kimono strut

October already?! It's hard to believe that summer '15 has come and gone, and now it's officially FALL! September was a crazy month for me, hence the lack of blog posts. If you follow me on Instagram/Snapchat (@rivasraves), you know that I was in Japan for a week, which was an incredible and truly life-changing experience. I've been back in the States for over a week now, but I'm still reeling from the enormity of the trip. I'll be putting together a Tokyo travel guide in the coming weeks that I'm hoping to have posted by the end of October, so stay tuned for that!

I should also note that my boyfriend and I have a somewhat major life change quickly approaching that I'm not ready to talk about just yet, but it is very exciting and I think it's going to present so many fun opportunities and changes for Rivas Raves!

In the meantime, let's get back to the fashion. This was one of the looks I wore on the streets of Tokyo. As you can imagine, Tokyo streetstyle is daring, innovative, and downright inspiring. While I didn't get a chance to wear anything too outside of the box, I made it a point to wear as many prints as possible. I really love a bold floral print -- it's loud, but still soft and feminine.

I scooped up this sheer kimono at Forever 21 a year ago and it's become one of my go-to pieces. Kimonos are great because you can just throw them on and add instant drama to an otherwise simple ensemble. As you can see, everything else is black and muted. Instead of wearing boots that may have been more seasonally appropriate, I opted for strappy heels that give this look a pop of glamour.

Since the kimono is such a standout piece, I wanted to keep accessories simple yet significant (as Don Draper would say). I am sooooo ecstatic to be working with Julie from JES Design Studio for the fall season. She was one of my earliest supporters and it's always such a pleasure to style and wear her designs. This metallic gunmetal quartz stone bib necklace is pure perfection. The gunmetal hue complements darker palettes, while the metallic sheen and jagged stones still make an unforgettable statement. Did I mention there are matching earrings? And, yes, you need both!