In Spades

Style... in abundance

NYFW SS20 OOTD 2

Prada Frankenstein shirt, Bottega Veneta pouch Prada Frankenstein shirt, Bottega Veneta pouch Prada Frankenstein shirt, Bottega Veneta pouch Prada Frankenstein shirt, Bottega Veneta pouch Prada Frankenstein shirt, Bottega Veneta pouch Prada Frankenstein shirt, Bottega Veneta pouchPrada Frankenstein shirt // Tibi turtleneck (sold out, similar here) // J. Crew skirt // Happy Socks
Celine sunglasses // Prada shoes // Bottega Veneta pouch

Just call me bride of Frankenstein.  But like a cooler, more chic version.

When I saw the FW19 Prada runway show, I knew I was in trouble.  The kooky, eerie vibe the show took on had me from the first look.  I wanted it all.

So when it came time to think about my investment pieces for the year (which usually coincide with NYFW), I knew I needed something Frankenstein.  At first, I thought it was this skirt, but it just wasn’t flattering on me.  I ended up going with this men’s shirt and have worn it countless ways since owning it – tied at the waist, buttoned and tucked into high-waisted jeans and worn open like my NYFW Day 2 OOTD.

I love the idea of print mixing, so to offset the eerie vibe of my shirt, I wanted something feminine.  Enter this citrus floral print skirt from J. Crew.  Since I have short legs and a long torso, midi skirts are a tough look for me.  I opted to turn this skirt into a mini and love the way it came out.

My other wow factor pieces is, of course, this clutch.  When it first hit the scene and immediately skyrocketed in popularity I wasn’t surprised in the least.  The leather is positively scrumptious.  The oversized shape is fabulous.  I seriously haven’t loved a bag this much since, well, EVER.

If you are seriously considering investing in one, DO IT.  I cannot recommend this bag enough.

For a great affordable alternative, try this one.  The metallic version comes in 4 colors and the smooth leather version comes in 4 colors too.  Try this color for a great neutral look.

People sometimes ask me if I borrow clothes to wear to NYFW.  If you haven’t checked out my Instagram TV video on the clothing rental subscription service Nuuly, please do!  It’s a great option for affordable monthly rentals.

Maybe this comes as a surprise to you, maybe it doesn’t, but a lot of people wear borrowed clothes during NYFW.  In fact, it’s more the norm than the exception.  If you’ve ever heard the term “showroom pull” you know what I’m talking about.  PR firms allow certain influencers access to their showrooms to borrow clothing for big events.  During NYFW, this benefit gets used a ton.  While it’s never been my cup of tea (I’m a collector) I know girls who use the service and do it very well.

A blogger friend borrowed an insane Louis Vuitton dress for the first day of fashion week and someone accidentally got a huge pen mark on it!  I seriously would have died.  Thank goodness for dry cleaning.

Don’t miss my outfit from Day 1 of NYFW SS20 and my recap of the first day of shows!

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NYFW SS20 Day 1 Shows

Day 1 of NYFW SS20 started bright and early!

My first order of the day was backstage at Self-Portrait with Bumble & Bumble.

Self-Portrait Backstage with Bumble and BumbleSelf-Portrait SS20 Backstage Bumble and Bumble HairSelf-Portrait SS20 Backstage Bumble and Bumble Hair Self-Portrait SS20 Backstage Bumble and Bumble Hair

Bumble and bumble master stylist Jimmy Paul (who is responsible for several of Self-Portrait’s past runway looks) was leading the hair vision.  Inspired by the singer Sade, Paul prepped the models’ hair with Hairdressers Invisible Oil (which makes hair feather soft – it’s amazing!) before pulling it back into a single tight braid. For the girls with short hair, he slicked it back with a handful of Bb gel (it will never flake) for a sleek look.  The result was super glam and fit the it-girl vibe of the collection to a “T”.

Self-PortraitSelf-Portrait SS20Self-Portrait SS20 Self-Portrait SS20

The Self-Portrait audience is always just as fun as the Self-Portrait runway.  A who’s who of fashion bloggers and the fashion elite, Mr. Self-Portrait knows how to bring the crowd.

For spring he focused on cotton poplin separates.  Some had bustier-style tops, others had eye-catching wide collars.  A soft palette of khaki and white turned into lilac and sky blue.  There was even a pop of tangerine, which I absolutely adored.  London-based milliner Noel Stewart was responsible for the all-weather oversized hats, which I thought was a brilliant pairing (especially for the beachside looks).

