In Spades

Style... in abundance

The History of Fashion: Prada

Prada Frankenstein shirt, Bottega Veneta pouchThe past few weeks I’ve taken my weekly Fashion Friday series to Instagram Live.  It was so fun interacting with readers in real time!  This week I’m getting back to my standard format and posting on Instagram Stories in addition to here on the blog.

The Fashion Law recently released an article showing the evolution of luxury designer logos.  It’s a shocking comparison to see “then vs. now”.  Every brand has shifted to a homogenous sans serif font.  The article dubs this shift as “blanding”.  Brand are TRYING to all look the same.  But why?

Part of the reason stems from our shift to online shopping.  When you shop in-store, you clearly know which luxury designer’s store you walk into.  But when you’re shopping online, it’s easy to click from brand to brand on a retailers page.  After a while, Gucci starts to blend with Balenciaga.  Consumers are more likely to add more items to their cart when multiple brands are available in a one-stop-shop compared to physically walking from store to store.  The homogenous aesthetic makes it feel more fluid and is less likely to distract the customer and make them stop shopping.

This got me thinking about one of the reasons why I love fashion.  Every designer has a specific brand DNA and I LOVE that differentiation.  I WANT to see the differences.  How boring would the world be if everything looked the same?

So with that spirit in mind, I’m kicking off a new series: The History of Fashion.

It’s my goal to educate and share what I know about designer brands so that you too can celebrate their uniqueness.

First up, Prada.

NYFW SS19 OOTD 2

Interesting Facts About Prada
  • Founded in 1913, the company began by designing leather bags.
  • Miuccia Prada inherited the company from her grandfather and took the reigns in the late 1980s.
  • Miuccia’s first initiative was a line of nylon handbags with a triangular Prada logo.  It was a huge commercial success and put Prada on the map.
  • The Prada aesthetic is known for being “ugly chic”.  It shies away from elements that are traditionally beautiful and instead finds beauty in unconventionally beautiful things.
  • Before helming Prada, Miuccia performed as a mime.  She also has a Ph.D. in political science.
  • Miuccia’s mother was a Prada, so her last name was technically not Prada.  When her parents died, she had an unmarried aunt adopt her and reclaimed the Prada surname.
  • Prada is one of the only luxury designer brands to only have a member of the Prada family as lead designer.
  • In 2020, Prada announced that Raf Simons would assume the role of Co-Creative Director with Miuccia.
  • Miuccia also owns and designs for Miu Miu (which is Miuccia’s nickname).

 

Sunglasses Review: Affordable, Designer & 3 Tips for Finding the Best Pair

Sunglasses have become such a big part of my fashion vernacular that I consider them to be as important as the handbag I carry.  From cheap pairs to designer, I’ve learned a ton about different brands and styles over the years.

With summer right around the corner I thought it was the perfect time to break down my favorite pairs.  Read on for the affordable brands I love, which designer brands are worth it, and 3 tips for selecting the best frames for your face shape.

Affordable Brands I Love

NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's WifeWearing Le Specs sunglasses

Without question, my two favorite affordable brands are Le Specs and Quay Australia.

Each brand averages about $50 a pair.  They both offer polarized lenses and polycarbonate frames.  What you get is durable, high-quality sunnies at a great price.

Another bonus is that they are constantly coming out with new styles.  You can find classic and trendy frames in a myriad of colors.

This is my all-time favorite pair of Le Specs.  It’s a perennial style and they offer a multitude of seasonal colors.


Quay Australia runs a little cheaper and a tad trendier.  They have a great selection of classic styles but tend to be more fashion-forward in the shapes and colors they offer.  They also offer blue light glasses, which I love.

Blue Light GlassesWearing Quay Australia blue light glasses

This is my all-time favorite pair of Quay Australia.  They look great on every face shape.

Designer Brands I Love

Tiko Paksa Resort 20Wearing Celine sunglasses

If you’ve been reading In Spades for a while, you know I have a Celine sunnies addiction.

