Caribbean Flow

Hi loves,

When I lived in NYC I treasured every ounce of the summer time because the season was short-lived!    And then the fall and winter blues quickly settled in.  Now that I am back home in Puerto Rico, I am grateful to have an eternal summer season.  Fashion wise, that means that I can wear flowy, breezy, light, colorful, and rich textiles all year long.  Lately, I am into off-shoulder bohemian tops and dresses.  I find the off-shoulder trend subtly sexy, and it complements nicely one of my favorite body parts, my collarbone and shoulders.  What I also love about these relaxed and flowing pieces is that  they are absolutely comfortable and perfect for very warm weather.  If you are the one that loves showing off your shoulders, then this trend is for you.  If you are not sure, try it!

Here I lea you with some tasseled, bright, and Talavera tiles-inspired pieces that I am sure will inspire you to update your summer wardrobe!  Enjoy!

-Diana

P.S. Information on where to get these pieces is below the first or second picture of each new look.

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Dress: Zara (No longer available, but similar here TopShop; Shopbob)
Handbag: Urban Outfitters (No longer available, but similar here Urban Outfitters)
Sunglasses: Forever 21

Top: Zara Kids (No Longer Available)
Skirt: Zara (No Longer Available) There are some similar in the Zara website, running 50% off!
Clutch Frida Kahlo:  Dulce Calavera (Follow her on IG @dulce_calavera)
Sandals: Target

Top: Zara (No longer available, but similar here TopShop; Asos)

What Monkey See Monkey Do...

What Monkey See Monkey Do...

Del Pozo Spring/Summer 2015

Hi loves,

Monkeys have been at the center of some of the SS'15 runways, including two of my favorite designers, Valentino and Del Pozo.  Both of these masters of design are known for their whimsical and romantic designs, full of delicate flowers and exotic animals.  This time monkeys are taking center stage.  I could not be any happier, because Monkeys--and there around 250 species--are one my favorite animals.  Monkeys are curious, mischievous, adventurous, intelligent and fun. And so are these beautiful displays of craftsmanship.  The pieces shown below are fun, mischievous and adventurous, without losing that refined, richness, and luxuriousness often associated with genius designers!  Bravo, Valentino and Del Pozo for this wild call...

Valentino Spring/Summer 2015

Valentino Spring/Summer 2015

I seemed to have anticipated to these designers because last year I found at an Instagram Thrift Shop (@cleanupcloset) a gorgeous Lily Pulitzer Monkey dress, which I can't get enough of.  The dress is perfect for summer cocktails, birthday parties, brunches, lunches, dinner, and strolling through the beach and park.  It will surely be a conversation piece...

Part Deux: Moda Resort 2015

Hi Loves,

Here is the second part of my Resort Series. I hope you are as mesmerized as I am by the beautiful Mexican embroidered huipil dress I modeled here.  This dress is a more contemporary take on the traditional huipil blouses and dresses characteristic of indigenous women in Mexico and Central America.  Huipil embroidery is rich, intricate, and elaborate.  I am a big lover of vintage pieces, or pieces that are rich in history and meaning, such as huipil.  Huipil often narrates the ethnicity and community of the wearer.

I think these dresses are a perfect resort look, they are soft, loose, comfortable, airy and elegant, all of these elements splashed against a colorful background.  If you want to make a huipil dress more fitted, tie a belt, as I did in the picture.  Well, I will zip it now, and let these pictures transport you to faraway lands in Central America and Mexico...

The huipil dress and sandals shown here are from Mexican artists, and they were purchased at Feria de Artesanias y Piezas de Molde of the Mita Congretation in Puerto Rico.  But you don't need to go to Mexico to find one, you can go to Etsy, Mercado Libre or Ebay and find similar blouses and dresses.

Enjoy!

Moda Resort 2015

Hi loves,

I have been out of commission for a while due to Christmas festivities and a cold that just got hold of me.  Since I am bedridden, I decided to entertain myself by writing a post on resort looks for this transition period between January and March. For those of you who are traveling to warmer zones during winter time, in this three-installment spread I will showcase some easy, light, airy, and vibrant pieces you can wear.  For those you staying in cold zones, at least this post will keep you warm with all the colorful hues, and the sunny backgrounds!

Even though there are different types of resort collections, and not all are catered to tropical desires, nothing screams more resort in my mind, than the luxurious, yet relaxed feel of the tropical land of Puerto Rico.  For this three-part series, I decided to highlight my Latina heritage, and all the richness of our Latin American cultures. From embroidered huipil dresses, to handmade clutches, to leaves print, to maritime stripes, to gold accents, all is an ode to the majestic and regal, yet humble and friendly feel of our Latin American cultures.

To complement the looks shown here, I will be including pictures of some historic sites in the Old San Juan.  Today, San Juan is known as "La Ciudad Amurallada" (the walled city) and is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean and is the second oldest European-founded city in the Americas (after Santo Domingo, which was officially founded on August 5, 1498.).  The Old San Juan is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site, and it well captures all the richness of these resort looks.  For more information on the Old San Juan, go to this link: Old San Juan Information

Stay tuned next week for a flower punch embroidered look!

For information on where to purchase these looks or similar items go to the bottom of this post.
Enjoy!

Diana
You can also follow me on Instagram @dianamargarita1

Credits:

Green Leaves Print Dress Sheinside

Stripes Leather Pocket Dress: Sheinside

Frida Khalo Clutch: Dulce Calavera (Instagram: @dulce_calavera)

Zara Gold Block Heel Sandals: No longer available, for similar (Shopbob)

Forever 21 Studded Black Sandals: No longer available, for similar (Polyvore)

Urban Outfitters Sunglasses: No longer available, for similar (Polyvore)

Urban Outfitters Cross Body Bag, no longer available, for similar (Urban Outfitters, Urban Outfitters)