Brazilian Chic & Giveaway

I personally have yet to travel to South America. This land of food, fun, and innate sexiness is definitely on my list of places to visit though. While venturing the Christmas markets in NYC this past holiday, I stumbled upon a wonderful artisan in Bryant Park whose collection swept me away to the wild alluring culture of Brazil...and I couldn't wait to tell you about her my darlings.

In 2010, Daniela launched her eponymous accessories collection featuring beautifully designed pieces that are handmade in Brazil and in the United States. She utilizes leather, gold-plated brass, and faux fur in her cutting-edge accessory designs.  This rosette cut cuff bracelet was what blew me away! The back clasp is magnetic and the inside of the leather is vibrant red! Its details like that, that make me drool!

Founded in 2008 by Daniela Zagnolli, BrazilianDecor.com is the ultimate destination for all things Brazilian to beautify your home and body.  

We are dedicated to bringing the beauty of Brazil to you.  Our mission is to create a unique shopping experience for our customers by offering creative, distinctive, and eco-friendly Brazilian home products and fashion to enhance your lifestyle. Our exquisite products celebrate the vibrant colors, textures, and shapes that characterize the Brazilian culture and yet meet today’s style. Our established partnerships with many of Brazil's leading brand-name companies and local artisans enable us to offer our customers high-end imported products and beautiful works of art at affordable prices.

Many of our products are handcrafted from the finest natural materials, and each item is individually inspected to ensure the highest quality. The artisans we work with use only the natural materials available in the Brazilian environment to produce their unique pieces. Our corporate objective is to offer online shoppers with a "taste of Brazil" by offering certain products that are a representation of the Brazilian lifestyle and culture.

And good news for you Embellishers! Daniela is offering a giveaway for these fabulous earrings!

These Golden Grass Earrings have quite a background, and you know how I can't pass up things that are unique...

{this photo thanks to Brazilian Decor}

The grass that these lovelies are comprised of is only found in a few areas in Brazil and can only be harvested once a year! This grass is coveted for its uncanny ability to imitate gold thread... who needs Rumpelstiltskin when you have Brazil mes cheries! And the best part is since these pieces are hand crafted, no two pieces are exactly the same! LOVE IT!


So to win a pair of these for yourself simply...


1) Visit Brazilian Decor and tell me your favorite piece. (comment below)
2) Tweet or Facebook this Giveaway {@EmbellishedBlog @BrazilianDecor} (leave URL in comment) 
3) Become a fan of Embellished and Brazilian Decor on Facebook (comment below)
4) Be a follower of The Embellished Life! (comment below)

Giveaway ends Friday at Midnight EST

Boa Sorte My Darlings! 

{Good Luck in Portugese}

Street Scene

In New York City the cold is no reason to not look tip top, quite the contrary actually... I'm having a great time challenging myself to find more and more ways to look like a fashionable winter bunny! Off to a brunch this weekend I proudly strutted my new found Over the Knee boots!

Over the Knee Boots... Shoegasm Soho

Pumpkin Hobo Bag... Gadzooks 

Gold Flecked Victorian Button Gloves.... Target

Fur Trimmed Camel Wool Coat... Yard Sale Find!

Gold Flecked Infinity Scarf.... Handmade by Moi!

Gold Flecked 3/4 Puff Sleeve Shirt... H&M

Flirty Army Green Skirt... H&M 

Gold Locket... Forever 21

Fashion Rule: Never limit yourself to select stores, just like I found this fabulous coat at a yard sale, you never know when you will stumble upon something fabulous. Keep an open mind!

Street Scene

NYC is one of the most edgy happening places to live for fashion. Walking down the street you pass fashionistas and indies, rockers and Upper East Siders...everyone with their individual style that you envy just from the sheer confidence in how they own the street.

I couldn't tear my eye away from this guy, his style is so much fun.

Southern Beauty

Before my move, I managed to fit in a trip down to one of my favorite places on Earth, Charleston, South Carolina. A city where the Old South still reigns with its beautiful Southern Drawl and sweeping oak trees in front of gorgeous plantations. You walk the streets of downtown and feel swept into a simpler time where people still sit on front porches, sweet tea in hand, and wave to everyone who passes by.

