In Spades

Style... in abundance

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

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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?

Off-the-Shoulder Bow Top

Citizen of Humanity jeans // Vocabulary boutique top
Prada mules (sold out, similar version under $40 here) // Banana Republic stacking rings
Essie nail polish in Petal Pushers // Clinique lipstick in Runway Coral

One week into spring and I’m ready to pull out my fun, statement tops.  Seen all over the runways, anything off-the-shoulder, deconstructed or with interesting embellishments is key.  When I saw this bow sleeved number, I knew it would be the perfect top to pair with jeans or skirts.  Under $60 and machine washable, it was a steal.

Another one of my favorite trends for spring: mules.  Such a funny word for a shoe, but I love them all the same.  Versatile and comfortable, they provide that sophisticated yet quirky element I look for in fashion.  I recently read an article about how your style choices change when you’re in  your 30’s, and flats or block heeled shoes replacing stilettos is one sign.  I honestly couldn’t agree more.  While I love a stiletto every now and then, the majority of the time I’m wearing slides or my favorite loafers.  These suede mules are from last spring, but I’ve linked some cute, affordable options above.

Denim on Denim


Levi’s Sherpa Denim Jacket // Everlane tanktop // Maison Scotch jeans //
Celine sunglasses // Valentino pumps

Today is the first day of spring and with it comes a new slew of trends.  I’ve talked about the Top 5 Trends you should look out for this season, but one of the fringe players is the idea of denim on denim.  Although it’s technically been around forever, the Canadian tuxedo is getting a reboot.

The key to this look is to have one piece that is oversized or slouchy.  Think boyfriend fit.  I chose this classic Levi’s sherpa jacket in their darkest indigo.  Rather than go for the women’s version, I opted for the men’s to ensure the sizing was perfectly oversized and effortless.

With proportion being the most important aspect of this look, I’d recommend sticking to opposite silhouettes – one half oversized, one half fitted.  Going slouchy on the top and bottom is too difficult to pull off unless you’re one of the lucky few that has a body like a supermodel – long and lean.  With double denim, flare leg jeans would look too Britney circa 1999 and skinny jeans with a slim fitted jacket would be way too Real Housewives of Orange County.

After the Internet went crazy over these clear knee mom jeans, I was feeling inspired to break out my patchwork pair.  Originally a straight leg jean, I cropped them just above the ankle bone for a refreshed look. The slimmer leg doesn’t distract from the patchwork and pairs well with the oversized boyfriend jacket.

What do you think of the denim on denim trend?

Marc Jacobs x Julie Verhoeven

Marc Jacobs x Julie Verhoeven handbag // Sandro sweater // Hellessy pants // Amelie Pichard boots

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I’m a big fan of designer collaborations (who else is super excited for Victoria Beckham x Target?!) so when I found out Marc Jacobs had teamed up with artist Julie Verhoeven to design handbags, shoes and ready-to-wear for his S/S17 collection I was thrilled.  A fashion illustrator, Verhoeven has also lent her hand to Louis Vuitton and Versace and creates limited edition pieces that have ‘collector’s item’ written all over them.  This traditional saddle bag – a signature Jacobs’ silhouette – gets a whimsical and fresh twist with her starry night theme.  I love the deep navy color, the cheeky lips on the shoulder strap and how it’s the perfect size for my daily essentials.

Marc Jacobs has been on my radar of late thanks to his unconventional F/W17 show at NYFW.  Held at the Park Avenue Armory (the same location we saw Tommy Hilfiger F/W15) only 100 people were invited.  The ginormous space was stripped down to bare bones and simply contained a single row of folding chairs on either side of the runway.  Models walked in complete silence as the audience observed through their own eyes – the use of cell phones was strictly prohibited.  In his show notes, Jacobs’ talked about the importance of actually experiencing.  In this day and age, we spend far too much time documenting and never really living in the moment.  His F/W17 show aimed to change all of that and forced observers to focus on the real reason they were all there – the clothes.  As someone who has a love/hate relationship with social media, I couldn’t have been more pleased.

As we move into spring, another fashion element on my radar is the use of color.  While pink is the dominate hue of the season, I’m loving anything punchy and bright; this orange sweater being Exhibit A.  I’m super tempted to purchase this orange trench coat, so don’t be surprised if you start to see more vibrant color pops in future posts.

