Capture Fashion by Amanda Del Duca

It’s Monday and we have gone all E! red carpet 360° camera for you.

Isn’t it kind of amazing? I feel you really see the outfit. David has been getting into the video app, Vine, so gifs are on the mind. This isn’t our first gif attempt, but it’s one of the better ones. I think the format works best when filmed as a perfect loop. So mesmerizing. And dizzying?

Last week,  I predicted the weather in Miami would stay warm until fall. Haha, that was totally off. Like, WAY off. It’s been colder this weekend than it has been all season. I’m talking 40s, which is cray for South Florida. Anyway, it gave me the chance to wear a new coat I picked up during NYFW. I’m so obsessed with this piece. I want to call it a coat, but it’s clearly a trench. Hm.

Whatever, it has mesh sleeves! I love mesh. Mesh on everything! Bikinis, tops, dresses and now coats. It’s just so sexy and subtle. A little skin, or in this coat’s case the look of skin, goes a long way. I paired my mesh obsession with Stuart Weitzman’s Backflips, sheer tights and my Dolphins hat.  Add a red lip, and it’s back-alley photo shoot time. xx

Trench c/o Armani Exchange. Backflip booties c/o Stuart Weitzman. Miami Dolphins 59fifty cap from New Era. Bag c/o Kenneth Cole (this bag isn’t available anymore but the same style in cobalt is out and it’s major, link here.)

What is your number one must-have this spring?

A wide brim hat with a western vibe is the only thing that matters on my want list right now. I need one in my life pronto.

During NYFW, I went on a long walk to admire the snow with my good friend, Shamila. We were just chatting about fashion, life and girly stuff. It was super cold and I remember couldn’t help but think about when it would be warm again for her. I started to wonder what she would wear when the weather warmed up so I asked, ” What is your number one must-have this spring?”

I have no idea what she responded. Ha! I do remember what I said, though. #Typical

A WIDE BRIM HAT. I’ve been in two states of mind when it comes to spring inspiration. First is western influences and second is the 90s. Working them together is weird and awesome.

When I see photos like this one in the middle of my collage – I literally lose myself. Its. so. perfect. A loose fitting pant-suit might be my next lust. xx

Middle image: Harper’s Bazaar en Español  Karo Mrozkova photographed by Alexander Neumann and styled by Simon Rasmussen.
Left to right: Brixton floppy hat. Yestadt Millinery Twin Peaks hat. Rag + Bone floppy rim fedora. Brixton Nora hat. Maison Michel Virginie hat. Mle Hagen Undertaker hat in blanc.

The other day, I wandered into Urban Outfitters while strolling on Collins Avenue and saw this faux leather skirt that is exactly what I’ve been looking for online. It’s high-waisted, has a subtle zipper detail and is A-line with an asymmetric cut-out.

It wasn’t me or Courrèges who invented the miniskirt anyway—it was the girls in the street who did it.
Mary Quant

Seeing this skirt in person gave me the warm fuzzies and I bought it on the spot. I’ve been lusting after multiple Lottie Hall dresses and Maurie and Eve skirts that have a similar hem-line. Australian brands are hard, though. The shipping is tricky and those brands in particular sell out so fast, I have to set-up a google alert to shop.

After bringing home my new favorite skirt, I wore it a few hours later to a South Beach Food and Wine Festival event. I met up with a couple of Miami blogger friends and they immediately complimented my skirt. Then when I mentioned I bought it earlier in the day at Urban Outfitters, those haters gave me all kinds of side-eye for it being a “rip off” a similar Style Stalker skirt.

Annoyed and totally wounded by their judgement on my new favorite skirt, I defended my purchase saying, “this style is everywhere right now, Style Stalker doesn’t own it.”

Because I never let things go easily, this post is mainly about proving a point. Yes, this style is everywhere. Evidence is below.

The real issue here is what defines a copy. Fast fashion makes it almost impossible to source down the “first” design of a certain style. Even the inventor of the mini skirt is debated. Some say Mary Quant, a designer who owned a popular store in London on King Street called BAZAAR, is the originator of the mini skirt. She coined the term (after the name of her favorite car) and started selling skirts with a short hem-line in 1955. Then there is André Courrèges who is basically did the same thing as Mary Quant, but in Paris, France.

When it comes down to it, fashion is the spirit of the times. I am ALL for credit where it is due, but being the “first” to come out with a style very rarely holds up anymore. The mini skirt was developed in 1955 – earliest. I think all fashion students can roughly agree on that fact. So for almost 60 years designers have been experimenting with different styles to a very simple concept, hem-line above the knee. I mean, what more can you really do?

