English Garden

Hi loves,

This week is double the fun, as I will do TWO blog posts.  One for those stuck in this dreary winter weather, and another one for those like me, who get to go to more tropical climates to celebrate the holidays.  But not too worry, because for those of you who have to endure the winter weather, I am doing a fashion spread that will keep you warm.  For this photo shoot, I am modeling one of my favorite items in my closet-- my H&M wrap cardigan.  Unfortunately, its no longer available but I have made sure to provide you with the information and links of where you can purchase similar options.  This English Garden-inspired cardigan is multi-purpose, you can wear it a home, as a lounge piece, for work with a more formal bottom and top, and for a day or night of fun. You can also play with it, and tie in a knot at the bottom ends, or wear it loosely.  Seriously, I have used it in all ways described, and always feel comfortable in it.

Cardigans are practical staples to have, whether they are solid or patterned... Not only do they keep you warm, but they are also pliable, and you can twist and turn them in which ever way you want to give your look a more polished or a more casual vibe.

So take a close look at this English Garden fest... and stay tuned for my next post this Saturday.  I will let you into my luggage, and a give you a sneak peak at some of the pieces I will be taking to the tropical destination I am heading: Puerto Rico, my home :)

Mucho peace & love,
Diana

Credits:

Cardigans (These are similar options): Abercrombie & Fitch; Etro-Nordstrom; Pink Ice; Rosewe; Rosewe

Shirt: Forever 21

Skirt: J Crew Factory

Tights: American Apparel

Booties:Forever 21

Photographer: Melissa Bernier

Mixing it up!

Hello loves,


Nothing like the winter blues to spark up my technicolor cerebral fluids!  Its no secret that I love bright hues.  I have encountered that my choice of vibrant colors often brings a smile to people's faces, and being a very positive and optimistic person myself, I truly enjoy when that happens.  The environments in which exist can be stressful, so why not pump up the color volume to keep ourselves cheery and motivated.  

For this post, I paired up two of my favorite colors: marigold and bright teal.  I bet some of you are thinking right now, What?  Is she color blind?  In a sense I am, and I encourage you to think color blind sometimes.  By this I mean, go past the traditional rules of what appropriate mixing and matching should be (remember that rule that stated shoes should always match your purse?).  Become a little bit blind to these rules, and start playing with the colors you find in your closet.  Let your eye adjust to it for a minute, as you do with any piece of decor you bring into the house, or with a work of art.  It takes a bit for the eye to get used to something that breaks the norm.   Now, don't go to blind, that you end up clashing!  The key for mixing and matching is to look for colors and patterns that complement each other, without colliding.  Get the picture?... Take a look at my most recent fashion spread shot by my amazing friend Melissa Bernier, and let me know what you think...  

Outfit credits are at the end.

Love,

Diana

For more follow me on Instagram: @dianamargarita1

Credits:

Blouse + Necklace: Similar Blouse; Similar Blouse; Etsy (You can find a variety of tassel necklaces in Etsy. The one I am wearing is from HM, but no longer available)

Skirt: J. Crew Factory (similar)
Tights: American Apparel
Boots: Forever 21

The FINALS strut...

Hi loves,

It's been a while since my last post... I have been busy preparing myself to defend my dissertation proposal, and taking care of other work responsibilities.  My upcoming proposal defense inspired me to write a post to share some insight with fellow students on how to remain calm and peaceful during final examinations period.   These suggestions are accompanied by a lovely fashion spread shot by my BFF Melissa Bernier.  In this spread, I am wearing the warmest, comfiest, coziest pieces that are perfect for those long study days...

You can find the outfit credits at the end of this post.  

Staying happy through finals

1. Always, always be gentle with yourself, and understand that the more compassion and kindness you have towards yourself the better you will feel to conquer the stress related to finals.

2. You can be gentle towards yourself by telling yourself self-affirming statements.  I always like  carrying small positive notes/quotes in my backpack and purses.  When I feel worried and stressed I take these notes/quotes out and in a heartbeat I regain confidence and trust in myself!  

