SCDC: How to Wear Kimonos

SCDC How to Wear: Bermuda Shorts

This week we are focusing on Bermuda shorts. Review some looks for this Summer's trend. Whether you like to dress them up with a great pair of pumps or sandals for casual Friday's at work or dress down with a pair of converse for some funners with friends. Bermuda shorts can be found as chic, edgy, and tailored to your body.

Shop The Looks!

Events: InStyle x Nine West’s fall 2014 Collection

Leah Karp with SVP of Marketing at Nine West Erika Szychowski

All Photos Courtesy of Nine West

Last Thursday I had the pleasure of attending the preview of the new InStyle x Nine West's fall 2014 collection. The event was hosted by Leah Karp, the accessories director of InStyle Magazine. I briefly spoke to her about the process that went into designing the collection and she mentioned that the number one thing for her is always comfort. She also believes that small details make all the difference and we can totally see that in each style of this collection. Of course, we couldn't resist asking her for her favorite style - she loves the pointed toe pump 'Tessa' in black camo fabric and we can definitely see why. It's the perfect pair to complete any outfit!

Love what you see? Shop the collection below.

Summer Layers

After my last post where I made it clear that sometimes I do not want to layer in the summer, the subject got me thinking. What does it take to achieve the fun summer layered look without the extra heat? Here is how I see it, it has to be simple to put together, it has to be cool (and by that I mean... cool as in refreshing), and of course, it has to be chic! For this look I paired up a tropical print pair of shorts with a simple tank and long blazer vest. I love the open sides of the vest and tank to allow some air flow + the long vest also helps if you're wearing something short on the bottom. We all know short shorts and short, tight top is a No No! 

Zara Blazer & Strap Heels

Trouve Shorts

Jennifer Zeuner Necklace via She's Unique

Gorjana Dagger Necklace via She's Unique

RayBan Sunnies

Vintage Coach Bag

YSL Coral Ring

A Chevron Romper

When I found this romper at Tari Consignment while killing time before my Pilates Class at Fuel in Georgetown last week, I knew it was the perfect summer staple. I absolutely love the chevron pattern mixed with these great summer colors and of course, the comfort of a romper. I get super lazy in the summer and sometimes layering is just not something I want to do. With a romper, you throw on a few accessories and you're good to go! 

I had to wear my rose gold chevron ring to play on the chevron pattern of the romper 

The low cut open back is ideal in the summer - sexy but also refreshing

Tari Consignment Romper 

Hobo Bag 

Current Boutique Shoes

She's Unique Rings & Bracelets

A Red, White and Blue Affair

All photos by Natalie of The Fashionably Broke

Top & Shorts: H&M
Pumps: Zara
Bra Top: Urban Outfitters
Sunnies: RayBan
Rings: She's Unique

In honor of America's Birthday, I decided to wear red, white and blue last week. I found these amazing pumps not long ago and paired them up with an otherwise simple look - I just think red pumps make a statement on their own. I also absolutely love open side T's but sometimes it's tough finding something to wear under. Your old nude bra just won't do....so I decided on this red crochet bra top instead. Some girls could probably pull off wearing it by it self with a high waisted skirt or shorts, but I'm not so sure I'm that gutsy :) Hope you had a great weekend recovering from the 4th celebrations. Happy Monday loves!
Katya

Merica's Birthday Party Remix

Just a few photos of our Fourth of July party at The Penthouse pool club! We had an awesome time with great friends, music and our new favorite jalapeno margarita drink (DELICIOUS)! A special thank you to one of our blogger BFFs Tammy and her sweet hubby Braden for organizing such a wonderful celebration for all of us. It was truly Epic!

For more photos and video of our celebration + tons of other fun stuff, follow us on our instagram HERE! Wishing all of you a great weekend!
C&K

Bishop Boutique Spring Lookbook

We are so excited to finally share our latest lookbook collaboration with you! We want to thank everyone who was involved in this project, One of the best parts of putting a lookbook together is having to find the right team to make it happen. We hope you enjoy each and single photo!  Above are some of our favorite shots , you can check out the entire lookbook by visiting Bishop Boutique and by playing the slideshow below. This lookbook also has a video which you can check out HERE! 

Look book Credits: 

Stylists and Creative Direction: Carlis Sanchez of Spicy Candy DC 
Videographer and Photographer: Caroline Lacey
Makeup, Hair, and Manicures: The W Salon
Set Dresser: Julie of Julip Made

Intern: Britney Garcia

Featured Bloggers: Abbey Brandon of District Dress Up, Alison Coglianese of Chain Strap Purse
&  Bryarly Richards of Everything that Flickers

All shoes and accessories: Bishop Boutiuqe

Special thank you to Zoe Boutique for the clothing. 

Follow SCDC on Twitter, FB, Instagram, Pinterest.

Playa Del Carmen Photo Diary

Every single evening we experienced the most beautiful sunsets!

Welcome drinks!

The Blue Diamond Riviera Maya Resort only has 138 rooms total and once you see the rooms, you'll understand why! 