I say just keep it fresh. Give credit when appropriate and know your history. x

Left to right: Unif Carnaby leather skirt. Maurie and Eve Aurelie skirt in Moody. Unif Carnaby in Plaid. Topshop Lace zip skirt. McQ chartreuse Leather mini. Topshop Orgami skirt in red. Lottie Hall multi-color leather skirt. Zara white wrap skirt.

Miami has been warming up steadily and strong. I have a feeling the weather is heading straight for spring and won’t cool down again until fall. Note: by “spring” I mean what most climates refer to as summer.  It’s 85 degrees and gorgeous.

Taking cue from the weather, I’ve started experimenting with new beauty looks for Spring 2013. My first beauty must have is the perfect pale pink lipstick. I’ve tried a few shades that have been close to my vision, but most have a clown-like effect once on your face. I went into the Collins Avenue MAC thinking I might find the color I was looking for in either the Nicki Minaj collection or the new Betty and Veronica inspired colors. (Side note: HUGE Betty and Veronica fan! I live for Veronica, but unfortunately have Betty’s coloring. It’s kind of sad.) Anyway, I ended up finding the perfect color –  Saint Germain – in just the regular old lipstick section. It’s weird I’ve never tried it on before, MAC is my jam.

Why is Saint Germain so good? First off, it’s blue-based. I really prefer blue-based colors, and I think they make teeth look whiter. I also love the opacity of the color and the creamy finish. It’s looks like ice cream on your lips, so it’s kind of perfect.

My other lipstick obsession is Lip Tar in Vintage by Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. It’s blue-based as well and although it’s super dark, which I usually associate with fall, I’ve been pairing it with no eye makeup and just bronzer. The look feels really fresh and simple. I feel “done up” because I’m in full lip, but the nakedness of my eyes creates an effortless look that I am always striving toward. Oh, and it’s super freaking easy. Seriously, bronzer and lipstick. Done.

The last look is something of a tried and true beauty look. The classics are always relevant though, right?  I did a simple cat-eye with liquid eyeliner, kept on the bronzer from before, and then added a bit of concealer to my lips and topped it off with chap-stick. I used to be downright offended by lips that were the same color as your face. I thought it was really unattractive and odd. I’m not sure what my problem was, it looks fine with a little darker eye-makeup. I’ve always just preferred color on lips, whatever.

What looks are you looking forward to werking this spring? Do tell. xx

Mens sweater by Boy London, available at Apt 606 in Miami. Black crop top by American Apparel. Black faux leather skirt and gray skull tee by Urban Outfitters. Mesh bikini bottoms c/o Minimale Animale via Shop Miami Style.

It is President’s Day and everything.

I didn’t plan to go all patriotic, I actually  was just going for a Western vibe in this series. But then we found flags. Awesome flags waving in the wind at sunset in front of a huge open field. I mean, duh.

I’ve been drawn to Western-vibey pieces all fall. Ever since I got those Isabel Marant inspired Zara boots on super sale, I’m like, take me to the desert. I can barely contain my excitement to just go full-on cowgirl this spring.  Is anyone with me?

1: sheer white and chambray button down, Forever21. true blue skinny jeans, JBrand. boots, Zara. vintage belt, my great-grandfathers.
2:  OYE Elizabeth swimsuit. I won this on a giveaway at FashionbyHe. I love it so much. The fit is everything. Thankyou!
3: cowboy hat, Zara. crop top, an old Urban Outfitters dress I cut. (It’s so good this way. Never wore it as a dress.). leather effect oxblood skirt, Zara. shoes, Schutz  (scored these lovelies at the DBA lounge during NYFW. Thanku!).
4: knitted sweater, American Apparel. suede shorts by One Teaspoon c/o Wasteland. Backflip boots c/o Stuart Weitzman.

Starting to get back some of the work I did with Ashley Sky during NYFW. I’m so excited! I love getting photos back and seeing the final product. The actual photo shoot is my favorite part, but the photos I can enjoy forever. These are so pretty. Ashley is magical in front of a camera and dressing her is basically playing Barbie. Hm. I wonder how Ashley’s proportions compare to Barbie. I bet it’s damn close. I’m going to look into this….keep you posted.

For more photos check out Ashley Sky and Nick Suarez tumblr pages. They will seriously heat up your Monday morning. Both sites are SFW, but just barely! xx

Photography: Nick Suarez
Styling: Amanda Del Duca, aka me.

coat, Chaser Brand. t-shirt and tights, Ashley’s own.