In Spades

Style... in abundance

Sandal season

We had glorious weather in Southern California this past weekend – the beaches were packed and I spent the majority of my time outside.  Whenever the weather starts to turn warm, it’s no surprise I reach for easy, comfortable pieces.  This wide leg jumpsuit looks like a maxi dress, but has all the comfort of wearing pants.  It was the perfect choice – and oh-so-fun – for walking around downtown after a quick stop at one of my favorite cafes.

I recently read an article about the items of clothing you no longer buy when you hit your 30’s.  Stilettos topped the list and I have to say I completely follow suit.  These days I’m all about flats or low block heels.  For summer, I was looking for a good pair of leather sandals and came across designer Katharine Page.  Using sustainable manufacturing and ethical business practices – key elements for me when choosing clothing and accessories – her sandals are inspired by equestrian sport.  To play up this detail, I paired them with a horsebit leather belt to cinch the waist and create a nice contrast to the voluminous jumpsuit.  The criss-cross linen straps look great with dressier and casual outfits alike, and the padded insole is super comfortable.  They’ll definitely be a great staple for the fun weekend trips I have planned this summer!

Anthropologie jumpsuit // Mansur Gavriel mini bucket bag // Leatherock belt from Vocabulary boutique//
Thatch necklace // Katharine Page sandals (c/o)

Un-Coachella

Salt Water Luxe kimono dress from Mimi & Red (c/o) // Manolo Blahnik boots (similar here) //
Jennifer Fisher and Stephen Webster rings // Janessa Leone hat (similar here)

After taking a break from posting last week, it feels good to be back in the swing of things.  One of the things I love about spring is the transitional weather we get in California.  While generally warm, it’s still cool enough outside to wear my boots and jackets.  If you’ve been a longtime reader of In Spades, you know Fall/Winter is my favorite season, so any excuse to extend the wear of my leather jackets and boots is a plus.

I found this Saltwater Luxe kimono dress at Mimi & Red and immediately fell in love with the silhouette – anything long and drapey is my jam.  It provided the perfect opportunity to break out my favorite boots of all time and a sassy fedora (that I lovingly refer to as my Ed Harris hat).  The open back gives it a bit of va va voom and the raised hemline in the front makes it so versatile for styling.  I’ll definitely be pairing it, unbuttoned to the waist, with cropped jeans and block heeled mules.

Last year I did a post about the antithesis to a Coachella wardrobe.  While Coachella isn’t my thing, this dress is a great example of the power of styling.  Worn completely unbuttoned as a vest or belted with sandals, you can transform the look into a more desert feel.

3 Wardrobe Staples for a Weekend Away

Marissa Webb top (similar here) // Banana Republic pants // Mimi & Red earring (similar here)
Toy Watch (similar here) // Giles & Brother bracelet // Gucci loafers (under $55 version here)

This weekend I’m heading back to the Midwest to visit family and have been thinking a lot about my packing routine.  Typically, packing takes me ages (I start packing for NYFW a month in advance), but some trips I have down to a science.  With spring being rather volatile – will it rain? be warm? – I find this time of year can easily send me staring blankly into my closet.  Thankfully, there are three key pieces I reach for again and again that can be interchanged no matter what the occasion: a classic white button-down, tailored pants and comfortable loafers.

If you were to look inside my closet, you’d probably be floored by the amount of white button-downs I own. Whether bow tied, French cuffed or tunic-shaped, I’ve got it.  It should come as no surprise that the one thing I want to buy from the Bloomingdale’s Friends & Family Sale is this shirt.  What I love about a white button-down is that it instantly conveys an element of class, without ever feeling boring.  If you need convincing, Carolina Herrera and Karl Lagerfeld have built their lifetime uniforms around this one piece of clothing.

While jeans tend to be a no-brainer for a weekend away, I like to pack one bottom that isn’t denim.  I’m a big fan of culottes, high waisted trousers and cropped pants for their versatility with any heel height.  These tie-waist pin striped pants were a find from Banana Republic’s Friends & Family sale, and are a great choice because they pack light, can be formal or casual and are oh-so-comfortable.

Finally, footwear.  Shoes take up the most room in a suitcase so I always go for a comfortable, flat pair in black or camel for maximum versatility.  No one wants to lug 4 pairs of shoes in a carry-on.  These Gucci loafers were an investment, but are hands down the best shoe purchase I’ve ever made.  Elegant yet easy, they go with everything and only get more comfortable with each wear.  For some great affordable alternatives, shop the post above.

What do you pack for a weekend away?

Spring Stripes

Mimi & Red top, pants and glasses // Zara shoes (similar here and here) // Pianegonda ring

Right after returning from NYFW I attended an event at Mimi & Red in North Park, San Diego.  A contemporary boutique with a SoCal vibe and insane accessories collection, they have two locations – the other being in Bird Rock.  Last week I returned after a tea date at Holy Matcha to take a look at their spring line-up.  Immediately after laying eyes on these 70’s era glasses, I knew I had to have them.  At only $12, they were a total steal and haven’t left my face since.

If you’ve been reading In Spades for a while you know I’m a big fan of statement pants.  This spring I’ve been leaning more towards the high waisted, wide leg variety over skirts, so these totally fit the bill.  Paired with a striped crop top I felt just like Gwen Stefani, sans red lipstick.

Surprisingly my favorite trends for spring have been rather unspring-like in the traditional sense.  Rather than floral print, short dresses and feminine sandals, I’m definitely sticking to my signature silhouette of volume and texture.  Think wide leg pants, duster length trench coats and chunky heels.  The bigger the better in my book!

Rose Colored Glasses

Banana Republic skirt (sold out, similar here) // Mustard Seed top (sold out, similar here)
Banana Republic heels // Mimi & Red sunglasses (similar here) // Love Tatum earrings

Shop the Post

I’ve talked a lot about spring trends lately – hello bow-sleeved statement top – to a point where the key themes are making their way into my wardrobe whether I’m conscious of it or not.  Pink was probably the most dominant trend of Spring/Summer ’17 and the good news is that this rose colored hue was all over the Fall/Winter ’17 runways as well, making it a fantastic color to invest in this year.

This satin pleated skirt is normally reserved for typical spring functions – Mother’s Day, friend’s baby showers, etc. but I decided to break it out over the weekend with a white shirt for an a la Carolina Herrera twist.  Paired with oversized rose colored glasses and stilettos, it feels more urban and less garden party.  I can’t wait to experiment with other ways to style it – I’m thinking a beat-up Champion sweatshirt and some chunky boots would make it so fun and edgy.

What do you think of the pink trend?