How 2 Wear Your Swimsuit Off The Beach

I love to do the unexpected.  I also really love clothes.  Since I was young, I have been going to fabric stores and thrift stores putting together looks.  Some were successful, and some not so much :).  It comes to no surprise to many that I became a designer.

Getting into swimwear was sort of an accident.  It all started when I went to Hawaii, and then continued as I moved back to New York and worked in the fashion industry.  What I discovered about bathing suits as I began making them, was that they don't have to be worn exclusively on the beach.  Check out Rhianna's look. 

For those brave of heart: Rhianna shops in St. Tropez

I prefer to be a little more subtle with how I wear my bathing suit in the world.  I love to pair it with loose, flowy bottoms.  If I go for a tighter pant or skirt, then I often throw a relaxed cardigan over it to make the look more casual.   Here I am with my daughter wearing the Night Cap with a mini skirt.

For more tips on how to style your suit for the day and evening, check out our homepage. 

Colorful New York Beaches

I have lived in New York for 25 years of my life.  Although I was born and raised here, it amazes me that there are still neighborhoods I have not seen.  One of these is the iconic Coney Island.  As a kid, I always went to the New Jersey beaches.  When I moved to Brooklyn, I always preferred Jacob Riis.  It was finally time for me to take a ride on the train to see this famous New York relic.

Color of Coney Island

We rode the F train to the end and emerged from the car to a sea of people of every size and color.  We first encountered the original Nathan's hot dog restaurant, and then stumbled upon countless fried food spots, and games galore.   You could swim, eat, play, and then relax in the sunshine.

What I love about New York is the diversity of characters you meet.  There were people in every type of bathing suit imaginable.  There were also people peddling all types of wears, from the predictable water and ice cold beer, to hugs.  This one one smart gentlemen, he earned money and affection ;/.

We got a kick out of this guy

There is a constant battle about the future of Coney Island.  If you get the chance, take a trip on the train.  You wouldn't want to miss this unique experience! 

A Special Day

I am about to get pretty personal...​

As some of you may know, in 2007 I lost my little brother Alexander to Morquio Syndrome (http://children.webmd.com/morquio-syndrome).  Morquio is a rare form of dwarfism that has various side effects other than inhibiting growth.  Today is Alex's birthday, so I wanted to share his story.

Alex was born in Honduras, in a rural village in the mountains.  My parents, immigrants themselves, always said that if they had the opportunity to help someone raise up out of poverty, they would.  That's why, in 1982 they traveled back to my mother's native country to adopt a child.  My parents visited an orphanage and when they saw Alex, my father felt as though Alex had looked into his soul.  They brought him home to New York the following week.

Alex lived for 25 years filled with triumph and tragedy.  At 2, he was diagnosed with Morquio.  What followed was a long search for treatments and surgeries that would slow down the degenerative process.  It was terrible.  Alex endured nearly a dozen invasive operations before the age of 10.  Through it all he never complained, and was always quick to smile.  Alex was an inspiration to all who met him.

When Alex passed away, life seemed to be a dream for a long time.  None of us saw his illness turning from bad to worse so quick.  The whole family was taken by surprise.  It has been a long road to healing, searching for the meaning of this journey we call life.  As I started to come out of the other side of grief, I realized I wanted to do something beautiful in my life.  

Alex's time here was short, but his bravery has had such an impact on me.  I find strength in his example.  I find courage in his fearlessness.  And so I have decided to tackle giants of my own.  That giant being my dreams, and paving a way to share my creative ideas with the world.  I vow to be strong in the face of adversity, to be inquisitive, to listen and to ask questions.  I vow to never stop believing, and to always continue living the life that I want to live.​  Thank you Alex, you are and always will be my heart.

Please check out the beautiful art being created and shared by the Dwarf Artist Coalition.  (https://www.facebook.com/LpaDwarfArtistCoalition).  I love the exhibit Ecotopia, being curated by DAC chair Amanda Cachia.  I wish I could go to Canada to see it in person!  I will have to settle for this video: http://www.saag.ca/art/exhibitions/0667-ecotopia.

Please also check out the website for the Little People of America organization.http://www.lpaonline.org.  Our family attended many of the LPA conventions, and found much solace in the shared experience of the familys we met.

Remember, life is a gift.​

Food for Thought: Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Or is it?  Because I am intrigued by psychology, I want to explore this question.  

Beauty is subjective, it is a perception.  Our perceptions are shaped by our constructs.  

So what are constructs and where do they come from?  

Constructs are internal models of reality created in order to understand and explain the world around us.  They are developed through observations and experimentations (http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/personal_construct.htm).

