In Spades

Style... in abundance

Spring is in the Air

Vocabulary Boutique sweater // Rachel Comey jeans // Valentino shoes // Pianegonda ring //
Banana Republic handbag

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve teased a couple images from a shoot I did with Pura Soul photography and my friends Paulina and Jenna.

As a counterpart to our Galentine’s shoot, we wanted to celebrate the change of seasons as the first day of spring is three weeks away!  Armed with beautiful blooms from Thistle Garden, we had a blast exploring Ocean Beach and laughing along the way.

Speaking of spring, let’s talk trends.  Back in September, I covered the S/S17 runways and distilled the following themes:

  1. Dynamic shirting
  2. Statement pants
  3. Slogans
  4. The new romantic
  5. Pink, blush, and red

I love that each of us embodies the spring trends in our unique way.  Ever the lover of color, Jenna knocked it out of the park with her entirely pink ensemble and cute “Pink Skies Ahead” sloganed bomber jacket.  Paulina went for the new romantic with her lace + peplum top and bold lip.  Never one to shy away from extreme volume, I donned my largest pair of pants and accented them with pink’s big sister, fire engine red.

As you think about your spring wardrobe, I encourage you to take a look at what you already have and build from there.  I’ve linked my favorite wide leg jeans above, and will definitely be investing in some dynamic shirting like this and this.

Happy spring!

Photos by Pura Soul 
Flowers by Thistle

Valentine’s Day Shoot


I love Valentine’s Day.  Any day that celebrates love is a good one in my book so when photography duo Devin and Skylar from Pura Soul reached out about a shoot, I knew I wanted to incorporate a fun Galentine’s Day theme with my girls Jenna and Paulina.

We set up shop at Thistle, an adorable florist and home decor boutique in Ocean Beach and had such a fun day recreating silly poses and swooning over the gorgeous blooms.

I wanted to go a bit romantic for this shoot, so I chose a vintage inspired dress in blush pink and the wrap I wore on my wedding day.  When it was time to shoot with my girls, I knew I wanted something to compliment Paulina’s glam look and Jenna’s burst of color, so this embroidered heart sweater was the perfect choice.

If you’re in San Diego, Pura Soul is doing Floral Photo Mini-Sessions at Thistle on Saturday, February 11th from 12 – 4:30pm, reservation required.

Grab your significant other, kids or friends and create your own floral wrap or vase for a mini-photoshoot just in time for Valentine’s Day.  Included in the 10-minute sessions are 10-15 digital images with rights to print and share and the flowers are yours to keep.  All for just $98.

Email hello@purasoul.com to reserve your spot or pay at the door.  Pre-paid tickets available HERE

Photos by Pura Soul and flowers by Thistle

Leather Jacket Layering


Today kicks off a very special week.  In 48 hours I’ll be in New York for fashion week!  If you’ve been following me for a while now, you know this is my version of Dollywood.  Six days of nothing but crazy inspiration, major adrenaline and lots and lots of lattes.  Be sure to follow me in Instagram for NYFW coverage in real time!

The February shows are always a little trickier than September, simply because of the weather.  Eva Chen once famously said that dressing for the February shows is easy because all you need is a statement coat and jeans. I totally agree with her, so the topic of layering has definitely come up while packing.  This California girl gets cold when the temperature hits 60, so you can only imagine how easily I become a little ice cube in NY.

Other than ordering long underwear (yes, I went there), I’m planning on styling coats on top of coats.  Layering got me thinking about how much I love multiple textures in one look, so I took a nod from this outfit and went for a more California friendly version for my OOTD.

First, my leather + suede jacket gives a bit of an edge to the cable knit tunic underneath.  For something with a little color pop, I raided my husband’s closet and grabbed this blue and white striped button-up.  I love how the extra long sleeves give the look an unexpected element.  With three layers on top, I wanted to keep the bottom half simple, so I went for jeans with no distressing and a basic block heel boot.

