I get DM’s from all sorts of companies and reps asking if I am interested in doing a “collab” or being a Brand Ambassador…this is not to say that I am a huge influencer, it’s just the nature of how things are, I am learning. The products that are offered by and large are not of the quality that I would be interested in attaching my name to, for the most part, at this point in my journey. However, when I opened the DM from a man named Lamar asking if I would be interested in collaborating with him and his boutique, Mara’s Travel Bag, I just had a feeling that this was a different kinds of request.
I went to check out the boutiques Instagram page, and I was totally impressed with the quality of the content, photos, but especially the looks and style that the boutique represented. I have always loved a colorful and fashion forward look, but lately I have been really into kimonos. The accessories and jewelry were all fabulous, but for me, the real thing that sold it, the hats! You might have noticed by now that you rarely see a photo of me without a hat. This is because I truly feel that, vacation (but lets get real, life in general) should be spent having fun and not doing my hair! Add that together with the fact that, I have really awful hair…it will look amazing after a blowout, but the moment I enter any humidity it’s a lost cause, I just don’t feel the need to bother. So, unless it’s a formal event, or a hat would just be super in appropriate, I will typically wear a hat.
We started to converse back and forth and the more I found out about him and the boutique the more I was interested. For example, the name. I am a Travel Blogger and it’s a Travel Boutique, a collaboration makes total sense! Then I found out that he named it after his wife Mara and her love of travel, how amazing is that? So Lamar and Mara have been married for 6 years and founded the Boutique this year. They were just starting out on Instagram when they contacted me and looking to grow…which was precisely where I was when I started my journey a few months earlier. I loved the vibe of the boutique and the travel inspiration and the genuine good nature that I felt when conversing with Lamar and Mara. I decided that I would love to work together and it would be a great opportunity for both of us to grow in our journey to develop on this new platform.
The items they sent me were inspired! I loved them, honestly! The kimono was shades of olive green with a pop of lime green and images of Koi, it was stunning. The hat was a Bolero style with a leather belt and buckle. They also sent me a beautiful beaded tassel necklace, crystal earrings that matched and another pair of tassel earrings. I chose to mix and match them with items from my own wardrobe showing how you could use a few accessories to stretch some stable items to increase your wardrobe while traveling. This is a really great strategy to help you cut down on what you need while traveling and pack lighter, especially for longer trips!
As I mentioned, the Kimono is great for changing up a look! They are fabulous for vacation because they can dress up a simple outfit from the day and give it a chic nighttime vibe. It can also turn a basic pair of shorts and a top into a fabulous outfit for a day at the beach, aboard a boat, at a music festival or a good brunch! Check out how I took this clean white on white, that could be an easy daytime outfit and threw it on for an outfit that could quickly turn into a cocktail/nighttime vibe. I could even elevate it a bit more with a different shoe or bag.
Another killer tip is to always bring a few great accessories to swap up any look. As you can see, with just a few pieces here, I have created 3 different looks (and I could probably get a few more if needed). A great tip if you are trying to travel light and get the most out of what you have packed in your bag! From the looks of it, you will find just what you need to pack if you check out Mara’s Travel Bag!
Lamar decided to dedicate his energy towards a collection of fashion accessories with an alternative to the traditional way of dressing – Bohemianism. They believe in a liberated lifestyle not bound by society’s constraints, especially for women and underrepresented minorities. I’ve mentioned that he dedicates the store to his wife Mara, with whom he has one beautiful daughter and another due this year! Together they enjoy the freedom to travel and explore all over California, the Caribbean and Europe. Throughout this post there are hyperlinks to their boutique in San Fransisco as well as the specific products that are pictured in the photos that they sent to me. If you have any questions at all, pease feel free to email or DM me.
I truly enjoyed the opportunity to partner with Lamar and Mara and learn about their fabulous boutique!
xoxox
Fabulously Adrift
Tara
You can use the hyperlinks throughout the article, or you can go to https://www.marastravelbag.com/
