In Spades

Style... in abundance

La Femme Chic Lookbook

I’m really excited about today’s post because I teamed up with one of my favorite San Diego boutiques to style a spring lookbook. La Femme Chic is a designer consignment boutique in the Cedros design district of Solana Beach that carries an amazing selection of clothing, handbags, shoes and accessories. If you’ve never visited their store, you must go. From Chanel, Hermes, Lanvin and Chloe, it’s a treasure trove of designer pieces at a fraction of the cost.

Spring time is all about spending time outside, whether it be dining al fresco, outdoor parties or wedding season, so I put together six looks for just about every occasion.

If you want to shop these looks (or their other amazing merchandise) La Femme Chic is offering 15% off to my readers. Use code INSPADES16 online or print this coupon to shop in store.

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First up is this mod Michael Kors dress. A great option for an evening networking event, the small details are amazing. The zipper follows the geometric pattern of the dress demonstrating the true craftsmanship of Kors. I paired it with yellow snakeskin Ferragamo sandals for a fun pop.
Michael Kors dress (on sale) // Ferragamo sandals

Hermes1Hermes2 Hermes3 For ladylike sophistication at it’s finest, you can’t get any better than Hermes. The intricate gold fasteners of this wrap skirt left me breathless. Paired with gold accessories, this is the perfect office look.
Hermes skirt // Classiques top // Vince Camuto shoes

VonVonni1VonVonni2 VonVonni3I love the versatility of this wrap dress as it can be worn over a dozen different ways. You can dress it up for evening or pair it with flat sandals for a day strolling the boardwalk.
Von Vonni dress // YSL clutch // Calvin Klein shoes
  Poleci3Poleci1 Poleci2Futuristic and quirky, this look reminds me of something out of The Fifth Element.  The statement sunglasses are a great representation of the range of styles and genres you’ll find at Le Femme Chic.
Poleci dress // Dior sunglasses // Chanel sandals
  SheriBodell1SheriBodell2 SheriBodell3This dress had me at hello. The velvet straps are buttery soft and the way the fringe drapes is so feminine and sexy. It’s the perfect date night look.
Sheri Bodell dress
  NinaRicci2NinaRicci1 NinaRicci3 NinaRicci4

I’m always looking for an excuse to dress like a modern day Audrey and this look hit it out of the park. The pleated button-up and tuxedo pants are true classics that never go out of style. I love the little Chanel train case and two-toned heels paired with this to die for Nina Ricci jacket. Although velvet isn’t normally synonymous to spring, it’s voluminous sleeves and vibrant cobalt color are a great compliment to a classic ensemble.

Nina Ricci jacket // Oscar de la Renta button-up // Kate Spade tuxedo pants // 
Chanel slingbacks and makeup case

Photos by Kelly Turla
Special thanks to La Femme Chic and my kindred sartorial spirits Ariana and Kelly for an amazing opportunity to collaborate.

Soft Hues

PinkReed7 PinkReed6 PinkReed1a PinkReed3 PinkReed4a PinkReed8cropped PinkReed5
Spring time is all about soft hues and easy pieces. I picked up this chambray shirtdress at Vocabulary boutique during their Spring Time in Paris event and have been keeping it on rotation ever since. A good shirtdress is a wardrobe staple for its versatility and comfort – they look good on all body types and can be styled many different ways. I like to wear mine open over a flowy tank and cropped jeans, but it looks just as good buttoned-up with some cute sneakers, or belted with stiletto sandals.
I wanted a hint of color to compliment the soft hues of this outfit so I broke out my Reed Krakoff satchel. The pale pink and grey perfectly compliment the white denim and chambray.  I’ve been a Reed Krakoff fan since his days at Coach and was devastated when, amid great controversy, he shuttered his eponymous label last year. While his original line is no longer available, you can still find his beautifully structured designs at Kohl’s. 

J. Crew cropped jeans // Madewell tank (no longer available, similar style here) // 
French Connection shirtdress from Vocabulary boutique // Kenneth Cole mules // 
Rue Gembon earrings (no longer available, similar here, here and here) //
Reed Krakoff bag (no longer available, Reed Krakoff for Kohl’s replica here)

Remixed

BlueSkirt2cropped BlueSkirt3cropped BlueSkirt7 BlueSkirt1cropped BlueSkirt6cropped BlueSkirt4 BlueSkirt5 BlueSkirt8cropped One of the great benefits of curating a closet you truly love is the ability to mix and match pieces into new creations. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had the “I have nothing to wear” feeling only to realize the answer to my problem was actually sitting right in front of me. I’ve spoken about remixing items on the blog before, and wanted to share how I took this skirt, top and shoes and paired them in a new way for spring.

I love the playful, almost nautical feel this new pairing gives off.  The obi belt on the skirt compliments the movement of the bell sleeved top, while the shoes round it out with the perfect pop of color.  I wore this outfit to a networking happy hour and not only was it comfortable and fun, but it earned bonus points for being a conversation starter.

How can you remix your old favorites in a new way?

J. Crew skirt on sale (chevron print here, chino here) // Torn by Ronny Kobo top (sold out, Forever 21 replica here) // Valentino heels (sold out, similar here)

Fashcap

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1) For the first edition of Fashcap I shared denim line RE/DONE, a company that takes vintage Levi’s apart at the seams and re-sews them into new, flattering cuts. While I’m still a huge fan of the brand, their $200+ price tag is a little steep. Check out Urban Renewal at Urban Outfitters for the same concept at a much lower price. I love this frayed cropped pair and this pair with uneven hems has me swooning.
2) When did New York have the best style? Four fashion heavyweights debate the best era of sartorial expression in this article from New York Magazine. I especially love the chance encounter Linda Wells describes with Diana Vreeland (larger than life) while Rembert Browne makes a very compelling case for why Puff Daddy truly is a fashion icon.
What’s your favorite style decade?
3) What can I say, I have mules on the brain. Comfortable, versatile and chic, we’re going to be seeing more and more of them come fall. Two new lines I have my eye on are Mari Giudicelli and Alumnae. Want the look but not the price tag? Zara is killing it with their options. Check out these, these and these all for less than $90.
4) I’m a firm believer in lifting people up. When a mutual friend introduced me to Sklyer McCurine, personal stylist of Le Red Balloon, and Laura Johnson blogger of Distillerista, I immediately knew they were of my tribe. Kind, intelligent and taking the world by storm, Sklyer will help you reach your full potential through fashion, while Laura is a pioneer in her field, owning female run craft distillery You & Yours Distillery Co. Check them out and rest assured you’ll be hearing a lot more from them.

Photos courtesy of Urban Oufitters, Rose Hartman/Getty Images (Diana Vreeland), Alumnae, Mari Giudicelli, Le Red Balloon and Distillerista.

Double Denim

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I love a good oversized turtleneck so when I saw this bleached denim number from Ashley Rowe I was smitten. While turtlenecks are normally fall/winter territory, this is the perfect transitional piece for May grey and June gloom. Lightweight with a touch of distressing and frayed edges, it fits into my wardrobe with ease.

Never one to give up an opportunity to rock a Canadian tuxedo, I paired it with my other denim obsession and some menswear inspired broques.  If you’re not feeling the androgynous look, try a pair of cigarette pants in a pop color, stiletto sandals and a topknot for girl’s night out or date night.

What do you think of the oversized look?  How would you style this turtleneck?

Ashley Rowe turtleneck // AMO Denim Twist jeans // Zara shoes (sold out, similar here and here)