In Spades

Style... in abundance

Levi’s x Star Wars

Levi's x Star Wars Levi's x Star WarsLevi’s x Star Wars trucker jacket, 501 cropped jeans & Storm Trooper t-shirt
Gucci sunglasses // Golden Goose sneakers (tons on sale here)

You guys know I love a good Levi’s collaboration.

Two of my greatest pop culture loves – Stranger Things, and now Star Wars – collabed with Levi’s for exclusive drops in 2019.

While I posted about this Levi’s x Star Wars collab on Instagram, I completely forget to share it here on the blog!

The galaxy print looks so good when you pair the jacket and classic 501’s together, but I wear them separately all the time and they look just as rad.  I love that the print is subtle enough to make people look twice, but still a great homage to the series.

Ah, the series.

Of course I saw Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker the day it opened.  And of course I wore this outfit to the premiere.  But I have to say – and this has been discussed ad nauseam in our household – I was disappointed with the way the series ended.

Was it a good popcorn flick?  Sure.  But did it properly conclude 40 years of character development and story arcs?  No.  It fell really flat.

Here’s the thing about brand DNA.  It’s unmatched.  It has a legacy.  It’s how we identify its creative narrative.  So if it gets changed, it’s no longer the brand.  Its direction always has to sync up with its core components.

Take fashion, for example.  When a design house appoints a new creative director – let’s say Valentino Garavani retiring and appointing Pierpaolo Piccioli as his successor – the new guard has a duty to carry on the brand traditions and DNA.  If not, the brand dies.  If Pierpaolo decides to eschew Valentino’s signature red for blue… well, it’s no longer Valentino.

Star Wars had a lot of false starts, director change-ups and corporate exec interference over the course of the new trilogy.  The result is that it lost its brand DNA.

I love learning about brand history.  I talk about this often in my Fashion Friday Series on Instagram.  As I mentioned in my New Year, New Goals post, I’ll be bringing Fashion Friday to the blog starting this week!  Stay tuned.

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Naadam: The Ethical, Affordable Cashmere Line You Need in Your Closet

Naadam Cashmere

Happy Friday!

Before the holidays, I shared 4 affordable cashmere brands you need to know.  Today, I want to give a special shout-out to one of them: Naadam.

Here’s what you need to know about this awesome company.

  • They go directly to the source for their cashmere – Mongolia’s Gobi Desert.
  • They pay their herders 50% more than traditional traders but charge you 50% less.
  • They use the longest and finest fibers for the highest quality cashmere.
  • They invest in veterinary care and only collect fleece via hand-combing so the goats are happy and healthy!
  • They personally know every employee on their supply chain and inspect their factories frequently.
  • They only use clean energy in manufacturing and NEVER toxic chemicals.
  • They built a protected section the size of Manhattan so the goats and herders living in it have fresh pastures and a protected food source.
  • They give back via their non-profit the Gobi Revival Fund.

If all of the above doesn’t have you completely smitten with this company, well, guess what? It gets even BETTER.

They are having a massive sale and their cashmere is 50% off.  I ordered this hoodie and lounge pants set and this cropped sweater.  Review coming soon!

See below for more great deals.  Almost everything is under $100!

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Fashion Favorites: November & December 2019

Levi's x Star WarsWith the end of the year being a total whirlwind, I forgot to share your favorite products from November and December 2019.

I did manage to post one Holiday Gift Guide, and while you loved this kid’s play mat, this stylish iphone charging bracelet and these slippers, I’m going to focus on the tried-and-true fashion pieces for today’s post.

Here are your fashion favorites from everything I posted on the blog and my social channels in November and December 2019!

Your Top 6 Fashion Favorites – Nov & Dec 2019

1. Plaid dress – this was my most worn item from my experience with Nuuly.  The silhouette is so flattering and comfortable.  I wore it during the day with loafers and at night with heels.  It will easily transition from winter (throw on a leather jacket and boots) to spring (opt for a straw hat and black sandals).

2. Rhinestone sunglasses – these babies are a Gucci knockoff.  For only $15, I like to say it’s the best $15 I’ve ever spent.  Super stylish and fun, you can’t help but feel like a rockstar in them.

3. Black booties – these are an investment, but SO worth it.  The insoles have a memory foam cushion so the comfort level is top-notch.  They also come in burgundy.  The slip-on style is effortless and chic.

4. Levi’s Star Wars collab – If you’re new here, I’m a huge Star Wars fan.  I’m also a huge Levi’s fan.  So this was a match made in heaven.  These straight leg cropped jeans with a galaxy print are so cool (size up).  Bonus points that the collection is now on sale!

