In Spades

Style... in abundance

Leather Jacket Layering


Today kicks off a very special week.  In 48 hours I’ll be in New York for fashion week!  If you’ve been following me for a while now, you know this is my version of Dollywood.  Six days of nothing but crazy inspiration, major adrenaline and lots and lots of lattes.  Be sure to follow me in Instagram for NYFW coverage in real time!

The February shows are always a little trickier than September, simply because of the weather.  Eva Chen once famously said that dressing for the February shows is easy because all you need is a statement coat and jeans. I totally agree with her, so the topic of layering has definitely come up while packing.  This California girl gets cold when the temperature hits 60, so you can only imagine how easily I become a little ice cube in NY.

Other than ordering long underwear (yes, I went there), I’m planning on styling coats on top of coats.  Layering got me thinking about how much I love multiple textures in one look, so I took a nod from this outfit and went for a more California friendly version for my OOTD.

First, my leather + suede jacket gives a bit of an edge to the cable knit tunic underneath.  For something with a little color pop, I raided my husband’s closet and grabbed this blue and white striped button-up.  I love how the extra long sleeves give the look an unexpected element.  With three layers on top, I wanted to keep the bottom half simple, so I went for jeans with no distressing and a basic block heel boot.

This look is a great example of using off-the-cuff elements (no pun intended) to add some personality into an otherwise basic look.  What pieces in your closet can you repurpose in new ways?

Next stop… New York!

Maje leather jacket // COS sweater // Ermenegildo Zegna shirt // IRO jeans // Zara boots
Nars lipstick // Laura Mercier lip pencil

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Cozy Knits

This weekend we had glorious sunshine in southern California.  It was such a refreshing change from all of the rain we’ve been having.  There seriously wasn’t a cloud in the sky!  I started my weekend by stopping into Vocabulary Boutique and the minute I touched this sweater, I knew I had to have it.  It’s the softest, coziest turtleneck ever.  Zero itch factor and I love that you can wear the collar folded up or down.

This weekend I also got to thinking about statement pieces vs. wardrobe staples.  With New York Fashion Week less than two weeks away, my brain has been on all of my craziest ensembles (and don’t worry, I promise not to disappoint).  But while I love concocting out of the norm looks, it’s nice to re-focus on basics that I can easily reach for and pair with anything. I love how this outfit is monochromatic in tone, but feels fresh and luxurious thanks to the different textures and silhouettes.  It’s also a great example of how choosing the right basics from the get-go will better serve you in the long run.

Michael Kors once said that your wardrobe should follow the “meat and potatoes” rule: 70% should be meat and potatoes (wardrobe staples) and only 30% should be dessert (statement pieces).  “Too many women get the proportions the other way round, then can’t figure out why they can’t get dressed,” Kors has been quoted saying.

How do you balance your wardrobe between everyday staples and statement pieces?

Sweater from Vocabulary boutique // Harris Wharf London coat // Karen Walker sunglasses //
Tiffany Kunz and Anthropologie earrings // Love Tatum rings // Gap jeans // M. Gemi boots (c/o)

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Favorite Things Giveaway

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I wanted to share the love by hosting a giveaway of my favorite things. Head over to my Instagram for details on how you can win everything in this photo, including a few extra surprises!  From my daily beauty essentials, to the best everyday accessories, this is definitely one you won’t want to miss.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

The Perfect High Rise Jeans

I wanted to kick off the week discussing one of my favorite topics – denim.  Mid to high rise jeans are everywhere and when it comes to this style, Levi’s have pretty much been my go-to.  (I recently talked about how to score a great vintage inspired pair for less than $100.)  The only thing that gives me hesitation when it comes to slipping on a pair of Levi’s, is that you have to get through the break-in period.  As anyone who’s sat through a long car ride or 3-hour brunch in brand new jeans can attest, the break-in period can be rough.  They’re stiff, barely give and are usually the first thing you take off when you get home.

I recently came across Citizens of Humanity Liya jeans and found the answer to my break-in woes.  With a selvedge denim wash, they achieve the perfect broken-in look and feel.  As soon as I slipped them on, I knew I’d struck gold.  Substantial and super soft to the touch, the are true mid-weight denim.  No stretchy legging vibes here.  Comfortable to wear all day through numerous errands, they maintained their shape and didn’t stretch out.

One of the dangers of high rise jeans is looking a little too mom-ish.  Don’t get me wrong, a vintage silhouette is great, but we don’t want to throw it back too far.  With an 11 inch front rise, button fly and tapered leg, the Liya’s achieve the perfect balance between vintage and contemporary.

I highly recommend giving these jeans a shot if you’re looking for a slim, high rise pair.  Here are a few things to consider when purchasing:

  1. Size down – I went down a full size and panicked that I’d barely be able to button them, but they fit perfectly.
  2. Fold them, never hang – This goes for all of your jeans, but because these are selvedge denim, you definitely want to fold them in a drawer as opposed to hanging them to avoid damage.  No knee creases!
  3. Don’t wash them – to sanitize, put them in a ziplock bag and store in your freezer for 24 hours.
  4. Enjoy! These jeans are high-rise, slim fit, mid-weight perfection.  No ugly mom jeans or flimsy legging style here.  Their cropped hem looks great folded or worn down.  They seriously go with everything!

Vince cardigan (on sale) // Ashley Rowe top // Citizens of Humanity Liya jeans //
Alexander Wang heels (similar here) // Celine bag // Retro Super Future sunglasses

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Winter Layering: The Double Coat


If you haven’t already guessed, Fall/Winter is my favorite season for clothing.  I’ll take a statement coat over an airy sun dress any day.  For today’s post, I want to talk about a popular layering trend – the double coat.  Not only does this trend look amazing, but there are several practical bonuses – added warmth, polished looks for both in and outdoors, and maximizing what’s already in your closet (hello, lower cost-per-wear!).

To recreate the look, consider the following tips:

  1. Mix prints and solids – unless you’re a master at pairing polka dots and plaids, I’d recommend sticking to one print and one solid as I’ve done with this window pane blazer and charcoal duster.  The visual differentiation keeps the eye moving and provides depth.
  2. Play with different textures – consider pairing a denim jacket underneath a corduroy topcoat, a satin blazer under a velvet duster, or marled wool with shearling.
  3. Pay attention to length – in general the more polished look is to keep the outer layer long, and the the inner layer short as I’ve done here.  However, for daring girls, I love the idea of pairing a long trench underneath a cropped bomber.  If you’re going to pair layers of the same length, make sure one piece is lightweight to avoid added bulk.  Here’s an example of how to layer pieces of the same length.
  4. Experiment with color – today’s look is monochrome, but the sky’s the limit!  Try camel + orange, pink + grey or black + purple for more of a pop.

Let me know in the comments what you think of this trend.  And, did anyone notice how much I look like John from the Breakfast Club with this look?

Acne Studios beanie // COS shirt (similar here) // Banana Republic blazer (similar here) //
Halston coat (similar here) // Madewell jeans // YSL bag //
Comme des Garcons Play x Converse shoes

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