Every Nordstrom Note I earn goes towards Celine sunglasses.  I own these, these, and these.

What I adore about them is the style.  Their designs are incredible: uber chic, ultra flattering and so fashionable.  They are the sunglasses line that every other sunglasses brand copies.

The Best Affordable Cashmere SweatersWearing Celine sunglasses

Here’s what you need to know about Celine sunnies – they bend.  The frames are made from a super pliable material which makes them comfortable and durable, but also prone to losing their shape.

I have to get mine adjusted about every six months. To be honest, having to readjust them is a pain.  BUT, their impeccable designs are worth it, IMO.  I will deal with the extra step because I love them THAT much.

3 Tips for Finding the Best Sunglasses for Your Face Shape
  1. Opt for a gradient lens.  Do you know what makes sunglasses look expensive?  It’s not the frame, but the lens.  A gradient lens softens the look of the frames while also adding a dramatic edge.  This juxtaposition lends well to all face shapes.
  2. When it doubt, opt for square frames with rounded edges. This frame shape will flatter oval, round, square and heart-shaped faces alike.  It’s a common misconception that an aviator frame looks good on everyone – it doesn’t.  The downward slope of the aviator frame elongates oval and heart-shaped faces too much.  A square frame with rounded edges like these, look amazing on everybody.
  3. These nose pads are a lifesaver.  They come in clear and black and prevent sunglasses from slipping down your nose.  They can be cleaned and stuck on and off without damaging your frames.  If you have fit problems with sunglasses, GET THESE.

Step-by-Step Smokey Eye

Smokey EyeshadowSmokey eyeshadow quad // Base eyeshadow // Eyebrow pencil & brow gel // Eyeliner // Lipstick // Mascara

When it comes to doing my makeup, I feel pretty competent.  My skills aren’t YouTuber status, but over the years I’ve mastered two key looks – natural, everyday makeup and a smokey eye.

To be honest, I get tons of compliments and questions about what products I use for my smokey eye.  Since wearing a mask in public is our new reality, I think a lot of women are going to be upping their eyeshadow game.  It’s high time I made this a blog post!

While I’ve done a video tutorial on Instagram Stories before, I wanted to break down the process step by step.  The key is the ingredients.

Base Eyeshadow

The secret to a good smokey eye is a combination of cream and powder eyeshadow.

I use this base to start my smokey eye.  It has a bit of shimmer, but not too much.  Light reflects so beautifully when you use this as your base.

I apply it with my finger and cover my entire eyelid up to the brow bone.

Eyeshadow Quad

Next, I use a sponge applicator eyeshadow brush and this palette.  It’s truly the palette to end all palettes.  It looks good on EVERY skin tone and achieves a natural yet dramatic smokey eye.

Start by applying the bottom-right color to the crease.  I start on the outer corner of my eyelid and blend inwards using the sponge applicator eyeshadow brush.

Then I apply the bottom-left color on top of the previous color.  I focus mainly on applying color to the outer corner of my eyelid.  Since this color has shimmer, you don’t want to go overboard.

If you prefer a classic, grey smokey eye follow the exact same instructions above but use this palette.

The key here is the sponge applicator brush.  It absorbs and distributes color so much better than a standard eyeshadow brush since you’re using a cream eyeshadow base.

Once you’ve applied both colors to the crease, take a standard eyeshadow brush (I like this one) and sweep it back and forth along the crease to finish the look.

Finishing Touches

I adore this black eyeliner (only on the bottom lids) and this mascara.

Pro Tip: using a Kleenex, wipe off the mascara wand before applying.  This sounds counterproductive, but TRUST ME in that it will make your lashes longer and more voluminous.

When a mascara wand has too much product on it, it weighs lashes down and makes them look clumpy.

Brows are a two-part process for me.  First, I fill mine in with this eyebrow pencil.  I focus mostly on the arch and the start of my eyebrows.  Don’t overfill the middle of your brows – you’ll end up looking like Bert from Sesame Street.

