In Spades

Style... in abundance

Fashion Friday

Roksanda patchwork coatSandro denim shirt (50% off) // Vintage Levi’s // Gucci sunglasses ($38 version here)
Roksanda patchwork coat (under $200 here) // Bottega Veneta pouch ($35 version here)

Last week I did my Fashion Friday via Instagram Live.  It got a great response, so I’ll be doing it again this week!

Please join me at 5:00pm PT on Instagram Live to chat all things fashion.

I set a countdown on Instagram which you can turn on notifications for to be reminded the moment I go live.  I plan to discuss the following topics and have some questions for you too.  Let’s dialogue!

Fashion Friday Topics
  • The Met Gala
  • André Leon Talley’s memoir: The Chiffon Trenches
  • Does the 99% matter to luxury brands?
  • What’s your “the one that got away” story?
  • Favorite decade for fashion?
Shop the Post

Fashion Friday

Velvet Blazer

For today’s Fashion Friday I’ll be doing an Instagram Live!

Tune in at 5pm PT so we can chat all things fashion.

I get a ton of great feedback from you guys every time I post a Fashion Friday, so I thought this would be the perfect way to open up the dialogue even more.  We can really dive in to your thoughts, questions and anything else that has been on your mind.

Here are some topics I’m planning to discuss.  Obviously, if your questions take us in another direction – great!

Fashion Friday Topics
  • What will shopping be like when stores re-open?
  • How crazy will the sales be?  How long should I hold out before purchasing?
  • Which stores are in danger of closing for good?
  • Sustainability – will COVID-19 make consumers rethink their consumption habits, or will they fall back into their old ways?

What would you like to chat about?  Let me know in the comments!

Fashion Friday

Fashion Friday

Thanks for all your support on last week’s Fashion Friday.  It was my first foray into Tik Tok and while I still have no idea what I’m doing, I’m having a lot of fun.

Today I want to get back to the standard Fashion Friday format because there is a lot to discuss!

First and foremost…

Clare Waight Keller Leaves Givenchy

Clare left Chloe to come to Givenchy.  While I thought Chloe was the PERFECT fit for her, I was excited about this new partnership.  I foresaw a long-standing relationship.  Her expert tailoring seemed perfectly poised to execute the structured, voluminous silhouettes Givenchy is known for.

But after just 3 years, she’s out.

What happened?  This Tweet seems to perfectly sum up Clare’s fall from Givenchy.

“At the risk of reading too much into it, this basically feels like more proof that without a shoe, without a bag, without a stalwart (and ideally perennial) “statement” piece, it doesn’t matter how good of a designer you are, you won’t have a job.”

During her tenure at Givenchy, Clare didn’t give us an “it” bag.  She didn’t give us a new shoe style.  She DID give us an amazing first couture collection.  But was that enough?  If you design excellent clothes but can’t incite a cult following among the 99%, do you have a career?

This begs the question…

Are luxury brands just accessory companies that happen to make clothes?

I’ve thought a lot about consumer perception of luxury brands.  For example, most people know the interlocking “C” logo of Chanel, but do they actually KNOW Chanel?

There’s an old episode of America’s Next Top Model that I’ll never forget.  Paris Hilton guest stars and asks one of the contestants who her favorite designer is.

Contestant: “Chanel”.

Paris: “Do you know who designs Chanel?”

[CRICKETS]

This is forever seared in my brain.  I was incredulous.  If something is your “favorite” how is it possible to know nothing about it?  If the Lakers are your favorite basketball team, don’t you think you should be able to name some of the players?

A lifelong passion for fashion has allowed me time for lots of research.  I’ve read a ton about brand history, window shopped til I’ve dropped, and devoured runway footage.

When someone says a brand name I see pictures in my head.  Adjectives, colors, textures, patterns.  It’s like a mood board.

It didn’t occur to me that others may not see this too.

With COVID-19 halting production, shuttering storefronts and putting the world of fashion at a standstill, I wonder if consumer perception will change.  Will consumers pay more attention to the brands they’re wearing?  Will they shift their focus to quality over quantity?  Less is more?  I hope that sustainability takes a more front and center role.

Brand Response to COVID-19

There are tons of brands doing amazing things right now.  rag & bone has slashed prices sitewide to make their product more accessible.  Read their manifesto here.

One of my fave leather jacket brands is doing a Name Your Price sale.  In their manifesto they are very candid about possibly not surviving the wake of COVID-19.  So 100% of their proceeds are going to their employees.  That’s class.

Here’s the sad reality: if the economy remains shuttered for 2 or more months, 80% of brands will find themselves in financial duress.  They may not survive.

Now is the time to support the brands you love.  Align your support with brands that embody your values.

The power of your dollar has never been more important.

Fashion Friday

Quarantine life has me missing my shoes.  Big time.

Considering my time outside is limited to dog walks and toddler nature explorations, I barely need to put on shoes at all.  Let alone a fabulous pair.

And oh how fabulous they are.  My shoe collection is something I am actually quite proud of.

Shoes were the first category of fashion I started collecting.  My first designer pair was a classic black Yves Saint Laurent pump with white tonal stitching.  They’ve been brought back to life twice – one lost a heel – and I still wear them to this day.

Many years ago my grandmother gave me a book called The Shoes of Salvation.  It’s a quick, illustrated read that is absolutely darling.  And 100% true.  Shoes can be our salvation.

After lurking on Tik Tok for several months, I finally shared my first video.  No lie, it took me FOREVER to create and I still have no idea what I’m doing.  It’s today’s Fashion Friday.

You can check it out here.

Here are the shoes featured on today’s Fashion Friday.

