In Spades

Style... in abundance

3 High Quality, Affordable Brands You Need to Know

Most of what I feature on In Spades involves statement pieces and rare finds. They are what I gravitate towards most, and I’ll be the first to admit this strategy of getting dressed is a tad backwards. While most people start with good basics and build a wardrobe from there, I start with the craziest pieces I can find and fill in where necessary – it’s a top-down approach rather than a bottom-up philosophy. Consider me Rule Breaker Numero Uno of Michael Kors’ wardrobe philosophy.

“70 percent of the clothes you own should be meat and potatoes.
30 percent should be icing and fluff—that’s color, pattern, shine, and accessories.
Too many women get the proportions the other way round, then can’t figure out why they can’t get dressed.”

That said, I wanted to get down to brass tax: what the heck do I reach for when running errands, working from home or packing for a quick weekend away? You know, the basics.

While Target and Zara are great, I’ve reached a point in my life where quality trumps quantity every time. I’m not interested in replacing sweaters every three months. I’d much rather spend $100 on something that will last me 5 years than $20 on something that will last me 6 months.

Here are 3 High Quality, Affordable Brands You Need to Know

Everlane
If you consider yourself a fashionista, chances are you’ve heard of Everlane. Built around the philosophy of using ethical factories and transparent pricing, they are my go-to for t-shirts, sweaters and loafers.

The average piece of clothing is marked up 8x before reaching the consumer, but not at Everlane. They tell you exactly what it cost them to make your sweater and how much they’re going to charge you for it.

They also have a “Pay What You Want” program, which is as lovely and amazing as it sounds. You pick your price.

Brand Highlights
Vibe: smart, savvy, fashion in-crowd
Hero pieces: t-shirts, cashmere sweaters and loafers
Price point: $16 – $365 with the majority of items under $100

 

Amour Vert
I teased Amour Vert during NYFW and if you haven’t yet checked out their line, now is the time. Committed to creating socially responsible fashion, they only manufacture in the US, have a zero-waste philosophy, use sustainable fabrics and non-toxic dyes.

What it means for you: eco-friendly clothing that will last.

Brand Highlights
Vibe: girly and eco-friendly
Hero pieces: silk tops, cozy day dresses
Price point: $38 – $288 with most items averaging $120

Cuyana
Where Everlane leans practical and Amour Vert leans girly, Cuyana is like your sophisticated big sister.  They make incredible silks and leather goods in soft, feminine color palettes.  Think ladylike pieces that will carry you from the office to an evening out.

Their motto is “Fewer, Better” which embodies the spirit of having fewer clothes with better quality.  Also committed to sustainable fashion, their “lean shipping” option includes a reusable bag with pre-paid shipping label that you can fill up with your old clothes.  Once received, Cuyana donates them to women in need. You also get a $10 credit for your contribution to helping others.

Brand Highlights
Vibe: clean and sophisticated
Hero pieces: silk separates and handbags
Price point: $35 – $495 with most items averaging $120

NYFW F/W17 Day 3

Day 2 was a monster of a day, and Day 3 will be no different.  I wake up super early to get ready for our first presentation, Paul Andrew, and am so thankful the gift bag at Nicholas K included revitalizing eye masks.  I want to put all 8 of them on thinking that may be more effective, but I refrain.

I’ve talked at length about coats that the capture my heart in a way that makes me think the designer tapped into my brainwaves to create the stuff of dreams.  Today’s look is the physical manifestation of this dream.  I originally spied it 6 months ago, immediately put it on pre-order, and waited with baited breath until it arrived on my doorstep.  To say I needed to take a moment when I first unwrapped it is an understatement.  If one can be in love with a coat, then I am.  Whole-heartedly.  It is, of course, Jacquemus.

 

Paul Andrew
If you’re a shoe lover, chances are you’ve heard of Paul Andrew.  Carried at Shopbop and Barneys, he creates gorgeous footwear that is both innovative and luxurious.  Each shoe has a memory foam padded sole and is designed with aerodynamic precision to achieve optimal fit and function.  Talk about nerd shoe porn.  For F/W17 he plays with sculptural metallic heels and supple suede.  Standouts are his classic black booties with golden spherical heel and the teal laser-cut velcro beauties below.

