In Spades

Style... in abundance

All Hallow’s Eve

H1 H4 H7 H2 H6 H8 H5 I hate being scared. But I love looking creepy and scary. Someday I’m going to find a special effects makeup artist to turn me into Edward Scissorhands or a deranged Selena Kyle, but in the meantime, if you’re still looking for Halloween costume ideas, this one is surprisingly easy to do.

You’ll need white grease makeup, Revlon Photoready Translucent Finisher and Maybelline EyeStudio Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black.

Apart from the white grease makeup, I recommend steering clear of the makeup sold in Halloween stores because it will crack and flake off, making for a very uncomfortable evening.

Step 1
Start with a clean, dry face.  Exfoliate your lips by scrubbing them with a wet toothbrush.

Step 2
Using a makeup sponge, apply the white grease makeup to sections of your face in downward strokes.  Start with the t-zone, and then move on to your cheeks.  Be sure to only use a downward motion otherwise you’ll end up with streaks that are difficult to buff out.  Don’t worry about applying a super thick coat, or if some sections are more opaque than others (the Finishing Powder will take care of that).

Step 3
Put a generous amount of the Translucent Finishing Powder on a fresh makeup sponge.  Using a blotting motion, press the product on top of the white grease makeup.  This will set the base coat and even out any areas of differentiating color.

Step 4
Eyes: Using the gel eyeliner and brush, draw a circle around your eyes that covers the top of your eyebrows.  Fill in.
Nose: Draw an upside down spade by tracing the shape of your nose.  Leave a u-shaped space at the top (the stem of the spade).
Lips: Draw a horizontal line straight through your mouth that curves up at the ends towards your cheek bones.  Draw a vertical line down the center of your cupid’s bow and then fill in shorter vertical lines spaced evenly from your starting point.
Embellish accordingly, paying special attention to your chin, eyebrows and cheekbones.

I love this look because it can be done quickly (took me about 25min) and you can add as much or as little as you want to it.  I prefer the Mistress of Darkness look above, but for a more traditional Day of the Dead vibe, incorporate colored eye liner and pair with a long skirt, ruffled shirt, corset and a flower crown.

Happy haunting!

Cocooned

LG6 LG4 LG5 LG7 LG1 LG8 LG2 Lady Gaga made me buy this sweater.

While strolling through Anthropologie I overhead a couple laughing at how ugly this sweater was and how the only person ridiculous enough to wear it was Lady Gaga.  Of course I had to see such a treasure for myself.  Once I was wrapped in it’s blankie-like cocoon I knew it was coming home with me.  It totally embodies autumn and feels like a warm hug.  Paired with two of my favorite staples on the planet, Madewell high riser skinny skinny jeans (the only high rise jeans I’ll ever wear) and L.K. Bennett buckle booties, I’m ready for pumpkin patches, wine tasting and everything else that autumn has to offer.

Anthropologie sweater // Madewell jeans // L.K. Bennett booties

Designer Handbag Checklist

I got into the designer handbag game quite late. To me, bags were always utility first, fashionable second. Part of the reason I couldn’t look past their utility, not to mention their hefty price tags, is because I’m really hard on my bags. I can’t tell you how many white/light ones I’ve ruined thanks to my love of denim. I put them on the ground, throw them in the trunk of my car and generally stuff them way too full.

But about three years ago I started to see handbags as items worth investing in. I realized that no matter what changes you go through in life – getting older, weight fluctuations, pregnancy – your handbag is the one item that will always “fit”. Like a gentlemen’s watch, it’s also the one thing I will never leave the house without, making it the ultimate, and sometimes only, fashion statement I make.
If you are thinking of taking the designer handbag plunge, here are my tips for what to consider before diving in.

Lifestyle

1) Lifestyle
The very first thing you need to do before beginning your search (and falling in love), is be honest about what kind of lifestyle you lead. Do you have a 9-5 desk job? If so, you might consider something that can go from the office to the weekend. Are you a busy mom that needs to store snacks and school supplies? Then maybe think about choosing something that can handle a little wear and tear. Does your handbag double as a gym bag/briefcase/weekend tote? Then you probably need lots of space and extra compartments. In the end, the choice is obviously yours. The point of this exercise is to get you thinking about what you actually need as well as want, so your investment doesn’t end up sitting in the closet collecting dust.

