Travel Style

Travel Style by jessbercovici featuring a Stela 9 overnight bag

What To Wear To A Summer Wedding

Is it just me, or is wedding season on fire this year? Maybe it's because I'm getting older, but it seems like everyone is getting married. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've been to at least 4 weddings this summer. And, it's no easy feat. Along with scouring LA for the perfect gift (it's harder than it looks) we also have to find the perfect outfit, too. Lucky for us we already got the bag down (hello super versatile Pacaya cross body). Check out two looks, featuring the Pacaya bag and Colibri clutch, that should get you through the last of those summer love fests!


Style #1: This look is party-glam to the max! Keep your sexy printed body-con casual with our cross-body Pacaya. 

Summer Wedding Style by jasmin-4 featuring Stela 9 Picaya Crossbody Bag

Style #2: A more formal approach to a summer wedding. Start with a simple base, like this gorgeous black maxi, and add funky accessories to add an oomph and keep it casual. 

Wedding Style by jasmin-4 featuring a Stela 9 evening purse

Get Natalie Off Duty's Painted Lady Outfit

Natalie Off Duty is one of our favorite go-to blogs for style inspiration. Her (and her equally fashionable sister Dylana) are the epitome of California bohemian beauty, mixed in with some tough-girl rocker influences. This year at Coachella the fashionable duo rocked the fashion scene with their rad style, reminding me a bit of Janis Joplin. Not only does this look work perfectly for a music festival, but for everyday wear too (maybe minus the painted arrows).

Get Natalie's look here: 

Painted Lady by jasminperez featuring seashell jewelry

Chaser top
pinkmascara.com

Free people
freepeople.com

Stela 9 strap bag
shopbop.com

Vanessa Mooney turquoise jewelry
metroparkusa.com

Vanessa Mooney seashell jewelry
swell.com

Linda farrow glasses
net-a-porter.com

Stela 9 Style: What Do You Wear To The Beach?

Us Stela 9 girls are a lucky bunch. When we're not jetting the world looking for one-of-a-kind pieces we're relaxing in our hometown of sunny LA. We have everything at our disposal here - the beach, mountains, desert, and city are just a step away. While Jess prefers to spend her days hiking LA's beautiful mountains and spending time in Palm Springs, I choose to bum around Venice beach. I can't get enough of the hippie beach life (and Abbot Kinney has some of the raddest stores around). So which do you prefer? The serene desert or funky beach life? 

clockwise, l-r: Lisa Maree Crochet Bikini; One Teaspoon The Bonita Cutoffs; Stela 9 Pachamama Woven Bucket Bag; Missoni x Havaianas Sandals. 

Rise and Shine: Tips For Waking Up Refreshed

Mornings are hard (especially after a booze-filled holiday). Being pulled away from the land of dreams only to wak to the reality of a busy bustling city is just cruel in our minds. But alas, there are ways you can rise and shine. 
Believe us, there is nothing we love more than sleeping in and ignoring our alarms, but sometimes it's absolutely necessary to wake up for a busy work-filled day. So instead of relying on that quad-shot latte from Starbucks to wake you up, take a peek at our tips for waking up and having an all together beautiful morning:


1. Create a morning routine.
If you start getting into certain habits and doing them every morning, it will be hard to stop. Write out a morning routine and make sure the first thing you do is something you love doing. Go ahead and hit snooze once but make sure you leave yourself enough time to enjoy the morning. Then, do something of your choice maybe even in bed still. Browse your favorite sites for a minute, watch a very short episode of a TV show, or read a book. Maybe look at a few blogs and get inspiration for your outfit that day. This will get you excited to get dressed. After you have done something relaxing that you enjoy you may feel a bit more ready to face the day and start the rest of your routine.

2. Good things to include in your routine:

• YOGA

There is nothing like a few good yoga stretches to get your body moving in the morning. Pull out your mat (or even a towel), go outside or near a window, and stretch to your hearts content. We suggest starting out with a series of sun salutations, going through vinyasa a few times and doing some hip openers and back stretches.
For some beginner tips visit MindBodyGreen.

• GET ENOUGH SLEEP

It's worth it. We promise. Obviously your eight hours can't always be squeezed in but if you start trying to get at least six to eight hours every night you will feel a million times better. To do this don't drink caffeine past the afternoon and exercise early in the day rather than later because it wakes your body up.

• EAT BREAKFAST

Nothing is better than breakfast and it's awesome when you have enough time to eat something you like and look forward to eating. A juice is a great idea. If you have a juicer you can get really into trying new delicious recipes and it's the perfect thing to put in your body to start the day. Or, you can eat something tasty that you really enjoy.

• USE INVIGORATING PRODUCTS

Make that morning shower super enjoyable with invigorating face washes and products like Perricone MD Citrus Facial Wash, Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish and Clean and Clear Morning Burst Body Wash.

Ok, so we understand there is nothing like your morning coffee, but maybe opt for green tea or  a refreshing juice once in a while. 

