Once I got into my Uber, I cried some more. I'm sure my driver had a few 'wtf' moments as he heard me whimpering into my cellphone with I can only imagine was a very unattractive 'ugly cry' face at five in the morning. 

But once we landed, and I breathed that probably toxic, but invigorating city air, I came alive. I was back in my happy place and as Coco reminded me, "Enjoy your time alone. Enjoy the city, enjoy work, go hang out with our friends, and forget having to feed anyone in the middle of the night." Well put, husband. And that's exactly what I did. Jumping right into work, felt unbelievably good. It constantly reignites a passion of what I love to do. It's a big part of who I am that I constantly have to nurture. It makes me a better woman, a better wife, and a better mom when I take care of myself and those other parts that make me who I am. From red carpets to New York Fashion Week, I got to cover a little bit of everything. Interviewing Tina Fey and hitting the backstage dressing area with designer, Nicole Miller, I got a taste of red carpet celebrity from every angle. 

The best part was having zero agenda. I made no plans ahead of time to see anyone or hang out with anyone. I was going on this trip without any commitments. Everything was done on the fly. And I loved it! I had too much wine with my best friends, ate so much I couldn't move, and walked through every neighborhood I love until I couldn't feel my feet anymore. I tried restaurants I've had on my list forever, watched TV shows I hadn't seen in weeks, and even checked out the new Whitney Museum in the Meatpacking District. Oh, and sleep. I almost forgot what a full eight hours felt like. I had so much time to myself, I was almost overwhelmed with the possibilities of what to do! It was five glorious days of hanging out with myself. I like to think I was in good company =).

I had some time to kill in between shoots so I met up with my Miami-NY transplant shutterbug, Carmen Rodriguez (www.carmenishere.tumblr.com), to snap some some city looks for the blog. We found ourselves in the West Village, without any shortage of vibrant backdrops or interesting cityscapes. I love a good neighborhood shoot- pre-war buildings, conversational stoops, and busy street corners are so quintessential New York. And winter. Freezing winters are very NY as well, but I welcome the change of temperature. Thanks to my mom's vintage furs (as seen here), I rarely complain about the weather anymore. 

I am loving the bright and bold print on this Topshop Shirt Dress. Can you spot the kitties scattered on my frock?! Combined with the eye-popping white florals and the shades of blue, green and black, its a definitely a more fun and upbeat alternative. The youthful colors and playful print instantly caught my eye at the store. It's one of the things I love about shopping at Topshop- though trendy, their pieces offer classic and modern European undertones and cater to different styles. 

The only thing left to do- accessorize! 

I found this great tan colored belt in my friend, Bonita's, closet. It's such a simple and easy way to add some character to a look. I wanted to wear a more athleisure shoe with the dress- add some sporty elements into the mix, and I love these from Steve Madden. The only downside- after ten hours of wearing these slip-ons, I had two massive blisters by the end of the night. The things we do to look good! 

And like I mentioned earlier, my winter wardrobe isn't complete with one of my stylish momma's furs! I always have a fashionable piece of her with me and it just makes me adoringly happy! 

New York- you will always be home and I'm thankful for the opportunity to get away and recharge not only my career batteries, but also my momma batteries! I was ready to come back to Miami and hug my husband and kiddos after five days away. Though the trip was a much needed disconnect, in only served to help in making me bigger and better in every area of my life and New York always seems to be the perfect prescription.

 See you on the next one.

On Me: 

Dress- Topshop 

Shoes- Steve Madden 

Sunnies- Forever 21

Fur- Vintage 

Belt- (borrowed)

In Style, 

Kat