Wow – it’s so hard to believe summer is in full swing after the prolonged craziness of this past year! Does anyone else feel like there’s been absolutely no concept of time since the pandemic started in March? To be honest, I’m far more of a winter fashion girl (put me in black/neutrals and I’m all set for the 9-month NYC winter), but there’s one spring/summer piece I’ve always loved more than any NYC snowstorm-ready look: the beloved maxi dress! Being back in Georgia permanently has made me realize my closet is seriously lacking in the color/dress/things-that-aren’t black department, and putting on these beauties reminded me of how feminine/free I feel in a floor-length look. And how incredible it feels to wear color!
Both dresses are Farm Rio from Neiman Marcus (shoes are Shopbop), and I’m obsessed with this brand and their mission/story. Katia Barros and Marcello Bastos got their start in Brazil where they started selling designs at a local fashion market. They’ve grown to nothing short of a global success, and you can find their beautiful pieces at Anthropologie, Nordstrom, Shopbop, and more. I was so inspired reading their mission statement — here’s an excerpt:
“We are a group of creatives from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that believe in the existence of happiness. Based in good energies and beautiful frequencies, we believe that solar rays enlighten the soul. We believe in all colors and shapes that nature brings to our eyes, to our feelings. We believe in local culture, and we keep it alive. We believe in quality, we adore details, and the emotions created by these elements, because a powerful product inspires positive transformations in everyone and everywhere. We also believe in hugs, or in Portuguese – we believe in “abraços”. And once we believe, we are. Just like that. Welcome to our magic, and feel it in your soul.”
Even better than their mission statement? For every purchase and newsletter sign up, the brand plants a tree in the Amazon Rainforest. They’ve planted over 100,000 trees to date!
All of their pieces are vintage-inspired while still being incredibly fashion-forward — I hope you’ll check them out and see their beautiful pieces/read their story for yourselves!
Cheers to abraços and wearing things that make us feel alive,