This look is a great example of using off-the-cuff elements (no pun intended) to add some personality into an otherwise basic look.  What pieces in your closet can you repurpose in new ways?

Next stop… New York!

Maje leather jacket // COS sweater // Ermenegildo Zegna shirt // IRO jeans // Zara boots
Nars lipstick // Laura Mercier lip pencil

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Cozy Knits

This weekend we had glorious sunshine in southern California.  It was such a refreshing change from all of the rain we’ve been having.  There seriously wasn’t a cloud in the sky!  I started my weekend by stopping into Vocabulary Boutique and the minute I touched this sweater, I knew I had to have it.  It’s the softest, coziest turtleneck ever.  Zero itch factor and I love that you can wear the collar folded up or down.

This weekend I also got to thinking about statement pieces vs. wardrobe staples.  With New York Fashion Week less than two weeks away, my brain has been on all of my craziest ensembles (and don’t worry, I promise not to disappoint).  But while I love concocting out of the norm looks, it’s nice to re-focus on basics that I can easily reach for and pair with anything. I love how this outfit is monochromatic in tone, but feels fresh and luxurious thanks to the different textures and silhouettes.  It’s also a great example of how choosing the right basics from the get-go will better serve you in the long run.

Michael Kors once said that your wardrobe should follow the “meat and potatoes” rule: 70% should be meat and potatoes (wardrobe staples) and only 30% should be dessert (statement pieces).  “Too many women get the proportions the other way round, then can’t figure out why they can’t get dressed,” Kors has been quoted saying.

How do you balance your wardrobe between everyday staples and statement pieces?

Sweater from Vocabulary boutique // Harris Wharf London coat // Karen Walker sunglasses //
Tiffany Kunz and Anthropologie earrings // Love Tatum rings // Gap jeans // M. Gemi boots (c/o)

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The Perfect High Rise Jeans

I wanted to kick off the week discussing one of my favorite topics – denim.  Mid to high rise jeans are everywhere and when it comes to this style, Levi’s have pretty much been my go-to.  (I recently talked about how to score a great vintage inspired pair for less than $100.)  The only thing that gives me hesitation when it comes to slipping on a pair of Levi’s, is that you have to get through the break-in period.  As anyone who’s sat through a long car ride or 3-hour brunch in brand new jeans can attest, the break-in period can be rough.  They’re stiff, barely give and are usually the first thing you take off when you get home.

I recently came across Citizens of Humanity Liya jeans and found the answer to my break-in woes.  With a selvedge denim wash, they achieve the perfect broken-in look and feel.  As soon as I slipped them on, I knew I’d struck gold.  Substantial and super soft to the touch, the are true mid-weight denim.  No stretchy legging vibes here.  Comfortable to wear all day through numerous errands, they maintained their shape and didn’t stretch out.

One of the dangers of high rise jeans is looking a little too mom-ish.  Don’t get me wrong, a vintage silhouette is great, but we don’t want to throw it back too far.  With an 11 inch front rise, button fly and tapered leg, the Liya’s achieve the perfect balance between vintage and contemporary.

I highly recommend giving these jeans a shot if you’re looking for a slim, high rise pair.  Here are a few things to consider when purchasing:

  1. Size down – I went down a full size and panicked that I’d barely be able to button them, but they fit perfectly.
  2. Fold them, never hang – This goes for all of your jeans, but because these are selvedge denim, you definitely want to fold them in a drawer as opposed to hanging them to avoid damage.  No knee creases!
  3. Don’t wash them – to sanitize, put them in a ziplock bag and store in your freezer for 24 hours.
  4. Enjoy! These jeans are high-rise, slim fit, mid-weight perfection.  No ugly mom jeans or flimsy legging style here.  Their cropped hem looks great folded or worn down.  They seriously go with everything!

Vince cardigan (on sale) // Ashley Rowe top // Citizens of Humanity Liya jeans //
Alexander Wang heels (similar here) // Celine bag // Retro Super Future sunglasses

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