The show ended with Self-Portrait’s signature lace in the most stunning orchid maxi dress.  The teardrop lace pattern was topped with a massive bow, making it girly but also oh-so-glam.

ADEAM Backstage with Bumble & BumbleADEAM SS20 Backstage Bumble & Bumble HairADEAM SS20 Backstage Bumble & Bumble HairADEAM SS20 Backstage Bumble & Bumble HairADEAM SS20 Backstage Bumble & Bumble Hair

For ADEAM, Laurent Philippon (who I would go on to see multiple times backstage at fashion week) dreamt up a girl who wants her hair to have life in it.  This translated to a classic s-wave style achieved through Bumble and bumble thickening spray (a must to start any great hairstyle) and finished with their sumo spray.

ADEAM
ADEAM SS20ADEAM SS20ADEAM SS20ADEAM SS20

As a first-timer to ADEAM, my standard fashion week-level excitement was definitely brought up a notch.  Designed by Hanako Maeda (ADEAM is her surname spelled backward), the brand epitomizes east meets west style.  In this case, east is Tokyo and west is New York.  Talk about my style dreams come true.

The port city of Yokohama was the inspiration for the collection. The relaxed vibe of a seaside town was definitely noted in her garments thanks to the nautical stripes and oversized knits.  I loved how the sweaters buttoned at the elbows and could be worn done or undone for a different kind of look.

Just when I thought the collection would stay casual in knit layers and seersucker ruffles, it transformed into a parade of ethereal gowns.  Embellished with pearls, crystals and the most delicate tulle, the models resembled mythical sea creatures.  It was enchanting and so glamorous.  ADEAM was one of my favorite collections of NYFW SS20.

Rebecca Minkoff  Rebecca Minkoff SS20Rebecca Minkoff SS20 Rebecca Minkoff SS20

To my surprise, my next show was only a 5min walk from ADEAM.  Walking is something I rarely do during NYFW (it’s more like frantically running from show to taxi to show) so this was actually a nice reprieve.

Rebecca Minkoff held her SS20 presentation at Chelsea Piers and boy, was it popular!  The presentation space was so packed it was literally shoulder-to-shoulder.  As someone who’s not a fan of tight quarters, I made my way quickly through the space, but thoroughly enjoyed the eye candy along the way.  In bold pops of fuchsia, cobalt, crimson and baby pink, Minkoff’s fabulous separates were accented in faux fur, feathers and metallic pops.

Her accessories were on point – I loved the lacquered look of her patent handbags with coated chain straps.  The footwear sparkled.  The whole vibe was maximalism at its best.

After running all morning with no food, I was glad to have a break for a couple hours.  My friend Lee from LegalLee Blonde and I headed over to the Mejuri pop-up and did something I haven’t done since I was 13 years old.

We got our ears pierced!

NYFW SS20 Mejuri Event

I’ve been wanting to re-pierce the third earring in my left ear since it closed years ago and now was the time.  I was surprisingly very nervous!  I told Brandon, who would be doing the honors, that if I can make it through childbirth, I could make it through this.  Jokes aside, it didn’t hurt at all!  New ear candy!

BevzaBevza SS20

My last show of the day was the Ukranian brand, Bevza.  I’ve attended her shows in the past and love that the brand is getting more and more exposure in the US.  You can find the entire SS20 collection on pre-order at Moda Operandi.

The brand is known for 90’s minimalism, and that signature style rang true for SS20.  In a palette of white and black offset by wheat and sage green, Bevza showed silk dresses and woven knit separates.  I loved the fan clutch bags (yes to the return of oversized handbags!) and the midriff cutouts on dresses and sweaters amped up the collection with a sexy twist.

Although Bevza is a luxury brand, they offer fabulous price points.  Check out this silk column dress (total spring staple) and this green fan clutch, which are both under $500.

After a marathon day, a marathon evening began.

First up was drinks at The Soho Grand, followed by a yummy Creole-inspired dinner a cute spot in Soho.  By the end of the night, I felt like I had lived a thousand lives in the time span of one day.  But happily.  Completely worth it.

Stay tuned for my NYFW SS20 Day 2 recap tomorrow!

NYFW SS20 OOTD 1

NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's Wife NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's Wife NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's Wife NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's Wife NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's Wife NYFW SS20 OOTD 1 The Vampire's WifeThe Vampire’s Wife dress // Heart bobby pin // Le Specs sunglasses // Boyy bag // Sheer ankle socks
Prada derby shoes // Uno de 50 ring // Vintage ruby ring

And just like that, another NYFW has come and gone.  (I wonder how many times I’ve written that sentence on the blog?)

