In Spades

Style... in abundance

Elevated, Everyday Jewelry with Marrow Fine

Custom ring by Marrow Fine

Forgive my radio silence last week – I promise it’s been for good reason.  I’ve been working on a special project near and dear to my heart for quite some time and am so excited to share it with you today.

Earlier this spring I met the eternally cool Jillian Sassone.  When I say eternally cool, I’m talking the bonafide, real deal.  The founder of jewelry company Marrow Fine, Jillian is one of those people whose energy you can feel from clear across the room.  Bursting with charisma, warmth and insane style, you immediately want to get to know her.  So of course, I did.

Her story starts with a big magic idea begging to be brought to life; one of those undeniable I-can-feel-it-in-my-bones passions that eventually can’t be ignored.  After years of working the corporate grind, she employed the ‘when you leap the net will follow’ philosophy and left it all to start her dream – making custom jewelry and signature capsule collections.

It began with a set of baubles from her grandmother.  She loved the idea of breathing new life into jewelry with a sentimental connection.  After a successful run on her own pieces, friends started asking her to design for them and a business was born.

I came to Jillian with a diamond ring from my grandmother and a pair of diamond earrings my godmother had given me at age 16.  Neither really fit my personal style but I wanted to retain the sentimental value of both gestures.  As this is Jillian’s specialty, she immediately started playing with different layouts and ideas.  The creative process was exactly like what I imagine a dream collaboration to be.  Her excitement was just as abundant as mine.  I loved how she listened to my personal style quirks and translated them into something completely gorgeous, edgy and so me.  My heirloom pieces went from never seeing the light of day into something I never want to take off.

Marrow creates gorgeous custom pieces, and they also have a ready-made capsule collection.  I love how they pair dainty silhouettes with a touch of drama.  The entire line is so versatile and fashion forward.  Their stacking rings are totally on another level (you can honestly wear 5 or 6 at at time!) and these black diamond studs and this pirouette necklace have my name on them.

I went Behind the Scenes with Jillian to find out more about Marrow Fine, her style preferences and share the story of how we met.  Check out the 25 Questions Vogue-style video below for more fun facts about Jillian!

Photos by Felicia Lasala

The Handbag Line You Need to Know: Vasic New York

Vasic New York Bond M. handbag (c/o) // Zara boots // Rag & Bone jeans
Guess top (similar here) // Diane Von Furstenberg jacket

One of my favorite things about the fashion world is discovering new designers and brands.  While we all have our go-to favorites and longstanding brands we trust, mixing it up with fresh talent is imperative.  It’s the very essence of what the fashion world sets out to do – keep up with the times.

Vasic New York is a handbag line focused on creating “the standard handbag” – a bag that can be used every day for every occasion.  When I saw their clean silhouettes, inventive fabrics and fall/winter color palette, I immediately knew this was a line that would become a staple in my wardrobe.  When just about every woman is carrying the same handbag, it’s so refreshing to carry something unique.

My suede, emerald bucket bag can be worn multiple ways: as a crossbody, satchel or looped over the shoulder and contains a two-toned removable clutch on the inside for when you want to pair down for evening.  Any bag that has a two-in-one feature is a major win in my book.  For something a little funkier, I love this faux fur bucket bag that pairs a classic silhouette with chic fabric.  Still practical enough for everyday, but with an added wow factor for fall.

I recently took a trip home to visit family and carried this bag with me on the plane.  It was the perfect size for traveling – not too heavy, but with enough room for more than just my phone and wallet.  The removable clutch definitely came in handy for easily being able to access my lip balm, hand lotion and ID when I needed them quickly.  I seriously can’t get over the color – although red is dominating as “the color” for fall, I’m seeing more and more emerald used in accent pieces and accessories.  For someone who wears mostly neutrals, it’s the perfect accent color that blends seamlessly into my existing wardrobe.

For some of my other favorite indie lines, check out this post.

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Thatch Pop Up Event

San Diego friends, I’m super excited to be partnering with Thatch jewelry for a Pop Up Event!  Join me for an edgy holiday cocktail while you shop their amazing showroom and receive 25% off your purchase.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know my everyday jewelry game consists of Thatch’s dainty pieces.  They are beautiful dressed up or down and this is a great opportunity to check some holiday shopping off your list.

I hope to see you this Friday!  Event details below.

Friday, October 20th
5:00 – 8:00pm
2750 Historic Decatur Rd, #202
San Diego, CA 92106

 

My 2 Best Fashion Investments Going into Fall

Photos by Astray Photography

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Late in the summer I picked up two pieces that have been great investments for their comfort and versatility.  This pink bell sleeved top (currently 40% off!) is the perfect transitional piece because it’s lined, making it ideal for the cooler months, and also made of 100% cotton so you can wash it.  Most of my statement tops are dry clean only, so it’s refreshing to have something I can easily throw on that still looks polished and doesn’t require a long wait until the next wear.  Thankfully bell sleeves are here to stay – they were all over the S/S18 runways – so I’ll still have a stylish option come 2018.  For those interested in more neutral colors, this top also comes in black and white, which I’ve linked above.

The second wise investment I made this summer was these black studded sandals.  A riff off of these Isabel Marant stunners, they are a fraction of the price and super comfortable.  With a padded insole, soft suede straps and a reasonable heel, they look great with jeans or dresses.  I’m finding that more and more of my shoes and accessories have gold hardware and accents, so the silver studs are especially appealing when I want a cooler palette to work from.

And while stilettos will always be in fashion, block and kitten heels are becoming more mainstream every day.  Personally, I’m thrilled.  You can’t beat the comfort of a block or low kitten heel and I think they are so much more fashion forward.  Take a look at the gold standard for shoe and accessory trends – Celine.  Their current lineup features kitten, triangular and block heels almost exclusively.

What have been your best clothing and accessory investments this season?

Stripes & Flares for Fall

Photos by Astray Photography

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As the days slowly turn from California summer to crisp fall, I’m relishing the chance to break out my jackets, boots and hats.  But before I go full force (trust me, it’s taking every fiber of my being!) I’m easing into the weather change with some transitional pieces.

I picked up this Tibi top towards the end of summer and its light cotton fabric was perfect for sailing trips and brunching with friends on weekends.  Thankfully this is a style Tibi continues year round, and for fall/winter they’ve made some incredible options in silk crepe, lurex knit and tweed. The tie sleeves can be worn up or down, giving you tons of styling options.  I wore mine cinched, with the ties undone for an edgier vibe but it works just as well worn loose for a bell sleeved effect.

If you don’t have a pair of wide leg pants in your wardrobe, I highly recommend them for fall.  This Madewell pair is from last season but I’ve linked some great alternatives under $100 above.  Not only is a wider leg totally on trend, but they work incredibly well with all kinds of shoes.  For the transitional weather we’re having, I opted for open toed, suede mules, but when the temps drop I’ll definitely be breaking out my pointed toe ankle boots and velvet pumps.  This pair has an elastic waistband which is another reason why I love them – the look is much more elevated than jeans yet still super comfortable.

Now is a great time to invest in fall staples as many of the major department stores are having their Friends & Family sale.  Take 25% off your purchase at Bloomingdale’s (Loyalists also earn a $25 gift card for every $100 they spend), 25% off at Saks Fifth Avenue and 40% off your purchase at Banana Republic.

Happy shopping!