In Spades

Style... in abundance

2 Ways to Style a Poncho for Fall

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IRO jeans (similar $60 version here) // Pierre Hardy boots (similar $125 version here)

Earlier this fall my husband and I attended an event at one of our favorite San Diego stores, youknow-Y.  He loves it for their massive selection of Y-3 merchandise and I love it for their expertly curated line of up-and-coming and established designers alike.  For a girl who prides herself on wearing things that few others have, it’s pretty much a match made in sartorial heaven.

This event featured a pop-up of several indie designers and I was lucky to discover Regina Donde.  Designed by the extremely posh Daniela, the brand has a very small online footprint, but her work speaks for itself.  This handmade poncho highlights elements of her Latin roots and infuses just the right amount of texture and color to make it a staple in my fall wardrobe.

I can’t tell you how amazingly comfortable this poncho is.  It truly feels like I’m wearing a cozy blanket, but it looks chic as hell.  Upon trying it on I immediately envisioned it over skinny jeans and tissue thin turtlenecks as I’ve styled here, or draped over floor length coats during NYFW.

Being able to support an indie designer is something I’m also super passionate about, so this OOTD ticks all of the best fashion boxes.

For you SoCal girls out there, there are so many cute ponchos and dusters available for fall.  It’s a great way to add stylish layers for those mornings that start out chilly and then warm up as the day goes on.  And for my readers in colder climates, definitely consider adding a poncho or a blanket scarf over your winter coat for an added pop.  It’s such a fun way to differentiate yourself from the crowd while also being functional!

I’ve linked some of my favorite poncho and blanket scarves below, as well as more affordable alternatives to my OOTD.

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Bringing Back Corduroy for Fall

The Cords corduroy jacket

The Cords corduroy jacket (c/o) // J. Crew turtleneck // Madewell jeans
Anthropologie beret // Haider Ackermann boots (similar pair under $70 here)

I’m currently reading My Paris Dream about Kate Bett’s career as a fashion journalist.  Her access to young Yves Saint Laurent’s couture previews and having Karl Lagerfeld’s personal phone number on speed dial makes for the stories of my dreams.  Being transported to one of the chicest cities in the world got me thinking about my fall style and the fabrics I’m gravitating towards.

Velvet is clearly high on my list and so is its more retro cousin, corduroy.  We’ve haven’t seen much of corduroy since the grunge days of Kurt Cobain, flannel shirts and Airwalk sneakers, but I’m so happy it’s making a comeback.  As you know, anything textured in the realm of fashion is my jam, so adding a soft, fall friendly fabric to my wardrobe was a welcome gesture.

The Cords is a new indie line dedicated to bringing back corduroy in a contemporary way.  Still infused with a 70’s vibe, they’re tailoring slimmer silhouettes for the modern woman and man and experimenting with fresh colors you wouldn’t normally see with corduroy.  I about died when I saw this men’s jacket.  Clearly, I need it!

In addition to being Veteran’s Day tomorrow, The Cords is doing #CorduroyAppreciationDay by giving away a free pair of cords if you bring in an old pair of jeans to recycle in store.  All online orders will receive a free gift, so if you’re considering a purchase, tomorrow is the day to do it!

I was inspired by the classic Parisian look for this #OOTD.  With a swipe of liquid eyeliner, black & white stripes and a quintessential red beret, it’s a feels throwback and fresh at the same time.

What fabrics are you loving for fall?

Bespoke Crushed Velvet Blazer by Frilly

The Frilly velvet blazer

The Frilly velvet blazer (c/o)// Everlane silk top // Rag & Bone jeans // Haider Ackermann boots
Thatch choker and constellation necklace // Love Tatum initial necklace

Bespoke (adjective): “of goods, especially clothing, made to order”

Perhaps the thing I love most about fashion is that it’s truly an art form come to life.  And because I consider the clothing on my back to be “art”, you can imagine I’m not a big fan of the same-ness we so often see in the fashion industry.  You know what I’m talking about – the “it bag” that was replicated so many times it can be found on every street corner just like a Starbucks.

In such a creative industry, I crave differentiation.  Uniqueness.  Pieces that no one else has.  So when I discovered Frilly, I fell hard.

“Frilly is a customizable, made-to-order fashion platform that merges traditional bespoke design practices in a digital space for a totally new way to craft a personalized style.”

What this means for you, is that you can browse the base styles on their website and completely customize each piece to your liking.  They offer four brands within the Frilly umbrella, each with their own unique style.  SALTT leans elevated business, One Fifty Third is mod with a contemporary twist, Herron excels in draped separates and FOUR has a flair of European chic.

I created this Herron crushed velvet blazer knowing it would be a key piece in my fall wardrobe.  The longer length is perfect for sunny fall days or chillier winter evenings in SoCal.