This season I wanted to try something different and break down my daily fashion week shenanigans by outfits and then by shows.  Unsurprisingly, SS20 was packed and I have so much content a blog post would take you 3 days to read!

First up, my OOTD from Day 1.

If this dress looks familiar, you’ve seen this designer on the blog before.  The Vampire’s Wife is the creation of English designer Susie Cave (her husband is rocker Nick Cave).  I adore the feminine yet edgy twist her dresses have.  There is definitely something mysterious about them in a way that is fabulously eerie.

To get the look for less, try this alternative at $89.  It has the same gorgeous floral print and puffy sleeves.

Let’s talk about those sleeves, shall we?

Since I was solo my first day of NFYW, I didn’t have anyone to help me button these amazing lace cuffs.  You should have seen me try to do it myself!  Does anyone remember that episode of Sex and the City where Samatha tries to take off her pearl bracelet by herself and ends up breaking it?  Well, that was me.  I almost asked my taxi driver to help, hah!

Because the dress can lean super glam, I wanted to rough it up a bit.  I had fallen hard for these Frankenstein shoes and knew they’d be the perfect accompaniment.  And oh what a statement they made!  I adore them and will support them until the day I die, but the press didn’t feel quite the same.  Walking out of my last show at Spring Studios, an older photographer shouted to me, “Hey Cinderalla, great dress but change the shoes!”  I thought it was hilarious – when would I ever lean towards a conventional styling choice? – and replied that the shoes are the best part.  Thankfully two younger photographers also appreciated my shoe choice and backed me up that wearing Frankenstein shoes is undoubtedly fabulous.

Try these derby shoes for a more affordable option.

Of course I needed some sheer ankle socks to pair with the shoes.  Let’s just call this look grandma chic.

Hair clips are still going strong as an accessories trend, and this heart-shaped bobby pin was the perfect topper to my look.  I love that it looks a bit like a pixelated Pacman heart.

Stay tuned for my NYFW OOTD Day 2!

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Chemical Peel Review: Tips for What to Expect & How to Recover

Kopari BeautyEver since I started getting regular facials, I’ve wanted to try a chemical peel.  I’ve heard so many estheticians – heck, even my dermatologist – rave about them, but I always thought I’d end up like Samatha in Sex and the City.  Who could forget that episode?

Well, two weeks ago I went for it and wanted to share my experience.  First, a little backstory.

My main reason for getting a chemical peel was to help with hyperpigmentation.  Prior to having my daughter, I was on birth control for years.  Towards the end of taking it, I started to notice hyperpigmentation on my cheeks and forehead.  Because birth control tricks your body into thinking it’s pregnant, I had developed a mild case of melasma (AKA the mask of pregnancy).  A dermatologist recommended I try laser treatment to remove the spots, so I did.  After the procedure, my hyperpigmentation completely disappeared… for three weeks.  For whatever reason, at the 3-week mark, it came back (literally overnight) and even darker than before.

While laser treatment can be effective for some people (do your research!), it was not the right choice for me.  I’ve been working to reverse the damage ever since.  My goal is to get to a point where my skin is completely even and wearing makeup is optional and not a must.

I saw Dr. Zoe of Perfect Face Aesthetic Medicine in La Jolla.  She did a deep-level peel which included the following.

The Chemical Peel Process

First, I had to wash my face to remove my moisturizer and sunscreen.  Dr. Zoe applied vaseline around my eyes, mouth and on the corners of my nose so the chemical peel solution wouldn’t pool in those areas.  She then gave me a handheld fan so the burning sensation wouldn’t feel so intense.

Using a cotton swab, she wiped the solution over my face four times, waiting a couple minutes between each pass.  The whole process took 10 minutes.

Did it hurt?  No.

You can definitely feel the burning sensation and while it isn’t comfortable, it’s nothing you can’t handle.  Having a handheld fan to blow cool air on your face really helps.

The First Two Days

For the first 48-72 hours you actually look normal.  Your face feels very dry and tight, and mine even looked a little firmer.  A friend commented that she thought I had gotten Botox!  My face looked glossy too.  The best way I can describe it is to have you imagine someone painting a clear coat of nail polish on your face – hah!

Day 3/4 – Let the Peeling Begin

I didn’t start peeling until Day 4 and the first place it happened was around my mouth.  If you’ve ever done a charcoal mask, you know the feeling when it starts to dry and will crack when you smile or talk.  That’s exactly what this is like but instead of the mask cracking and flaking off, it’s your skin.

