Carina Donoso Talks Styling, Shares Her Fantasy Shopping Spree

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We're dedicating this week to the kind of fantastical shopping that most of us only get to experience in dreams. Taking a page from casino parlance, we'll be talking a lot about "whales," those big spenders who feel perfectly comfortable dropping tens of thousands of dollars every night on roulette, or, in our case, on Cartier, caviar facials, and Chanel. Welcome to Whale Week 2013.

Carina Donoso, a sharply dressed jack-of-all-trades, spends her time running accessory line The Third Piece, actually knitting the accessories herself, styling and organizing closets, all while enjoying a gig at Intermix. Phew! Does the girl ever sleep?

With Carina's exposure to many enviable closets, we had to ask her a bit about luxury style, how she would spend $10,000 at Intermix, and of course, her dream shopping day.

Most extravagant item you've had the pleasure to work with when styling?
The most amazing piece has to be Balmain sequin pants. I sold them to a client, Cindy, and every time we see each other we talk about how fabulous those pants are. She is one of the fiercest women I know, and one of the only women I know that could pull them off.

Your favorite splurge in recent memory?
I don't want to reveal too much as my husband is going to read this! I made some great purchases this season, and my favorites would be my rag & bone leathers, IRO white tweed jacket, and Yves Solomon fur.

What luxury item is always worth investing in?
Bags and boots! Don't cheap out on these staples!

Take me on a virtual shopping spree. Which stores would you visit? Which spas?
I would probably start off at the Spa at Mandarin Oriental. I would get the works. Then I'd head straight to Louis, then after that, stop at Copley to do serious damage at Barneys. After, I would probably have to hydrate and then I would head to Newbury and clearly tear up Intermix and Serenella. Finally I'd do some serious money dropping at Chanel and Hermes. I'm a classic girl at heart.

Describe the biggest closet you've ever been in.
My aunt Dina. She has an incredible walk-in California Closets oasis and then a separate room just for shoes. The shoe collection is every women's fantasy. From Celine to Chanel to YSL—it's just magical. Her effortless style inspires me.

Have you encountered any collectors obsessed with a particular designer, item, or style?
I think all my clients (and myself included) love handbags and shoes. Anything from classics to trendy. I've seen jaw dropping Givenchy, Hermes, Chanel, YSL, and Celine.

You've professed love for Intermix before. How would you spend $10,000 there if you had the opportunity?
If I had $10,000 to drop at Intermix I would probably buy the entire 3.1 Phillip Lim Spring 2013 buy. It's gorgeous! The silhouettes and prints are classic and wearable. I would then buy the R13 denim/leather pants, Chloe flats and wedges, Bottega Veneta maxi woven bag, all the new IRO jackets. Anyone who knows me knows that I'm all about a classic jacket, silk long tank, jeans, and ankle boots; it's my uniform.

I would also buy the Alexander McQueen silk chiffon scarf in yellow (it's amazing), Alexis Bittar Siyabona earrings, Missoni multi-strand necklace, Yigal Azrouel floral jacket, Missoni ombré maxi dress, and definitely an Alaia. I think that probably puts me well over the $10,000 mark.

· Where to Find The Third Piece's Owners Shopping [Racked Boston]
· The Third Piece Launches Handmade Knit Accessories [Racked Boston]
· All Whale Week coverage [Racked Boston]