a fashion deliberation

Very subtly yours.

2012-02-15T22:05:00.002-05:00

I decided to be a little cheezy for Single's Awareness Day/Valentine's Day by wearing my heart print blouse. But to not make it so obvious, I threw on my blue cardigan over top. LOL. I wonder if anyone noticed the heart pattern?

Sweater: LOFT cardigan (Royal Blue, size XS (self-shrunk)).

Blouse: Jacob Heart-print tie-neck blouse (Black/white, size XS).

Pants: GAP Really Skinny Pants (Black, size 00P).

Boots: Marc Fisher Kevins Boot (Tan leather, size 6.5).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

Ring: Aldo (Silver).

I almost didn't post this outfit. Things are kind of crazy right now--lots of things happening at once career-wise and I'm trying to sort it out as much as I can without stressing, but I'm feeling the pressure--all of which I have placed on myself, of course. I feel like things are finally starting move, but hopefully it's just not another tease because I felt like this about the same time last year and that didn't work out so well. =/ I'm crossing my fingers that this will have an opposite outcome. However, as a result of all this craziness, blog outfits might be a bit more infrequent the next few weeks.

On a more positive note, I have a few upcoming blog-related surprises for all of you, so stay tuned! Plus, I'm going to be making my first trip to NYC next week! Any suggestions on places to check out??

Slight variation of the essentially the same outfit here:

NYFW A/W 2012: Diane von Furstenberg

2012-02-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

I always enjoy DVF's RTW collections. It tends to be a lot more feminine than I would typically wear IRL, but the prints and the silhouettes are certainly to be admired. I didn't see this show stream live, however there was incredible hype all over twitter when the show was finished. I was curious to see what the big deal was. When I finally got around to taking a look, I understood. The lineup was very sophisticated with an air of Parisian chic. It had beautiful touches of leather, including my favorite, opera length leather gloves. But also, DVF who is known for her prints, toned it down a little in this collection--there was less print, but there were still bright, bold solid colors. Also noticeable were more body-hugging silhouettes with higher slits and lower necklines than in previous collections. Just beautiful. Here are a few of my favorites in the lineup, more can be found at Nowfasion.com:

NYFW A/W 2012: Victoria Beckham

2012-02-12T13:52:00.000-05:00

VB has easily become one of my favorite designers. It's the perfect mix of sophisticated, minimalism, edge and femininity. Although last season's collection wasn't one of my favorites of hers, she easily won me over with her new A/W 2012 collection. Here are a few of my most adored looks from her military-inspired show (photos from NowFashion.com, see more here):

And her new "Harper" handbag named after her daughter, a photo tweeted by her:

AFD Fashion Fixation: Mint Green Blouse.

2012-02-10T14:30:00.000-05:00

If you happen to pay attention of the kinds of colors I wear, you may notice that I tend to shy away from pastels. Why? Because over the years, I have noticed that pastels aren't very flattering to my medium yellow skin-tone. In fact, pastels have a tendency to make me look jaundice, so I rarely go there. I much prefer jewel tones and bolder, more saturated colors. However, lately I've been starting to obsess over a mint green button-up. This J.Crew one to be exact:

J.Crew Stretch Perfect Shirt, $69.50.

Such a pretty and unexpected color for layering under sweaters. Other beautiful (and more expensive) mint-green options are:

From Shopbop, Equipment Sleeveless Signature Blouse, $188.

from Les Nouvelles, Equipment Signature Mint Blouse, $208.

from Stylebop, Piazza Sempione Mint Silk Tie-Neck Blouse, $535.

Less expensive option:

from Forever21, Button Up Shirt in SeaFoam, $22.80.

Pale "sorbet-like" colors are trending this coming spring/summer in all forms, including denim. I may try a blouse in this minty green or the much safer peach/light rose tone, but I'm not so sure about the bottoms. Will you be taking part in this trend?

Black Magic.

2012-02-08T22:09:00.000-05:00

Sweater: Jacob Turtleneck (Black, size XS).

Belt: ASOS Double Wrap Leather Belt (Black, size S).

Pants: Talula Babaton by Artizia William (?) Trousers (Black, size 0).

Clutch: Botkier Charlotte Clutch (Black).

Boots: Coach Letty Wedge Boots (Black, size 6.5).

Ring: Le Chateau.

