Monday, July 28, 2014

Designer Decoding: Cesar Galindo



Hey Everyone!!!

It has been a very long time since I posted a segment in my extensive “Designer Decoding” series, and since New York Fashion Week is only five weeks away, I feel that now is the perfect time to reinvigorate the series. For today’s installment of Designer Decoding, I am introducing a designer that I not only admire due to his great talent, but whose work I had the great pleasure of photographing during his Fall/Winter 2014 collection for my blog. Today, I shall be highlighting the work of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week veteran and the current CZAR of fashion, Cesar Galindo.




Photo can be found here

Cesar Galindo has a very interesting origin for his designing background. Galindo, born in Houston, Texas and the youngest of eleven children, began his extensive career in fashion through costume designing. His specialty included corsets and other Victorian period costumes for both the Miami City Ballet and the Houston Grand Opera. Galindo’s designs are distinguishable through his use of “femininity, social occasion dresses, architecturally draped hems and necklines and a rich color palette”.


Photos can be found here

The photo above comes from the most recent Spring/Summer collection, and presents a brilliant utilization of silk fabric and bold colors. This collection combined ready-to-wear staples and evening wear, as it belongs to his CZAR line. The first gown, with is bright red shade and deep blue, triangular center shows Galindo’s great talent for working with pleats. The third look, a monochromatic gradient of blue, shows Galindo’s ultimate technique for draping. Finally, the center look shows that Galindo can still create simple silhouettes that show off a woman’s natural beauty.




Photos can be found here 

The photo above comes from the Fall/Winter 2014 collection, a presentation that I had the greatest honor of attending (the post can be found here). This collection also belonged to the Czar brand, and consisted of ready-to-wear pieces along with semi-formal wear. Now, due to the fact that I have an entire post dedicated to the this particular collection, I will not go into heavy detail about the looks. However, what I can say is that Galindo was able to combine soft fabrics, such as silk and chiffon, along with heavier materials, such as furs and leather, to create a collection of cohesive outfits. The collection also showed Galindo’s talent for creating printed works, particularly with the gowns and graphic jeans.




Photo can be found here

The following three looks are my personal favorites for his past collections. The first look, a gold and black romper paired with golden sandals, appeared in his spring 2013 collection. I am particularly impressed by the perfect fit along with the use of print to create a very flattering silhouette.




Photo can be found here

The second look, a midi-length, all white dress with a plunging V-Neck, appeared in his spring 2012 collection. For this look, I am heavily impressed with his selection of the model, as the ivory shade of the dress pops on her caramel-toned skin. Along with the contrast, the actual dress is a prime example of Galindo sticking to the ultimate fashion mantra: sexy and simple.




Photo can be found here

This final look comes from the spring 2010 evening collection by Cesar Galindo and presents his skills in construction to the world. The dress acts similarly to the white gown from his Spring 2012 collection due to the fact that it is a bold color placed on a very dark-skinned model, however, the constructed one-shoulder design is absolutely exhilarating. This is by far my favorite look of all of his recent collections.

<3 Naa

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Style Savvy: 4 Summer Fashion Outfit Inspirations



Hey Everyone!!!

Here is my second edition of the seasonal Style Savvy Outfit Inspirations! Today, I will be showing you multiple different ways to dress for the warm summer months while retaining a similar style. As a fashion blogger, I have spent the last year trying to discover my own personal style through experimenting with different trends and closet staples. Through all of my studies, I have found that there is a wide assortment styles, from the dark, punk-inspired roots of Debbie Harry to the classic femininity of Audrey Hepburn, everyone has their own style. So, let’s get to the post:

1. Casual


This look is perfect for the girl who loves to match style and comfort into the perfect, everyday summertime attire. The all-around staple for the summer months are jean cutoff shorts, as there short length elongates one’s legs while allowing one to stay cool in the heat. A sleeveless wrap top adds a hint of class and beauty to the ensemble, while a pair of light brown sandals are another summer staple. Neutral makeup, chunky sunglasses and a bold handbag finish off this classic summer look with both comfort and beauty.


I had to channel my Gossip Girl routes in order to create this Blair Waldorf inspired ensemble. Every Park Avenue Princess has to own her own floral print, A-line dress in order to scroll down the paved sidewalks of the Hamptons. A pair of heeled oxfords and a flimsy sunhat completes this Fahrenheit friendly ensemble, while a chunky designer tote and rose-gold accessories add a hint of sophistication. Finally, rose colored lips and cheeks along with luscious lashes will have you all ready for a summer to remember!


For this look, I recycled a dress that was used in my last Style Savvy report, but removed the cardigan and scarf in favor for more weather appropriate attire. For this look, a brown colored weaved belt and similarly colored sandals prove perfect for a less heavy look. For accessories, use an organic tone backpack, a couple of homemade bracelets, chunky sunglasses and dangling earrings in order to add a slightly more bohemian look. In order to complete a suitable makeup look, I suggest an icy-colored pink lipstick shade along with a light pink dust of color on the cheeks.


Now, this is by far my favorite look of the entire collection. In my wildest dreams, I picture myself as a trendsetting fashionista on the same level of Carrie Bradshaw and Aria Montgomery. In my humble opinion, a structured romper is one of the most fashion forward summer outfits that one can don in this day in age, along with a bold colored belt and matching tote. For the windy summer nights, I suggest a floral printed blazer to add more warmth to the sleeveless ensemble, along with a pair of bold stilettos (such as the zebra print pair above). For accessories, I suggest a golden watch and matching earrings along with sheer sunglasses to add some spunk to the look. Finally, for the makeup, I suggest a sexy dark-brown smokey eye and nude lips to add a splash of sex appeal.

Please tell me your favorite look below!






<3 Naa

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Arabic-Inspired Navy Blue Smokey Eye

Hey Everyone!!!

I just uploaded a new video to my Youtube Channel where I show a step by step tutorial on how to create Arabic Inspired Navy Blue Smokey Eye. In this tutorial, I used a lot of products that I have either featured or reviewed on this blog in the past. You guys should check it out:



Please watch the video and tell me what you think! I’m still super new to YouTube and I could really use my tips on how to improve my videos and its content. For those of you who prefer written instructions, I will also created a blog post tutorial on this look in a few days. If you like that video, feel free to subscribe to my channel with the link below:


Thank you so much for reading!

<3 Naa

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

I Made A YouTube Channel !!!

Hey Everyone!!!

I recently have been blessed and was able to receive a Canon Rebel T3i as a birthday/late Christmas present. The camera is one of the best DSLR’s for taking both pictures and HD quality videos. Due to finally having such a high quality camera, I decided to create a YouTube Channel!


My channel will pretty much be an extension of my blog – your everyday access to makeup tutorials, beauty tips, pairing videos and anything else that can come to mind. I will still be updating my blogs as well. Please feel free to subscribe to my channel:


Please feel free to request any future posts or videos for my channel!

<3 Naa