THE KIMONO
Hello Fashionistas! One thing I absolutely LOVE about living in New York City is the fact that we have 4 seasons, and with each season, comes new trends! As I anticipate the season that's coming, I'm flipping through all of the Fashion magazines immersing myself in page after page of whats going to be HOT for that particular season. As this Summer was fast approaching, (now it's almost over, could you believe it?!!) all the popular magazines mentioned Stripes, Flowers, Gingham and the one trend I saw everywhere this season, THE COLD SHOULDER, which are all trends I also consider to be CLASSIC Summer staples. One trend though that I saw on popular Fashion Magazines and websites alike, was the KIMONO. Of all the trends I just mentioned, it's one I never cared to try. How would I rock it? How would I incorporate my everyday style into it? (So many questions!) I decided to accept the challenge and give this Summer 2017 trend a try! I found this Fabulous KIMONO at a little independent boutique downtown and I will show you 3 different ways of styling it! The best part is, it's also a great transitional piece and with Fall right around the corner it's one item you do not want to put away just yet!
Nothing says Summer like an all white ensemble. It's just Classic Summer Chic! All white is a nice, clean canvas to do whatever you want. I took a simple White body suit, ripped white jeans and gave it some serious PIZAZZ by simply throwing a KIMONO over it. To complement this fabulous piece, I wore a statement earring with a bold, dangling leaf design that have the same colors as the KIMONO running through it. To really up the glam of this look, I wore a velvet platform heel with a vibrant flower pattern that obtain the same color scheme as the KIMONO. The finishing touch to this look was a fabulous pair of sunnies. To me, no look is complete without them!
The next look is a little more casual, but when you add the KIMONO to this effortless Olive Green dress, it instantly becomes glamorous! It's such a simple way to accessorize the dress but it really elevates it! I styled it with a Jazzy pair of flat Black & Gold sandals that have a lovely stone detail, Gold bangles, and Gold hoop earrings.
Lastly, we have what I love to call, Bedroom Chic. Nothing feels sexier and more luxurious than smooth Satin touching your bare skin! The KIMONO is a statement piece all in itself, and you don't have to wear anything under it! There are some designs that completely close up and you are able to really pull off wearing nothing at all, but this is not one of those designs! I wore a long White tank top underneath (because this is NOT that type of shoot!) and the tank is sensible enough for you to wear in the Bedroom if you're just lounging around. Wearing it does not take away from this KIMONO'S obvious sex appeal! In true YAZ fashion, I had to add a touch of GLAM to this look, so I styled it with the same Velvet Platform heels I wore with the First look. A pair of Black oversized statement earrings and stacked Black bangles ties it all together
It was fun going outside of the Box and trying something new and different. I'm going to be completely honest with you all. I NEVER leave home without my shape wear! As I've gotten older, my mid-section has become a problem area for me and thank God for SPANX! I wear them underneath my dresses and I become less self conscious about it. When I got to the location of the photo shoot I realized that I left my SPANX home! I was so nervous about how I was gonna look and how the pictures were gonna look and in the beginning of this shoot I was SUPER uncomfortable because I didn't have that one thing that I felt I needed to look beautiful. Not only did the amazing DES & HANS make me feel like a SUPERSTAR, I remembered that my undeniable sass, and spirit and style is all I need to get through this shoot! That my confidence shouldn't come form a piece a fabric. I almost forgot who I was there for a second! Hans has become family and thanks to him, the rest of the shoot was a breeze! (Thanks Hans!) So this was a day of realization for me in two ways; I realized that I should never be afraid to try new trends, and secondly, that your confidence should never be determined solely on how you look, but on how you feel about yourself on the inside. That little minor things like forgetting my SPANX at home should never alter the perception I have about myself. I AM BEAUTIFUL. No matter what, Spanx or no Spanx, they don't change the person that I truly am at my core. Being and feeling beautiful should never be defined on how you look on the outside, but more on the love and the light that you project to the world from the inside of your soul. Remember Fashionistas, always Dress to the beat of your own drum, even it it goes against what everyone else is doing!
With Style & Pizazz,
YAZ
PHOTOGRAPHER: HANS ALCINDOR - INSTAGRAM: @MISTERCANON
LOCATION: PIXEL DE MOI STUDIO - INSTAGRAM: @PIXELDEMOI