If I didn't think I would look so goth and unapproachable, I would wear all black outfits more frequently--I love the minimalistic and edgy look of it. But an unsociable and aloof vampire isn't the impression I would like to portray in the workplace. :P

Whether we recognize it or not, what we wear at work gives off a certain impression to those around us. What do you think your work style says about you and is that the image that you would like to portray to your colleagues and/or clients?

Review: Theory Frayne Pant in Tailor Wool

2012-02-05T13:12:00.000-05:00

I have been looking for the perfect skinny trouser for work for YEARS. This is not an exaggeration. It's always been an absolute fail due to my small size. -->Small-hipped women need not apply<--

But when I saw these Theory Frayne Pants in their Tailor Wool material, I *had* to have them. They had the potential to be the perfect work separate and could also be worn with one of their suit jackets.

Theory Frayne Pant, $255

From the photo, they look like the perfect pant. Skinny, but not too skinny, and the quality being Theory, would be without question. I was willing to splurge the $255 (plus tax) that these cost if they actually fit almost perfectly.

When I pulled them out of the bag, the first thing I noticed was the hole in the pant leg. OK, well automatic fail due to being damaged goods. But, I was willing to do an exchange if these actually fit. They looked a bit large in the butt area, but when I put them on, they did fit really well (purchased in 00, the same size as my Max C trousers)!

The only thing I think that would have made the fit better is a slightly slimmer leg, particularly below the knee.

However there is bad news. The description on the Theory website says, "on-seam coin pocket":

One wouldn't think that was a bad thing and also rather typical. However, what they failed to mention was that there was an extra seam going down the outside of the leg:

Yes. Really. About 2 inches from the side seam, there is *another* seam going down the front of the pants, and that is wear these "on-seam coin pockets" are. Not only that, but the pockets start two inches lower than the waistband making them really awkwardly placed. I feel like I have to reach down into my pockets. What the heck is going on here??

Admittedly, the second time I put these trousers on for these blog photos, they kind of grew on me a little bit. However, for the hefty price tag, these had to be perfect, and they were not. I am disappointed because overall the fit was great. These must go back and I'm not happy about it (my bank account is though).

Here are the full measurements on the 00:

Waist: 26" (these are low rise)
Hip: 33"
Rise: 7" (crotch seam to top of waistband)
Inseam: 29.5"
Leg opening: 12"

Next on the list to try is Aritzia. I saw a few skinny leg wool trousers on their website last season and a few this coming spring/summer, but they're always sold out by the time I can get myself to a store back home in T.O. (I beg for online shopping!!). If someone has tried these, please let me know how they fit so I can hunt them down (or have someone hunt them down for me).

What do you ladies think of skinny trousers for work?

Three of three.

2012-02-02T06:13:00.000-05:00

I have almost made it through the fall/winter shopping season purchasing only three sweaters. I thought I had an idea of what I wanted my final sweater of the season to look like: oversized and cozy with lots of drape and likely cashmere.

Nope.

I ended up getting another one of these J.Crew Tippi sweaters. I couldn't resist the color and my purple one has been wearing so well.

Sweater: J.Crew Tippi Sweater (Light Citron, size XXS).

Pants: Theory Max C Trousers (Black, size 00).

Belt: J.Crew Skinny Leather Belt (Bright Cobalt, size XS).

Shoes: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Amaya Pumps (Black, size 6).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway (Silver).

BUT, I found a hole in one of my old sweaters, so I'm considering allowing myself another one just to replace the one I lost. The caveat, however, is that the purchase of a new sweater if made in the next few months is going to go towards my Five-Item Challenge. I'm not sure if that's what I want to do that just yet. Of course, J.Crew is all but forcing me to use me use one of my five items on them by sending me a $25 rewards card that expires mid-March, just two weeks shy of the end of my Challenge. *sigh* Thanks, J.Crew.

Spring. In January.

2012-01-29T16:30:00.000-05:00

The weather this winter thus far has been unreal. A few weekends ago my condo community held a New Year's Brunch and I actually ate my meal outdoors on the rooftop. In a cardigan. In January. Wow. The following is not the outfit I wore that day, but just an explanation as to why I would be wearing such lightweight sweater and a trench coat at the end of January and not something heavier:

Sweater: Club Monaco Merino Wool Turtleneck Sweater (Orange, size XS).

Jacket: Le Chateau Trench (Black, size XS).

Denim: Paige Premium Denim Verdugo Jeggings (McKinley, size 25).

Handbag: Olivia Harris (Patent Dark Teal).

