In Spades

Style... in abundance

Chic Loungewear You Can Leave the House In

Anine Bing sweatshirtSweatshirt // Joggers (similar here) // Sneakers // Sunglasses (similar here)

I wonder.  Once the pandemic is over, do you think people will look at their loungewear collection and blanche?  Or can you never have enough loungewear?

Jeans and heels used to be THE uniform.  I wonder if sweats and sneakers are now the name of the game.

If you tuned into my Fashion Friday, I talked about the only brands reporting profits year-over-year.  Unsurprisingly, they were all loungewear/athletic wear brands.  Lululemon, Under Armour, Adidas and Nike are up 50% since last year.  They’re not just surviving.  They’re thriving.

As a mom and someone who works from home, loungewear is actually quite important to me.  But I have to feel like I can step out of the house and look put together and not like I’m making a coffee run in my pajamas.

I’ve written about 3 of my favorite loungewear brands before, and today I wanted to expound on that.

While Anine Bing is not technically a loungewear brand, her graphic tees and classic, elevated pieces make for a total wardrobe package.  Out of all the sweatshirts I own, this is by far the one I wear the most.  The color is versatile, it’s super chic and so comfortable.  I really want to get this graphic tee, but sadly it’s sold out in my size.

While my joggers are sold out, I’ve linked some other similar styles below.

If you’ve never perused the brand before, I highly encourage you to check out her pieces.  She’s an influencer/model turned designers and one of the VERY few who can claim being legit.  She’s been designing her line for years and her aim is to make elevated wardrobe basics that can be easily interchanged.  Like a capsule wardrobe on steroids.

I will happily lounge in her wears.

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Fashion Friday

AGOLDE Jamie jeansJeans // Top // Platforms // Sunglasses

Well friends, we’ve reached the end of another week.  You know what that means.  Fashion Friday!

Fashion in Film

I listened to the first episode of this podcast co-hosted by Mark-Paul Gosselaar of Saved by the Bell.  Yep, Zack is back! This was such an iconic show for me and it got me thinking of all my favorite fashion moments from TV and film.

The Calvin Klein dress in Clueless.

The red gown in Pretty Woman.

Marilyn’s halter dress in The Seven Year Itch.

Anything Audrey Hepburn ever wore on screen.

There’s a reason people win Oscars for costume design.  Clothes are like another character; they help bring the story to life.

If you’ve never seen Down With Love, you must watch it.  I ADORE the costumes in this movie!

What are your favorite fashion moments in film?

Are People Still Shopping?

I’m sure this comes as no surprise to you, but the fashion industry is not doing well.  In store traffic is virtually non-existent, stores are filing for bankruptcy left and right and the industry as a whole is having to rethink the fashion system.

So what is actually selling?  Where are people shopping?

Unsurprisingly, athletic wear and loungewear are the two categories that remain unscathed by the pandemic.  They’re thriving, in fact.  Lululemon, Nike, Adidas and Under Armor increased their sales by almost 50% year-over-year.  Any store offering deep discounts is doing well too.  Zara, LL Bean and J. Crew also reported good sales last month, thanks mostly to their almost 80% off discounts.

Are you still shopping?  If so, what are you shopping for?

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

And that brings me to the frenzy-inducing Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  If one sale gets people out of bed to shop, it’s this one.  While I ADORE Nordstrom, this sale is not for me.  It discounts upcoming fall merchandise and does a good job of offering wardrobe basics.  While basics are important, I’m a treasure hunter.  I’m not interested in the same cardigan that 10 million other people have.

While I have covered this sale for the past 4 years, I will not be covering it this year.  There are, however, some great deals on beauty and loungewear I’ll be shopping.

Specifically, I’ll be restocking:

Beauty: this and this

Home: this and this

The best bra ever

The best undies ever

Will you be shopping the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale?

Ultimate Summer Wardrobe Guide

Lisa Marie Fernandez x Target Lisa Marie Fernandez x TargetDress (similar below) // Hat // Bag (old Marc Jacobs, similar below) // Sunglasses // Sandals

Every summer I invest in a new little white dress.  See my picks from years past here and here.  There’s something equally easy and elevated about them.  Kind of like Diane Lane’s Positano dress in Under the Tuscan Sun.  Attention grabbing yet comfortable; breezy.

In the past couple months I’ve covered my favorite straw hats, summer sandals, swimwear and little white dresses.  I figure it’s time to round them all up for an ultimate summer wardrobe guide.