Leather

2) Leather
The choices are endless, but most leather options boil down to either calfskin or lambskin. Both are luxury materials, calfskin being the more prominent, because it’s heavier and can withstand wear and tear better. Lambskin is softer and lighter with a buttery texture, making it very luxurious but more delicate. Within these two types, there are also a myriad of finish options.
Saffiano leather is a type of calfskin that has been stamped by a machine, giving it a cross-hatch or grainy texture. It is then conditioned with a wax treatment, and the end result is a highly durable, scratch resistant finish that you can actually wipe clean. I highly recommend Saffiano leather for its durability and longevity. Any bag with this type of leather will look as good as the day you bought it, after years of everyday use.
Smooth leather: There’s nothing quite as pristine and sophisticated as a smooth leather handbag. The finish almost glimmers. Smooth leather bags hold their shape very well, but the smallest scratch interrupts that pristine surface. They should be conditioned often, and some will argue that light wear makes them look better over time.
Drummed leather has a pebbled texture and is more scratch resistant than smooth leather. Since it’s not as rigid, it’s great for travel because it responds well when stuffed full, or if you need to break it down. The downside of drummed leather is it doesn’t hold it’s shape as well as smooth leather. To prevent larger bags from puddling or sagging, it’s important to stuff them with tissue paper when not in use.

Styles

3) Shape and Size
Satchels, crossbodies, shoppers, bucket bags, the list goes on. Silhouette is probably the most important handbag feature to match to your lifestyle. I adore my Celine luggage tote, but it gets rotated more often than my other bags simply because carrying a bag on the crook of your elbow is nearly impossible 100% of the time. If you love satchels like I do, pick something with a removable shoulder strap so you have more than one carrying option.
Also consider how a bag behaves when at rest and how often you need to get into it.  Most large bags will have metal feet on the bottom preventing them from toppling over.  If you’re constantly reaching into your bag, an open shopper or something with a top zipper will probably be a better choice than a bag with a flap or magnetic closure.

It’s super important to try a handbag on in the store before purchasing. I thought I wanted the Celine Phantom until every sales associate in the room shook their head “no”. It’s a monster of a bag, and I looked like I was carrying a suitcase the size of a Fiat.  A test run will ensure you choose something that has complimentary proportions.  

Embellishments

4) Embellishments
Whether it’s hardware, fur, beading or crazy graphics, embellishments are a great way to add personality to a bag, but they should be chosen wisely. I love this Anya Hindmarch Tony the Tiger bag, but it’s so specific, I probably wouldn’t carry it everyday. The same goes for bags with excessive hardware and beading. My Rocco is beautiful, but with 90 metal feet on the bottom, it gets heavy. Pony hair has been a huge trend for many seasons now, and while beautiful, you enter into a whole new level of maintenance.  Remember that the more embellished the bag, the less likely you’ll be able to carry it on an everyday basis.

Neutrals

5) Color
Light colors: It goes without saying that I now stay away from white or very light colors. Although I’m a lot more careful with my bags now, leather is a very porous material that soaks up the oils from your hands. I recommend steering clear of light colors for this reason, especially if it’s your first designer bag. If you’ve already fallen in love with a lighter color, make sure to protect it with a leather spray like Synovia prior to first use and ask the brand who they recommend for routine cleaning and maintenance.
Dark colors: You can never go wrong with a black handbag. It looks good with everything and can easily transition from season to season. Most people opt for black on their first go, but I like to think outside the box and choose colors like navy, charcoal, light grey or tobacco. Still considered neutrals, they offer a little more of a pop, especially with basic silhouettes. If you’re willing to go one step further, jewel tones like cobalt, emerald and red are actually quite versatile but offer that “it” factor guaranteeing compliments wherever you go.
What’s on your designer handbag checklist?