Shoes: Ann Taylor Signature Pumps (Porcini, size 6).

Belt: Ann Taylor Leopard Haircalf Skinny Belt (size S).

Necklace: J.Crew 5-Strand Pearl Necklace.

Apparently, I thought it was cool that my hand was in my pocket because all the photos are like that! Haha.

A few weeks ago I had a reader request for more outfits with jeans. And to be honest, I'm at a bit of a loss. I own a *lot* of denim. Almost embarrassingly so, but you don't see a whole lot of it on this blog. If you've followed me for a long while, you know that I am truly a tomboy and I am perfectly content wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of sneakers most days (to the point where Stacey and Clinton might be mortified). I also like to take walks during my days off and I don't drive anywhere in D.C., so where a lot of girls may opt for heels in their off time, I would most definitely *not* unless the specific occasion calls for it. So when I go casual, I don't think of it as anything spectacular and I promise you, it really isn't. But that is why you may not see a whole lot of different denim in my posts. The only time there is a somewhat significant divergence from my typical t-shirt and jeans for casual wear is a change in season--as the weather gets cooler, my outfits get edgier, but not necessarily more interesting (if I had more disposable income then it probably would be). But, having said that, there are some off days (maybe few and far between) where I do put in a little bit more thought into what I wear, so I will put more of an effort to blog about them. If there is anything else you'd like to see more of on this blog, please LMK. I'd love to hear some ideas!

Hounded.

2012-01-25T12:31:00.000-05:00

Blazer: Zara (Black, size S).

Blouse: H&M Chiffon Cross-over top (Black/white houndstooth, size 2).

Skirt: Zara Sheath skirt (Blue, size XS).

Tights: Falke Pure Matt 50 Denier (Black).

Boots: Marc Fisher Kevins (Tan Leather, size 6.5).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

I found this sleeveless houndstooth chiffon-type cross-over top at H&M quite a few months back. I took it with me into the fitting room and when I put it on, it was just "meh". But I had walked into the store wearing a blazer and had a thought that I should put it on over top to see what it would look like. Voila. Instant chic. Goes to show that it pays to be creative even in the fitting room.

The skirt is just a touch too long to be worn with these boots. If the boots were black or if the skirt was a bit shorter it would give the illusion of a longer leg. Here, I just insisted on wearing these boots with the rest of this outfit and hoped that no one noticed that I looked extra short today.

Remixes:

Decidedly Undecided.

2012-01-23T12:54:00.001-05:00

I thrifted this amazing electric blue suede skirt a few months back but I can't decide what to do with it. Should I alter it to make it fit and keep it as a pencil skirt, or should i chop the bottom off and turn it into a cute little suede mini? I haven't owned a mini in a long time. I used to love them in my early and mid-20s, but after I left for law school, I haven't had the occasion to wear one (maybe because I no longer own one?) or I kind of felt like it was inappropriate for my lifestyle. But I've seen a lot of minis on other petites lately, and I'm thinking maybe I should have one or two in my wardrobe just for fun.

What do you ladies think? Please leave a comment below!

Black-and-Blue.

2012-01-22T15:54:00.000-05:00

Blouse: Ann Taylor Silk Button Tab Long Sleeve Shirt (Bright Royal Blue, size 0P).

Denim: Rich & Skinny Wax-Coated Legacy Jeggings (Tar, size 25).

Booties: D&G Suede Booties (Dark Grey, size 6).

Bracelet: Express.

Necklace: Forever21 Choker.

Belt: Ann Taylor Leopard Haircalf Skinny Belt (size S).

Clutch: Botkier Charlotte (Black).

I was quick to make an outfit with this amazing blue AT blouse and I was *dying* to blog about it. And because there have been inquiries about the black Rich & Skinny Wax-Coated Legacy Jeggings I managed to kill two birds with one stone in this post. Let me tell you, these jeggings totally satisfy the punk rocker on me.

Review: Ann Taylor Blouses (3!)

2012-01-20T22:51:00.000-05:00

In search of my next item for 5-tem Challenge, I decided to make some Ann Taylor purchases when they finally allowed us 40% off their New Arrivals. I really like AT blouses, they're made well and tend to fit and look beautiful when worn. Perfect both for work and casual-wear.

