In Spades

Style... in abundance

My Love/Hate Relationship with Zara

Zara Green Dress Zara Green Dress Zara Green Dress Zara Green DressZara Green DressZara Green Dress Zara Green Dress Zara Green DressZara dress (sold out, similar here) // YSL bag ($70 version here and here)
Quay sunglasses (similar here) // Celine mules ($25 version here)

I have a confession.  I have a love/hate relationship with Zara.

On one hand, I love that they carry on-trend pieces at super reasonable price points.  On the other hand, I hate that literally every design they carry is a blatant knock-off of a designer original.  Anyone remember the City Lights collection?  They practically copied the entire Balenciaga and Gucci F/W17 lines down to the stitch.

Zara is no stranger to intellectual property theft.  While it’s one thing to copy retail giants like Gucci, there’s added salt to the wound when they take advantage of the little guy.

If you’re a close follower of fashion news, you’re familiar with the Tuesday Bassen case.  Tuesday, who designs cheeky pins and patches, noticed the fast fashion giant was knocking off her designs without contacting her to license the rights.  What followed was a lengthy David vs. Goliath lawsuit, and sadly, she’s not the only indie artist with this story.  The list is long.

Then there’s the environmental impact.  Fast fashion accounts for massive amounts of waste per year, not to mention the inefficient use of energy.  And by purchasing clothes from Zara and its counterparts, we’re perpetuating a cycle that continually strains scarce resources.

Time to get real

I’ll be the first to admit I own pieces from Zara.  The dress I’m sharing with you today is Zara.  I purchased it for my baby shower.  An 80’s theme party, I needed something affordable that fit my growing belly and paid homage to the decade.  When I found this dress with massive shoulder pads and a bold, graphic print for only $17.99, I knew it was the perfect piece.

In an effort to upcycle, I didn’t want it to be a one and done item.  Thus, it’s making its debut on the blog.

But where do I draw the line?

I’m still battling with that question.  While I make an effort to avoid Zara, I find myself popping in to window shop every now and then.  What starts as excitement for all the amazing designs I see, quickly turns into disdain.  It’s like lipstick on a pig.

“Ooh, I love that top.”

“Wait, didn’t I see this exact top in Jacquemus’ last collection?”

As I take a closer look at the items in my hand waiting to be tried on, a pattern emerges.  Balenciaga, Celine, Gucci.  I’ve seen it all before.  It quickly loses its luster.  Originality and (sadly) exclusivity are what make fashion tick.

So the question remains.  Are designer knock-offs that strain the environment worth it?

Where do you stand?

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Closet Upcycle: How to Breathe Fresh Life into Your Wardrobe Without Spending a Dime

Matron Saint dressMatron Saint dressMatron Saint dress Matron Saint dressMatron Saint dressMatron Saint dress // Anthropologie jacket (sold out, similar here and here)
Valentino boots (sold out, similar here and here) // Janessa Leone hat
Love Tatum Kali wrap necklace and initial pendants

I recently came across a fascinating article in Vanity Fair that follows the haunting true story of a fake heiress.  It got me thinking about our current culture of Instagram stars, extreme excess and mass consumption.  Nowadays it’s commonplace to hear about influencers attending the Cannes Film Festival, touring Morrocco with a private butler and owning a slew of designer outfits.  While I would love to attend Cannes and wear Valentino on the regular, that just isn’t reality – at least not for me.  Further, the more common and in your face this reality becomes, the more the masses expect it.  It becomes almost normal.

One of the challenges of running a fashion blog is having content to shoot.  And by content, I mean clothes.  Nordstrom recently cracked down on bloggers who were abusing their generous return policy.  These bloggers would buy tons of clothes, shoot the outfits for their blogs and then return everything.  While I would never do that, I do feel the pressure to have new material to share with you.

I reflected on this pressure and realized that I don’t need to go out and buy a bunch of new stuff.  I can upcycle.  In other words, go shopping in my own closet!

You may remember this trench coat from way back in my archives.  It can be styled as a dress or a jacket, which is awesome because you know I love a dual purpose piece.

Out of all the Janessa Leone hats I own, this one is probably my favorite.  It reminds me of one of my favorite movie characters and has the ability to transition from fall to spring.  I love dressing it up a bit, but it also looks fabulous with a ponytail and jeans (a look I’m quickly realizing is awesome with a baby).  Read: no maintenance.

These boots are oldies but goodies – the leather still smells as fabulous as the day I bought them.

Upcycling is a great way to breathe fresh life into your closet.  Michael Kors famously told us that we only wear 20% of our wardrobes anyway.  I challenge you to take a look at what you have in your closet and see how you can re-style things into new and exciting looks.

