In Spades

Style... in abundance

Fall Loungewear

Loungewear set Loungewear set Loungewear set Jogger set via Vocabulary boutique // Golden Goose sneakers // Sunglasses

When I saw this loungewear set I immediately knew I would love it.  The tapered sweatpants and varsity-esque short-sleeved sweatshirt are so cute.  Plus, the style name is Beachcomber – I think it was destiny.

I love that it’s an in-between version of my favorite summer loungewear set and my fave elevated loungewear set.  As we transition to cooler temps, this is the perfect fall loungewear set.  It’s by the same brand that I featured last week.

Since becoming a mom, I’ve placed a lot of importance on my loungewear.  I want to be comfortable yet still look put together when I’m at the playground or doing school pick-up.  Here are some of my other favorite loungewear brands.

SUMMER LOUNGEWEAR
LOUNGEWEAR YOU CAN LEAVE THE HOUSE IN
MY FAVE LOUNGEWEAR BRANDS PART I
MY FAVE LOUNGEWEAR BRANDS PART II
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10 Tips for Styling Blazers

Black satin blazer Black satin blazer Black satin blazerSerra blazer and tank top via Vocabulary boutique // Jean Atelier jeans
Polaroid sunglasses // Haider Ackermann boots (similar)

I promised you another look from Vocabulary boutique and this one is pretty much my lifelong uniform.  A great blazer, perfect tee, denim and boots.

This fall (and moving into spring ’22) is the year of the suit and I’m digging the satin material of this blazer.  It’s so comfortable and chic.  I love that I can easily roll up the sleeves without them falling down and the shoulder is just strong enough to add some edge to the otherwise feminine fabric.

Vocabulary has been killing it with their brand and product selection and this one makes amazing basics at an affordable price.  Check out their Friday Instagram Lives for their newest pieces and ways to style them.

When selecting a blazer for fall, think about fabric and cut.  Here are some of my personal style guidelines when it comes to blazers.

10 Tips for Styling Blazers
  1. Double-breasted blazers are best worn closed.
  2. Single-breasted/one-button blazers look great worn open or closed.
  3. A linen-blend can be worn year-round, but is best for warmer climates.
  4. Satin blazers are great options for evening.  If you want to pair a blazer with a dress, I’d go satin at night.
  5. Use hair ties around your forearms to hold sleeves in place if you want to wear them pulled up around your elbows.
  6. Experiment: Flannel and jacquard are great blazer fabrics for fall/winter.  You don’t always have to go with wool.
  7. Wool and heavier fabric blazers are best worn with minimal layers underneath.  Pair them with a tissue turtleneck or silk button-down.  You don’t want to add extra bulk to an already heavy fabric.  It won’t be comfortable.
  8. Cropped blazers are a great option with wide-leg pants and dresses because they give balanced proportions.
  9. Fitted blazers look best with a single vent.
  10. Oversized blazers look best with a double vent or no vent.
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Mixing Statement Pieces & Wardrobe Basics

Serra t-shirtSerra t-shirt Serra tee via Vocabulary // DVF skirt (similar) // Polariod sunglasses // Isabel Marant sandals (similar)

I love a high/low moment.  Sometimes a statement piece needs a wardrobe basic.  Enter this super cute Vive Liberte La Femme tee.  I’d argue it’s anything but basic.  I love its moxie, so of course it had to be paired with animal print and a red lip.

This look is super comfortable and versatile.  Throw on a pair of sneakers and you can run around all day.  Add a leather jacket and clutch for a night out.

Cecelia of Vocabulary boutique introduced me to this brand, Serra, and their tees and basics are fabulous.  Stay tuned for more Serra pieces.

Whenever I mix statement pieces with wardrobe basics, I follow a few simple rules:

  1. Go monochrome – if your statement piece is a bold color or print, keep everything else monochrome like I did here.
  2. Contrast your fabric – statement pieces tend to be fabric other than cotton (silk, jacquard, taffeta, wool), so I always ground them with cotton basics like I did here.
  3. Let silhouette shine – if your statement piece is voluminous or has a unique silhouette, keep everything else simple like I did here and here.  You don’t want to get caught up in lots of layers or superfluous fabric.
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Fashion Friday

Charm necklaceWearing Thatch jewelry via Vocabulary boutique

For today’s Fashion Friday, I’m bringing you another Fashcap.

That’s a Wrap for Fashion Month

Fashion Month came to a close on Wednesday, and the trends we saw in NY, London and Milan held true.

Fall/Winter 2021 will include giant handbags, layers upon layers, menswear pieces and neutral color palettes.

Paris Fashion Week included a lot of subdued collections – several with an entirely black palette.  I wasn’t a huge fan of Paris, but did love Louis Vuitton and Jil Sander’s collections.

The head-scratching moment came with Matthew Williams’ collection for Givenchy.  I predict his tenure with the house will be short-lived.  Compare Clare Waight Keller’s Givenchy to Williams – WOW.

Personalized Jewelry

I had a fabulous Instagram Live discussion with Vocabulary boutique about the role jewelry plays in our style journeys.  Featuring one of my long-time favorite designers, Thatch, we chatted about how jewelry makes us feel connected.

You can watch it here.

I’m building a charm necklace and adore the process of picking out meaningful treasures to add to a beautiful piece I’ll have forever.

Simone Rocha x H&M

This designer collab launched on March 11 and about half of it is still available.  Sizing is limited, but if you had your heart set on this collection, there is still time.

I didn’t buy anything.  While I adore Simone Rocha, I felt like the price point was still a little high and the pieces, albeit beautiful, weren’t very wearable.  I love a sheer embroidered dress but how often will you really wear something like that?

The State of Now

In Spades Keynote Speaker

These are surreal times.

My family has been on a self-imposed quarantine for 4 days, and sadly I don’t see this letting up anytime soon.

When I started In Spades 7 years ago, my goal was to share what inspires me.  The fashion that makes my heart sing.  The pieces that make me realize I can be anybody I want to be in the right outfit.  I hoped it would inspire you to realize the transformative power of fashion and contribute to the conversation too.

And in the 7 years since, I can say it absolutely has.  I’ve dialogued with readers from all over the world.  Met Fashionphile’s at NYFW.  Shared my insight with like-minded individuals and found ways to educate, further inspire and use this medium I hold so dear to story tell.

So… I’m going to continue to do so.

And I’ll be the first to admit, it feels really weird.

I know there is SO much more going on right now.  So many more important things to focus on.  Family to take care of.  Friends to look out for.  I don’t want to distract from any of that.  Or diminish it.  Or pretend like we’re living in a bubble.

I DO want to provide a safe space for you to feel joy.  A space to feel inspired.  To learn something.  To reflect.  To dialogue.  To feel community.  I have ALWAYS done this through clothes.  So I will continue.

Our small, local businesses are really feeling the stress of what COVID-19 is doing to our community.  So I’d like to take this opportunity to shout out my favorites.  As the week progresses, I’m going to highlight them in more depth.

My Favorite San Diego Local Businesses

Stay well.  Stay strong.  Support each other.  Together we’ll get through this.

Photo by Justice Photography