These "Botas" were Made for Walkin'

City girl.

No doubt about it, that’s what I am. But on my recent trip to Mexico (see here and here). I found my long lost inner country girl. I spent most of my time in Mexico by the country side. So I thought, “well, when in Rome…” and I threw on my first pair of cowboy boots and my father-in-law’s sombrero and I was ready to roll. The boots were amazingly practical for that terrain, although that is rarely a prerequisite of mine for shoes. It was a pleasant surprise that I could be comfortable and stylish while wandering around the mountainside. In the end, I felt like I was ready to jump on a horse (or donkey) and ride off into the sunset with the cactus behind me. “Orale!”

Are there shoes or outfits you’ve tried that are typically out of your style realm?

I left my heart (but got a blouse) in Mexico

“I’m inspired by different cultures around the world and love to incorporate these facets into my collection.”
– Rachel Roy

My Inspiration Captured: The Mexico Edition

There’s nothing like traveling to new places to get a fresh perspective. I did that recently on a memorable trip to my husband’s hometown, which is a small town in Central Mexico. You’d think that 10 days with no internet, phone, or tv would make a blogger go crazy. But I had no pings, rings, notifications, commercials, or other trivial distractions. Conversations were real and in the moment. Laughs continued without pausing to Instagram and share. And in these moments of disconnect, I was able to truly appreciate my surroundings and find many aspects inspiring. I captured these instances with the hope that they will continue to inspire me when I returned back home.

What places have inspired you?

Back From A Magical Train Ride

“Let’s go play choo choo train!”

“Yeeesss! I call Conductor!”

That’s basically how my conversation went with my nephew and niece when my brother-in-law and sister unveiled their hand-made wooden train. A sweet gift made by my brother-in-law. So, of course, I agreed to go along on our magical train adventure. And how does one dress for such a ride? Striped conductor jacket – check. Appropriately bright colored shorts and accessories to enter into magical lands – check. Mostly thrifted items in case something is left behind – final check. We jumped on board, waved our little hands good-bye (okay, their little hands) and began our journey across miles of bright blue oceans and into enchanted lands. I couldn’t have asked for a better adventure this past summer. And that my friends, is why I have been gone for so long :-)

A Casual Beach Stroll

As much fun as it is to get all dolled up, sometimes a girl just wants a laid-back day with cozy pants and a soft blouse. Something you can take a relaxing stroll in and just be your natural self. It’s like being in your pj’s but in a much more acceptable form. And this has been extra important for me this past week because – get this, I have poison ivy!?! Eww. First time in my life I’ve had to endure this allergic reaction. The first thing I learned was that soft, flowy, and loose clothes are my best friends. This outfit was the perfect combination of comfortable and fashionable. The mix of textures with the embroidered flowers and the linen striped pants make the outfit interesting so I don’t look like I have given up on dressing up and it also manages to hide the fact that I am in poison ivy pain. Sigh, at least it’s an excuse to take things slow and casual.

What about you – do you take casual outfit breaks or are you a fashionista all the time?

4 Beauty Products I Regret Buying

Have I ever mentioned just how much I love taking trips to beauty stores? It’s like Christmas day, except for the fact that I’m buying myself gifts. The only thing that can sour this magical event is getting home and un-wrapping my gift to find a toy that just doesn’t work right. I’m sure you’ve also encountered this once or twice and that’s why I wanted to write this post. Before I give up hope on these products, I wanted to reach out to you guys and get your opinion. Have you tried these? Do you have any thoughts?

From the Runway to the Boardroom

Is it weird if a piece of clothing I’m wearing has had a longer and more intriguing life than me? I find that remarkable and slightly disturbing.

DIY: An Easy 3-Step Crop Top

It’s another quick DIY (see here for the first one)! This one is so simple that I’m sure you’re going to run over to your t-shirts and start cutting them up immediately.

Recently, I was hunting for a cute graphic crop top but all I was running into were some $40 options, um, thanks but no thanks. That’s when I took matters into my own hands and grabbed this little number for $1. Now time to chop up!

GUEST POST: Royally Inspired Runways

Hello IFFers! (What? Is that even a word??)

Alright, it’s time to get our fashion learn on. I’m switching things up a little bit here with a fashion history guest post from the talented Laura Diaz. She’s a fashion addict with a deep love for soap operas (mostly Telenovelas – she is Latina, after all!). She’s a NYC girl who is trying to make her way through college (studying fashion history and journalism). When she approached me about writing a guest post I was thrilled to be able to collaborate with a fellow fashion enthusiast. Now time to take a step back in history…

Love,
Iris

--------------

How to Mix Patterns: From Beginner to Advanced

Have you been eager to jump on the mixing patterns train but don't know how? It’s actually a lot easier than it looks. Just make minor changes to your outfits until you feel comfortable to go full speed ahead. Below are steps you can take (from beginner to advanced) to get that creative engine running.

The Starry Knight Necklace by Nikki Reed and 7 for all Mankind

Intriguing, edgy, and beautiful – that’s how I describe the Starry Knight Necklace and coincidently, how I would describe the designer. I asked Nikki Reed about her collection and she was beaming with pride when she explained that each piece was her vision, was meaningful to her, and she did all the sketches. Who wouldn’t be proud??

Nikki revealed that the Starry Knight Necklace was the missing piece in her closet. Recently, she’s been recording music with her husband (a mix of country and folkloric) and her outfits have been inspired by this new creative outlet. However, she noticed that her big flashy statement necklaces didn’t go well with her collared, down-to-earth blouses. Enter the Starry Knight Necklace:

7 For all Mankind Launch with Nikki Reed

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Grand Opening of the 7 for all Mankind store at The Mall at Millenia with their special event featuring the new jewelry line by actress/singer/designer Nikki Reed. The store, as you can imagine, was perfect in every way. The clothes were bright, fresh, and crisply folded and presented. It was like every item in the store was eager to show off for the grand opening. The drinks were fancy and the tunes were tight; pretty amazing shopping experience.

