Being a full-time blogger can be an overwhelming job. I don't have the security of a big company sending me paychecks, taking care of taxes and insurance and retirement. I don't get paid time off for vacations and when I am sick, and I really miss that big fancy copier that scanned and collated. But I wouldn't trade this experience for the world, for full-time blogging has awarded me some of the coolest experiences. And one of the coolest experiences I had in 2019 had to keep under wraps until last month.
The cabi Spring 2020 Campaign
In October, the clothing company cabi flew me out to Los Angeles to film me for their Spring 2020 campaign. I was so honored to represent a brand I've worn and loved since 2011 in such a major way. I hopped in a cab Uber at LAX with a dream and cardigan cabi Bond Blazer and head straight to Milk Studios. As we crossed streets I saw the Hollywood sign in the distance. I have been to California many times for work, both blogging and past careers in Corporate America, but never had I seen this landmark in person. We arrived at a modern building on a corner that had EDM music pulsing out of the wide-open doors. I entered a huge all-white with women in I can only describe as dystopian Harajuku garb being photographed. A woman saw me with my suitcase and came over to help me. "Oh you're with cabi?" She exclaimed. "They are the NICEST! They're in the next studio, you can get there through here," and guided me through an office and a door to the lobby, where I accessed cabi's studio across the hall.
It too was all white, but a completely different vibe. Temporary walls segmented the first room into a hair and makeup studio, a dining room, and a dressing area. There were photos of me and the other campaign models on the walls with notes about our hair, age, personal style, and planned outfits in various places around the space. There was a room/hallway attached to it where a lunch buffet was set up, there were steamers and rolling racks, and a person at a sewing machine tailoring clothes to fit the models. Past this room was the studio, a cavernous room where half was completely white full of lights, cameras, director's chairs and a large Beyoncé fan. I had been up since 3 am my time and it was now 4 pm my time. I was invited to sit in a director's chair in front of the hair table where two super kind and talented individuals wrapped each of my individual curls around a small-barreled iron to give me the curly hair of my dreams. I then moved to the makeup table where another talented and super friendly artist gave me bronzy smoky eyes and lashes for days.
I then headed to the dressing area, a space framed with rolling racks full of cabi's yet to be released Spring 2020 collection. It was like walking into a rainbow and cabi Fashion Director Becky Jantzen in the middle, as radiant as the sun. Becky had pre-selected two looks for me, but once on she did her magic, switching out tops and shoes, cuffing sleeves, adjusting here and there to fashion perfection. My first look was the Carriage Jacket and Carriage Trouser with the Minx Blouse and a pair of lavender suede Sam Edelman heeled sandals that really made the blouse pop. We headed to the studio where music was playing, the Beyonce fan was blowing, photographers and videographers were swirling, and cabi's Executive Creative Director, Daniele Trussardi was at the helm. Makeup and hair were on deck with belt bags full of gear to fluff, matte, and reapply. One person kept reapplying a luminous cream to my hands and forearms to have them look healthy and hydrated, another reapplied my lipgloss, a third adjusted curls. There was a primary photographer but also other photographers capturing from different angles. There wasn't a ton of direction, they wanted to capture us being us. I must say I was overwhelmed. I hadn't consumed anything but coffee and water in several hours and hadn't had a chance to take a breather, but the team did their best to get me relaxed and have fun. We then did a video portion where they asked me questions about friendship and about cabi.
After shooting the first look, I grabbed lunch. The food was amazing and they got me a lavender-infused latte which I never tried before but now want all the time. Then I got into the second outfit. Again, Becky had an idea but totally changed it and adjusted it into an even cooler look. For this one, I wore the Volley Pullover, the Trouser Jean, and the Shrimpton Scarf worn as a belt. I was able to hang out for a bit in the director chairs and watch other women from the campaign be photographed and interviewed for their video portions.
Then we did a group shot. By this time, I had gotten to known a few of the other women in the campaign (my friend Sam was part of the group shot the previous day) and it wasn't hard to pretend were were friends. It was a super cool group of women with such interesting jobs and backgrounds and we all were new to such an experience. They interviewed us, we laughed into the Beyoncé fan, and I think a fly on the wall may have found it weird but it was the most comfortable and fun part of the whole shoot for me.
The cabi Spring 2020 Collection
I think each season I say, "This is cabi's best collection yet!" and this season is no different. Unlike previous seasons when my first glimpse of cabi's new offerings are still images of the clothes on a white background, I had the pleasure of not only being able to touch the pieces on the rolling racks at the shoot, I got to see them on bodies. And not just models, but real women like me, in a beautiful range of sizes, shapes, and ages. I could see how they moved, and got so many ideas on how to style them too. The riot of color is so refreshing after a cold gray winter, and the choice of colors are fresh and unexpected.
I had the opportunity to pick out an outfit from the cabi Spring 2020 collection to wear to Scoop, cabi's conference, and I chose the Poem Cami, Poet Jacket, and the Discovery Trouser. I liked the relaxed yet polished boho feel of the ensemble, and how versatile the pieces are individually. The Discovery Trouser I have since worn with a gray merino turtleneck and black booties tall enough to slip under the hem, and I've also worn them with a slouchy striped sweater half tucked in front with sneakers. The Poem Cami and the Poet Jacket are 100% Viscose with a subtle crepe-like texture making them wrinkle resistant, not clingy, and easy to dress up and down. I've worn the Poem Cami under a blazer and think the Poet Jacket is a great layering piece over a graphic tee or even as a beach coverup this summer. The Poet Jacket has pockets and the sash slides through a tube of fabric in back making it removable and no weird belt loops left if you choose to do so.
I also received the Drama Skirt and the Thespian Blouse. When I first saw them on Instagram I thought it was a dress and said, "I MUST have this!" Then I found it was two pieces and was even more excited. The Thespian Blouse is sheer (I have the v-neck cami underneath) and has cool details like little ruffles at the shoulders. It's the kind of piece you can tuck into black pants for work and then wear untucked on the weekend with skinny jeans and ballet flats. The Drama Skirt is cool. It's a heavy stretchy poly/spandex knit that has amazing drape. And like the blouse it has cool details like strategic ruffles and draping to best highlight curves. It's a true wrap skirt with a button to secure the waist and a slip lining for modesty. I think this would look chic now with a black turtleneck sweater and come summer with a graphic tee and pair of trendy sneakers!
My Role as a cabi Ambassador
Sadly, I had to leave the cabi clothing at the studio (even the Trouser Jean which was hemmed for my short self) and had to keep mum about the whole experience until the launch of the Spring 2020 collection. I'm so thrilled I can share all of this with you now! I am honored to be an Ambassador for cabi this season. Not only will you see my familiar face in cabi marketing like their Spring Look Book (and those who attended Scoop saw my face on the San Diego Convention Center walls, street light banners, and on banners around the conference), but each month I will be writing a post about cabi here on the blog and on Instagram.
Over the years showcasing cabi on Wardrobe Oxygen, I have received many questions about this unique clothing brand. I will be answering the most asked questions in these posts to better understand the brand and my love for cabi. Sure I'll be rocking their fashion (and yes there will be another cabi capsule wardrobe!), but I also will delve into questions like cabi's sizing, the different ways you can shop cabi, and their business model. I don't take partnerships lightly, and I am really excited to take my partnership with cabi to the next level providing the information you deserve to be an informed consumer.
