Miami Style Map: Singing the Blues in Surfside

My friends say I need a little push to walk on the 'wild side' from time to time. And this is most likely true. I can be a real square on occasion. Living on the 'wild side' doesn't really appetize me. I like to follow rules, not break them. And if I do, there's got to be some good logic behind it. I was that girl who never went to the principal's office, always followed directions, and brought home kick ass report cards. And damn proud of it. 

So imagine my trepidation when Lizzie, my photographer from www.ra-haus.com, suggested we lay claim on this retro bungalow in Surfside. Our shooting location, she tells me. "But Liz, SOMEONE lives here. It's trespassing." And out comes that good girl I was telling you all about and here's how it went inside my head for twenty seconds, "we can't shoot here, it's not our house! do you know the people that live here? can we get arrested? what if they shoot us? what if the neighbors say something?" Neurotisicm at it's finest. 

Finally after several nudges, pushes, and a even a "get over it," she started clicking away. And sometimes, that little push is all you need in order to get some magical results like these! 

There is so much character to be found in one single shoot, starting with the standout aqua color of this sweet adobe! It's sensational- there's no better way to describe it. Two things came to mind when I first saw this house- 1) how much it reminded me of that infamous W Mag spread with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie during the 'breakup heard round the world." And 2) If Norman Rockwell decided to use Miami Beach in his 1950's All-American family portraits, this would probably be the kind of house he would feature. 

With that being said, it's no surprise that this Miami-modern casita was the other leading lady during our session, and we definitely took advantage of the all that it's exterior had to offer. 

I love the contrast of the dressed up look against the distressed and aged appearance of the home. I also love this full print black and white skirt not only because it has a slight touch of 1950's modernism, but because it has POCKETS! I'm pocket-crazy! 

The versatility and print of the skirt makes it a classic staple that can be worn many different ways. I paired mine with a cut off jeweled crop top in another classic color- grey. This look leans toward the modern, and yet it still works with my everyday style. 

I accessorized this look with these beautiful earrings courtesy of Rocksbox, my Rebecca Minkoff red cross body, and my electric blue Louboutins for some pop of color, and my vintage Pixie Market frames. Also, can you spot my 'Tale of Two cities' bracelet? I'm obsessed. 

And there you have it, folks! This is what happens when you step out of your comfort zone a tad- a unique photo session that will definitely have the squeezers talking! And special thanks to Lizzie for giving me that extra push I needed! 

On Me: 

Top: Bloomingdales
Skirt: Bloomingdales
Bag: Rebecca Minkoff
Heels: Louboutins 
Sunnies: Pixie Market 


In Style, 

Kat 

The Writings on the Wall

 

One thing I'm really good at is disconnecting. My husband says it takes seconds for me to get into 'vacation mode' while it takes him a few days. He's rather envious, actually.  I know that comes off as a bit stand-offish, so let me explain. I've had practice in self-nurturing from a young age, and know really well when it's time to disconnect, to cut myself off from the world in order to put my needs and well-being first. It's important for me to shut down the engines so I can reconnect with myself, with my family, and with my sanity. And I make no apologies for it.  It's what keeps me healthy, happy, and sane.

This photo shoot marked one of those 'that's it for me' times. My photographer, Raquel and I, met at one of my favorite Wynwood walls after a whirlwind few weeks of Art Basel and deadlines. I was mentally exhausted. The thought of piling assignments and looming deadlines would give me mild anxiety. I was looking forward to some time off with my little girl and frankly, some time to myself idling with mindless trivia like bad TV and fashion magazines. And that's exactly what I did. 

Once I turned in my last assignment, I let out a big, obnoxious sigh (and maybe did a little dance too), and closed down shop. I disconnected. I put myself on vacation. It was 'me' time. No work. No deadlines. 

And then I did this photo shoot.

I call this urban modern.  It's a more streamlined look, a little different than what I usually gravitate to and I'm really digging it- starting with the booties. I love these Steve Madden booties. I love the almond-toe cut, which can easily be worn with a skinny jean, a dress, or in this case, my waffle-print ivory skirt.

 

The piece de resistance of this outfit is the Style Mafia Jacket. It's channeling old school letterman/bomber only way more fierce. Yes, that's part in thanks to the tigers because tigers just make everything magical, but I also love the cut and the fit. I styled it over a black long sleeved crop top, but you can throw this over any tee or tank, even a turtleneck (I did) for an effortless, retro look.

This photo shoot was the perfect way to disconnect and have a little fun! So now I turn the tables on you- how do you disconnect? 

 

On Me: 

Jacket- Style Mafia 

Skirt- H&M 

Handbag- H&M

Crop top- Forever 21 

Boots- Steve Madden 

In Style, 

Kat 

Welcome to the Dollhouse

 Some time in 2014, at the suggestion of my BFF and occasional inside voice, I steered clear of floral prints because according to him, I was single-handedly keeping the trend alive based on the ridiculous amounts of floral pieces I owned. I tried to deny it, "me?! obsessed with florals? You got the wrong girl." But after a routine closet cleaning with said best friend, I came face to face with my floral demons and moved on to the acceptance phase. 

Hi my is Kathy, and I'm a recovering floral-holic. Yes, my closet was in full bloom and I needed a cleanse. I purged my wardrobe of floral pieces that basically looked exactly the same in print and color. Now I have a healthy dose of florals and all in different palettes. 

Recovery is slow. I still walk into a store and I automatically gravitate towards anything that has flowers splashed on it; therefore, I have to make a conscious effort to stop and listen to that inside voice that tells me, "Step away from the florals." Truth be told, sometimes I can't stand that inside voice. That's not to say I won't be wearing florals again. Au contraire. It just means I'll be more selective and may need a BFF approval whenever I'm obsessing over a floral piece- like this floral number from Romwe! 

My photographer and friend extraordinaire, Liz from Ra-haus Fotografie (www.ra-haus.com) and I took to the streets of Lincoln Road to capture the floral magic of this dress because it organically blends with the lush surroundings. The green is the one color that stands out most about this number and when photographed against the tropical vegetation and grey colored stone sidewalks, it pops even more. 

The dress's details like the peter pan collar, the slightly flared skirt, and the dress's black floral print background, gives this look a darkly feminine twist- an almost doll-like vibe. 

I played up the mood a little more with the dark lip (MAC Cyber- my current obsession) and my two-toned Sam Edelman loafers (a menswear touch) via Zappos.com (www.zappos.com). 

It's amazing how much character a pair of sunnies can add to a look! These Pixie Market ones, with its tinted brownish lenses, go perfectly with the dress's color scheme. 

So what did we learn today, squeezers? It's okay to love a trend just as long as there is variety to that trend. Try to purchase/invest in pieces that are far from similar. The floral selections are seasonally endless so no need for five red floral tops or three floral pink dresses. Don't let yourself drown in a sea of bland continuity.

 Branch out! 

On Me:

Dress- Romwe

Loafers- Sam Edelman from Zappos.com

Glasses- Pixie Market 

In Style, 

Kat