If, for example, we are exploring the construct of beauty, we need only turn to the pages of fashion magazines for references.  In these publications, we will discover tall, slender, Caucasian women in any number of poses.  After repeatedly seeing this archetype asserted as beauty, then we will likely equate beauty with that form.  So, in essence, we really aren't getting a chance to decide what we think is beautiful.  Listen to this talk by former Victoria Secret's model Cameron Russell  http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_russell_looks_aren_t_everything_believe_me_i_m_a_model.html.  In it, she bravely explains how imagery is an evocative construction that alters our perceptions.  ​

Cameron dares to talk about gender and racial oppression in the world of fashion.  She talks about winning the 'genetic lottery' and how that has opened many doors for her.  If the standard of beauty for over 40 years has remained the same, how can we challenge it?  How can we help women who do not necessarily fit that mold to develop more confidence in who they are and how they look?  Cameron shared the startling statistic that 53% of American 13-year-old girls are unhappy with their bodies.  This number jumps to 78% by the time they hit 17!

​As a designer and mother of young girl, I am forced to ask myself everyday what type of impression I want to make on the fashion world.  How can I put forth another construct?  I have plenty of ideas and you will see them unfold.  Please share your ideas with me.  Be a part of the revolution!

Love is a Drug

In the aftermath of Valentines Day, while love is still fresh on the brain, and the cold winter days need some sweetening, I want to share a new book, called Love 2.0 by Dr. Barbara Fredrickson.  It is a book about the nature of love and human connection.  In it, Dr. Fredrickson shares some of her thoughts about how love helps us to feel more connected to eachother, and how simple acts can enrich our lives by bringing us into the present moment.  I think we should all take her advice: 

"When we experience love, the walls between ourselves and the world outside of our bodies becomes one. Literally the signal we have in our brain that defines the border of our self (whatever is outside our skin) and non-self begins to blur.  Experiencing this sense of cohesion with others elevates your ability to work as a true team.   Studies show that literally your brain synchronizes to be on the same wavelength as another...this is called brain coupling.  Your brain can even begin to anticipate the other’s thoughts - not just mirror them. Shared emotions, brain synchrony, and mutual understanding emerge as an awesome trifecta when two people “get” each other, when you become attuned with another (http://www.woopaah.com/blog).

Easy ways to spread the love 2.0 today:

1. When someone is speaking be there truly present and listen with care. 
2. Notice positive qualities about someone and pay them an authentic compliment.
3. Shine those whites on somebody today - authentically and unexpectedly - and watch how they light up. 
4. Say a conscious thank you with all your heart when someone does something for you today. 
5. Share this love letter with someone telling them you care about their well-being. 

Beside being good for our emotional state, love makes our physical bodies stronger and more glowing.  Studies show that couples who hit the gym together are less likely to call it quits than those who go alone (http://greatist.com/happiness/the-health-effects-of-love-021412/) This is perfect for getting swimsuit ready!  So grab your beau and hit the gym!  Return feeling refreshed and looking good!

Celebrating Progress

This week I went to the Women's Enterprise Center to meet with fellow business owners.  We talked about our journeys in entrepreneurship.  It was wonderful to hear about how each of us had conquered some rather major hurdles.  One of my collegues was approved for multiple design patents which aid individuals facing mobility challenges.  When I heard the story of how the fashion she creates is literally helping people to have a life filled with one less obstacle (getting dressed), my heart was warmed.  Another one of the women is facing illness, new motherhood, and yet continues to be a powerhouse in her industry.  She is the recent recipient of the APEX Awards in Westchester County (Cyruscontracting.com).  I am happy to report that I have been very busy creating new designs for 2014.  Cover-ups here we come!

2012 LEAP Grant winners at the Women's Enterprise Development Center.

Welcome

This page is going to be a celebration.  Although I would love to use this blog to talk about everything that I love about fashion, I feel that there is more I want to say.  Starting Mirame has been a soul journey for me and I would like to use this space to explore this journey, and that of other women as we travel on this journey of empowerment.  Women are many things...we are daughters, sisters, mothers, friends.  We are dreamers, we are risk-takers, we are multi-taskers, we are the glue that holds many of our families together.

I would like to start by saying that I am a woman who has decided that I can be many things.  I am dynamic and ever changing.  I am commited to traveling on the road of growth, of challenge as I move toward realizing my dreams.  It is a delight to have the opportunity to share this journey with all of you.

Part 1 :  It Begins

In December of 2010, yet another amazing job in the fashion industry had come to a close for me.  The business is tough, and I had already seen many designers come and go.  I had seen contracts end even before the ink had dried up.  Looking around, I realized I had arrived at another one of those momentous and life changing moments, and I felt weary.  I wanted to create something for myself that was more everlasting.  I wanted to take all of the ideas that flooded my imagination with first light, and danced through my mind in the evening, and make them a reality.  In my mind, the best way to do so was to start my own project, my own 'baby.'  And thus, Mirame was born.

I took a leap of faith.  If you were to do the same, what would you do?