Animal print autumn

Hi there!

This has been by far one of the prettiest New England autumns with the foliage and weather. I’ve been very inspired by cashmere and animal print so I wanted to post this look!

I found the black and cream cheetah print skirt at a small NY boutique but the brown and cream cheetah one on the last couple pictures is from Vici Dolls, and they have a very similar dark print one to the one I wore in the first few photos! My LiketoKnow.it account has some similar ones linked too!

I went with a tan cashmere sweater by Halogen from Nordstrom over the skirt that I slightly tucked in, and an oldie but goodie pair of Vince Camuto black and gold moto booties (now on sale)! I also styled the look with Vince Camuto grey heeled boots (mine aren’t available anymore so a similar one is linked here and on LiketoKnow.it). The faux fur black sleeveless vest is a Vera Wang for Kohls from some time ago, so I’ve linked a similar one:)

In the Vici Dolls brown and cream animal print look from the last couple photos I’m wearing a black Nordstrom brand turtleneck and an oldie but goodie grey suede moto jacket from Nordstrom by Vigoss. I’m wearing a small in everything and I’m 5’6” for reference. Check out this look-alike by Blank NYC!

If you guys ever have questions on brands or links message me either here or email me through my website as you’ve done before, or through my Instagram @carolinasantosread which is usually how I hear from you, and I love hearing from you!

I hope everyone is as excited for Halloween as I am! I’m off to Miami tomorrow for a vacation and work trip.

Xo,

Carolina

Holiday Party Dresses and Can't Leave the House Without Items!

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Party dress no 1 by Free People "Ginger Meadow Dress," vintage shoes. Photography by Francisco Graciano, shot in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Hi there!

So it's the holiday season (wopee!!) and I'm not sure about you, but for me it's certainly the time of year I pull shiny things out of my closet. And party dresses.  All of my party dresses (appropriate for winter).  In this post I want to feature some of my favorite party dresses as well as can't-leave-the-house-without items to be party ready.  The first dress above is from Free People (my fave, in case you didn't see my Nov 12th entry).  I'm a Free People Me stylist (Lina7) and I just LOVE this brand's look, customer service, and free people me program.  

This dress is called the "Ginger Meadow Fit and Flare" dress, and I love the lace and beading on the top attached to a cushy deep red velvet skirt.  It's whimsical and vintage and has a victorian lush feel to it.  I feel like a character in Alice in Wonderland in it, thus the idea for the shoot in a magical garden I love to visit in Park Slope, Brooklyn.  Photography again by my talented man, Francisco Graciano.

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Free People "Reflected Moonlight" dress, vintage shoes, Topshop faux fur jacket, and JCrew statement necklace.  Shot on the Gowanus canal in Brooklyn by Francisco Graciano.

In this second look photographer Francisco Graciano and I took to the streets of Gowanus, Brooklyn (or more specifically the Gowanus canal) to shoot Free People's Reflected Moonlight dress in nude and gold with the setting sun and water in the background. Also in this look are my vintage shoes, Topshop turquoise statement faux fur and JCrew statement necklace. I love a little sparkle around the holidays, and what better way to do sparkle than a metallic? I love how this dress contrasts nude with gold to make gold work like a neutral and match with almost anything. It adds a little festive flair to an outfit, and has you feeling glamorous.  I love the gold and black color combination which is why I went with my black heels instead of my favorite gold glitter peeptoe Louboutin heels featured in the photo below, which are very festive! I also styled this dress with a statement faux fur from Topshop, because a fun faux fur jacket makes an outfit look more glamorous and party ready! This outfit had me feeling like a rockstar.  Also at the back of my nude tights was a black seam going down the leg which adds a feminine and sexy edge to a party dress.

Can't leave the house without items...read below

Last but not least before embarking on your party adventure I always suggest bringing along my can't-leave-the-house-without items in your party clutch.  Stylist tape (shown above my Victoria's Secret fashion tape) to hold your dress straps where they should be, accessories like my Topshop earrings, Chanel powder to take down shine when you've been dancing away, travel perfume (I love Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel), Rosebud Salve lip balm, and a fun party bag like my Coach gold python clutch. In the photo I went with gold and pink accessories for my cousins' wedding in Brazil recently, to match my gold peeptoe glitter Christian Louboutins and pink silk Nicole Miller gown.

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Here was the final look! Pictured with my cousin Fernando whom I walked down the aisle with in the wedding party for my cousin Camila's wedding last month in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Xo,

Carolina

Out on the Town Style: Classic Meets Modern

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Here I am at NYC's new Whitney Museum in the Meat Packing district, wearing my new Diane Von Furstenberg (DVF) wrap dress, Aldo studded flats, and Louis Vuitton Alma bag.  Photography by Francisco Graciano.

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This time shot from the outside patio of the Whitney Museum.  For outfit credits please see photo above.  Photography by Francisco Graciano.

Hi there! 

I am back on US soil after a hop down to South America to be in my cousin's wedding in Brazil which was spectacular.  It was much warmer there than in NYC (as it is springtime there), and I had fun playing with summer/resort wear for a little while longer before returning to what is finally colder fall weather in NYC.  

Even though the weather is getting colder, the holiday season is always a time of celebration and fun cocktail parties.  Next week I will do a feature on holiday dresses, but first I want to talk about a classic timeless piece: Diane Von Furstenberg's wrap dress in a traditional print (the iconic kisses) but in a pop art design shown in my photos above.  I recently purchased this dress because it is modern, flirty, and fun but also timeless.  In my opinion the backdrop of the new Whitney Museum of modern art was a perfect setting to shoot it, among some of my favorite Rothkos, Pollocks, and Warhols: modern and iconic art.

A little over a year ago I visited the DVF "Journey of a Dress" exhibit in LA at the LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) and I was so inspired by the evolution of her iconic wrap dress.  Diane's slogan is to "Feel like a woman...wear a dress" and the effortless wrap dress is easy to wear, chic, and transitions beautifully from day into night.  I styled mine with my Louis Vuitton red Alma bag, black Aldo studded flats for a little edge, and a leather jacket.  It can also easily be worn with tights and heels and added accessories for a night look. As one of my fashion idols, I believe owning a DVF wrap dress is a closet staple like the Chanel quilted handbag, a LV speedy, or a Cole Haan loafer.  What are your closet staples?

Happy Holidays!

Xo,

Carolina