First up, Single Button Tab Long Sleeve Shirt in Bright Royal Blue, regular price $118:

The color of this blouse is UNBELIEVABLE. The photos do not do it justice. I think I literally gasped when I saw it in the box. The quality of the silk is OK (material is 95% silk and 5% spandex). It's not super smooth and silky, but it's about the same as their Silk Camp Shirt from last year. It fits perfectly on me in 0P, my usual AT size for tops and blouses. Untucked:

J.Crew has something in a similar style and color in a sightly more feminine version here. I haven't seen it IRL, so I can't attest to the actual color, quality, or fit of the Blythe blouse. (EDIT: I saw the J.Crew version in-store and the color is very similar, if not exactly the same. The silk is a bit smoother--feels a bit like polyester. Very pretty, but I didn't try it on since J.Crew doesn't carry petite sizes in-store).

Next up, Pleated Placket Long-Sleeve Blouse in Chartreuse, regular price $88:

This 100% Polyester and feels really nice and smooth, but certainly feels like polyester. I wasn't blown away by this blouse, but it was nice. The details of the blouse are very nice--the hidden placket and the double layer cuffs. One thing to note is that the buttons don't go all the way up to the collar. If you like to style your blouses by buttoning them all the way to the top, the lack of buttons does take away from its styling versatility. Otherwise, if you are looking for a nice yellow blouse, this is certainly a good option. I've purchased multiple items in yellow in December, I think I need add a different color to my existing wardrobe. As to sizing, this also fits like a typical 0P blouse, although I had a bit of trouble pulling my hands through the sleeve with it buttoned up. Untucked:

Ruched Shoulder Long Sleeve Blouse, regular price $88:

This blouse, I ordered to hit the $150 mark for free shipping. It doesn't come in petite, so I didn't have high hopes for it when I ordered it in 00. The color is a french grey (grey with a purple-ish undertone), and the ruching at the shoulder is a very pretty detail, but it just did not fit. It was too big at the shoulders and way too boxy all around. It would have been pretty if it fit, but it didn't. It is 100% polyester, also. One thing I didn't like, was the sleeve openings. I would have preferred a cuff, it was just a narrow hem. To me, it seemed unfinished, but to others, it might not matter at all. Untucked:

Other blouses I would have loved to try had I seen them in my size online are the Graphic Looms Print Blouse, regular price $88:

And the Fireside Blouse--the subtle print on this just stunning in real life, on sale for $69.99 plus 40% off but seem to be sold out in small sizes and even completely sold out in petite online:

Anyone else get their hands on these last two blouses?

DIM Skirt #2

2012-01-19T14:48:00.000-05:00

My personal sewing is goal is to be able to make one kick-ass pencil skirt. For the next little while you may see a few of these "Did It Myself" skirt posts. Don't worry, this won't turn into a sewing blog. :P

I know in my first DIM skirt unveiling, I said I would try something easier, but I went ahead and tried another pencil skirt, but this time with a side slit.

What do you think? The material is 100% cotton, so it doesn't drape as well as I'd like (it crinkles at my every twist and turn). It took me a few weekends, but only because I didn't have an invisible zipper to match the fabric. In the end, I think it was a blessing in disguise. I was dying to work on it so I spent a lot of time perfecting the details and the fit waiting for the zipper to come. It turned out pretty well. Check out the cute little grosgrain ribbon in the inside:

The fitting process was...I don't want to say difficult, but it was very time consuming and took a long time to get just right. What may have helped me was my previous knowledge on fit since for so many years I've studied, analyzed and picked apart clothes trying to figure what needed to happen to get them fit my petite body perfectly.

For this skirt, I followed a pattern, and as much as I tried to alter the pattern itself before actually cutting, the fact that I'm petite and the pattern was not, turned the process into a whole new ballgame. With my initial changes, theoretically the skirt should have fit. In reality, it did not. Regular-sized sewing patterns (like many ready-to-wear clothes) are definitely made for women with hips, thighs and a butt, all of which I do not have. It was a lot of sewing, adjusting, sewing, adjusting, sewing, and adjusting. The fit turned out a lot better than I expected, however. The biggest mistake I made was shortening it too much when cutting the fabric, not sure how that happened. So instead of a 2" hem, it was more of a .75" hem with an added a polka dot grosgrain ribbon for binding to make it pretty. Overall, I'm pretty happy with it. For the next skirt, I will attempt to add a lining. Stay tuned.

Two of Three.

2012-01-17T13:58:00.000-05:00

I know some of you have been waiting for sweater reveal #2, so here it is styled with a suit:

Suit: Talula Babaton by Aritzia (Black, size 0).

