Little Haiti in Stella Jean

I love getting out of New York City and traveling. I needed a vacation and with my 32nd birthday, there was no exception, I needed a beach, some inspiring scenery and culture. Miami was the place, close enough to be there in under 4 hours with tons of beaches, sun and decadence but more than that I wanted an experience. I wanted something new, some place inspiring and that was when I stumbled across The Little Farm House Miami on instagram. It seemed ethereal and magical and perfectly colorful and quaint. There was a lazy river, ducks, and a goat! It was set right in the heart of Little Haiti in Miami and I had to get myself there quick, fast an in a hurry. After a day of leisure, bright an early on a Saturday morning we Ubered out of Downtown Miami into the heart of little Haiti. As the streets narrowed and the buildings became more and more brightly colored and fruit stands emerged at every corner I knew we were in for something special. Pulling up to The Little Farm House Miami and peeking over the gait into the lush green grounds made my heart skip a beat. No wonder they call this place Magic City.

I knew from just looking at photo’s of this oasis built in the 1920s with it’s 6 colorful cottages that it would be the perfect place to shoot an editorial. I want to expand the content of this space to include not only personal style and travel, but also into the editorial realm. I sometimes get a vision in my head of where I want something shot, the kind of atmosphere, the theme and I love bringing that to life. I realize I kind of have a gift for directing, even when it comes to photography. It comes natural for me to direct, but its much harder being in front of the lens. I’m actually quite shy, unless I really know you. Sometimes I get super embarrassed and a little anxiety when I’m recognized from my blog and I don’t know what to say other than to thank readers profusely and hope that I don’t seem like a total awkward weirdo. But when I’m directing or getting a vision for how I want things, that’s when I’m the most creative and where I feel the most comfortable as a creative person. Travel and locations like The Little Farm House Miami, really exhilarate me and jump start my inspiration.

A.Oliva Photography, Styling Assistant Alicia Kenny

MLM Gingham Top via Shopbop | Stella Jean Skirt via Moda Operandi | Tibi Mules via The Real Real | Vintage Gold Earrings

[aesop_content color=”#FFFFFF” background=”auto” columns=”2″ position=”none” imgrepeat=”no-repeat” floaterposition=”left” floaterdirection=”up”]It was like stepping back in time. I felt like we were the only 3 people in the world, yet we were on this 1 acre of vivid and inspiring land. There were lizards everywhere! Coconut trees around every turn and ducks that followed us around the property. There were lazy cats and the sound of the river and a huge iguana that scared the living shit out of me. It was hot and humid and the air was thick with the smell of foliage and river water. There were spiders, tiny bugs, chickens and wicker rocking chairs. I think I left a little piece of my heart at The Little Farm House Miami. I would love to rent one of the colorful bungalows on a future visit and really get to know this quiet and rich haven. I was looking for the perfect place to shoot this Stella Jean skirt and this warm Carribbean colors in little Haiti fit the bill.

I am a huge fan of Stella Jean who is a designer based in Italy who is of Haitian and Italian heritage and her designs pay homage to both her Haitian and Italian roots. I got this skirt from Moda Operandi which is fast becoming one of my favorite places to shop. It’s basically layaway for new, I’m talking about fresh off the runway new, designs. After the Stella Jean show last year, I saw this skirt not a week later on Moda Operandi and I knew I had to have it. I paid half as a deposit and the other half 5 months later once it was produced and shipped to me. It’s a really great concept to owning the show stopping pieces you really want, but can’t put a whole months rent at one time to get. I’m looking forward to owning more Stella Jean pieces in the future.

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xx

Monroe