Photography by Richie Chance
Hello Kitty bikini
Coral one piece bathing suit by St.John
Black bikini by Victoria’s Secret
Blue lace dress by Ruby
White silk top by Monique Leshman
Jewelry by DeziBijou
Aruba was an amazing trip for all the reasons one might already assume but my favorite thing about it was shooting my jewelry line, DeziBijou. This island is all around gorgeous. Aruba’s tropical turquoise waters and lushly landscaped terrain was the perfect backdrop for this collection. Before I had visited, Aruba was on the top of my travel bucket list and inspired me to create the “Aruba Collection”. While I was there I had the opportunity to take my design skills one step further at Terrafuse to learn how to make glass beads, an art form that I admittedly underappreciated until I tried my hand at it. The techniques of consistent distance and rotation using both hands, one being halfway immersed in the flame of a torch was something like rubbing your stomach and patting your head simultaneously but, my artistic side prevailed and behold…I am now the proud owner of three strung necklaces.
The island itself is a myriad of things – windy being the first word that comes to mind but unless you’re shooting, it’s the perfect natural fan for those hot beach days all year round and, if you happen to own a sailboat, you’re set! I didn’t do any sailing in my downtime but I did get a chance to charter a boat and scuba dive down to a shipwreck. I think the thing I love most about Aruba is its widely accepted bikini attire and fresh seafood. I ended up at a discretely placed locals joint situated right on the water with picnic style seating stretching out onto the docks- a must-do if you visit the island. Aruba is romantic, relaxing and has just the right amount of excitement with nightlife and dining. I can see why the Beach Boys included this little gem of an isle in ‘Kokomo’.
“Aruba, Jamaica, ooh I wanna take ya…”
