In Spades

Style... in abundance

Where to Find Affordable, Quality Denim

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Unpublished Kora jeans (c/o) // Vince sweater (40% off) // Karen Walker sunglasses
Foley + Corinna handbag // Habille Italy shoes (similar here and here)

Since becoming pregnant, denim is the one thing I’ve had to temporarily put on hold.  As someone completely obsessed with wearing denim, this has been reallllly hard.  While I can still pull on my normal jeans, buttoning them proves to be a problem.  I’ve tried belly bands, but they just aren’t my thing.  Maybe it’s the knowledge of knowing I’m walking around with my pants unbuttoned, but I just couldn’t get on board.  Clothes either fit or they don’t in my book.

There are some great maternity jeans out there (which I’ll get into in a future post) but the idea of spending money on something that I’ll wear for a very short period of my life doesn’t sit well with me.  So, the hunt was on.  Where could I find affordable, comfortable jeans that fit during my in-between phase, but would still look great after baby?

Towards the end of 2017, I connected with Unpublished, a denim line out of LA with an unapologetic, ‘wear what you want’ mentality.  I was amazed by the sophisticated cuts and excellent wash options they had at such an affordable pricepoint – their jeans average $60 per pair.

  • Pro tip: if you want to know the difference between a cheap pair of jeans and a quality pair of jeans, look at the wash.  Cheap jeans look like they were dyed with a spray gun.  Quality jeans have varied tonality and deep pigment (even in a light wash) that are part of the thread count, not sitting on top of it.

The best dye houses in the world are in Los Angeles, so I knew Unpublished was the real deal.

As I waited for my jeans to arrive, I was nervous.  What if they didn’t fit?  Would this be another example of something I’d have to put on hold until after baby?

When I slipped them on in my normal pre-pregnancy size and could button them, I freaked out.  I immediately ran to my husband and screamed “look at these, they fit!”

The soft, stretchy fabric is incredibly comfortable and holds its shape, unlike a lot of other brands at this pricepoint.  No sagging fabric; my legs and butt looked great.  The 9 inch mid-rise style is perfect for me, but they also come in a 10 inch high-rise. 

It’s a huge benefit for me as a denim lover to be able to wear high quality, affordable jeans that are so flattering and forgiving.  I’ve never liked the idea of “maternity clothing” so being able to wear a contemporary line while pregnant (that I’ll wear just as much after baby) is incredible!

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Yippee Kiyay It’s 2018

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Vince leather pants ($69 alternative here) // YSL bag ($56 alternative here)
Haider Ackermann boots (suede version 50% off; $65 alternative here)

And just like that 2018 was upon us.  With the coming of each new year, I’m normally very reflective on what transpired and enjoy recapping every moment.  While I had one of my best year’s yet in 2017, I’m feeling much more fresh and “full speed ahead” about this changing of the tide.  Perhaps it’s the upcoming addition to our family or the robust goals and intentions I’ve set for myself in 2018, but I’m taking a note from Die Hard and saying “Yippee Kiyay” (motherf*cker) to the adventures ahead.

I’m excited.  This year is going to be all about off-the-charts passion for me.

About a year ago I discovered Dress Shirt by Marie Claire St. John and fell hard for her silk shirts with cheeky personalized embroidery.  After thinking long and hard about how to customize a shirt, I realized that nothing encompassed my enthusiasm for 2018 better than one of my favorite movie lines.

Hence, Yipppe Kiyay was born.

One of the interesting challenges about getting dressed while pregnant is finding that happy medium between style and comfort.  I ordered these leather pants when they went to additional sale at Bloomingdale’s and have been living in them ever since.  Incredibly chic and suuuper comfortable thanks to the elastic waistband, they seriously might be the best cost-per-wear item in my closet.

I’ve linked a more affordable faux alternative below, including some great dupes of my YSL bag and boots.

I’d love to hear from you!  What are your goals for 2018?  And what would you like to see covered this year on In Spades?

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An Elevated Way to Wear Leopard Print

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Club Monaco turtleneck (on sale for $49) // Harris Wharf London coat
Hellessy pants (similar pair 70% off) // Zara boots (on sale for $49)

While animal prints will always have a place in the fashion world, leopard print has been making a strong comeback the past few seasons.  I love its exotic vibe and wanted to share an elevated way to style perhaps the wildest of the animal prints.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a flamboyant take on the trend, but to close out the end of 2017 I gravitated towards a more sophisticated vibe.  Winter whites and neutrals will always have my heart, so these Hellessy pants that I’ve had forever were a no-brainer.  Choosing a neutral base allows the leopard print to really pop, while maintaining that elevated, chic vibe.