Amour Vert x Twiirly
My early wake-up call left no time for food or coffee, so I was thrilled that my next appointment was a blogger brunch with Amour Vert and Twiirly.  From the minute I walked into While We Were Young, I was smitten with their plush pink furniture, neon sign and beautiful, feminine decor.  I had the pleasure of meeting some amazing bloggers while enjoying avocado toast (what else?!) and French press coffee.

Amour Vert founded their clothing company with a mission to get back to sustainable, eco-friendly fashion. Everything they make follows a strict non-toxic, zero-waste philosophy and it’s super cute and affordable to boot.

Twiirly is a start-up out of SF that connect bloggers to people who want to book stylist sessions with them. Their founders are the type of boss ladies making huge strides in the tech world and I’m super excited to start working with them.

Photos courtesy of Katelyn Rose Photography

Jill Stuart
After brunch I hightail it back to Clarkson Square for Jill Stuart, only to realize that the show is happening somewhere else! Trying not to panic, I throw myself in an Uber and arrive at the presentation just in time to see the models walk.  The crowd is thick and trying to squeeze in for a photo is tough, but I manage to capture my favorite looks – masculine style blazers paired with color blocked midi-skirts – and make a mental note to experiment more with color blocking and long proportions.

Yuna Yang
Yuna Yang is the first show we attended exactly 1 year ago when Delta lost my luggage.  I showed up wearing my airplane clothes and a face full of drugstore makeup that didn’t match my skin at all, but hey, what can you do!  This time I was happy not to repeat the experience.  Shown in a jazz club with a live performance, she featured a gorgeous purple teddy bear coat (noticing a theme?) and an olive green trench made out of the most supple leather.

Photos courtesy of Yuna Yang

Self-Portrait Backstage with Bumble & Bumble
Back to backstage we go!  I’ll be recapping our experience with Bumble & Bumble and Self-Portrait next week, but let’s just say the vibe was sexy Londoner tailored to each individual girl’s hair.

Self-Portrait
Held at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Self-Portrait debuted their first runway show at NYFW.  In season’s past, they’ve held presentations, so witnessing their first runway was a treat.  Straight out of the gate, I was swooning.  The show opened with ruffled sleeves and hem lines in a muted palette of tweed, velvet and silk.  Mid-way through it transitioned to dusty blue and cobalt dresses with peek-a-boo sleeves and cutouts and the insane trench dress pictured below.  For the finale, the looks warmed up to burnt orange and vivid pink one-pieces with cinched waistlines and ruching.

Not only was the locale and collection impressive, but the audience was a Who’s Who of the fashion blogging world.  Sitting in front of me were every single one of the heavy hitters I aspire to be.  After the show I really had to pee – hello second latte – and took the elevator up a floor to the ladies room.  Riding in the elevator with me was Aimee Song.  I normally shy away from talking to celebrities – I feel like a bother – but I took the opportunity to tell her I loved her book, Capture Your Style, and learned a lot from it.  She was the kindest, most genuine person EVER.  Her authenticity honestly blew me away.  Unlike a meet and greet where you get to talk to someone for 30 seconds, we got to talk for about 10minutes in this random, surreal old-friends-gabbing-in-the-ladies-room experience that I will never forget.

Georgine
If I had endless disposable income, I’d spend it all on Georgine.  Her show is one of my most anticipated every season, and she had me from the first look.  Two weeks later and I’m still singing the soundtrack from her show and re-living the first moment I laid eyes on each insane piece.  They just kept coming and coming.  I sat next to two of my NY friends, Megan and Sami, and we all nodded in approval as the show opened with studded leather jackets and red velvet pants.  A master of mixed media, Georgine fused sequins with sheer netting, lace and fur trimmed dusters.  It was 90’s inspired like her Spring 2017 collection, and showed us just how versatile of a designer she is.  Each piece was interchangeable, creating a beautiful cohesive look.

Francesca Liberatore
We ended the night with colorful prints and a blend of textures by Francesca Liberatore.  With a seat right near the entrance, I had a ball capturing her flowing, side slit skirts in slo-motion.  Paired with oversized sweaters and flat ankle boots, it was a fresh take on an incredibly wearable look.  Several of her pieces featured hand-embroidered details, sheer fabrics – loving that unexpected element for fall – and cozy knits.

Photos by Matthew Passiglia