In Spades

Style... in abundance

Bomber Jacket + Buckled Boots

Lately I’ve been into raiding my husband’s closet for key pieces that can transition from winter to spring. Bomber jackets have been popular for a few season’s now, and although I have my own, I’m loving the oversized look of his olive green one. A statement piece in its own right, it was able to hold its own when paired with my snakeskin buckled boots.  These were a recent find that I immediately fell in love with and know I’ll wear for years to come.  I seriously can’t get over how Lenny Kravitz they are which makes me feel like a bit of a rock star every time I wear them.  If you don’t want to take the Givenchy plunge, I found an amazing replica under $270 here.

Over the weekend I invested in a new pair of sunglasses and have to share a quick tip – and a word of caution – for fitting frames to your face.  I’ve always avoided buying sunglasses unless they fit perfectly.  No one wants to deal with a pair that slips off your nose, leaves creases on your cheeks or pinches your temples.  I changed my mind about needing the perfect fit when I tried on Celine’s Audrey sunglasses.  They were exactly what I’d been looking for – a basic black go-with-everything pair that has a super flattering gradient lens.  I’ve linked my favorite replicas under $25 below!

While they fit my face shape, they were just a tad big and kept slipping off my nose.  I mistakenly let the sales associate try to make them smaller by heating them up and bending the frame inward.  Word to the wise – never let anyone do this no matter how experienced they are!  It resulted in an uneven frame that pushed against one cheek and sat crooked on my nose.  If you ever need to make a pair of sunglasses smaller, have a professional work with the arms to shape the ends inward so they sit evenly on your face – never touch the frame.  It won’t ruin the original shape and you’ll be able to comfortably fit into the pair you fell in love with.  I was lucky to get my bent pair replaced, but only by the skin of my teeth!  Fashion disaster avoided.

The Arrivals bomber jacket // Novis top // Madewell jeans // Celine sunglasses // Givenchy boots

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Top 5 Spring 2017 Trends

On Monday I shared a fun photoshoot with my girls that featured the Top 5 Trends for spring.  Today, I’m breaking down what I saw on the runways in September into my top picks of what’s currently available for purchase.

Shopbop’s Buy More, Save More sale is going on, so it’s the perfect time to stock up on spring wardrobe staples, whether it’s something pink, slogan pieces, dynamic shirts, statement pants or the new version of romantic dressing.

Use code GOBIG17 for:
15% off orders $200+
20% off orders $500+
25% off orders $800+

Click the looks to shop!

Dynamic Shirting

New Romantic

Statement Pants

Pink

Slogans

Spring is in the Air

Vocabulary Boutique sweater // Rachel Comey jeans // Valentino shoes // Pianegonda ring //
Banana Republic handbag

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I’ve teased a couple images from a shoot I did with Pura Soul photography and my friends Paulina and Jenna.

As a counterpart to our Galentine’s shoot, we wanted to celebrate the change of seasons as the first day of spring is three weeks away!  Armed with beautiful blooms from Thistle Garden, we had a blast exploring Ocean Beach and laughing along the way.

Speaking of spring, let’s talk trends.  Back in September, I covered the S/S17 runways and distilled the following themes:

  1. Dynamic shirting
  2. Statement pants
  3. Slogans
  4. The new romantic
  5. Pink, blush, and red

I love that each of us embodies the spring trends in our unique way.  Ever the lover of color, Jenna knocked it out of the park with her entirely pink ensemble and cute “Pink Skies Ahead” sloganed bomber jacket.  Paulina went for the new romantic with her lace + peplum top and bold lip.  Never one to shy away from extreme volume, I donned my largest pair of pants and accented them with pink’s big sister, fire engine red.

As you think about your spring wardrobe, I encourage you to take a look at what you already have and build from there.  I’ve linked my favorite wide leg jeans above, and will definitely be investing in some dynamic shirting like this and this.

Happy spring!

Photos by Pura Soul 
Flowers by Thistle

NYFW F/W17 Day 5

Vintage Celine coat // Rachel Comey jeans // Orseund Iris top // Illesteva sunglasses //
Pianegonda ring // Amelie Pichard boots

At last, we’ve reached the finish line.  Day 5 is always bittersweet – I really don’t want to leave, but I know I cannot stay.  London, Milan and Paris await!  Someday I’ll make it to all four fashion weeks, but for now, it’s about paying homage to my favorite week in the Big Apple.

Our last day was surprisingly light, which after going hard for four days was a bit of a relief.  I knew we’d have time for our traditional lunch at Rubirosa (you must try the tie-dye pizza), a stop at Dover Street Market (it’s seriously the most insane retail experience ever!) and exploring in Soho.  But first, on to the runway!

Calvin Luo
The youngest designer ever to be invited to show at NYFW, 21-year-old Calvin Luo put on quite a show.  Inspired by the idea of blending masculine and feminine silhouettes, he scribed the word “asexual” on waistbands, flare leg pants and jackets.  My three favorite looks highlight the collection’s strengths – color blocking, oversized as well as cropped separates, and mixed media.