 One of our favorite parts of our suite was this enormous, sunlit, bathroom equipped with two separate rain showers and an outside tub for that fresh air bath -- if that's what you're in the mood for!

The resort features three restaurants with all-inclusive a-la-carte menus. The pool and beach bar had the most delicious choices like above chicken tacos and fresh shrimp ceviche! yum

Another yummy lunch item - duck tacos!

Blue on Blue

Postcard view from Tulum

Mayan Ruins of Tulum

Sunbathing Iguana

White on White

I think I tried every single tropical drink on the menu - hey when it's premium liquor all-inclusive, that's what you're supposed to do, right?

We started every breakfast with a fruit plate and my favorite, the grilled grapefuit. 

A feast by the beach!

If you can't tell how happy I was on this trip from this picture, I have nothing else to say haha. And how stunning is that blue sky with not one cloud? Only in Mexico :)

I'm not gonna lie, we drank a LOT of champagne!!! 

A traditional Mayan dance

One of my favorite Turquoise necklaces from my store She's Unique - I love animal print with a pop of color

The essentials

One last cheers to a fabulous time in PDC, Mexico! (all bracelets from She's Unique, pearl bracelet from Pearl.Love)

Til next time Playa Del Carmen!

So here is the final post from my trip to Playa Del Carmen and looking at these photos is definitely bitter-sweet. I can honestly say a little part of me is still somewhere on that beach living in an imaginary hut and enjoying those incredible sunsets. Hopefully someday I'll be able to go back and relive every moment we spent there while drinking champagne and talking about life, love, friendship and everything in between. As for the details of our stay at the Blue Diamond, the resort definitely offered a luxurious escape that I can't really call 'home away from home' because my whole apartment is probably the size of that bathroom alone, but it was still nice to be able to indulge in all the amazing food, specialty drinks, and five star (or shall we say five diamond) service! I have to give the amazing staff a special shout-out because without them our experience wouldn't have been as amazing. There was not a moment when these super attentive guys (Jesus, Omar, Cesar, Florisel, and others) didn't attend to us like we were royalty. I mean everywhere we turned there was a glass (or bottle) of champagne waiting for us. One of them even offered to "marry me" by the beach (if you follow our instagram, you'll know what I'm referring to haha). Ok maybe the whole marriage thing was fake and a joke that only occurs to someone who spent 12 hours in the sun and drank three bottles of champagne, but on a serious note, it would have made an absolutely stunning location to get hitched if I had the right person next to me (not that my friend Marta isn't amazing...but you know what I mean). In reality I'm probably nowhere near that moment at this point in my life since this year has been a total roller coaster when it comes to relationships, but I won't get into too much detail here since this is a fashion and style blog after all, but I will tell you a little about an interesting ritual we exprienced there that did help me clear my mind and body and gave me some perspective on this subject...this native Mexican American ritual is called the Temazcal. 

Now I'll be honest, I'm very skeptical of any kind of ceremony that is performed in a luxury resort (even if it is in the middle of a jungle setting) by a handsome Mexican man who wears a red bandanna on his head and nothing but a sarong wrapped on the bottom, and who proceeds to put clay on my face and smoke all over my body before entering an igloo type of structure with hot lava stones where we chant songs while sweating profusely from every pore of our bodies in an effort to purify our minds and bodies. You can already picture my face right? Yea...it was definitely something "interesting and exotic" at first, only worth giving a try because it was included in our stay, but after going through it, not only did I realize its health benefit, but the true spiritual cleansing it offers those who can make it through the entire ceremony. You may be asking, what's so hard about sitting in a hot igloo with a handsome, spiritual man (and a few other resort tourists)? Well, let's put it this way, imagine that igloo being very small, and the door is closed so it's completely dark, and the lava stones are hot, and the herb infused water spilled on them is producing more vapor than you think your lungs can handle, and through all of this you're supposed to either meditate, or chant, or simply try really hard not to vomit or pass out. And to top it all off, the Temazcal has "four doors" (representative of childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and old age) meaning the doors only open four times for fresh air, and each time they bring more lava stones, and there is more hot vapor, and more meditation...oh and if you leave early, it is considered an "abortion" because the igloo is representative of a mother's womb and you are the fetus that is about to be reborn into a new "YOU". Sounds crazy right? No, it's freaking awesome! I felt completely empowered after making it through the entire 2-hour ceremony. My mind hasn't been this clear in years and my body felt amazing, clean, and free of all impurities we put into it every single day. Anyway, I can go on and on about this but it's something that one must experience for themselves to understand how life-changing it could be. I mean ok, maybe my whole life didn't change after it, but it did help me put things into perspective while I was going through it and it brought me just a little closer to my goal of letting go of the negative (relationships, habits, emotions, etc) and embrace all the positive things this life has to offer! So big big kudos to the Blue Diamond Spa for offering this ritual as part of the services! Anyway, I'll stop here since this is probably one of the longest posts I've ever written, but if you want to learn more about this ritual that was practiced by many different tribes all over the Americas, including North American tribes like the Lakotas, check out this link. 

Happy weekend loves and let's hope this hurricane Sandy isn't as bad as the weatherman is predicting!

xo

Katya