Stela 9 Pacaya Crossbody

Happy morning!

Stela 9 Summer Style Guide

Now that it is officially summer and you have most of your activities and events lined up you have to figure out what to wear. Here at Stela 9, we made a for what to wear with a few of our bags during your summer happenings.

When walking around town visiting farmer's markets and flea markets you want a bag that's practical, cute and not too heavy. Our Mini Pacaya provides you with the space for just the bare necessities you need for the afternoon. Wear a Brixton hat to keep the sun out of your eyes and a lovely Mara Hoffman maxi dress. Some flat gladiator sandals will keep your feet working as you walk through alleys of crafts or stroll along the boardwalk.

Mara Hoffman multi colored maxi dress / Free People tall shoes / Stela 9 / Vanessa Mooney / Brixton


Ahhh, there is nothing like a festival. With the freedom to romp around and let yourself go wild you want a bag you don't have to worry about too much. The Stela 9 Ventura backpack is perfect for that. It will hold all of your festival needs and on your back it will stay out of the way as you dance. With a pair of overall shorts, some comfy Modern Vice booties for dancing, and plenty of gorgeous jewelry, you will be set to let loose. 

Finally, time to travel. Wherever you might be going this summer, our Isabel Weekender can be packed tight with your travel goodies. Wear a hot jumpsuit like this Free People one and you will be comfortable and ready to go. 

Free People jumpsuit / Isabel Marant ankle strap sandals / Stela 9 weekender bag / Vanessa Mooney jewelry / My Minds Eye TJ Mon cheri-baby girl quote: Scrapbooking Paper &...

Have fun this summer! We know we will!

Daydreaming About Guatemala

We're daydreaming about the lush lakes, colorful architecture, and beautiful people of Guatemala. We'll be revisiting the magical city of Antigua for an upcoming shoot and we couldn't be more thrilled. In the meantime, take a peek at our SS12 look book shot in Guatemala.

Recent Happenings: Stela 9 In The New Baby!

We have been busy bees over here at Stela 9 and a lot of crazy good things have been happening for the company. Our Isabel Weekender has recently been featured in a trend report on The Zoe Report. Super cutie Ashley Tisdale was spotted rocking the Ventura Backpack and we've got new bags galore for sale soon. Our team has been or will be been traveling to places like India, Mammoth, San Francisco, Alaska, Guatemala and Paris! Here are some pictures of all these awesome recent happenings.

The Bikini Fox babes sorting through our collection picking out their goodies.

Jess posing in Mammoth with her new Marni sandals (obsessed)

The Zoe Report!!!

Ashley Tisdale rockin' the Stela 9 like a champ

Stay tuned for more updates from the Stela 9 life!

Guatemala: A Land of Abundant Inspiration

While it is commonly known that many of our bags are handmade ethically in Guatemala, the rich connection our line has with the country, traditions and people may not be such common knowledge. Our owner and designer Jess has spent a great deal of time in the country, living there on and off for a number of years. For those of us who have had the pleasure of spending time in the country, it is easy to see how it can inspire an entire label, such as Stela 9.

One of the many interesting things one can stumble upon in Guatemala are the weaving traditions of the indigenous Maya people. The textiles created through the weaving process can be seen everywhere: on the huipils, which are the traditional blouses the indigenous women wear, being sold at market stands on the streets and as decoration in homes, stores and restaurants. These textiles are either made on a traditional treadle loom which is powered by a foot pedal or the mobile Maya backstrap, which uses a simpler technology. Often times as you walk through the city streets of the lovely Antigua (a small town in Guatemala which is known for its surrounding volcanoes and tourist attractions) you can see Mayan women working on their weaving in front of shops or even in the middle of the park. Antigua is a favorite travel location of Guatemala and where Jess spent much of her time. As Stela 9 bags are known for their patterns, colors and textures it is easy to see where some of this inspiration comes from in Guatemala. Homes are painted in vibrant shades and covered in vegetation. Women walk through the streets covered in intricately weaved huipils. From the surrounding nature, to the beautiful jade stones, hand crafted leather and textiles, to the simplicity of the colorful decorations in a family's home, there are endless things to be inspired by. 

Market selling huipils, souvenirs and textiles

pattern play

textiles

The streets of Antigua

The Mayan ruins of Tikal

The doors of a hostel in San Marcos, Lake Atitlan

Lace head scarves

Little girl in the park in Antigua

Vibrant colors

patterns and textiles

Little girls playing 

Women at work

A lovely display of bags and textiles

Textile creation

Man biking in Antigua

Antigua skies

Clearly, it is hard not to be inspired. In recent years we even returned to Antigua, Guatemala to do an on location shoot for our Spring/Summer 2012 Lookbook. 

The architecture, the people, the nature, the textiles, the patterns, the weather and much more of Guatemala have all been a little piece of the puzzle that created Stela 9.