Sweater: C by Bloomingdale's Cable Knit Cashmere Sweater (Grey, size XS).

Belt: J.Crew Skinny Leather Belt (Cobalt, size XS).

Ring: Forever21.

Pumps: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Amaya Pump (Black, size 6).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway (Silver).

This C by Bloomingdale's Cable Knit Cashmere Sweater is two of three of the season. I initially bought this during the Bloomingdales F&F sale (I later returned and re-purchased for a lower price). I wasn't going to keep it, but when I pulled it out of the package it was so soft and cozy, I changed my mind. It's a little bit big in XS, but not in a bad way. I can't wait to wear it through the end winter.

And because we don't all have to wear suits to work, here is the outfit without a jacket:

Or you can change out the jacket for something a bit more casual (and bright!):

Blazer: J.Crew Hacking Jacket in Double-Serge Wool (Bright Berry, size 0P).

Vested.

2012-01-14T12:48:00.000-05:00

Blazer: Talula Babaton by Aritzia (Black, size 0).

Vest: H&M (Black, size 6).

Blouse: J.Crew Three-quarter sleeve stretch shirt (White, size XS).

Skirt: J.Crew No.2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton (Citron, size 00P).

Shoes: Ann Taylor Signature Pump (Black Patent, size 6).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway (Silver).

Ring: Le Chateau.

Clutch: Botkier Charlotte Clutch (Black).

I purchased this vest over the holidays, and it is teeny weeny! I didn't bother trying it on, I just grabbed the 4 off the rack and handed it to my brother who has already standing at the cash register. It's a halter vest, so I didn't foresee any problems with the sizing even though the size 2 looked a bit small (the reason why I took the 4 instead). When I tried it on at home, I couldn't button it up all the way up without impairing my breathing! I had to exchange for a 6. Weird.

Review: J.Crew No.2 Pencil Skirt in Leopard

2012-01-11T11:23:00.000-05:00

I was just going to return this skirt without blogging about it, but I figured that some of you might be interested in how the Leopard version of the J.Crew No.2 Pencil Skirts fits, so this is just a quick review.

00P (left) and 00R (right) side by side:

Check out the length on the 00P! I was actually expecting the fit to be *exactly* like the No.2 Pencil Skirt in Double Serge Cotton (see here). However, even though they fit similarly in the waist and hips, the length is a good 3" longer! Comparing the 00P to the 00R, the 00R is obviously larger and proportioned for a non-petite. The widest point since lower on my body, although that partly has to do with the fact that it's sitting lower since the waist is 1.5" wider. The length on the 00R is also quite a bit longer than the 00P, but despite the fact that it is big all around, I'm kind of liking the extra long length even though it's still probably a touch too long for me to get away with.

What I don't like about this skirt? It's cotton. Without paying too much to the description on the website, I ordered it expecting something else. I find it somewhat disappointing since it makes this skirt a lot more casual-looking. The material almost looks and feels like a light (but soft) canvas. My feelings? Meh. It's not as thick as the double-serge cotton and there is no lining. No side or besom pockets either. It's acceptable if you are looking for a casual looking pencil skirt, but this isn't for me despite the great fit and the good quality. Regular price is $118, although I snagged it on sale around $70 (I think).

What do you ladies think of it?

A Belated Happy New Year!

2012-01-10T16:20:00.000-05:00

Yes, this is very late, but AFD (AKA me, Cher) wishes you all very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. I decided to take a little bit of time and put the blog on the back-burner for a few weeks and try to re-evaluate a few things. And after taking the time, I realized that I do really love my blog (and the people that come along with it! :)) and I'm not ready to quite give it up yet. However, given my current priorities, I don't have the time to put as much effort into it as I'd like. It's still my baby though, and as long as I continue to feel the way I do about it, I'll continue to post. But right now there quite a few things on my "to do" list that need to come first, including a set of Barrister and Solicitor examinations that I need to write within the next six months. I don't imagine them to be as grueling as the New York State Bar, however, I'm going to attempt to study for them while concurrently working on a few temp projects to keep the income flowing. How I will balance my time between work, study, the blog, job-hunting, exercise, and everything else will be interesting to see, to say the least. AFD might become excruciatingly slow at times, but hopefully won't come to a full stop.