Walking down the Battery or by Rainbow Row,

I love seeing the pretty roses being made by the Carolina Sweetgrass.

You can find many brilliant baskets of this at the Market.

You gotta love a beach town, especially when its as charming as Charleston.

Charleston's architecture is incredible,

it just proves you don't have to travel around the world to find

quaint towns filled with rich history and inspiring buildings.

Have you visited Charleston darlings?

Amsterdammers

I took a day trip last weekend to Amsterdam with some of my sorority sisters and we had quite a lovely time. I can't say that I can spend more than a weekend there, because there isn't too much to do other than museums, well if you are not looking to partake in the (illegal)legal activities I suppose. But on the whole we had a great weekend and it was nice to visit the Netherlands.

Amsterdam Cool Point #1 is that everyone...EVERYONE rides a bike. The streets are full of parked bikes rather than cars. It was kind of refreshing to see honestly.

Amsterdam Cool Point #2, waterfront city. All waterfront places automatically get my vote. I wasn't born near the beach, it wasn't even our regular vacation spot but for some reason I have an obsession with water. Its relaxing to sit next to, its fun to play on, and its pretty in pictures. Check, check, check.

Amsterdam Cool Point #3, the city seemed pretty lively and exciting. Yes, we did visit on a day of a huge soccer match, so I am not sure how hopping it normally is in town, but I enjoyed watching people run about the city with excitement nonetheless.

Amsterdam Cool Point #4, the people are SUPER friendly. Anytime we got lost which we managed to do many times in one day, someone gladly left everything they were doing to step outside and help us with our bearings. They also did this with a smile and jokes, they were so happy rather than annoyed that someone would dare come visit their city and then not know every street by heart.....ahem...France.

Have you visited Dutch-land mes cheries?

Wandering London

It was rainy, but what better way to be welcomed by London right? I will have to make a second trip hopefully soon for shopping and a little more relaxation, I'm afraid I did not have much time. Nonetheless, I really loved London and cannot wait to visit again!

I love the hats of the Police in England. How cute??

I was loving all the telephone booths around town. Although I wonder how often they are actually used for phones anymore with all the cell phones around?

This is such an amazing statue. Its of the Women of World War II. I love how it depicts the women hanging up their dresses, putting on hold their heels, and donning their work suits to support their countries while the men were away at war. Its a perfectly moving piece.

The London Eye

What is your favorite thing about London darlings?

Fashion is Fluid

Like all art, fashion is fluid. It is personal to its wearer, personal to its admirer and takes many different forms and meanings to every eye that gazes upon it. Always changing, yet constantly remaining the same. Its a long term relationship that you stand by through highs and lows and can reflect back with memories that bring tears and laughter. A lifelong marriage to the amazing person you are.

This fluidity is what I love about fashion. You can layer it, you can change it. It can fit any mood, any style, and any location that you wish to be transported. Fashion is a shape shifter, an appreciator of all that has been, and all that can be. It loves its wearer and creates muses for the masses. Always providing you with the embellishment you desire for the blank canvas that is your body.

One step down a runway can spark a movement, just as one step into a doorway can change a life. It can shout out your personality to the world or temporarily hide you when you need solicitude. So versatile, so dependable, fashion can be called on for any situation you find yourself.

*all photos thanks to We Heart It*

What is fashion to you?

Introducing: Jessica Kelly Photography

Oui mes cheries! I have officially expanded embellished into the photography category! I am so excited for the possibilites. I honestly love photography...as you can tell by my photo heavy blog, pictures inspire me...and I can't wait to have my pieces inspire others. I got so many comments from you all on a regular basis about my work that I was thrilled when it finally pushed me enough for expansion!

So, without further ado, please enjoy the following pieces up for sale now on Embellished.

All Paris in September, but the last is my personal favorite...my Creme de la Creme if you will!

These are all in Lille, where I am residing currently. And the last I am loving...notice a pattern?

No photo studio of mine would be complete without my favorite place in the World!

STAY TUNED because they will continually be more to come! I have a traveling soul that is permanently attached to a camera lens...it makes for an inspiring combination!

What do you think?