Thrifty Thursday: Vintage Patterns

You might have noticed that I’m a sucker for any item that has a story or evokes an emotion. And Retromended Vintage Boutique is the place that provides this by the rack full (read about my first experience there). I initially loved this blouse just because of the sweet and girly vintage pattern. But once I found out the story, it became much more interesting.

A Classy Cinco de Mayo

As much fun as it is to rock a sombrero and some chili pepper beads on Cinco de Mayo, this year I decided I wanted to celebrate it a little classier. Although, I’m not Mexican, I’ve had the fortune to marry into this beautiful and rich culture. For that reason, I decided to forego the usual clichés and cultural inaccuracies and focus instead on one of my favorite things about this historic culture – the rich colors! You see the vibrant colors in their home design, handcrafts, and fashion. Just look at their flag: reds, yellows, blues, greens, and browns colorfully display their pride. How could I not be inspired by such a colorful representation of their home?

Thrifty Thursday: A Tribute to the Discarded

“Latest and Greatest”

In our everyday lives it seems like we are constantly being marketed with those simple words. “Get it now – it’s the latest and greatest.” We yearn for that new car smell and get consumed with keeping an item in mint condition. Could it be that without even noticing we have become so obsessed with the idea of “newness” that in the process we’ve forgotten the intrigue of “distinctiveness” and “old charm”? Instead, we describe those items as used, ordinary, bland and cast them aside.

Well, here’s to the forgotten and the discarded.

A Vintage Affair

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending Resurrect at Retromended Vintage. It combined all of my favorite things: local artists, hot music, delicious treats, and vintage fashion. Could it be any more perfect? This was my first time at Retromended Vintage and it was just as cute and quirky as I expected.

4 Essential Pieces for your Florida Winter Outfit

Winter is finally coming to an end. No more cold days and freezing nights. Say good-bye to branches with no leaves and the constant blanket of snow. Alright, who am I kidding? I live in Florida. A few days ago it dropped to a frigid 50 degrees and everyone freaked out over here (admittedly, I was one of them). While I can’t provide you with words of wisdom on how to survive the end of this cold winter, I can provide you with tips on how to survive winters in Florida like a true Floridian. Here are some essentials:

Thrifty Thursday DIY: 7 Steps to a Fabulous Skirt

Here’s a fun Thrifty Thursday treat—a DIY! In case you haven’t noticed, it’s actually the first DIY on IFF!

This idea emerged when I realized that lately I’ve been mending, changing, and re-styling most of the clothes I’ve purchased at the thrift store. Not necessarily because they don’t fit me (although sometimes that is the case), but because it’s so much freakin’ fun. It gives me a chance to give an old piece some new life and excitement. One of my latest finds was a long (and in all honesty, a little bit tacky) Talbots skirt. I had a vision of a fabulous piece and with some love I knew it would be fulfilled. Here’s the DIY on how I easily turned this skirt from matronly to sexy.

Happiest Little Boutique: Apricot Lane

Remember last year when I was all, “What the heck! There are good clothing stores at the airport?” (see here). I had a similar experience recently at Downtown Disney, yes, you heard right. Turns out that amid the drones of fanny-packed parents and hyper children you will find a little slice of fashion heaven that’s hidden away in a corner –Apricot Lane. I feel as if it was purposely placed there so only the most discerning fashionistas find it. Once inside you won’t find a trace of Mickey Mouse or Goofy ears. It’s decorated just like you’d expect of a neighborhood boutique and even has a slight resemblance to my college dorm (so you know I love it). The clothes are unique with both classic and trendy pieces. Most importantly, it is reasonably priced (unlike everything else at Disney). I spent a lot more time there then I planned and you’ll see why if you visit. Apricot Lane puts a new meaning to, “The Happiest Place on Earth.” Check out my latest post with a piece exclusively made for Apricot Lane (see here).

P.S. For those of you keeping track, I’d like to point out that this is one of my New Year’s Fashion Resolutions… just sayin’.

A little boho, A little hippie, All Chic

Did you ever have an outfit that you were DYING to wear but the right time just wouldn’t arrive? That’s how I felt about this look. I’ve been staring at this Willie Skirt from the WE by Whitney Eve collection for weeks. But of course the moment I want to wear something that requires warm weather it decides to be cold in Florida. So there I was, staring longingly at this skirt until the day finally arrived.

Five Fashion Resolutions of a Fashionista

Happy New Year! The New Year is all about a fresh start, an opportunity to challenge yourself and try new things. Start a new hobby, visit your dream place—whatever it is, it’s the chance to make a better version of you! While I have a long list of ambitious resolutions, the ones that are interesting enough to share are my fashion resolutions. And I've learned that one of the best tricks for reaching goals is to share them with friends. That way there is accountability and no cheating. Let’s see if it works out for me!

1. Support Local Boutiques

I can’t deny the excitement I feel when finding an ultra fab blazer for $12.00 at Forever 21. But, I’m starting to notice that my closet is looking more and more like the masses and less and less like me. That was never my intention. I need to bring back some of the uniqueness that was originally in my closet. Although I can’t afford a $100 screen tee, I am going to wean off as much as I can from chain stores and look for basic pieces from local boutiques. Plus, I’ll be supporting local business. Hopefully, that doesn’t mean I’ll only buy one item this year!