MALDIVIAN SUMMER

All Photo Credits Haili Pue, All Ze Details 2010-2014 © 

Visiting the Maldives was a dream. It is absolutely stunning, and refreshing with all of the breathtaking views around the islands. An escape out by boat over the water, at sunset, is a beautiful and relaxing way to end our day. The resort is captivating -- no spa treatments or overbooking of excursions are needed as you can relax just by dipping your feet in the water, catching a sunset, or a drink at any of the bars to watch the marine life (my favorite thing to do was to watch and play with the Manta Rays) and catch some sun while snorkeling, or sipping coconut milk out of a coconut while lounging on a hammock. Our journey takes us about two and a half days, in total, to get to and from the Maldives. Jet lag catches the best of me as our trip is a 5-day-short-stay which doesn't allow me to adjust to Maldivian time. It is beautiful enough to excuse the jet lag!

During transit we stopped through Istanbul and I loved the airport, it was one of my favorite airports to stop and relax at. Definitely on my top 10 airports because of the lounge -- I curled up in an amazing lounge chair, Coldplay's DVD was playing in the theater -- there was a pool table, a library and beautiful food carts displayed around the lounge area. I was so intrigued by everything, so relaxed, and so surprised at how lovely the airport was in Istanbul. It was lovely.

The Malé airport was incredibly fun to watch tourists grab the planes that landed on the water. I was excited and nervous to get on the hopper plane, and it's one of the funnest things I've done -- the scenery was beautiful from the plane, to see various islands of the Maldives. Malé was one of the greatest islands to see, housing almost 104,000 people in about a mile long of an island. Is a beautiful thing to see with all the colorful buildings (as pictured above - almost looks like a painting). 

One thing is for sure, the Maldives win for having the most breathtaking sunsets. The sunsets in the Maldives were one of my favorite things to see. As seen above, the sunset looks like an absolute work of art! 

The Maldives has always been one of my top places to see, and it was well worth the trip. Read The Life Aquatic  to know exactly what to pack for your next tropical vacation, to get a beach-ready look!

Shop Ze Look 

-All Ze Details-

      Earrings c/o Kendra Scott | Lipgloss YSL | Bracelets c/o KIM&ZOZI 

Related Post | The Life Aquatic

LEGENDS OF THE FALL

Elevate your summer style with something of sustenance this fall - from staple pieces to the trends of the season.

My obsessions fall with maxis and booties to complete staple pieces I've readapted into my wardrobe selections from the summer.

Covetable pieces, including my fringe booties, are sure to make an appearance this fall. So how do you get the looks to take a casual cool from luxury to school desk? We can't all look like Blake Lively on a daily basis, but we can certainly try.

The most chic of trends this season is also the laziest and easiest way to get dressed. The maxi is a beautiful add on to your fall wardrobe. Find the perfect maxi this fall to transition several ways throughout the season - different accessories, different shirts and add a blazer.

Swap out shirts of different solids with a patterned maxi to keep the look grounded. I loved this maxi skirt pictured as soon as I saw it in the Billy Reid fall collection. The pattern on the Jamaica Skirt (the maxi skirt pictured) was inspired by the wallpaper from the Billy Reid New York City store before putting the skirt into production.

A good clutch is always in, especially a black one. Much like the LBD, or "little black dress," the same goes for a timeless color on a clutch or a purse, and the color black goes with everything. Miu Miu has a fabulous purse with a purse strap that transforms into a necklace. This is perfect for going from work to cocktail. In an instant, the Miu Miu purse strap dresses up any outfit, just as it did for my maxi. It is now my must-have item for the fall.

You want to look great on the daily, but you don't want to overdo it. You don't want to go to the extremes of overdressing for class or work, but you do want to give looking good a try with an effortless act of fashion.

Don't take the trends to seriously and don't go out of your comfort zone - it will show. Effortless is definitely doable and so is dressy casual.

You can do this with a simple button-up and a good pair of jeans. You just have to have the eye for good accessories and shoes on a budget, which is completely doable.

Photo Credit Christa Elyce Photography

Shop Ze Post

-All Ze Details -

 Handbag + Sunnies c/o  Miu Miu  | Fringe Booties Koolabura  | Layered Skirt c/o Billy Reid  | Belt + Shirts + Wedges c/o Haili's Closet  

THE LIFE AQUATIC

Take a dive into this summer’s fashion; bright colors, solids and sheer fabrics align the summer trends for resort-ready wear. I took a trip to the Maldives to discover the true inspiration behind summer style.

Dita Von Teese, Michael Phelps and Tony Parker are a few to name who have recently visited Rangali Island here in the Maldives. The local fashion scene amongst visitors is serene, lightweight and bright in color.

The color scheme is turquoise, red, yellow, orange, green and pink – all lovely against the backdrop of crystal blue water and lush green landscapes and botanical gardens. The summer is uncomfortably hot; guests wear wraps and sheer dresses over bathing suits and summer attire. As you sit in a hammock and sip milk out of a coconut, the heat isn’t so bad when in style.

Maldivian apparel can translate to Texas as we both live in the same hot, hot heat. Bathing suits look chic this summer when worn with crochet pants. The crochet material is instantly stylish over a bathing suit. The crochet pants I wear have a peplum accent to the waist, which takes the summer style up a notch.

The accessories I pack for the island are all bright in color and the newest collections for summer. Kim & Zozi, the Los Angeles-based, hippy inspired jewelry line was a first to pack in my bag. 

The friendship bracelet and candy shop bracelet were added accents to a variety of bangles I added together including Australian designer Steph Audino’s easy to wear pull tassel bracelets also in a variety of bright colors. Earrings were a must in the chic surroundings of the Maldives while joining others at the Vilu Bar for mocktails on Rangali Island. I took a nod to summer in Kendra Scott’s newest collection of accessories while speaking to the designer about the Island Escape Collection and what apparel she would pair it with. 

“These pieces would work well in any tropical landscape. It is our Island Escape Collection after all, so they would look absolutely gorgeous in the Maldives at Rangali Island. I see pieces in our Fiji colorway like our Deva Earrings, which mixes classic turquoise with abalone shell, pairing beautifully with a breezy white top or dress,” Scott said. “Our Matte Green and Maui pieces, like our Nalin Necklace, would look gorgeous with a black dress or sheer leopard print top. The neutral Ivory, Tigers Eye and pieces in our Tahiti and Bali colorway like our Kyra Earrings could work with practically any color or print.” Together with crochet, designers Kim & Zozi, Kendra Scott, & Steph Audino you’ve got the summer resort look!

                             Also published in the Maldives Resort Magazine The Islander

Photo Credits to Haili Pue All Ze Details © 2010-2014

Shop the Beach Chic Look of the Maldives

-All Ze Details-

Bathingsuit Victoria's Secret  | Layered Bracelets Steph Audino + Kim & Zozi |  Earrings c/o Kendra Scott | Crochet Pants Swim 'n Sport | Sunnies Dolce & Gabbana | Lipgloss YSL

Follow my blog with Bloglovin