One of the other things that I've decided to do for the first few months of the new year is to take on a Five-Item Challenge. I can only purchase five items of clothing, including accessories from January to the end of March (read more about it here). The first item I'm contemplating are these Rich & Skinny Wax Coated Legacy Jeggings in Red. I absolutely *adore* them. I already own the Tar (black) so I've been trying to decide if I *really* need another pair in red. The wax coating makes them look similar to leather. Not all wax-coated jeans are this shiny, so don't be surprised if you see a pair of wax-coated jeans and it looks a bit dull-looking. The Rich & Skinny Legacy denim, however, looks great--not too shiny so that they look like plastic, but enough to fool people from a distance into thinking they're real leather. They run a bit small. I can fit the 24, but they are quite uncomfortable and squish my butt down flat. Size 25 fits much better and more flattering. I would say they run about a half size to a full size small (I've been a little sick lately, please excuse the tired eyes):

Blazer: T.Babaton by Aritzia Exeter Blazer (Black, size 0).

Blouse: Ann Taylor Silk Camp Shirt (Off-white, size 0P).

Denim: Rich & Skinny Wax-Coated Legacy Jeggings (Red, size 25).

Pumps: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Amaya Pumps (Black leather, size 6).

Ring: Le Chateau.

Necklace: Forever21 Choker.

They are surprisingly versatile. Super easy to dress them up (as seen above), but easy to dress them down by wearing a cozy layer or two on top (will see in an upcoming post). The best thing is that they add some edge to an outfit, which you all know I love.

One thing to note is that the wax is pretty delicate. Don't be rolling around on the carpet or the wax will fade (don't ask me how I know this). Full price is $168, which is typical for HE denim, but also a quite pricey for girls who are not used to paying such a high price for any kind of denim (including myself who always buys HE denim at a discount). These things have been selling like hot cakes, particularly in the black. I managed to purchases these from Amazon for ~$85.

What do you think? Should these red wax-coated jeggings be one of my 1 of 5 items for the next three months? I absolutely love them and I think that pretty much satisfies my criteria for 1 of 5. LOL.

P.S. I got some new gear for my camera over the holidays (thank you *SO* much to you-know-who!). So if the lighting in the photos seems a little wild at times during the next few months it's because I have no idea what I'm doing yet. :P

I DIM.

2012-01-08T12:27:00.000-05:00

"I Did It Myself".

Ever since I got my sewing machine, I've been pretty obsessed with it. I have become quite the hoarder already--books, machine accessories, patterns, fabric. I started out doing some starter projects to familiarize myself with my new hobby, such as this reversible tote:

Then, I decided to move on to skirts. However, I did not start with the super easy elastic band A-line skirt that all new sewists are supposed to start out with. I was feeling crazy ambitious and began with a pencil skirt--complete with interfaced waistband, darts, vent, invisible zipper and all. I actually had to convince myself *not* to do a lining this time around. Don't ask me what I was thinking. If there was a sure way to discourage myself so early on in my "career" as a sewist if the end result was horrific, this was it.

It was a little challenging for a total newbie who had never used and cut a pattern or put together a garment before. It took me about four weekends to finish it mostly because I was feeling extremely overwhelmed at times. But I learned that the key is to really take your time. The western culture, particularly Americans (no offense intended), constantly demand instant gratification: I want everything NOW and not later. Sewing is definitely not one of those hobbies that will give you that. It's very much a process that requires care at all steps of construction. If you want a really professional looking garment, you really need the patience which I sometimes do not have. I will say this, however: There is something oddly therapeutic about sewing. Who knew?

A few of you saw it on Twitter already, but here is my very first skirt:

And it fits too! LOL. Well actually it's a smidge tight as you can see by the bit of pulling across the front, and a bit too high-waisted. I didn't use ideal material, I just used the best I had that would work for this particular project. The cotton is very thin and therefore it definitely needs lining, but that's OK, I don't intend to wear this out in public anyway. My biggest pet peeve about homemade clothes is that they tend to actually *look* homemade. I think this falls into that category.

Vent and invisible zipper up close:

Not bad for a noob, huh? I made a few of errors, but I'm pretty proud of how it turned out considering it was my very first garment. I'm ready to try something else!...But probably something a little easier. =/

Have you ever tried to sew a garment yourself? How did it turn out?

P.S. Happy 2012! I was thinking of posting a slightly more elaborate first post of 2012, but I guess it's going to be my second post of 2012 instead. :P

Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 Paris-Bombay Collection

2011-12-30T23:06:00.000-05:00

I'm a little slow posting this but better late than never. One of the most beautiful runway shows I've seen in a very, very long time is Chanel's Pre-Fall 2012 Paris Bombay Collection. If you have fifteen minutes, it's definitely worth watching.