For the finale, Luo sent a dance troupe down the runway adorned with his Lenovo collection – six pieces infused with text captioned LED lights that reacted to the wearer’s movements.  The faster the dancers moved, the more the LED captions sped up.  It was a cool, futuristic way to close his show.

Photos courtesy of Calvin Luo

Nolcha Shows
Showing at NYFW is not an easy task.  Besides the countless hours that go into designing a collection, the cost to showcase it is astronomical.  Thankfully organizations like Nolcha offer a platform for independent designers to show their collections under one umbrella.

Their Ones to Watch show featured up-and-coming designers Mariana Valentina (silk magenta gown), Son Collection (cream shift dress with matching cape), Just In Case (avant garde streetwear from Taiwan) and Chèlbè (garnet jumpsuit, made especially for tall women over 5’11).

Photos courtesy of Nolcha Shows at NYFW

Katty Xiomara
A veteran of the Nolcha shows, we first discovered Katty Xiomara two years ago and have followed her career ever since.  A master of whimsical prints and intricate details, her F/W17 collection blew me away.  Styled with a bit of a 40’s vibe, the show opened with a soft and airy feel.  Her sunset orange pieces were perfectly paired with cozy vests and three-quarter sleeved dusters.  We were then treated to her signature whimsical prints – this time featuring owls, cats and foxes – in moody blue capes and silver suspendered trousers.  The collection had a woodland feel, perfectly punctuated by crushed velvet joggers and sequined mermaid gowns that shimmered like waves in the moonlight.

Photos courtesy of Mao PR

Thanks for following along on my NYFW adventures!  In the coming weeks I’ll be recapping the trends you should look out for, what it’s like backstage at a show, and how to re-create the beauty looks seen on the runway.

Let me know in the comments what you think of this crazy week and what else you’d like to see!

NYFW F/W17 Day 4

Ah, Day 4!  By this time in the week, your adrenaline is still running high but the physical signs of exhaustion start to set in.  I was photographed by PopSugar for their Best of NYFW Street Style and you can definitely see signs of my tired eyes.

If you haven’t yet noticed the theme, I went for all statement coats for this season of NYFW.  Of course my amazing technicolor dream coat couldn’t be left out and had to join the party.  I paired it with a Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows sweatshirt, cinched it at the waist with a suede belt and threw on my pink sunnies for good colorful measure.

Later in the day when we’d have a break in between shows, it was the perfect ensemble to hang in the lounge at Clarkson.  Cozy, comfortable and chic!

 

Marcel Ostertag
If I had to describe Marcel Ostertag’s F/W17 collection in two words it would be: feminine utilitarian.  He opened the show with a series of geometric florals in deep eggplant and moss green.  The print worked so well on his slouchy bomber jackets with vibrant red trim, but also made appearances on wrap skirts and wide leg trousers.  He used ruffles in many of his looks, which I found to be hit or miss, but grounded them with seatbelt waist cinchers and utility jackets for a tougher feel, which fit perfectly with his theme for the collection – revolution.

Gypsy Sport
Having never attended a Gypsy Sport runway before, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect.  I knew the brand’s clothing was urban inspired and pushed the boundaries of conventional dress, but I had no idea what a following they had until I sat down.  It was immediately clear the fan base was dedicated and abundant.  Before the show began, designer Rio Uribe took the mic – backstage and out of sight – to share his inspiration for F/W17: homelessness.  Now before you start picturing Zoolander references, hear me out.  He shared a heart-felt story of witnessing various levels of homelessness throughout the world.  As a child of immigrant parents, this affected him deeply and for his fall collection he felt it was important to shine a light on the disparities among us.  He closed with a message of love: “Don’t despair.  Hate will die.  Let’s fight for a world that will let us all shine.”

Verdad
Back in September I had the pleasure of meeting Louis Verdad who offered very inspiring words for the NYFW experience, and definitely left an impression on me.  Graduating from a presentation to a February runway with over 40 looks, he created one of my favorite F/W17 collections.  Every single look was something I would 100% wear.  His signature leather jackets were repurposed in shiny patent leather with billowing silk backs, and his culotte jumpsuits felt so fresh and fashion forward in a world that has majorly overdone the silhouette.  From his use of mixed media – lace with metallic silk – to his riding pants and kangaroo pocket dresses, I fell head over heels.

Later in the day we’d make a stop at one of my shopping mecca’s in Soho – a vintage consignment shop – where I’d find several Verdad pieces mixed among vintage Belstaff and Celine.  I took it as a sign that I’d be seeing a lot more of Verdad’s creations in my future.

Leanne Marshall
Our final show of Day 4 was Leanne Marshall and what a way to end on a high note.  With Leanne, you know you’re going to get supreme femininity, and she did not disappoint.  Diaphanous gowns, flowing silks and garments that were made to float rather than hang descended the runway in a palette of cream and bronze.  To liven up her usual serene palette, she showed punchy red, black & white floral prints and stripes!  She also went bold with accessories – the long tassel earrings the models wore were oh-so-modern and provided a nice contrast to her classic silhouettes.

Photos by Matthew Passiglia