In Spades

Style... in abundance

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.

Fashcap

FashCap1When In Spades first started I began a series called Fashcap as a way to share new, noteworthy and inspiring stories in the fashion world. As I celebrate my second year of blogging, I’m feeling a sense of renewed energy and inspiration for things I want to tackle in my third year, so each Friday I’ll be resurrecting Fashcap as a way to share the things I’m currently swooning over.

1) I’ve had these Zara mules on the brain for months now and keep awaiting the day they come back in stock in my size. At $119 they’re stylish, comfortable and the perfect staple to have in your spring/summer wardrobe.

2) If you follow me on Instagram, you know I attended Create + Cultivate Los Angeles last weekend. Besides being a super inspiring day of fresh, educational content, it was an amazing networking opportunity. Pictured here with my dear friend Kara of Kara Loves Coco, we discovered a new beauty line called H20+ Beauty.  Stay tuned for a review of their products coming to the blog!

3) A lover of elegant staples, I was thrilled to find Dresshirt, a company that creates silk button-ups with a customized message on the back. Now the question is, what message should I choose?

4) I’ve been a huge fan of Alber Elbaz for an eternity and now that he’s on Instagram, I’m more enamored than ever of his creative and kooky spirit.

5) Quirky accessories are totally up my alley.  These translucent TikTak clutches from Urania Gazelli are whimical and oh-so-fun.  What’s not to love?!

Photos courtesy of Zara, Create + Cultivate, Dresshirt, Alber Elbaz and Moda Operandi/Urania Gazelli.

DIY Fringed Jeans

Sandro5 Sandro7 Sandro4 Sandro9 Sandro8 Sandro2 I hang out in my closet a lot. It’s my sanctuary, place of reflection and the one room in the house that I feel truly “get’s me”. Sometimes when I’m in my closet and feeling a lack of inspiration I’ll either begin a Goodwill purge, or start to “modify” things. This past weekend it was the latter. I’ve been interested in the extreme fringed look lately so I took a pair of scissors and kind of attacked my denim collection. For what took all of 5 minutes, I’m pretty pleased with the result. Paired with some creepy crawlies and one of the last opportunities I have to rock a long coat, I’m totally set for transitional dressing.

To get the fringed look yourself, follow these steps.

1. Begin with a pair of skinny jeans.  Tapered ankles are a must.
2. Cut them horizontally to a cropped length just below the ankle bone.
3. Cut 1/4 inch strips vertically about 4-5 inches up the leg.
4. Use a seam ripper or sandpaper to “buff” the fringed pieces and rough them up a little.
5. Put jeans in the washing machine and then dry for 40 minutes.  Something I would normally never condone.

Voila!

Gap jeans (fringed similar here and here) // Everlane tank // J. Crew and Thatch necklaces // Karen Walker sunglasses // Kenneth Cole mules (similar here) // Sandro coat (bourdeaux sold out, similar here in navy) // Banana Republic creepy crawlies

Holiday Gift Guide: Shop Local

One of my favorite things about the holidays is going shopping in my neighborhood. Popping into local shops with a hot chocolate in hand to admire festive window displays and pick from a selection of expertly curated finds is so much more fun than the craziness of the mall. Perhaps it’s the kid in me, but I’m always reminded of Duncan’s Toy Chest and the shopping scenes of other holiday movie classics. Personal and special, the experience is magical, so for this gift guide I thought I’d share my finds from one of my favorite local shops, Vocabulary Boutique.


FOR THE HOSTESS

My mother-in-law and one of my best friends both happen to be expert entertainers. Everyone always ends up at their respective homes and each time they have the most gorgeous spreads prepared. These gold, honeycomb tumblers make a gorgeous addition to any bar cart. I’m gifting them with personalized cocktail cards that include some of my favorite recipes. And the California girl in me couldn’t pass up this whimsical bamboo cheese board.
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PRACTICAL + PAMPERED

Some of my favorite gifts to give are indulgent takes on everyday items. I go through countless notebooks each year and love to keep them in my purse for on-the-fly lists and inspiration. Another item that never leaves my purse is a good lotion, especially in winter months. Cactus Verde is fresh and invigorating while Coconut Milk Mango transports you to a tropical paradise. Add a pretty hand soap to the mix and you have a beautiful set that’s indulgent yet practical. Notebooks4 Notebooks3


GO GLAM
When it comes to dressing up, I keep good company. All of my girlfriends appreciate a little sparkle, so when I saw these gold starburst earrings and this delicate pendant necklace I had to get them. Paired with an equally pretty gardenia scented candle, it’s the perfect touch of glamor for my nearest and dearest. Jewelry1a Jewelrycloseup
All gifts from Vocabulary Boutique.
For the hostess: California bamboo cutting board ($48), Gold leaf tumblers ($18 each), 
Hello Holiday card ($7)
Practical + Pampered: Set of 2 notebooks ($18), Illume hand cream ($24), 
Illume bar soap ($12), Joy card ($7)
Go Glam: Two wick candle ($32), Necklace ($28), Earrings ($16), 
Oh What Fun card ($7)

Holiday Attire Under $100 Part III

For today’s final installment of gorgeous holiday dresses under $100, I bring you the quintessential celebratory embellishment – sequins. Holiday season attire wouldn’t be complete without a dash of sparkle, and this little number has it in spades. A classic shift, the silhouette is complimentary for day to evening transitions and its black fabric back makes it super comfy for long dinners.  Equally sophisticated and playful, I can’t get enough of its geometric pattern.

Where to Wear it:
– Company holiday party
– Holiday date night

How to Style it:
For daytime – cardigan sweater in a pop color, pointed toe kitten heels and bangles
For evening – long beaded necklace, patent leather heels and a fun fascintaor

TestTest2 SequinsBlog5a Test SequinsBlog6a SequinsBlog7Vocabulary Boutique dress and necklace // Manolo Blahnik heels

A special thanks to Vocabulary Boutique for partnering on this post and The Westgate Hotel for hosting.