So, so amazing.

Review: J.Crew No.2 Pencil Skirt in Double Serge Cotton

2011-12-29T15:45:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I purchase things online just for the sake of making the minimum purchase amount for free shipping without the intention of keeping that extra item (I'm not the only one who does that, right?). I do my best to try to pick something that I'm sure that I won't keep, but sometimes I will order something still peaks my interest even though I have every intention of returning it. In this case, it was the J.Crew No.2 Pencil Skirt in Double-Serge Cotton. I read that this skirt ran larger than the Double-Serge Wool, and since the Double-Serge Wool skirt is just a touch too wide for me in hips, I was sure it was going to go back. I did however, wanted to "play" with it, especially after seeing how unique the color was in store. It completely caught me (and my bank account) off guard when it actually fit! I guess this season's version was re-sized to fit smaller. I was doing so well with the no-buy thing this month until J.Crew started having 30% off sales. J.Crew has had my number in recent weeks. I've also been so impressed with their customer service lately as well. It shipped same day with free 2-day shipping (without me even asking for it!), which for me, means that it arrived the very next day. Wow.

It appears to be really well-made. The cotton is very thick, and the construction is sturdy. It fits well in the waist and hips as well--better than my double serge wool skirt from last year (I'm wearing it in 00P above). It has two besom (welt) pockets in the back, but no side pockets. It also has no lining, but the cotton is so thick that it doesn't need it. And the color? YUUMMM . If I had any complaints it would be that it is a bit too short, but it seems that I have that complaint about all petite bottoms. I considered taking down the hem myself, but upon inspecting it closely, the hem is sewn so tight that it is definitely going to be a pain to let down myself. I don't think I can return this skirt because I'm so in love with it already, but I did re-order it in a 00R hoping that it somehow fits the same as the 00P just with a little extra length. I also noticed today that there are new colors on the website including an amazing jade green:

Definitely on my spring wish list.

What do you ladies think of the skirt in citron?

P.S. Possibly no posts until a few weeks into the new year. Don't be alarmed if I'm a little quiet for the next little while!

UPDATE: Comparison of the 00P and the 00R:

It's doesn't look like much of a difference in the photo but,

The 00R is just a few inches wider than the 00P. There is quite a bit of extra length which I love, but not enough to ignore the fact that the 00P fits almost perfectly around the hip and waist. I'll be sticking with the 00P.

Winner!

2011-12-28T11:25:00.001-05:00

And the winner of the AFD's 2nd Blog-iversary giveaway is....

....WENDY T!!

Congratulation Wendy! Please contact me by Friday to claim your prize. Thank you so much for everyone who participated. I'll try to have another giveaway soon, hopefully one better than this one!

xCher

Christmas Lunch Date (Girls only).

2011-12-27T17:00:00.000-05:00

Sweater: J.Crew Tippi Sweater (Heather Grape, size XXS).

Shirt: J.Crew Perfect Gingham (Black/White, size 0).

Denim: BlankNYC Spray-on Denim (Rust, size 24).

Boots: Marc Fisher Kevins (Tan, size 6.5).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway (Silver).

Now that we're older (and live in different countries!), we don't get to see each other too often, but Christmas is the one time of year that me and the girls make sure it does happen. And to make it even more fun? Gift exchange! One of my GFs was apparently super excited before leaving the house when her hubby asked her, "Aren't you too old to be getting excited about gifts?" Well, of course not! :P

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T21:03:00.000-05:00

I hope you have a very happy holidays whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other holiday! May you spend it with your loved ones, eating, drinking, and being safe!

xCher

Dots and Plaid and lots of Brown.

2011-12-23T22:06:00.000-05:00

This post went up ever so briefly by accident a few weeks ago. Sometimes I create posts but end up never posting them for whatever reason, but usually that the photos didn't turn out so well or that I wasn't happy with the outfit or that I just never get around to finishing it. In this case, it was the first two excuses, but since I may not have a post in the next little while, here ya go!

I'm pretty handicapped when it comes to mixing prints and patterns. I don't have that many in my closet and when I do have them, I'm boring and just match them with solid colors. Some people manage to do it really well but I, on the other hand, look like I got dressed in the dark. We gave it a good college try today, however, I cheated a bit and added a solid brown sweater over top so the dots were just an accent. Doing it in small doses is really the safest way of mixing patterns and prints and keeps it looking professional at the office.