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My Version of Athleisure

Nintendo sweatshirt & BucketfeetNintendo sweatshirt & BucketfeetNintendo sweatshirt & BucketfeetNintendo sweatshirt & BucketfeetNintendo sweatshirt & BucketfeetNintendo sweatshirt & BucketfeetNintendo sweatshirt & Bucketfeet Bloomingdale’s x Nintendo sweatshirt // Joy Lab leggings // Nordstrom sunglasses // Bucketfeet shoes // Red lipstick

Towards the end of my pregnancy, I developed a casual uniform – my version of athleisure.  Normally athleisure is the farthest thing from my mind, but when tying your shoes is a challenge, you start to reconsider.

While I can’t do the extreme version of the trend (Dad shoes, I’m looking at you) I was able to adopt a version that works for my personal style.  I’ll call it ‘nerd glam’.

I originally bought this sweatshirt for my husband, but when it didn’t fit, I claimed it as my own.  As a huge fan of the 1980’s and all things nerd, it was the perfect novelty piece for my wardrobe.  Plus, I’m not one to miss out on a designer collaboration.  Check out Bloomingdale’s x Nintendo for more goodies – I may need to get these shoes!

Target killed it with their inclusion of Joy Lab athletic wear, and I picked up these leggings on my last errand run.  I’m actually wearing them inside out because I love the color blocking effect over their floral pattern.  Bonus points for the 2-in-1 option!

Style tip

Don’t be afraid to adopt unorthodox ways of wearing your favorite pieces.  Turn it inside out or backwards for a fresh take!

If you go way back in my archives you’ll remember this post about footwear company Bucketfeet.  They put indie artwork on their shoes for a constant rotation of fresh designs.  Supporting independent designers is super important to me and I love the coffee cup design on these classic slip-ons.

To round out my version of athleisure, I had to add some dramatic sunnies and a red lip.  Although I rarely wear lipstick, glamming up a casual outfit is a must.  It makes running errands all the more fun!

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Soft Tones for Spring + A Bumpdate

Matron Saint dressMatron Saint dressMatron Saint dress Matron Saint dressMatron Saint dressMatron Saint dressMatron Saint dressMatron Saint dress Matron Saint dress (non-maternity here) // Barney’s cardigan (similar here and here)
Janessa Leone hat // Dorateymur boots

I’ve long been a fan of Janessa Leone hats.  Each season I incorporate a new piece into my collection.  It’s usually a straw boater for summer and a wool fedora for winter.  With her continually changing line-up of fabrics and colors it’s easy to find new pieces that feel different from what’s already in my arsenal.

Last week she announced the debut of her JL Mini line and I about died.  For the little ones in your life, they are just as cool as their big sister counterpart.  Talk about the chicest girl on the playground.  Be sure to check it out for a major dose of cuteness.

Bumpdate

That brings me to my next point – we have very exciting news!

Two weeks ago my husband and I welcomed a little girl into the world.  Our daughter is perfect in every way and we are over the moon in love with her.  As we determine our comfort level of how much of her we’ll share on the big, bad interweb, I wanted to share this incredible news with all of you that have stuck with me over the years.  Thank you for continuing to support me by reading In Spades, engaging with me on social media, and being interested in what I have to say from a style perspective.  It truly means the world to me.  As you’ve shared your thoughts and ideas with me, sharing this life-changing news with you is very important to me too.

Since our little lovebug came almost two weeks early, I still have tons of pregnancy-related style content to share with you!  In the coming weeks you’ll still see me rocking the bump, but my hope is that my commitment to non-maternity fashion that can be worn while pregnant will continue to inspire your spring wardrobe decisions.

Happy Spring!

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Spring Fashion Finds: How to Score Great Deals

Topshop dressTopshop dressTopshop dress Topshop dress Topshop dress Topshop dress Topshop dress Topshop dress Topshop dressTopshop dress (sold out, similar here) // 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target sunglasses (old, similar here)
NYX Cosmetics lip gloss // Prada mules (similar here)

You know when you take a shot on an online purchase and end up hitting it out of the park?  Thus is the case with this dress.

In my quest for comfy non-maternity, maternity fashion, I came across this Topshop dress via Nordstrom.  It’s 100% cotton, the perfect length and has fun details that set it apart from a simple turtleneck dress.  How fun are the scalloped lettuce trim sleeves?  I immediately added it to cart (it was a mere $24.99!) not thinking it would be anything I’d wear past week 40.

As soon as I tried it on at home, I knew it would be sticking with me through spring and summer.  Worn with block heeled mules here, it’s perfect for outings with friends.  Paired with sneakers, it’s my go-to look for running errands.

Sometimes my best purchases are totally serendipitous.  I encourage you to take a look at your favorite retailers’ websites for their shortlisted items.  I love perusing the Editor’s Picks here, and the 100% Exclusives here.

Sort by price from lowest to highest and see what you come up with.  I guarantee there’ll be a diamond in the rough waiting for you.

Shop the post below for alternate picks on my OOTD at all price points.

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