Finalizing my design choices was so much fun.  My blazer can also be made with army twill, smooth satin or metallic fabric.  I was this close to choosing the magenta velvet but adore the way this burnt orangey-yellow turned out.  Styled with pointed-toe ankle boots and black denim, it gives the air of Ralph Lauren Americana or the mod Beatles style of the 1960’s.

Knowing that I was an integral part of the design process and having a made-to-order piece for my closet is so thrilling.  You all know I love to have a say in my fashion.  I could have made my blazer short, with a mandarin collar and sleeveless!  Plus, their bespoke business philosophy means their garments aren’t mass produced and don’t contribute to the tremendous waste and environmental harm many businesses in the fashion industry are guilty of.

Customizable, conscious fashion.  Why didn’t I think of that?

Elevated, Everyday Jewelry with Marrow Fine

Custom ring by Marrow Fine

Forgive my radio silence last week – I promise it’s been for good reason.  I’ve been working on a special project near and dear to my heart for quite some time and am so excited to share it with you today.

Earlier this spring I met the eternally cool Jillian Sassone.  When I say eternally cool, I’m talking the bonafide, real deal.  The founder of jewelry company Marrow Fine, Jillian is one of those people whose energy you can feel from clear across the room.  Bursting with charisma, warmth and insane style, you immediately want to get to know her.  So of course, I did.

Her story starts with a big magic idea begging to be brought to life; one of those undeniable I-can-feel-it-in-my-bones passions that eventually can’t be ignored.  After years of working the corporate grind, she employed the ‘when you leap the net will follow’ philosophy and left it all to start her dream – making custom jewelry and signature capsule collections.

It began with a set of baubles from her grandmother.  She loved the idea of breathing new life into jewelry with a sentimental connection.  After a successful run on her own pieces, friends started asking her to design for them and a business was born.

I came to Jillian with a diamond ring from my grandmother and a pair of diamond earrings my godmother had given me at age 16.  Neither really fit my personal style but I wanted to retain the sentimental value of both gestures.  As this is Jillian’s specialty, she immediately started playing with different layouts and ideas.  The creative process was exactly like what I imagine a dream collaboration to be.  Her excitement was just as abundant as mine.  I loved how she listened to my personal style quirks and translated them into something completely gorgeous, edgy and so me.  My heirloom pieces went from never seeing the light of day into something I never want to take off.

Marrow creates gorgeous custom pieces, and they also have a ready-made capsule collection.  I love how they pair dainty silhouettes with a touch of drama.  The entire line is so versatile and fashion forward.  Their stacking rings are totally on another level (you can honestly wear 5 or 6 at at time!) and these black diamond studs and this pirouette necklace have my name on them.

I went Behind the Scenes with Jillian to find out more about Marrow Fine, her style preferences and share the story of how we met.  Check out the 25 Questions Vogue-style video below for more fun facts about Jillian!

Photos by Felicia Lasala

The Handbag Line You Need to Know: Vasic New York

Vasic New York Bond M. handbag (c/o) // Zara boots // Rag & Bone jeans
Guess top (similar here) // Diane Von Furstenberg jacket

One of my favorite things about the fashion world is discovering new designers and brands.  While we all have our go-to favorites and longstanding brands we trust, mixing it up with fresh talent is imperative.  It’s the very essence of what the fashion world sets out to do – keep up with the times.

Vasic New York is a handbag line focused on creating “the standard handbag” – a bag that can be used every day for every occasion.  When I saw their clean silhouettes, inventive fabrics and fall/winter color palette, I immediately knew this was a line that would become a staple in my wardrobe.  When just about every woman is carrying the same handbag, it’s so refreshing to carry something unique.

My suede, emerald bucket bag can be worn multiple ways: as a crossbody, satchel or looped over the shoulder and contains a two-toned removable clutch on the inside for when you want to pair down for evening.  Any bag that has a two-in-one feature is a major win in my book.  For something a little funkier, I love this faux fur bucket bag that pairs a classic silhouette with chic fabric.  Still practical enough for everyday, but with an added wow factor for fall.

I recently took a trip home to visit family and carried this bag with me on the plane.  It was the perfect size for traveling – not too heavy, but with enough room for more than just my phone and wallet.  The removable clutch definitely came in handy for easily being able to access my lip balm, hand lotion and ID when I needed them quickly.  I seriously can’t get over the color – although red is dominating as “the color” for fall, I’m seeing more and more emerald used in accent pieces and accessories.  For someone who wears mostly neutrals, it’s the perfect accent color that blends seamlessly into my existing wardrobe.

For some of my other favorite indie lines, check out this post.

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