In Spades

Style... in abundance

How to Style a Blazer for Fall

Fall 2021 Blazers Fall 2021 BlazersTheory Blazer (similar here) // Carhartt jeans // Sandals // T-shirt // Sunglasses

I love a good blazer.  The styling options are endless.

If Copenhagen Fashion Week is any indication (more on that for Fashion Friday), the blazer trend isn’t going anywhere.

For Fall 2021, pair your blazer with a band tee and vintage jeans.  I picked up these Carhartt men’s jeans from a local vintage shop and love their oversized, worn-in look.  To elevate the masculine inspired outfit, I styled it with these heels.  This color had been sold out all summer and just came back in stock.  For less than $50, they are such a great buy.  They are SUPER comfortable (the heel height is just perfect) and come in 5 colors.

I’ve owned this blazer for years but the cut is classic.  Go for double-breasted or one-button oversized blazers for fall.  I love neutral colors – navy, camel and olive – and windowpane prints instead of standard black or white.

Also check out full suits in pop colors like kelly green or pink.  Suits look amazing with so many shoe options – heels, boots, sneakers or flat sandals – that you can’t go wrong.  Stick to wide-leg suit pants for fall 2021 and don’t be afraid to layer them with oversized scarves or grandpa cardigans.

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Fashion Friday

Tiko Paksa Resort 20Last week for Fashion Friday, I talked about the price of fashion – why clothing costs what it does.

We broke down the cost of a fast fashion t-shirt versus a luxury t-shirt and found that, on average, fast fashion is marked up 6 times, and luxury is marked up once (double the cost).  Check out the video for details.

Of course, for luxury fashion you are paying for more than just the garment.  For example, real estate (strip mall vs. Park Avenue boutique).  Sales force (seasonal mall employee vs. an Hermes sales associate).  Marketing (glossy magazine ads), material (fabric made in Italy vs. China), manufacturing (pattern makers vs. designers with salaries), and production (made in USA vs. Asia) all play a part.

This prompted a poll.  I was curious to know whether you were more interested in a fashion item if it was designer, limited edition or hard to get.  50% of you said you weren’t.  Personally, if something is limited edition or hard to get I absolutely want it more.  I love the thrill of the (fashion) hunt, finding diamonds in the rough and investing in pieces that are unique.  I don’t want what everyone else has.

What about you?

I also asked if you shopped strictly by budget or if knowing a garment’s origin was important (even if it meant paying more).  60% of you said that you’re willing to pay more if you know the garment is ethically sourced and well made.

I loved having this conversation with you.  It’s an interesting view of the current fashion landscape.  When did we start buying more for less money? (Answer: the 80s when fast fashion was born.)  And will we ever get back to the days when having a higher quality but lower quantity is the norm?

Here are some of my favorite ethical, high quality, affordable brands

Naadam
Everlane
Cuyana
For Days
Amour Vert
Able
Girlfriend Collective
Patagonia
Levi’s

Comfy Sandals + Denim Cutoffs

Braided Flat Sandals AGOLDE Parker Long Denim Shorts

Earlier this week, I shared a mini review of these sandals on Instagram.  They come in 10 colors, run TTS and are SUPER comfortable.

The cushioned insole is like a cloud for your foot and the leather is buttery soft.  For under $100, these might be my best summer shoe purchase.

 

I paired them with my favorite denim cutoffs (read my full review here).  I recommend buying your favorite denim in two sizes.  This is the smaller of the two sizes I own.  Check out the fit difference compared to the larger size here.

Because they are 100% cotton, if you only want one size, I recommend sizing down.  They will stretch.

Paired with nautical stripes, this is an easy and fun summer look.

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Top 5 Favorites – July 2021

AGOLDE Parker Long Denim ShortsI can’t believe we will be moving into fall soon!  Your Top 5 Favorites for July 2021 were all about warm weather.  From my favorite denim cutoffs, to the comfiest sandals so some beautiful vacation dresses, check out your top picks below.
Denim Cutoffs

I wrote a review of these here.  They have replaced my former fave pair thanks to the longer length (4-inch inseam).  HIGHLY recommend these.

Comfy Sandals

These sandals are SUPER comfy and strike a great balance between chic and casual.  They come in 10 colors and run TTS.  Stay tuned for how I styled mine later this week!

Aviator Sunglasses

These sunnies have a classic aviator shape, but with a little more edge thanks to the no-wire frame.  They are incredibly lightweight and comfortable to wear, and clock in at $65.

Vacation Dress

When I wear this dress, I feel like I’m vacationing in a tropical paradise.  I adore it because it’s 100% cotton and super comfy.  It can be dressed up with heels or worn casually with sneakers or sandals.  This brand has tons of other fabulous print dresses, many of which are on sale.

LWD

Everyone needs a great little white dress.  This one is 100% cotton.  The styling options are endless and it’s 40% off!

Elevated Loungewear

Frank & Eileen loungewear Frank & Eileen loungewearWhile I love to dress up, having a collection of chic loungewear is a closet-must for me.

Here are some of my favorite loungewear sets.

Summer Loungewear
Loungewear you can leave the house in
My Fave Loungewear Brands Part I
My Fave Loungewear Brands Part II

Feeling put together in my loungewear is so important to me, and this set gets a 10 out of 10.  It comes in multiple colors as well as a shorts version for summer.

The fabric is substantial, super soft, and each piece runs TTS.  While there are plenty of cheap loungewear sets out there, I am so glad I invested in this one because it looks sharp and will last forever.

Right now you can get a $50-$500 gift card by shopping here.

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