Blogger Previews at W by Worth & Fall Trends

It totally works with my loafers and can be worn with a sweater or long sleeve turtleneck underneath to layer! 

This newer take on a mod dress was beautiful. I loved the buttons and tailoring  

Couldn't resist dancing to play up the fun ruffles! 

The nautical skort is such a great look, so many ideas on how to style! I'm on the waiting list for this... 

I've dreamed of a red suit for a while, very tailored and longer with a black pump... 

She showed me how to use this scarf with sleeves which is really cool! 

Loving the color and texture as always

All photography by Francisco Graciano.

Hi there!

As you can see by the looks above, I was recently invited to blogger previews at W by Worth for the Fall/Winter collection, but I waited to post until now since the looks you see above are now available for purchase. I wanted to use the opportunity as a how to wear for fall trends! For my blog I find it important that you not only get outfit inspiration, but you know how to make the look work.  If you ever need to style something and don't know how, please reach out because I love to style too, and there are a variety of ways I do that (including skype/facetime)!

One of my favorite trends I saw on runways and am seeing translated to the streets is the mini mod dress.  The two I pictured above I loved in the W by Worth lineup: the colorful tank and the black and red checkered short sleeved number which is so much fun to wear not only with a boot or heel, but with a loafer like the one I wore to the showroom (perhaps not the same color but you get the idea hehe). My gold glitter loafers are Steve Madden by the way.

I also love the bohemian vibe as you've seen from so many of my posts.  Boho chic can be dressy, casual, edgy, you name it.  In this look they've cut the dress to a shorter length and added a ruffle detail which I'm seeing everywhere and loving.  With the movement in this dress, I had to do some dancing in it.  Of course I'm a dancer too, so...you're welcome.

Another FAVE of mine at the moment is the nautical look.  I like it so much you'll see another outfit coming up of how I added a twist to the classic nautical preppy look.  But here above you can see me in their nautical high waisted skort which I would pair with tights and an over the knee boot, and a turtleneck sweater tucked into the shorts for fall.  There are so many great ways to wear this look!

These are just a few of my favorite fall trend ideas.  Tell me what yours might be! Thanks for all your great comments on my Instagram page @carolinasantosread as well.

Xo,

Carolina

This was an awesome showroom visit thank you to the wonderful W by Worth PR ladies!  

Nautical and Beachy

Wearing my new anchor dress I bought in a small boutique on Block Island this summer by designer Escapada, and gold Maypol espadrille flats also a recent buy from TJ Maxx. I topped it off with an oldie but goodie pink Chanel quilted purse. Photography by Francisco Graciano. 

Hi there! 

Are you looking forward to your Labor Day long weekend? I have the perfect end of Summer beachy and nautical look for you. On a recent trip to Block Island I purchased this beautiful little nautical anchor dress from a small boutique on the main strip. The designer is Escapada. Nautical looks are absolutely everywhere for summer and can transition into fall beautifully too. My last look from Newport had the traditional white and navy stripes with a pop of yellow (which can be done with long sleeves jeans and a blazer or cute scarf once the weather gets colder). This week's look is more traditional with navy and pink anchors. We photographed on the water in Watch Hill, Rhode Island before hitting the beach. It's a simple beachy dress that can be dressed up or down.

I kept it casual with a pair of gold Maypol (made in Spain) espadrille flats that were a recent purchase from TJ Maxx. A gold espadrille is comfy, cute, and right on trend! I was looking for a pair like these all over and the Rochester, NY store had them but Manhattan had sold out. Jane Martin, store manager at the Pittsford Plaza TJ Maxx was kind enough to send the pair over to my closest Manhattan store so I could purchase them. That's amazing customer service! I will remain a lifetime Maxxinista for that.

My last accessory is one of my favorite Chanel bags I've had for a long time. You can never go wrong with a classic quilted Chanel and a gold chain strap. It will never go out of style and the resale value is high so these handbags are a great investment. I've sold older ones and put that towards new ones sometimes even making money. Talk about Maxxinista! I updated it with a black pom accessory bought at a small boutique in CT, but they are everywhere including the streets of Manhattan and H&M stores.

Enjoy your holiday weekend!

xo, 

Carolina  

Old Country Glamour

Wearing an Anthropologie nautical top with BCBG yellow skirt, JCrew espadrille wedge sandals, and a Chanel pink quilted purse. Photography by Francisco Graciano. 

Hi there! 

Notice my spelling of "glamour" the traditional English way? Pun intended. On a recent trip to see the old country mansions in Newport, Rhode Island we decided to photograph at my favorite: Rosecliff. This home was built in the 1920s when society's most wealthy all spent their summers in their summer "cottages" in Newport, entertaining society's most prominent figures. The New England mansions were also the perfect setting to photograph a summer staple look: old English glamor, or a classic elegant aesthetic. 

In my rendition of this I could have gone in many directions (all looks I love) such as a tweed for fall, or a madras, seersucker, and many other traditional looks. However given that Newport has a nautical beachy history, I went with nautical chic!  

Stripes are big this season, and what's more classic than white and navy with pops of yellow? I styled a fun Anthropologie peplum nautical striped top with an oldie but goodie yellow silk BCBG skirt, and also oldie but goodie JCrew wedge espadrille sandals. A couple of these pieces may be older, but you can find replicas in so many places, as these are statement wardrobe pieces that don't go out of style! Finally I topped off the look with one of my favorite Chanel pink quilted purses, another iconic bag for an iconic summer look.

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! 

Xo, 

Carolina

Beachy Resort Wear

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Wearing a Lilly Pulitzer (for Target!) dress, wedges by Arezzo, shell earrings from Brazil and new shell purse by SkinnyDip London.  Photographed in Mexico by Francisco Graciano.

Hi there!

The dreary weather this week (not today, thankfully!!) had me wishing I was back in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico enjoying the warm sun, though I'm grateful for the time Francisco and I got to spend there.  Warm sunny weather and beaches always gets me excited for resort wear, which is why I wanted to dedicate another post to this genre.  

Nothing makes me think of resort, beachy weather, boats, and being tan more than one of my all-time favorite designers: Lilly Pulitzer.  Growing up in the Connecticut shoreline (post Madrid) I discovered Lilly where she is widely popular.  Her bright color and preppy prints are fun to wear and look great with a tan! Of course living in West Palm Beach, Florida for so long she created what she loved to wear and for the beachy lifestyle she had. I love this dress I bought not long ago when Lilly launched a Target collection.  Not as bright as my other Lilly dresses, this one struck me for its nautical feel with the white and blue colors and its sand dollar and starfish print.  I'm a sucker for starfish and like to pretend I'm actually a mermaid (it's okay to think I'm nuts, I'm fully aware).  The silhouette of the dress is an effortlessly chic slip on but with its flouncy ruffles and synched waist it adds shape and texture.  

I paired the dress with my brand new crossbody shell bag one of my best friends Jessica gifted me for my birthday from one of my favorite accessory stores based in England: SkinnyDip London.  They sell their products online and in various stores including Topshop.  Last summer I bought a pink shell coin purse from them, and now I have a rose gold gorgeous shell purse as well! Lastly I added my favorite shell earrings from Brazil and my neutral-toned Arezzo wedges I bought in Brazil last fall (their Spring line) for a beachy dressed-up look that isn't too formal or fussy.

The marina in Puerto Vallarta was the perfect setting to photograph this dress when Francisco and I were out for a celebratory dinner.

Xo,

Carolina

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Posing with my favorite VW model next to the Beetle: a traditional microbus (or "combi" as it's called in Latin America).  I couldn't help myself, we matched!