Pro Tip: make sure your brow pencil is a true match to your actual brow color.  If you want to lighten the color of your brows, choose a brow gel 1-2 shades lighter than your actual color.

I use this color brow pencil and this color brow gel.

Voila!  The perfect smokey eye.

Fashion Friday

J. Crew catalogHappy Fashion Friday!

Once again, I’ll be going Live on Instagram at 5pm PT to chat all things fashion.  Join me for a discussion on the current state of retail.  Below are the topics I’m planning to discuss.  Feel free to submit questions below or share them live.  I’d love to hear from you!

Fashion Friday Topics
  • An homage to J. Crew
  • Favorite J. Crew catalogs and styling moments; why their preppy, colorful persona stole our hearts
  • Business update on the state of retail (shopping malls and store closures)
  • Consumer spending – how have your habits changed?
  • If your shopping habits and preferences have changed as a result of COVID-19, do you think they’ll stick once life returns to “normal”?

What I’m Coveting: Denim Shorts

Agolde Dee ultra high rise shortsTibi sweatshirt (similar here and here) // AGOLDE denim shorts // Celine sunglasses

Ah, shorts season.

If you’re a long-time reader, you know I am 100% a fall/winter girl when it comes to wardrobe.  But there’s something to be said about the perfect pair of denim cutoffs.  Classic, comfy, chic.

Since they are what I live in during summer, I wanted to share my favorites.  I have three pairs that I reach for most.  If you have questions about other brands or styles, let me know.  Chances are I’ve tried them.  Denim is kinda my thing.

My 3 Favorite Pairs of Denim Cutoffs

Denim Cutoffs

The great news about all three of these styles is that they are perennial AND they each come in TONS of washes.

1.AGOLDE Ultra High Rise Denim Shorts

Pros: SUPER flattering.  The high rise (12.25 inches) and longer inseam (4 inches) mean these cutoffs give you the most coverage.  No Daisy Dukes here.  They are especially flattering on pear shapes because they accentuate the waist and give you room in the hips.

Cons: Because they are ultra high rise, I don’t recommend doing summer sports in these (bike rides, etc.).  They are a lounging-by-the-pool pair of shorts.  Out of my three favorites, these are the least comfortable because they have no stretch and such a high rise.

Sizing: TTS but size up if you’re between sizes.  They are 100% cotton so there’s zero stretch.  I’m wearing my true size (25) but wish I would have sized up to a 26 for added comfort.

Shop High Rise Cutoffs

2. AGOLDE Parker Denim Shorts

Pros: SUPER comfortable.  While these are technically 100% cotton, they absolutely feel like they have elastane in them.  They stretch and mold to your body.  I can crawl around on the floor with my daughter, play beach volleyball and take a long bike ride in these shorts.

Cons: They have a 10.25 inch rise and 2 inch inseam so there’s not a lot of coverage.  Out of my three favorites, I think they are the least flattering on me because I have wide hips and a small waist (the rise isn’t high enough to highlight my waist).

Sizing: TTS.  I went up one size (wearing a 26) because I wanted them to be my workhorse/super comfy pair, but the size 25 looked SO MUCH better on me.

Shop Comfy Cutoffs

3. Vintage Levi’s 501s (go for modern-day 501s or Mid Thigh 501s for the same style)

Pros: My ride or die pair.  Comfortable, classic, cool.  I love how the wash has aged with time.  The key to this pair is the way they are cut.  The side seam is cut slightly higher so they form a U-shape.  This elongates the leg and makes the hips look even.

Cons: None.  The modern-day 501 shorts are just as awesome.  If you are pear shaped, try the mid-thigh 501s.

Sizing: If you find a vintage pair, size up.  Vanity sizing is a thing for both men’s and women’s.  I’m wearing a Men’s 31.  In modern-day Men’s, I’d choose a 29.  If you go with a modern pair of Women’s, take your true size.

Shop 501s