In Spades

Style... in abundance

Karma

DM5 DM2 DMShoes1 DM3 DM1 DMShoes2 DM6 DM7 DM8 DMShoes3 DM4 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!

Daniele Michetti corset sandals c/o J.S. // Nicholas top // J. Crew jeans // Pianegonda ring

Remix

Remix2 Remix9 Remix3 Remix7 Remix5 RemixShoes2 Remix8 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?

Berenik jacket // Banana Republic tee // AMO denim // J. Crew and Thatch necklaces // 
BCBG hat // Alexander Wang heels

Utility

Utility3 Utility8 Utility1 Utility2 Utility9 UtilityShoes1 Utility5 Utility7 Utility4 As summer inches closer, I’m all about easy pieces. This outfit is the very definition of ease, while still looking chic. I love this military style jacket for baseball games, windy beach days or late night campfires. It’s lightweight, so you can layer a million things underneath it, and the long length and hood give me added warmth. While a lot of people are protesting the return of Birkenstocks for being too trendy, the 90’s nostalgia hit me hard. Birks remind me of high school – driving around with my best friend listening to the same mix tape over and over. They’re so darn comfortable and go just as well with casual outfits as they do dressier ones. What’s not to love again?
Zara jacket // J. Crew tee // Current/Elliott boyfriend cropped jeans // Birkenstocks // 
Giles & Brother bracelet // Dogeared and Favor Jewelry rings

Top 3 Hair Products

Top3HairProducts
Styling my hair has always been a challenge. It’s stick straight, fine and not color treated, which makes it difficult to manipulate beyond flat and lifeless. At the end of the day we all want what we can’t have, and for me, those two things are volume and texture.

Over the years, I’ve wasted so much money on “best selling hair products” hoping to find something that works, but have always come up short. Now that I have shorter hair, it’s more important than ever to have go-to products I can rely on. Gone are the days of the wash-n-go easiness of long hair.

Here are the Top 3 Hair Products that I can’t live without. They work every time and all serve different purposes.

1) Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($42)
To use: Shake well. Spray anywhere you want volume.
Best Feature: Dual purpose dry shampoo and texturizer

Over the past year I’ve trained my hair to go several days without washing. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is the perfect reviver. It smells like a tropical vacation and gives me a subtle, sexy lift and tons of texture. Unlike most products that advise application to the roots only, you can spray this anywhere without weighing down your hair. There is no powdery residue and it works equally well on freshly washed hair to add life to squeaky-clean locks. It’s a little pricey, but worth every penny.

2) Kevin Murphy Anti Gravity Spray ($28)
To use: Spray onto wet hair before blow-drying
Best Feature: Pliability and “stickiness”

This non-aerosol spray by Kevin Murphy is probably the most revolutionary product I’ve come across. It gives my hair two opposing effects that somehow work together. My roots feel thicker and almost gritty, but are still completely soft and brushable. It makes my hair pliable for sculpting, but also holds it shape. It’s basically Brigitte Bardot’s hair in a can. Formulated without silicon or any harsh chemicals, it smells like soothing lavender and amber oil and can be sprayed onto roots or ends. Apply as much or as little as you like. You can’t go overboard.

3) Framesi By Be You Bodifying Mousse ($27)
To use: Shake well. Apply 1-2 walnut sized dollops onto wet hair.
Best Feature: Weightless volume and thickness

For me, mousse is synonymous to the 1980s (do people actually still use mousse?) so I was a little reluctant to give this one a try, but am so glad I did. If I’m going to be heat styling my hair or putting it up, this product is a must. Think of it as the hair product equivalent of a soufflé – it expands the hair shaft and lifts the follicle up for incredible weightless volume that lasts.

Keep it Coming

TDS2 TDS8 TDS10 TDS13 TDS12 TDS17 TDS18 TDS6 TDS14 When I find something good, I stick with it. I’ve never been a basics girl. I’ve always preferred to seek out pieces. So it’s only fitting that I would add another piece from The Design Studio to my collection. This mother/daughter duo out of the UK create and model the most amazing faux fur bombers, and my first one was a doozy. This soft pink and grey number is a little more understated and can be styled a million different ways. I almost shot it with high-waisted distressed skinnies and metallic Vans, but I love the polished look of menswear inspired boots and a collared neckline underneath. This version is lined (my first one is not) which gives it a bit more weight and added volume to play with. You know you want one.
The Design Studio bomber // COS silk shirt // J Brand jeans // Vince boots // 
Madewell earrings // Favor Jewelry ring // Forever 21 sunglasses