3.  Be realistic.  There is only so much you can do in one day.  Set realistic and achievable goals and objectives.  Prioritize them.  You will have more chances of achieving more goals and objectives this way, which will then give you a boost in your confidence that you can conquer all your goals!

4. Part of been realistic, also means letting go. I have learned the hard way that worrying over every little detail in your paper or exam only fuels anxiety.  Instead, I tell myself, "I have done the very best I could, and I trust that I will get the grade that I deserve for my effort... It's time to let this baby out of the oven and into the world"!

5. Nourish your mind and your body.  In simple words, eat, sleep and exercise well!  Your body and mind are your temple, and require care.  They work together, ALWAYS, and if you mistreat one part, the other part will resent it.  This brings me to my next point...

6. Create a routine and set limits.  This is related to #3.  Choose days and times during the week to focus on your work.  For example, for my recent doctoral comprehensive exam I studied three days of the week for 4-5 hours daily.  Doing this is more manageable than trying to conquer all in 8 hours. Your brain gets tired, and so does your body, and then you get upset, anxious, and frustrated!  Setting a limit, and taking a break from work will let you release your tension and bad energy.  Then you can kick start the routine again all refreshed!

7.  Last, PRAY or say a MANTRA that will keep you calm, peaceful an positive.  Here is my favorite one...

I am a beautiful canary flower, bright like the sunshine.  I feel stressed and worried, but the light of God and Mother Nature nourish and sustains me.  I know these feelings will go away, because I am a bright and vibrant canary flower always facing the sunshine...

CREDITS:

Zara Checked Shawl: Zara Blanket Scarf

Top and Cardigan: Urban Outfitters & Urban Outfitters (Similar top)

Leggings: American Apparel

Booties: Forever 21

The Burberry Way to Scarfs

TREND ALERT: THE BURBERRY WAY TO SCARFS...

 Hello my nerds of style.

I am swooning all over this season's Burberry scarf trend! Who would have thought this simple way
of draping a scarf around the neck, would make an outfit so sophisticated and polished.  The great part about this look is that you can probably do it with scarfs and belts you have in your wardrobe.  I would suggest using a light, silky/gauze scarf, instead of a chunky knitted one, as they are more pliant, and easy to work with.   The same suggestion goes for the belts: the skinnier the better.  So go ahead, dig in your scarf and belt pile to make your fall and winter clothes a walking work of art...

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram for more looks: @dianamargarita1

Below are the credits on where to get similar or the same items I used for this shoot!

Xo,
Diana

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CREDITS:

Scarf: & Belt: Old Navy & Old Navy (Similar items)

Long Sweater: Sheinside (similar one)

Leggings: American Apparel

Shoes: Tory Burch (similar ones)

Handbag: Furla (similar one)
Photographer: Melissa Bernier
Location: East River, NYC

Leather Trick or Treats!

Hi loves,

I am not particularly keen on Halloween celebrations, however where there is candy, and the opportunity to play dress up, there is ME.  I could not find a way a better to celebrate Halloween than to take some pictures by the entrance of the Cynthia Rowley store in the Upper East Side.  As if the God Erebus had descended upon it, this elegantly eerie location is darkly enchanted, and hence the perfect spot for some SPOOKY shots (Thanks to my lovely friend and photographer for this blog, Melissa Bernier, for finding this location).  

Then there is the issue of what to wear that would represent the spirit of Halloween, without been too childish.  There is only one material that comes to mind that captures the essence of Halloween glamour the best: black leather.  To complement the look I decided to add some classic and grunge elements: a black and white stripes t-shirt, a denim shirt wrapped around my black leather skirt, and brown booties.  Most likely some of you will have these staple pieces in your wardrobe, so go ahead and play dress up, and make scream Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, for the fashion and style spirits to appear! 

Below are links where you can find these exact or smilar items!  

