In Spades

Style... in abundance

The Best Clean Burning Candles Under $40

Clean burning candles under $40I first discovered Otherland candles when searching for affordable holiday gifts.

We go through tons of candles in our house, so I’ve done my fair share of research.  From cheap to expensive, I can honestly say these candles are my favorite.

Why?

  • They have the best throw of any candle brand I’ve come across
  • They are clean-burning (no toxins or bad stuff)
  • They burn for 55 hours
  • They’re under $40
  • They constantly release new scents

I like to keep 2-3 of them on hand as gifts. They make great hostess, holiday or thank you gifts!

Throw is how well a candle’s scent permeates a room.

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Chic Loungewear Set for Summer

Chic Loungewear for Summer Chic Loungewear for SummerTop // Shorts // Sneakers // Sunglasses

Over the weekend I shared 3 loungewear looks I’m loving.

This set is such a chic option for summer.  I’ve already worn it a ton!

It comes in 3 colors and has a sweatpants and sweatshirt option for cooler weather.  The cotton is high-quality and won’t stretch out.

I’m loving the shoulder pad top (total varsity vibes) and roll-top shorts.  It’s built-in casualness that is oh-so-chic.

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Has Fashion Jumped the Shark?

Has Fashion Jumped the Shark?If you missed my Fashion Friday on Instagram, I talked about two big drops that debuted last week.  Yeezy for The Gap and Balenciaga’s second collaboration with Crocs.

Both received a lot of press, and as I found out via Insta polls, they are both quite polarizing.  You either love Kanye or hate him.  Wear Crocs or wouldn’t be caught dead in them. Victoria Beckham famously said…

“I think I’d rather die but thank you anyway @justinbieber 😂”

… in response to Justin Bieber’s collab with Crocs.

Let’s break down these two collabs.

Yeezy for The Gap

The only thing shoppers were privy to when this puffer jacket appeared on The Gap’s homepage was that they’d need to fill out their personal information, sizes and then… be put into a waiting room.  After a $200 commitment, they were informed Yeezy’s first piece for The Gap would ship sometime this fall.

Do I like Kanye?  No.  Do I hate this jacket?  Also no.  But let’s unpack that.  It’s a puffer coat.  As a huge fan of both Yvon Chouinard (Patagonia puffer jackets) and Norma Kamali (the sleeping bag coat) – both created in the 1960’s – it’s clear where his inspiration came from.

It’s a fun color.  But I (of course) will not be buying it.  How about you?

Balenciaga for Crocs 2.0

Balenciaga previously gave us a platform Croc in 2017.  This past week they debuted a stiletto Croc.  Who needs stiletto Crocs?  That’s right, no one.

But here’s the catch.

Demand for Crocs increased 64% in the first quarter of this year alone.  Revenues are through the roof.  So what may seem like an “are you kidding me?” move, is actually smart marketing.

The stiletto Crocs are part of the Spring/Summer 2022 collection and will retail for approximately $1000.  Who will be buying them?

Where do we go from here?

Both of these drops have me begging the question.

Has fashion jumped the shark?  

I love small, indie brands because they stay true to their DNA.  They know what they do well, stick to it, and do it in spades.

I love big luxury brands too.  And you know I love a ridiculous fashion moment.  But when are we going to reign it in from shock value to functionality?  The pendulum hath swung too far, methinks.

The History of Fashion: Denim

Oooo, I am excited for this post!  If you’ve been here before, you know I’m denim obsessed.  Jeans represent my truest form of sartorial expression.  Over the course of my life, I’ve owned and sold hundreds of pairs.

At their core, jeans are profoundly American.  From their inception during the California Gold Rush, to the advent of designer jeans, denim DNA is trailblazing.

Denim Origin

So how did this all begin?

Denim as a fabric was first created in Nîmes, France.  Its original name was “serge de Nîmes” which became known as “denim.”

It was, of course, Levi Strauss who took this to a whole other level by creating blue jeans in the mid-1800’s.  The durable fabric was meant to be worn by gold miners – the pockets were made large to fit pieces of gold – and were adapted by cowboys in the 1920s thanks to Strauss’s genius mass production and marketing.

Fun fact: Outlaw Peart Hart was arrested for wearing jeans in the early 1900s.  Not considered appropriate dress for women at the time, they forced her to put on a dress for her mug shot.

That’s my kind of gal.

Denim Trends

When it comes to jeans, my preference is very cyclical.  I’ve been on (and off) just about every denim bandwagon, but after decades of research, I’ve finally found my holy grail.

100% cotton, straight leg, cropped jeans

I love a wide leg or a flare every now and then, but my M.O. from here on out is 100% cotton or bust.  I recently cleaned out my closet and as I was going through what to toss and what to keep, I couldn’t believe how strange my stretchy jeans felt.  They all got donated.

The best thing you can do for 100% cotton jeans is never wash them. Yep, I mean it.  As a mother of a toddler, I occasionally have to break this rule, but I try VERY hard not to.

Levi's 1950 501s
Denim Resources

If you’re denim obsessed like me, check these out.

This Instagram account is fabulous for vintage Levi’s, exclusive drops and true denim nerds.

Jeff Goldblum did a documentary on jeans that covers enthusiasts who go searching through mines and those that pay thousands for vintage threads.

Download the Levi’s app for exclusive deals on vintage denim.  I just scored an authenticated vintage pair of 501 cutoffs.

Check out Levi’s most well-known and respected collector Brit Eaton.  He has a private Instagram account where he sells vintage Levi’s he finds throughout the world.

My Favorite Everyday Jeans
My Favorite Designer Jeans
Barrel leg jeans

Top 5 Favorites May 2021

Everlane Slim Leg PantsWearing your May 2021 Top 5 Favorite straight leg pants

Summer is just around the corner and there are some amazing designer sales to shop.

Let’s see what your top picks were from last month.  Hint, they include my fave tee and a great gift idea.

The Best T-shirt

This tee is the perfect weight, lasts forever and has a great broken-in look.  It runs TTS and I own it in 4 colors.

Currently on sale for less than $20!

The Best Tank Top

Another amazing deal and great basic.  It comes in 18 colors and runs TTS, but if you are in between sizes, size up.

It’s only $8!

The Best Straight Leg Pants

These pants are so comfortable and flattering.  They come in 6 colors (2 of which are on sale) and run TTS.

Childhood Journal

I recently bought this to pick up where my baby journal left off.  I love that there’s a section for photos and blank pages for you to add what you want.  The information is bite-sized, so you don’t feel overwhelmed or pressured to document every tiny detail.

It would make a great gift for a mom-to-be.  Once your child turns 18 you gift it to them. 🙂

It’s available via Amazon Prime.

Matted Frame

This was honestly the best $18 I ever spent.  Super high quality and it looks identical to the much more expensive Framebridge one I own.

It comes in black and white and multiple sizes.