Showing posts with label stela 9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stela 9. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Weekender Getaway || Stela 9 AW 2014 Sneak Peek

It's only Tuesday.... I am already thinking about what will be in store for this weekend's adventures. This past weekend was full of hot sunshine, black sand beaches, poolside cervezas and fresh food. My newly bronzed skin and freckled nose is a dead giveaway to what I was up to this weekend.  If I close my eyes I can still imagine laying on a hammock thumbing thru my book, feeling the cool breeze off the blue Pacific, taste the salty air and feel the palm trees sway.


We cruised out of Antigua for the weekend to the small seaside town of Monterrico. Monterrico is known for its volcanic black sand beaches that locals and tourists flock to a for a weekend getaway. I packed all my itty bitty bikinis, crochet dresses and sunblock (its all you really need) in my Stela 9 Isabel Black Fiesta Weekender. This bold weekender is perfect for traveling and can easily hold all your essentials for the weekend, plus more!

The Isabel Black Fiesta Weekender will be available for purchase in April at the following:

Revolve Clothing   Cameo Nouveau    CH Woodstock    Hawthorne Boutique     Peper & Parlor

Here is a little sneak peek into what is to come for Stela 9 in AW 2014 !!























TGIF.

Hello weekend lovers, it's Friday and you know what that means.. Time to get your best outfit out of the closet and get ready for what the weekend has to offer!  Here is a little outfit inspiration to get you started, featuring our Pacaya Crossbody in black. 






BE THE ADVENTURE.

What does Adventure mean to you?
Adventure is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering into the unknown.  The opportunity of a wide-open road. The limitless feeling of diving head first into a sea of possibilities. Getting lost is essential into better finding yourself.  When put in situations where we cannot plan or control every last detail, we are forced to trust our instincts and learn more about ourselves in the process. Adventure begins when you stop knowing and start feeling. 



I am an adventure enthusiast or addict I should say. I think adventure is the purest form of rebellion. I love the feeling of having a new adventure ahead of me, even if it is a solo adventure. Adventure means stepping out of your comfort zone. It means taking a risk and challenging yourself. When I have new adventure ahead of me it always leaves me with butterflies floating in my stomach whether its for excitement or fear of the unknown. 




Exploration is apart of the adventure.  Thru exploration your mind opens to the world around you and at the same time you are able to learn more about yourself and the person you truly want to be. Be the adventure, be brave, take risks, nothing can substitute experience.



Challenging yourself to try new things is also apart of the adventure. Conquering your fear of heights or hesitation will give you an adrenaline rush like no other. Climbing to the top of a mountain, jumping off of a cliffside into the infinite blue or for the daredevils.. launching yourself out of an airplane will leave you on an adrenaline rush for days. I can detest to this, because I am someone who has a slight fear of heights. Yet, I always push myself to go higher and to leap off the ledge because I know if I don’t do it, I will regret it. 


Stela 9 Shiva Backpack


Travel provides endless opportunities for adventure. You should travel as far as you can and as much as you can! Travel across the ocean or simply across the river, walk in someone else’s shoes, even if it is just for a day. Sleep under unfamiliar stars and take advantage of the opportunity for A D V E N T U R E. 


Stela 9 bags ready for their next adventure!


Don’t sit and wait for adventure to happen...get out there, just go! If an adventure is both terrifying and amazing then you should definitely pursue it. Embrace the uncertainty and spin wildly in your next adventure. You have to leave the city of your comfort and bravely go into the unknown. What you discover will be wonderful, you will discover yourself. 
Having the courage to explore foreign lands, deepen my connection with nature, and pause long enough to take it all in – that is what adventure means to me. 



OUTFIT OF THE DAY

A spring inspired outfit of the day that can take any chic woman from day to night. This outfit is the dream fit for the casual bohemian working gal. Ideal for transitioning from a workday to meeting friends for dinner and drinks or maybe to an unexpected date night with the guy that she sees every morning at the local coffee joint.
The Stela 9 Bolsa Mediana is the perfect bag to make a statement all day while holding all your necessary essentials. We paired our Red Bolsa Mediana with distressed boyfriend jeans, casual gray tee, flirty kimono, vintage turquoise necklace and black cutout "shooties" (sandal booties) to run around in all day!
Check out the featured Stela 9 Bolsa Mediana in Red, available for purchase at shopbop.com! 