I hope you all enjoy and happy Halloween!  And don't forget to follow me on Instagram @dianamargarita1     

CREDITS:

Stripes Shirt and Hat: Joe Fresh

Leather Skirt: Ann Taylor Loft

Chambray Shirt: American Eagle

Booties: Forever 21

Handbag: Furla (similar)

 

    

FALL-ing for whites and brights

Hi loves,

There is something enchanting, ethereal, demure, and discrete about whites.  This is why I love wearing white all year round.  Nonetheless, seeing the world in technicolor, as I do, always forces me to pair white with bold colors, even during Fall and Winter.  The pairing of these opposites is often explosive, but very appealing to the trained fashion eye.  Dare to mix and match whites and brights, without much thoughtful efforts, because as Bacon said, "all colors will agree in the dark".... So in this dark and cold Fall and Winter dates, light up in color!  Here is my take on whites and bright, in this beautiful dress from Escarcha Boutique in Puerto Rico.  The best part: these are two pieces, a sleeveless sweater and a white sleeveless dress.  

Peace, and Causal Models

Diana

Dress:  Escarcha Puerto Rico
Boots: Tory Burch (Similar boots in link).  Also a similar model found in Neiman Marcus Tory Burch
Coat: H&M (Similar one in link)
Sunnies: Ricky's NYC

Happy Meal!

Hi my loves,

I describe myself as an introvert, EXCEPT, when it comes to fashion choices.  I often gravitate towards the out of the ordinary, playful, eye-catching, and fun pieces.  This is why, I could not resist to purchase the now famous, Jeremy Scott for Moschino Happy Meal handbag, BUT at a much more affordable price range.  This exact replica is from a local boutique in my native Puerto Rico called Escarcha (DO check their Instagram and Facebook page for high end looks at attractive prices!, LINKS BELOW). Jeremy Scott past two collections have been fun-filled and unconventional, bringing some of the most iconic brands of my generation to fashion. His pieces are loud and unconventional, without losing the great craftsmanship often associated with haute-couture looks.  I am impressed at how he can make something so mundane as a box of cereal, cheetoos, and McDonald's french fries into some of the most ingenious pieces of clothing I have seen in recent times.  So, thank you Jeremy Scott, for bringing back all those childhood memories of the 80s and 90s!  Without further ado, here are some of the pictures I recently took sporting the Happy Meal Bag!

Handbag: Escarcha Puerto Rico
Sweater: Forever 21, Forever 21
Skirt: J.Crew (Similar)
Booties: Forever 21

Escarcha Puerto Rico Instagram Account: @EscarchaPR

Vibrant Seasons

I have a hard time transitioning from one season to the other.  My struggles are related to the fact that I grew up in a Caribbean island, where seasonal changes are not as evident.  When I moved to New York City, a few years ago, I found myself dreading the idea of covering myself head to toe to go outside. Not only that, the favored colors in this city for the fall season where black, gray, burgundies, and browns.   I felt constrained, limited, tight, dark... I grew up in the tropical island of Puerto Rico, where we speak colorful EVERYTHING, sandals, clothing, flowers, birds, music, food... Everything has a special seasoning, rhythm, and color to it.  I still dread the idea of fall and winter time, and I still have the occasional blues, however, the last few runway seasons have brought with them an explosion of rich hues for the fall and winter time, including deep and royal purples, emeralds, rubies, and blues.  This season is no exception, and just wearing these deep and bright hues makes me smile instantly and envision myself walking freely through the sandy, humid, bright, and colorful venues of my one and only San Juan, Puerto Rico.  

This is my first blog, and with it I want to welcome the fall and all of YOU guys!  This fashion story took place in the Upper East Side, and none other than my best friend, Melissa Bernier, took these beautiful pics.  More details on where to get the pieces of clothing from this shoot at the bottom.  

Peace & causal models my fashionable friends!

-Diana

 

Outfit Details:

Cropped Sweater - Forever 21 (Similar here): Forever 21 Cropped Sweater

Skirt- Thrifted and original was from J.Crew (Same one, different colors): J.Crew Factory Pleated Mini

Moto Booties- Forever 21 :Forever 21 Motto Booties 

Handbag- Furla:  Furla Onyx Alissa