Think of a solid summer wardrobe like a capsule collection.  You just need a handful of key pieces to interchange.  Below are the items I can’t live without. I mix in quality tees, fun sunglasses and accessories, and use this blueprint as my core foundation.

Ultimate Summer Wardrobe Guide

Straw hat – tons of styles to choose from (fedora, floppy, bucket) but I prefer a boater for the most sun protection without being TOO big.  Bonus points if it has a tie to keep it from falling off on a windy day.

Little white dress – choose cotton or linen.  You need it to breathe and these two fabrics not only do that, but they transition from day to night better than anything else.

Dressy sandals – a block heel between 1-2 inches is best for versatility and comfort.  These Isabel Marant sandals are one of the best shoe purchases I’ve ever made.  If I had to salvage only 5 pairs from my closet, these would be on the list.  For a more affordable option, try these.

Pool/beach sandals that can get wet – I prefer a flatform, and never shy away from a sporty look, but if you want something more minimal, I like these.

Large handbag – choose something large enough to carry your life from day to night.  It also needs to be able to take a beating because sun, surf and sand are great for the soul but not for most fabrics.  Straw or nylon are great choices.

Denim cutoffs – I only wear 3 pairs (these, these and these).  They all go with EVERYTHING.  Enough said.

One-piece swimsuit – as a mom who chases a toddler and someone who loves to swim, I like a sporty but cute option.  A one-piece is best for this.

Bikini – always have a flirty bikini on rotation (better tan lines and your second option for when suit #1 is drying).

Personally, I don’t wear bathing suit cover-ups.  I think a rad pair of cutoffs or a breezy cotton dress work much better and serve a dual purpose.  Cover-ups just seem like more stuff to me.

Mix and match the above with other pieces in your wardrobe for the perfect summer capsule wardrobe.

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Balenciaga Triple S Review

Well, the cat’s out of the bag.

The ridiculous purchase I teased is the Balenciaga Triple S sneaker.  Today, I’m sharing my honest review of these chunky, Dad sneakers.

My goal for this review was to set the record straight on:

  1. Sizing
  2. How heavy are they really?
  3. Fashion vs. function
  4. Whether to buy into trends or not

Stay tuned for the end when I read meant Tweets (reviews) these shoes have received – they’re HILARIOUS.

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Life Lately

Pangaia cropped t-shirtPangaia cropped t-shirtTop // Jeans // Sneakers // Sunglasses

I’ll be honest.  The past two weeks have kicked my butt.  I am SO ready for the weekend.

Instead of my normal Fashion Friday, a Life Lately post feels more appropriate.  There is so much in my head that I want to get down on paper… er, screen.

Workouts

I’m super proud to say that I have completed 90 consecutive rides on our Peloton.  Since it arrived, I haven’t missed a day.  It truly is my daily moment of peace, clarity and grit all rolled into one.

Once I reach my century ride, I’m considering changing up my schedule and working in the BBG program.  Cardio-wise I’m SET.  But I’m feeling the need for some strength training (even though I do work in an arm interval on some of my rides).  I really think it will be just what I need and get me to the next level on the bike.

What workouts are you loving right now?

Indulgences

The long coveted item that I teased on Instagram has finally arrived.  My plan was to post a review for Fashion Friday, but I haven’t had time to film.  Rest assured, it’s coming!

Speaking of cult items, I’m curious.  When something is super trendy, how do you react?  Are you intrigued?  Do you wait for the hype to die down before you really assess whether you’ll purchase?  Or do you avoid it altogether?

I never been one to follow the pack when it comes to fashion, but I can’t resist a piece that goes against the grain.  And this item I’ve been coveting for 3 years is certainly not conventionally “pretty”.  It definitely goes against the grain.

Fashion News

Transitioning to fashion that IS breathtakingly pretty, you must check out Valentino’s couture collection.  While Dior went miniature, Valentino went larger than life.  It was haunting, heart wrenchingly beautiful fashion.  I found myself sitting up taller, pulling my shoulders back and tearing up while watching.  It was 12 minutes of escapism; the silhouettes still flashing like vivid memories in my head.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  Pierpaolo Piccioli could not be a better choice for the house of Valentino.  I just adore him.

Just for Fun

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I am a total nerd at heart.  Film is my other deep passion when it comes to creative mediums and action, adventure and sci-fi are my genres.

Each year my husband and I attend Comicon.  We cosplay, attend panels, take pics and bash around the Gaslamp like the eternal kids we are at heart.  Of course there will be no Comicon this year, but to commemorate the occasion I’ll be posting my favorite moments from over the years.

Join me on Instagram!