Since we’re now officially in winter, I wanted to add a topcoat (one of my favorite ways to zhoosh up a basic look).  I purchased this Harris Wharf London coat at one of their flagship stores off Portobello Road in London.  Every time I wear it, I makes me feel incredibly posh and takes me back to that quintessentially rainy afternoon my husband and I spent strolling and shopping the cobblestone streets of Notting Hill.

Probably one of my best outerwear investments, it comes in a myriad of colors and is remarkably still available thanks to the capstone model the brand follows for every collection.

What I love about this looks is that it stands out, yet is totally versatile.  It could be worn to work, to happy hour with friends or a nice dinner outing.

This will be my last blog post of 2017.  I’m super excited to bring you tons of exciting content in 2018.  Be sure to check back next week for fresh updates and in the meantime, have a wonderful end to 2017.

Happy New Year!

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Holiday Party Style: Faux Fur & Metallics

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Zara faux fur sleeved sweater // Veronica Beard skirt (70% off)
Marco de Vincenzo boots (60% off, also comes in pink and gold)
Pianegonda ring // Quay sunglasses (black sold out; also comes in pink)

I can’t believe Christmas is a week away!  My parents are coming to visit later this week and we have lots of fun holiday activities planned.

When it comes to my personal style for holiday festivities I like to step outside the box (no surprise there) and go with more unexpected color ways and fabrics.  Classic red will always been in style, but why not take a walk on the edgier side?

This faux fur sleeved sweater is a play off of a Sally LaPointe piece, but ethically-friendly and a fraction of the cost.  It looks just as fabulous dressed down – I wore it with leggings and Nike’s to run errands last weekend – and is uber comfortable.

Because of its oversized silhouette I opted to tuck in a corner right where the ruffle began on my skirt for some visual contrast.  You may remember this skirt from over the summer.  It’s one of those tried-and-true pieces that fits all seasons and occasions thanks to its fabric content and flattering shape.  A fabulous investment then, it’s now 70% off!

And oh, don’t even get me started on these boots.  The minute I saw them I died and went to sartorial heaven, patiently stalking them until they went on sale.  I scored them on Black Friday, but they are now even more discounted and come in pink and gold as well.  I seriously might need to get the taller gold version too.

What I love about a spunky boot for holiday parties and events is that it’s more comfortable (i.e. warmer) and plays up an outfit so much more than a classic pump or high heeled sandal.  In an effort to never be predictable, I just love the finished effect this more unusual choice has on an overall look, while still maintaining a holiday theme with the metallic leather.

Shop the Post below for more of my favorite, affordable faux fur and metallic holiday picks!

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Styling Fedoras: Indiana Jones Made Me Buy This Hat

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Janessa Leone Riley fedora // J. Crew t-shirt // Theory blazer ($25 version here)
Madewell jeans // Amelie Pichard boots ($40 version here) // Local Eclectic rings
Rachel Zoe necklace (silver version 20% off) via Lola Boutique

How to Style a Fedora for Fall

It may come as a surprise to you, but Indiana Jones totally made me buy this hat.  As much as I’d like to tell you Harrison Ford and I actually went shopping together, the reality is that Indie’s persona was the inspiration for this purchase.

The “I’m gonna do it my way” pursuit-of-good spirit that’s normally cloaked in a leather bomber, khaki pants and sable fedora needed to manifest itself into my wardrobe too.

I’ve talked many times about how fashion is so much more than mere necessity.  To me, it’s a highly emotional experience; one that uses pieces of fabric cut and draped certain ways to transcend thought, feeling and a completely visceral experience.

If you’ve ever sat in a museum and been moved to tears by a painting or sculpture, then you understand the feeling I’m talking about.  Or maybe it was a song, a building or a stage production.  But the point is that something you saw, heard or felt moved you in such a way you had to take action.  That feeling made it impossible to sit idly by, unaffected.

Modern ways to wear fedoras have been a part of the fashion game for quite some time now.  What I love about this one is the brim is structured to hold it’s shape without being stiff.  It dips down slightly in the front and back with elevated sides making it so flattering (and a little mysterious looking) for all face shapes.

Most fedoras I’ve found are either board stiff and have brims that stick straight out, or have no structure and lose their shape similar to the J. Lo floppy hats of the early 2000’s.  This one strikes the perfect medium.  For an under $100 version, check out my Holiday Gift Guide for the Fashionista.

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