Lifestyle: Black duffel// Green crossbody // Red tote// Grey satchel // Blue wallet on a chain (similar here)
Leather: Drummed // Smooth // Saffiano
Shape and Size:  Crossbody // Satchel // Bucket // Shopper
Embellishments: Beaded // Fur // Tony the Tiger // Metal hardware
Color: White // Black // Blue // Red

Almost Transitional

Sweater7 Sweater6 Sweater2 Sweater3 Sweater4We’re this close.  It should be sweater weather.  Try as I might to will autumn into existence, this eternal summer just won’t budge.  But it’s time to rebel.  My boots and sweaters are feeling very neglected and far be it for me to ignore my babies.  I waited until the last glimpse of sunlight (when it’s coolest) to bust out my wool (notice it’s short sleeved) and ankle booties.  Rebellion feels good.  At least figuratively.

Joseph sweater // J. Crew necklace // Rag & Bone jeans // Rosegold booties

Where Did You Get That?

Kali-Blog-121
When it comes to my wardrobe one of the questions I often get asked is “where did you get that?” which is usually followed by, “how did you get such a great deal?” It got me thinking about how I’ve procured things over the years, so I thought I’d share some tips for how I find the best items at great prices.

1) Window shop often.
By far and away, the reason I find unique pieces at great prices is because I’m always window shopping. It’s really that simple. Always be on the lookout. Get to the point where you know your favorite store’s merchandise as well as the sales associates. When your radar’s always up, you can hone in on the diamonds in the rough.

Think of it this way. Ever wonder why interior designers have such stunning homes? Sure, they have great taste. But they’re constantly sourcing items for clients, giving them access to hundreds of pieces each week to choose from. Knowledge is power.

What if you hate to shop or can’t shop often? Recruit a friend who does like to shop (we all have one). I know the shoe and dress sizes of all my close friends and family members. Anytime I come across something I think they’d like, I text them a picture.

Or, embrace the beauty of online shopping and flash sale sites. Gilt, Hautelook, MyHabit, Rue La La and Ideeli are your friends. I recommend setting up alerts when your favorite brands or items go on sale for even more of a leg up.

2) Shop without agenda.
I used to get annoyed when I walked into a store and an associate asked me, “what are you shopping for” until a friend told me it was a perfectly acceptable question to ask. The only time I’ve ever been able to answer that question is while searching for my wedding dress. Case in point? To find the best deals you have to shop without a specific agenda. It is 1000 times easier to find an amazing dress at a great price when you aren’t even looking for it. Ignore the little voice that says “but I don’t have anything to wear this to”. Trust me, that moment will present itself. Studies have shown that when you’re searching for something specific, you won’t find that perfect item or you will vastly overpay for it.

3) Shop girls/boys.
Like many things in life, it all comes back to who you know. By building relationships with sales associates at your favorite stores, you gain insider access to the best information so you can pounce on it first. Ask when they get fresh trucks each week so you know when new merchandise hits. The awesome ladies and gents of Nordstrom’s shoe and handbag departments send me a text anytime something comes in that they think I’d like. This also applies to sales, or if there’s a return of a hard-to-get item in my size. Sales associates love helping people find items they covet and they want to build their book of business, so it’s a win-win relationship.

4) Know your sizes.
A lot of the best deals are found online, especially in the flash sale sites noted above. Also check out Matches Fashion and Farfetch (free shipping on your first purchase by signing up through the link), two of my favorite online shops for finding unique pieces. When it comes to online shopping, the biggest obstacle preventing us from clicking “Purchase” is the worry that it won’t fit, coupled with a cumbersome return process.

If there is a particular brand you’re interested in owning, go into their store and try the line on. By knowing what size you are in say, Rag & Bone jeans, you can take advantage of online sales much easier by eliminating any sizing and fit uncertainty. Again, knowledge is power.

Happy shopping!


BCBG Max Azria leather jacket // Forever 21 sunglasses // 
Peter Pilotto for Target top and skirt