Update: Life of PR Girl

sorry, i've been mad busy since like june. i moved to nicaragua for a few months to help out for nicaragua disena and the project was a hit! lots of drama, new designers, new press and designer friends and much more. nd13 was probably one of the most exhausting but satisfying projects i've ever been a part of. handling ever single contact for general info to late designer arrivals hours before their show and model cancellations. no one has a clue but nicaragua HAS design and model talent. dear buyers, you need to plan a trip to nicaragua, perhaps for nd14.

i've also been meaning to share a little shopping. nd13 was the place to be for unique pieces. my mom snagged a geo designs necklace by Georgina Vargas and i picked up these earrings by Karla Castillo. KC presented a small collection titled Oceanica. the details of my earrings are beyond real - they were created with the beach sand and stones found on the pacific shoreline..to be specific at Poneloya beach. another favorite (but not a purchase) was the turtle bracelet; check it out on her fan page and look book album. her oceanica collection was inspired by the ocean's depth, animals, textures and coral reef colors.

felicidades KC! sigue adelante!!

Fotografia: Silvio Balladares

Collection: Oceanica

Designer: Karla Castillo

Nationality: Nicaragua

and now i am back in ny. hustlin and trying to get a new pr / social media gig. thank God, i found an apartment in record time - 3 days. and was able to dedicate myself to the 2nd august project, shantall's debut in ny. shout out to latina magazine, iman cosmetics and my friends for supporting the event we were a part of. and now its post event time. pitching day n night, trying to get editors to see shantall's ss14 work for future stories. dear editors, why don't we try something new...like supporting real emerging designers. designers who are struggling and trying to make a name for themselves. i don't think prada or versace need more covers or spreads. perhaps, your research team should scout undiscovered talent so these designers can keep things going for a possible buyer meeting. it's not easy to meet with buyers if you are 'no one', pay to be a part of trade shows and produce mass production especially with this new 'buyer/consignment' trend. small boutiques and online stores aren't buying but they want to change our collections fabric for their potential clients and for us to have merchandise. how is a designer going to have merchandise, if NO money is coming in. so, help these designers land opportunities with your "Must Have" or "Get to Know this Emerging Designer" features. press gets the word out to stylists, celebs, and potential real buyers. i'm sure LV will continue to buy ad space, so i'm sure you can manage to include emerging designers. just sayin.

- anyways - the ss14 look book we created is by far the best we have ever created. it's a little booklet that opens up like a train map (however not as gigantic as the nyc mta map). props to the model, miss teen, rebecca and our photographer, erick monterrosa; who made it happen. check out the ss14 look book on the shantall lacayo facebook fan page.

Modelo: Rebecca Bonilla
Fotografia: Erick Monterrosa
Cabello y Maquillaje: Carlos Corrales
Estilista: Gabriel Moncayo
Asistente: Magdalena Navarro
Direccion Artisitica: Shantall Lacayo
Local: Hotel Dario, Granada, Nicaragua

Parallel Universe: Eddie Borgo and Karla Castillo

Eddie Borgo Tassel Drop Earring ($320)

Eddie Borgo Pave Cone Tassel Necklace ($315)

Eddie Borgo's Accomplishments:

In 2010 Eddie Borgo was awarded runner up in the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and in 2011, Eddie Borgo won the CFDA Swarovski Award for innovation in accessory design.

Shop Eddie Borgo > http://www.kirnazabete.com/designers/eddie-borgo

Karla Castillo Tassel Drop Black Floral Earring (price upon request)

Karla Castillo Tassel "Spanish Dancer" Necklace (price upon request)

Karla Castillo's Accomplishments:

In 2012 Karla Castillo participated in the first edition of Nicaragua Diseña and presented her "On The Rocks" collection to the Nicaraguan public. In 2013, along with new Nicaraguan (Miami based) fashion designer, Marynes Arguello - they successfully held their first trunk show at The Hangar in Miami, Florida.

Shop Karla Castillo > https://www.facebook.com/KCjoyeria

In My Closet: Skull Inspired

this girl just keeps getting better and better! accessories designer/dentist (yes! dentist!), Karla Castillo is my favorite Nicaraguan accessories designer. in the last month, she presented a trunk show along with Nicaraguan RTW designer, Marynes Arguello in Miami and is hoping to follow up with a trunk show in late April in Nicaragua. every time we meet she reminds on how tough it is for the Nicaraguan market to accept skulls into their wardrobe and constantly receives special requests to remove them for stones or flowers. however, Castillo does not back down and continues to promote calaverismo (spanish for "skull-ism") along with stylist, Mariu Lacayo. 

you might believe, skull inspired fashion became trendy once you started watching Keeping Up with the Kardashian's and noticed mama Kris wear a different colored Alexander McQueen skull scarf in every episode but if we trace skull use, it can go back to the 16th century; artists like Albrecht Dürer used skulls to remind people of their mortality. however it was the Mexican art of smiling, dancing skulls, used to celebrate Dia de los Muertos (spanish for "Day of the Dead"), which helped skulls become more widely accepted. Eventually, the skull became an icon in 1970s London counterculture, where Malcolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood launched a series of skull-inspired punk gear.

so get over it, it's a skull. it doesn't mean you're a pirate, witch, tarot card reader or a character from a Tim Burton movie. it's merely a symbol that represents to most mortality and music.

< shop skull fashion >

Karla Castillo - Nicaragua

Vivienne Westwood - London

Alexander McQueen - London

Horiyoshi the Third - Japan

Delfina Delettrez - Italy

Delfina Delettrez Tormentator necklace

Now Trending: Druzy Stones

 

 
Jewelry Collection: “On The Rocks” by Nicaraguan designer, Karla Castillo
Photography: Silvio Balladares

 

Dark Blue Druzy Double Drop Post Earrings & Organic Interchangable Druzy Earrings by Brazilian Jewelry designer, Marcia Moran.

Both Latin American designers are living a parallel universe with their latest collections featuring Druzy Stones. The druzy stones is a gemstone (quartz crystal) that is usually dyed and available in different colors. They kind of remind me of the stones I would create when I was 7 years old with my awesome geology rock formation kit! #BigBang #Geek #FashionGeek LOL

Holiday Gift Guide: The Blogger

Shop 

> Karla Castillo (Ponte Vecchio Boutique, Nicaragua)

> Etro (Net - A - Porter.com)

> Eugenia Kim (Net - A - Porter.com)

> Adriana Castro (Flechada.com)

tomorrow, my 22 day countdown starts - I can't wait to be in Miami and cruise around Grand Cayman and Jamaica for the holidays. all i need are some essential statement pieces for Miami and when you think Miami - you think Emilio Pucci. Although Peter Dundas, 2013 resort collection was a lot more urban you can't doubt his sexy caftans, v-necks, slick pencil skirts and printed romper in classic blue and white embroidered pieces for the true Miami girl. NOW, I obviously wouldn't wear my winter Eugenia Kim turban in Miami (that's my own little gift for my trip back home to NY) but I would definitely mix in these seawater statement crystal embellished pieces by Karla Castillo and Etro - and for the perfect red hot Miami color, this Adriana Castro sling handbag.