NYFW F/W17 Day 1

With Bay Area Fashionista on our first attempt to walk out the door in the midst of a snowstorm!

Wednesday, 2:00pm
We arrived at Newark airport a whopping 1 hour early to weather that made me think I was still in California.

3:00pm
Twenty minutes later we were already checked into our hotel, which made this the fastest, smoothest arrival we’ve experienced to date. After a nightmare start to the February 2016 shows (anyone remember my lost luggage?), this trip couldn’t have begun any better.

Two key changes we made to our trip since we first started attending NYFW were to stay in Soho – within walking distance to Skylight – and arrive on Wednesday. My goodness, what a difference this made! Instead of frantically running to back-to-back shows the moment we landed, we got to ease into the eye of the storm and attend several shows we normally have to miss.

6:00pm
We had one appointment on Wednesday – a presentation by Becken – and an influencer happy hour where I got to reconnect with blogger friends from around the country.

Becken is the brainchild of designer Chris Gelinas (of label CG). Their aim is “fashion for the grounded woman with nothing to prove,” and featured classic knit and outerwear of a more conservative nature than Gelinas’ more glamorous line, CG.

I had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie of @hernewtribe, sister of Happily Grey at the show, and we swapped stories about the planning and work that goes into attending NYFW. We laughed over how it’s as much work as it is fun – talk about extremes!

Thursday, 10:00am
When we looked out our hotel window on (official) Day 1 our jaws hit the floor. The entire city was covered in a blanket of fresh snow. I opted for a mulberry boilersuit by Brooklyn label As Ever. Paired with my Acne Studios beanie, it was the perfect look to stand up to the snow and caught the attention of several street style photographers. Later, I happily discovered I’d made Nylon’s Best Dressed of NYFW Day 1!

As Ever boilersuit // J. Crew turtleneck // Dorateymur booties // Fendi bag // Acne Studios beanie


Nicholas K
Nicholas K opened with a neutral color palette that transitioned to bold reds and subdued purples. Multi-layered separates that included tied sleeves around waistlines and shoulders were featured in crushed velvet with metallic accents. This is good news for anyone who invested in velvet pieces for Fall 2016 – six months from now, those items will still hold up nicely!

Inspired by the communal diversity of the 1990’s, the brand accessorized each look with Che Guevara-esque berets or large, single hoop earrings, paying a nod to the golden age of hip hop with a dash of rebellion. Rob Swift and Latasha Alcinor gave a live performance, kicking off the first official show of NYFW with rap and 90’s flair.

Tadashi Shoji
Ever the master of elegance, Tadashi was inspired by seductive nightclub vibes for F/W17. This edgier air featured his signature lace dresses, velvet jumpsuits and brocade in a jewel-toned palette of amethyst, sapphire, emerald and ruby. Even though this was only our second runway show, the trends already began to emerge – velvet is king in a world still heavily inspired by the 70’s and 90’s. My favorite looks were Tadashi’s silver jumpsuit – so Studio 54 – and his closing look – a pink sequins gown with Juliet shoulders and an open back.

Noon by Noor
From maximalist to minimalist we went. Noon by Noor showed an entirely neutral color palette accented by the deepest shade of navy. Masculine suiting morphed feminine with nipped waistlines and peplum draping. I especially loved the line’s use of faux fur, highlighted in their giant teddy bear coats (swoon). Another interesting element was their use of florals – something also seen at Tadashi – which is expected for spring, but feels so fresh and invigorating for fall. As this was my first Noon by Noor show, I left with an even deeper appreciation for the brand’s subtle, yet exquisite details.

Michael Costello
Being in the audience at a Michael Costello show is F-U-N. Not only was there a giant pink Care Bear making the rounds before the show, but audible cheers and applause accompanied each look for this veteran Project Runway star. And rightly so. The F/W17 Michael Costello woman was fierce, edgy and rock-n-roll to the core.

His show opened with a series of sheer, white lace gowns with strong shoulders, corseted waistlines and voluminous bell sleeves. Not for the faint of heart, he hit us hard before transitioning into black, silk draped numbers reminiscent of early Halston. They too packed quite a punch before the show-stopping head-to-toe sequins numbers that made up his finale. I can absolutely see these pieces on Grammy winners and red carpet sirens this fall.

Tune in tomorrow for my recap of NYFW Day 2!

Photos by Matthew Passiglia