So, why did we go all the way to Bali to shoot the summer campaign? The answer is simple if you look at the product. Cuyana is a fashion brand producing a limited, curated collection that aims to be timeless. They source manufacturers from all over the world – not because they want to find a way to be less expensive, but because they want to hire the best of the best. If you want to make a cashmere sweater, why not have the experts in Scotland, with their knowledge going back hundreds of years, create it? Or the perfect leather tote…who is amazing with leather? The artisans of Argentina.

Cuyana searches the world to find and support the creators, cutting out the middle man and selling the designs themselves in order to keep costs down and quality high. So to answer the question above – why did you go all the way to Bali to shoot this summer Cuyana campaign? Because all their new gold jewelry is handmade in Bali and what a place to be!

Yesterday we unlocked the key to Bali culture but that is only a fraction of the story…arguably many people come here for the awe of the island’s nature scene which is as lush and beautiful as the people themselves. I was awestruck by the endless vistas of rice paddies wrapping around the island’s mainland. The air is damp and thick, and in the early evening light, the view fills with mysterious blueish smoke from farmers’ fires, turning the look into a cinematic movie scene. It’s serene and beautiful and it’s only the beginning of Bali’s natural wonder…

Of course Bali has amazing resorts (remember the dreamy Amandari & serene Como Shambala?!…because I do!) but you can also rent awesome Bali homes like we did with the team from Cuyana. Just around the house, we found perfect rice fields and coconut trees. Our first morning there all we could do was wander around in awe of the early morning light.

Below: Anastasia wears Cuyana’s classic white oxford dress.

 Above & Below: In our own Bali backyard in Cuyana’s turquoise silk sleeveless blouse, Panama hat and gold tag cuff

 

This was my favorite look from the summer collection. Simple, cool, easy, elegant and wrapped in nature. Traveling so much, working so much, I’m most interested now in pieces like these where you can throw them on and look polished, dress them up or down and get on with life and living. Above & Below Cuyana’s silk sleeveless dress in stone with Bali-crafted gold asymmetrical earrings and oval cuff.

Below: Same dress new color!…

Waterfalls & flora, hiking trails through lush jungles all under the dancing light of Indonesian sunshine, smelling all the beautiful flowers along the way. I’ve learned when traveling, it’s always worth it to have a local guide. After exploring Bali culture and the gorgeous rice fields, I saw this post on instagram and I was like “Wayan! Take us to a waterfall!”, so he did and what a sight it was…

Below: the simplicity of nature and the simplicity of Cuyana

Above: Our natural beauty wears Cuyana’s hammered earrings, oval cuff with a black silk sleeveless dress

MONKEY FOREST!

Looks cool but to be honest… it’s a little scary. Anastasia was just the coolest chick in the world and was down for whatever rice paddy or palm tree or monkey forest I wanted to try to shoot her in. So we got there, bought a bunch of bananas they sell at the entrance and immediately lost them to a monkey before we took one step. Ok…try again. This time I stuffed them in my pockets which had two possible outcomes. A) we get inside the forest and ration them out to the little babes in order to get a shot or B) they know I have the bananas in my pockets and I get monkey mobbed. We ended up aborting trying to get a fashion shot and instead went for just a candid snap just to say we did it… we were there…and the monkey ate the banana. Anastasia is wearing Cuyana’s oxford shirtdress in light blue.

Quiet moments in nature in Cuyana’s silk sleeveless blouse & golden tag cuff

Sunset walk over the river in Ubud in Cuyana’s silk sleeveless black dress, gold hammered earrings, oval cuff & hammered ring

Bali Culture // Bali Water // Bali Instagrams