The June gloom that extended into July in Southern California looks like it has finally retreated. I couldn’t be more pleased to pull out my Panama hat and tropical printed attire. I almost feel like I should be going on safari, but will settle for strolls on the boardwalk and toe dips in the ocean instead. These shorts kind of resemble something that Kelly from 90210 would wear, but their lighter wash and button fly have already made them one of my summer favorites.

Culottes are everywhere right now, and rightly so. They offer a pulled together and chic alternative to maxi dresses or denim shorts, making them a perfect summer staple. I’d been on the hunt for a pair for weeks, and finally found a winner in these by Brochu Walker. With a lower waistline that sits below my belly button, they fit my frame much better than any of the high waisted pairs I tried on. While I normally love a high waisted pant, culottes have so much volume they tend to swallow a smaller frame. Additionally, if you are gifted in the rear, I’d recommend a lower waistline for a more proportioned distance from waist to hem.

When it comes to length, look for a pair that hits just below the bottom of your calf. Anything shorter resembles a gaucho pant, and going longer defeats the purpose of the silhouette making them look like baggy highwaters. Another thing to consider is the weight of the material. Taller women can pull off heavier fabrics like thick cotton or poly blends, whereas average to short women might want to stick to lighter materials like silk or linen. Again, it’s a volume thing – you want to wear your culottes and not have them wear you. Happy hunting!

There’s an episode of Sex and the City where Carrie wears a white men’s dress shirt as a dress. Paired with a belt and heels, I remember being completely taken with the ensemble, more so than any of her other memorable get-ups. What can I say. I’m an eternal fan of menswear.

This smoking jacket, a designer collaboration between Isabel Marant and H&M, is always in heavy rotation. I love it’s boxy shape, so extreme with it’s deep lapels it almost borders on funeral director. It’s essential to counter that masculinity with barely there shorts and vampy heels.  Consider it my summer night’s uniform.

This past weekend my husband and I enjoyed a great walk on the beach only to realize his wallet fell out somewhere along our path. After two hours of retracing our steps with no luck, we returned home to find his wallet fully intact behind our screen door. The level of appreciation we have toward the Good Samaritan who did this is monumental, and today’s OOTD is equally rich with good karma.

The Daniele Michetti shoes I’m wearing were given to me by a lovely reader and friend of a friend. When she reached out to tell me that she wanted them to go to a good home where they would get more use, I was ecstatic and in awe of her generosity. Daniele Michetti is a luxury shoe line based in Italy and can be found at Saks Fifth Avenue, Net-a-Porter and Neiman Marcus. It’s not everyday someone passes on a gift this generous (and fun!). I like to imagine the joy and excitement she must have felt after purchasing them, walking through the streets of NYC, treasure in hand.  That legacy, and this good karma, is something I’ll definitely continue. Thank you JS!

When you write a fashion blog and are generally obsessed with all things sartorial, it can be difficult to refrain from constantly buying new pieces. With the ease of online shopping, the lure of fantastic summer sales and the fact that I’m always looking at fashion one way or another, it’s incredibly important for people like me to hit pause on the consume button. Afterall, no one needs 20 pair of jeans.

This weekend I had planned on shooting an entirely different outfit, but when I stepped out for brunch wearing the above, it hit me. This was the outfit I wanted to photograph. With the exception of one necklace, every single piece in today’s OOTD has been featured on In Spades before. I thought it was a great opportunity to show you how I style the pieces in my wardrobe differently. It’s also a great opportunity to tell you that many of the items I feature on In Spades are not brand new. They are pieces I’ve been collecting over many years. Rather than focus on single wear fast fashion, I like to build a collection of items I know will last and that I’ll continually wear in years to come.  For me, clothing has never solely been about necessity; it’s my art.  And like any good collector, it’s important to invest in quality, timeless pieces that fill a void forever, not just temporarily.

How do you remix your pieces?