Prada Monolith Derby Shoes

NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's Wife

The best story I can share about these shoes is that when I wore them to NYFW one of the press photographers shouted at me, “Hey Cinderella, you look gorgeous but lose the shoes!”  To which I replied, “the shoes are the best part!”

Gucci Studded Loafers

NYFW FW18 Day 5 OOTD

They have studs.  They have snakes.  They are legitimately lethal.  Every time I wear them I end up clicking my heels together and cutting my ankle bone on the golden studs.  But they are so worth it.  I’ll bleed for these.

Bottega Veneta Storm Boots

Bottega Veneta storm boots

The combat boots of my dreams.  After searching for two years with numerous failed attempts, these finally found me.  Correction: I legitimately stalked them for two months calling every store in a 100-mile radius until I found my size in stock. They were terribly hard to get.  They make me taller.  They’re comfortable as hell.  It’s a score I feel I earned.

Balenciaga BB Boots

Jacquemus coat & No 21 Motel Skirt

Everything is twice as nice in these double “B” Balenciaga boots.  I love the kitten heel.  I love that they’re tweed and not leather.  They compliment a fancy outfit just as much as jeans and a tee.  Every time I wear them, I get stopped at least twice by admirers.

Check out these other iterations here.

Jimmy Choo Brelan Boots

Bermuda shorts suit

I’m realizing I have a thing for snakeskin boots.  These were on my wishlist for fall and when they finally went on sale, I pounced.

I love that they don’t have zippers.  The print is super versatile, allowing me to wear them with brown, black and everything in between.

They are still available at 50% off.

Valentino Dot Pumps

Valentino Dot Pumps

The cheeky 60’s mod vibe of these heels is SO fun.  I feel so ladylike every time I wear them.  This print was a signature for Valentino when this collection debuted in 2016 so I’m thrilled I have a piece of fashion history.

Remarkably, the boot version is still available here.

Givenchy Buckled Snakeskin Boots

Givenchy buckled boots

A signature style for Givenchy, these boots are my rockstar shoes.  I always channel Lenny Kravitz when I wear them.  This version of snakeskin was super rare for the brand, so they are another pair I’m so happy to have in my collection.

Givenchy still makes this boot and the classic black is stunning.  This red snakeskin pair is a traffic stopper.

Fashion Friday

The State of Retail Amid CoronavirusCandid photo from a simpler time. Light test during a shoot downtown when grabbing a coffee and randomly running into 2 friends was the norm (both happened right after this shot).

So where do we go from here?  This is a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately.  In terms of my family (Will all of my family stay healthy?  Will my daughter get to start preschool in the fall?).  And in terms of my passions (What will happen to the business of fashion?).

Today’s Fashion Friday is dedicated to the business of fashion and what’s going to happen to the economy.

The Business of Fashion

Fashion employs 1 in 6 people.  That’s more than agriculture; more than defense.

We all have to get dressed each day.  And we all pay taxes.  So while there are clearly more important parts of the Coronavirus pandemic to focus on, the business of retail and the state of the economy affects us all.

Consumer Behavior

After tragic events, consumers usually follow a path.  The first phase is the cocoon phase.  All purchases are frozen.  Then we move into what economists call Secular Immortality.  We become keenly aware of our own mortality and begin emotional/bored shopping.

“You only live once.”

And retailers need this stimulus.  It’s not just small businesses that are suffering.  Large corporations are feeling the squeeze too.

Companies like JC Penney, The Gap, Victoria’s Secret (the list goes on) who are already in financial trouble, will be greatly impacted.  It may be their final nail in the coffin.

What we need to understand is that this isn’t just going to be a blip and affect 2020’s sales.  This will affect generations.  We won’t see recovery for years.

The way we consume will change even more

With brick & mortar stores closed indefinitely, retailers will need to find new ways to reach consumers.  They can no longer offer 1:1 personalized customer service.  Can this be achieved in an online chat?  Perhaps.

I’m interested in what Indie designers are doing.  Several of them have begun archive sales.  This means they are making past collections (previously unavailable for purchase) available.

As a collector, this is especially intriguing.  I now have a second chance to snag the one that got away.

Clothing Rental Services

I’ve written about my experience with Nuuly, and while I loved it, I’m sorry to say these services are now moot.  No one has anywhere to go.  We can’t leave the house.  Events have been canceled.  Do people really need to rent business or special occasion attire right now?  No.

So what happens to companies like Rent the Runway and Nuuly?  Will they survive?

How will this affect luxury?

I’ve talked before about Amazon’s push into luxury by offering a concession model to designer brands.  While their 10-year pursuit into luxury has always been rebuffed, the Coronavirus may be the linchpin that changes the game.

Take Chanel for example.  You cannot purchase Chanel RTW or accessories online.  You must shop in-store or through an online consigner like The RealReal.

With no shelter-in-place end date in sight, Chanel may have to use a concession model via Amazon in order to keep sales moving.

Once we do rebound, don’t expect luxury purchases to be flashy.  Those that can afford it will opt for “quiet luxury”.  Think minimalistic, non-logoed pieces.  Luxury brands like Gucci may see a temporary decline in sales while brands like The Row and Deveaux may soar.

I’d keep your eye on China.  As the biggest consumer of luxury, their consumer actions will be telling.  Since they were also the first country to be affected by the Coronavirus, they will also be the first to come out of it.  Their rebound behavior will likely dictate the luxury market’s success (or failure).

The Bottom Line

This affects us all.  And not just us, but the generations behind us.  Support local business and indie designers where you can.  If not monetarily, then through word-of-mouth endorsements, support on social media (follow, like, comment), etc.

And remember that we’re all in this together.  This too shall pass.