CLOSET ESSENTIALS


Everyone's gotta have those essentials. Cause well, they're essential. Obvi.
Perfect-Fitting Jeans
There is nothing like a pair of jeans that hugs your body in all the right ways. Honestly, nothing. Unless you have to wear slacks to work, these are the pants you will probably spend the majority of your time in. So for heaven’s sake, let’s make sure they fit correctly. Have you ever bumped into a guy with mega hottie potential at the supermarket, only to look down and realize he’s wearing a light denim ultra-baggy jean, similar to the one your painter was wearing when renovating your house? Or the seemingly cool chick at work that wears “mom” jeans that really just give her a long grandma ass? Don’t be the victim of a bad jean. Luckily, these days, there is such thing as spandex that allows jeans to be stretchier than ever. Giving you that much desired 'spray paint on your body' look. Not for you? Needn't worry, there are a bunch of styles out there for all frames and comfort levels. Choose wisely. 
Sexy Pair of Heels 
Sexy heels do wonders for a woman. Like giving you that little boost of height that elongates your body just 1 inch closer to that of a runway model. Ok, maybe not runway, but you get it. Depending on your height, everyone has a different preference when it comes to the height of the heel. I know most of you tall girls don’t want to be a behemoth and tower over your love interest. We've all got to pick our battles and yours is unmistakably an unfair one. I, being 5’3”, prefer something of a Spice Girl height type platform heel. Whatever the height, own a pair that makes you feel the sexiest (kitten heels are shunned and do not apply). After all, that confidence boost is what really gets the attention. 
Comfortable Flats
Well, you’ll need these after a night of cutting a mean rug in the above. They weren't lying when they said beauty is pain. You also need a great pair of comfortable flats for a day of running errands, shopping, or anything that just involves a lot of walking or standing on your feet in general. It’s hard to go wrong here as flats are like the ugly step-sister... always second-place because the former isn't an option and/or available. If you think Crocs are an alternative... than we've got a whole plethora of issues on our hands. I'll send you my bill.  
Weekender Bag
Don’t you just dream of getting whisked away to a tropical island where nothing is expected of you other than bronzing your pale skin and enjoying one of those fancy adult beverages with the cool umbrella's near a body of water? Yeah, me too. While we all wait for that day to come, a weekender bag is perfect for any sort of weekend getaway. Whether it be a quick trip to a town an hour away or you just started dating this guy and you feel too embarrassed to actually pack up the suitcase you have laid out by your bed, the weekender allows you to throw in all those essentials while looking ridiculously put-together, fashionable and elusive all at the same time. We know the importance of the weekender here, so if you don't have one, we've got one for you in our Shop. You can thank me later. 
Leather Jacket
Don't you love those pieces that have dual roles? Like a leather jacket that will always, and I repeat always, make your outfit just that much better, whether it be fancy or casual. You can live in perma-sunny California or temperamental New York and your leather will never seize to disappoint. I know it can come with a hefty price tag but the bright side here is if you give it tender love and care, it could stay with you for a lifetime. Not even marriage can guarantee you that! 
Oversized Sweater
If you’re a woman with a pulse, which I’m guessing you are, you have those days where nothing you own fits and all you feel like wearing is a giant trash bag out of the house. Alas, let me introduce to you the oversized sweater. A little gift from the heavens for our apparently increasing (don't admit this to your boyfriend) “off-days.” Soft and light as a cloud… my mood is already improving.
Cocktail Dress
Real talk, I was recently invited to a wedding… [wait for it] …1 day before the wedding. I obviously accepted cause like... wedding's are too fun. I was frantically sweating bullets running through every single item in my closet that the bride and groom would deem suitable for their 'big' day. I mean, I wasn’t technically even invited to this thing so the pressure was on like donkey kong. Since I didn’t own anything that Grandpa Lou would approve of (ahem queen of bodycon), I had to call my girlfriend in sheer panic for a 9-1-1 style emergency and Fast and the Furious (too soon?) my way over to her house after work. You know, the thing that gets in the way of how I want to live my life everyday. Moral of this story is: you need to have that go-to dress if someone invites you to a fancy party at the eleventh hour. You can slap the person who invited you last minute later... first you need to prove that time is of no essence when it comes to looking fabulous. Naw mean?


Monday, March 17, 2014

TGIF: Holiday Parties

If you’re anything like us, you woke up this morning excited that it's FRIDAY. It’s been getting really brisk here in Antigua, Christmas lights are up in Parque Central and we don't care that it's Friday the 13th (black cats only come out for Halloween, right?) because all of this can only mean one thing— holiday parties are finally upon us. *Yessssss!* What an exciting time [and excuse] to get dressed up to the nines and spend some much needed QT with some of our favorite people over a couple White Russian’s…. or five. But really, who's counting? Here are a few holiday inspired looks for the many types of festivities that await us!


Featuring: Stela 9 Ivory Krishna Pouch





Featuring: Stela 9 Katari Coin Bag






Featuring: Stela 9 Ganesha Bucket Bag






Featuring: Stela 9 Indra Clutch Multi 





LOOKBOOK SNEAK PEEK: AW 2014 COLLECTION

As the newest member of the Stela 9 family, I was delighted about taking on this new and exciting project: filming the lookbook for the AW 2014 collection.  As a lover of travel, visiting (or in my case, moving to) a foreign country is always a surefire way to ground yourself and regain inspiration in the ‘small’ things. Our filmmaker and photographer, Joshua Ballinger, set the perfect tone of capturing the simplistic beauty and fascinating history that lies within Antigua, Iximche (Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican archaeological site — definitely worth researching if you don’t get the opportunity to see it in person) and Lago de Atitlán.  Our models, Faith, Allie and Walker, were effortless in incorporating the Stela 9 designs as they embarked on the journey of two traveling girls who meet and take on the adventure of a lifetime with a local hippie from San Marcos. Their chemistry was undeniable, which made it all the more riveting to watch it come together via sidelines. Stay tuned for the upcoming lookbook, but for now, we’ll leave you to enjoy these sneak peek shots...





























Friday, July 5, 2013

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!