Day 14

The average person is supposed to stop peeling between days 7-10.  I didn’t stop peeling until Day 14.  I’ve always been very slow to heal (a pimple leaves a mark for up to 6 months on me!) so this didn’t really surprise me.

You can’t wear makeup at all during this time and must apply sunscreen every two hours.  THIS IS KEY!

A Word of Caution

1. The hardest part about getting a chemical peel is the downtime.  I looked like a dying snake for a solid two weeks.  It was super gross and creepy.  If you work in an office or have to face the outside world on a daily basis, I honestly don’t know how you’d do a chemical peel.

2. You literally can’t touch your face during recovery.  At all.  No scratching, no rubbing, and absolutely no picking.  Even washing your face and applying moisturizer and sunscreen (the ONLY two things you’re allowed to wear) is risky.  You have to be SUPER gentle.  I pat my face dry and applied my moisturizer like I was handling a Fabergé egg.

If the peeling comes off because you touch your skin, you run the risk of scarring.

3. You must avoid the sun AT ALL COSTS.  Any time I went outside (even to check the mailbox!) I wore this hat.  It has a built-in face mask.  Le’ts just be honest – it’s basically a full hazmat suit.  Wearing it out in public resulted in TONS of comments from people.

4. Because the chemical peel eats away at the top layer of your skin, what’s underneath will get exposed.  In other words, if you have any congested pores, be ready to get pimples and blackheads while you’re healing.

I ended up with a pimple on my chin, one on my forehead and a few blackheads around the corner of my nose.  These were all things that would recur for me, so I’m glad the peel burned my skin down to the core of the problem to get rid of them for good.

What I’ll Do Differently Next Time

1. If you can avoid it, don’t get a chemical peel during the dead of summer.  It’s too hot and normal life inevitably gets in the way – you have to put gas in your car, buy groceries, etc. and doing those things when the sun is the most powerful isn’t safe or fun.

2. Get your peel on a Thursday.  Because you don’t start peeling for 2-3 days, you can actually go out in public over the weekend (no makeup though) and not look like a dying snake.

3. Be prepared with the right gear.  You absolutely need to wear a hat anytime you are outside or while driving.  I bought this hat and this visor and wore them religiously.  The visor is developed by dermatologists and blocks 99% of UVA/UVB rays.

Was it Worth it?

YES.  While I still have a ways to go to fully get rid of my hyperpigmentation, I absolutely recommend getting a chemical peel.  I can see a definite difference in my skin being more even-toned and the texture is amazing.  You have the freshest, most even skin after a peel.  It’s like baby skin!

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Your Top 5 Favorites – July 2019

July was all about the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, so it’s no surprise your Top 5 Favorites were mostly from the sale.  And that’s great news because everything you loved is a fabulous basic and something that can be worn almost year-round.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Silk Pillowcase


I’ve talked about the benefits of using a silk pillowcase before, and if you haven’t yet made the switch, what are you waiting for?  Proven to help with anti-aging by preventing face creases while you sleep (wrinkles) these are so soft and worth every penny.  The best part?  They are still at the Anniversary Sale price.  You save $51!

If you’re looking for a cheaper version, try these.  They won’t last as long, but are a great second choice.

Bras & Undies


My favorite bra and undies were part of the sale, and you also took advantage in July.  You won’t find anything as comfortable, period.  If you’ve sworn off underwire bras like I have, you MUST check these out.  The undies are great because they won’t show through.  No VPL here!

Linen BlazerThe Best Linen Blazers

This has been such a great piece for me this summer to dress up an outfit and make it more chic.  I love that it will easily transition to fall.  Bonus points that it comes in three colors.  I may have to add the white one to my list, although I already have 5 other white blazers.  Eek.  But can you ever have too many blazers?


Utility JacketJoie Linen Utility Jacket

Another great transition jacket for the win.  I love the balloon sleeves, the tie on the inside to cinch the waist and the more casual vibe of this linen jacket.  You guys did too.

Fully stocked in sizes XXS – XL, it’s currently 70% off!

Cashmere SweaterNordstrom Anniversary Sale 2019

If you’re not familiar with Nordstrom Signature cashmere, get yourself acquainted.  It’s one of the highest quality cashmere I can find at a truly incredible pricepoint.  I saved $100 on this sweater during the Anniversary sale.  Even if you missed the boat, I would still purchase it at full price, it’s that good.  You will literally have this sweater for the rest of your life.  So cozy, a great basic and the funnel neck and side slits make it so easy to style.