5. Leather leggings – another investment item, but a total closet staple.  You will have these for LIFE.  I originally shared my review of them here, but multiple retailers have them on sale, which made them a favorite in December.  Looking for faux leather?  Try these or these.

6. White eyelet dress – this beauty would be perfect for a beach vacation.  Substantial cotton makes it appropriate for day or night and it’s stunning in person.  I rented it via Nuuly and got tons of compliments on it.  Runs TTS.  Looking for something more affordable?  Try this one from the same brand.

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New Year, New Goals

Cheeta print dress + Brown leather moto jacketLTHR jacket (similar here) // Vocabulary boutique dress // Celine sunglasses (similar here)

Hello, 2020.

Ahhh, 2020!  The start of every year is always different for me.  Some years I’m super ambitious and burst out of the gates aiming to overhaul my life, other years January 1 feels like just another day.

Maybe it’s because it’s a new decade, or because life moves so much faster with a toddler, but I started 2020 pretty adamant.  This is the year I make some changes.

First, let me backtrack.

The last two months of 2019 were an absolute blur.  Like the rest of the world, I was consumed by holiday parties, family gatherings and a crazy work schedule.  We hosted out of towners, got sick (never fun) and had tons of work and extracurricular responsibilities to tend to.

I had no routine to fall back on.  No plan.  It was a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants and pray situation.  Reactive and not proactive.  The blog suffered.  And so did many other things.  I’m an outer order, inner calm person, so this didn’t sit well with me.

Hence my desire to make some changes.  Establish great routines.  And stick to them.

Three years ago I read the book The Power of Habit and fell in love with the message.  I finished feeling so inspired and ready to take on the world.  But I lacked a plan.  A blueprint.  While I love the book, it didn’t provide anything I could implement right now.

Enter, Atomic Habits.  The whole point of this book is to provide you with a blueprint.  The author actually says his intention is to pick up where The Power of Habit leaves off.

Why do I love it?  Because the goal is the aggregation of marginal gains.  No major overhauls.  No drastic changes.  Just a 1% change.  Over time, that 1% change will completely transform your routines, your habits and therefore, your life.

Here are the routines I am implementing in 2020.  I hope you find inspiration in them too.  Let’s support each other!

In Spades 2020 Goals

1. Wake up at 5:30am.  I do my best work in the morning.  Now that I have a child, this is truly the only time of day I have completely to myself.  I’m starting with a workout and then checking off my to-do list at my desk.

2. Post 3 times per week.  This is going to be a tough one as my posting schedule has been pretty erratic up until this point.  But I have so much to share; so much I want to talk about.  So I’m making the commitment to you.  Which leads me to…

3. Recognize that complete and imperfect is better than incomplete and perfect.  The main obstacle in my completion of work is the nagging feeling it has to be perfect.  I’m a perfectionist.  But something that never sees the light of day will never be perfect.  So get it done, get it out there and don’t worry about perfection.  It doesn’t exist!

4. Share more video.  Every week I post 2 video series’ on Instagram: Fashion Friday and my Sunday Series.  I have yet to talk about them here on the blog (no idea why?!) but am going to fix that.  You can always find them on my Instagram Highlight reel, but look out for them on the blog too.

What do you hope to achieve in 2020?

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3 Tips for Styling Ugg Boots

UGG Puff Momma UGG Puff MommaUGG Puff MommaUGG Puff MommaUGG Puff Momma UGG Puff MommaUgg boots // Vintage sweater (similar here)  // Acne Studios beanie // Helmut Lang leather leggings

Last week I talked about how to style Ugg boots for every day.  Today I want to continue the convo!

Just about everyone has Uggs in their closet.  Especially during winter, they get worn a ton.  I always struggled with how to style mine so they look fashion-forward and not like I was about to hit the ski slopes.  But I’ve cracked the code!

Of course Uggs are meant to be worn on the mountain, but in case you don’t have a ski vacation planned, here are my tips for wearing them day-to-day.

Tips for Styling Uggs

1. Choose the right bottom – skinny or slim leg pants.  While I love the wide leg trend, Ugg boots are meant to be highlighted, not hidden.  Opt for a slimmer leg to really show them off.  Bonus points for ease of wear – tuck in and go!

2. Pair them with a statement piece.  Whether it’s a pop color like my vintage sweater, or multiple layers (think band tee and leather jacket) for a chic look, pairing Uggs with something a little edgier really brings out the fashion as opposed to the utility.

3. Accessorize. To make Uggs more every day and less sporty, grab a fun accessory.  While my beanie is totally winter-appropriate, it’s edgy too.  The emoji patch is cheeky and compliments the moon boot look.  For another option, try a textured scarf in a pop color, an arm full of bangles or an animal print belt.  I love this studded belt too.

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