Trousers: Forever21 (Brown plaid, size XS).

Blouse: Ann Taylor Silk Polka Dot blouse (Navy/White, size XSP).

Sweater: Jacob (Brown, size XS).
Clutch: Botkier Charlotte (Black).

Boots: Coach Letty Wedge Boots (Black, size 6.5).

Much better! But I'm wearing a heck of a lot of brown. My three sweater limit this season is killing me! Oh how I'd love to buy a bright colored sweater to wear with this outfit. =(

I really like these plaid printed pants, but I really wish the material was heavier to give it more structure. They're Forever21, so I can't expect much. I'm thinking about adding a fusible interfacing in the inside so they would drape better, but I'm unsure of what would result.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

For the Love of Leopard. (+Giveaway!)

2011-12-19T21:26:00.000-05:00

Sometimes an otherwise extremely plain outfit just needs is a little leopard print to give it that little oomph:

Blazer: T. Babaton by Aritzia Exeter Blazer (Black, size 0).

Blouse: Ann Taylor Silk Camp Shirt (White, size 0P).

Pants: GAP Really Skinny Pants (Black, size 00P).

Boots: Marc Fisher Kevins Boot (Tan, size 6.5).

Scarf: Cotton-blend (Leopard print).

Necklace: Forever21.

Do you know what today is? It is AFD's second blog-iversary (OK actually it was yesterday, but I didn't have time to finish this post)! I can hardly believe I had this blog and have updated it on a fairly regular basis for two years now. One of the biggest reasons that I continue to feel motivated to post is because of the great blog community in which I've found myself and the wonderful people I've come in contact with. I've hinted about it in a few posts, but it hasn't been the greatest year (or years??) for me, and a result, the blog has slowed down somewhat with a lot of effort on my part to keep it going. I've been trying to step away from it without completely stepping away. A blog can be a wonderful creative outlet at times, but as many of my fellow bloggers know, it's also a lot of work (particularly if you're taking your own photos!). So it's been a fight between my need to be creative and keep busy and my desire to be recluse and shut everything off to re-group. So this giveaway is especially for those of you who have supported me along the way because I know I haven't been as consistent as a good blogger should be. Thank you so much!

I've put A LOT of thought into this giveaway. I'm an extremely thoughtful gifter, meaning that when I'm buying gifts for others, I think long and hard and I tend to buy and return a lot of things until I get it *just* right (or at least I think I do). I really wanted this giveaway to be something that was pretty, but still a bit edgy. It's something that I would wear, but also something that would appeal to those of you who don't necessarily share the same style as I do (and yet still read my blog). So I've spent MONTHS thinking about it and I've finally narrowed it down to the gorgeous leopard scarf that I'm wearing above (not the exact one I'm wearing, but a duplicate)! I'm sorry if you have one already, but hey, you can never have enough leopard in your life. ;)

It is a bit rough right out of the bag, but after some wear it really softens up (made of a cotton-blend) and it is very big and fluffy (200cmx135cm). See?

It pretty much goes with everything and you can wear it all year round because it's so light. It also has a small fringe. Could it be more perfect?? I think not! As a disclaimer, this giveaway is sponsored by me. Please read the rules below before entering:

(1) Open to residents of the US and Canada. I will use a reliable shipping method, but I am not responsible if it gets lost or if gets hit with duties. I will try to ship from the country in which it will be sent.
(2) Giveaway ends Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 11:59pm (EST). Winner will be announced on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 on this blog and on Twitter.
(2) Winner will be drawn randomly and must contact me within 48 hours of the announcement or a new winner will be drawn. Remember to check back to see if you've won!

How to Enter (Mandatory):
(1) Complete the entry form. Include your name and email address (for verification purposes only, I promise).

For Bonus Entries:
(1) Follow AFD publicly, through Google Friend Connect. (+1 bonus entry)
(2) Tweet about the giveaway! (+1 bonus entry)
(3) Blog about the giveaway! (+1 bonus entry)
(4) Follow me on Bloglovin'! (+1 bonus entry)

Thank you so much, everyone! Good luck! I hope you like it! xCher

Thank you to everyone who participated. The winner of this giveaway can be found here.

Review: Allison Izu Premium Denim

2011-12-17T17:29:00.000-05:00

I apologize. I've fallen a bit behind in my blogging. I usually have at least a few "back-up" posts sitting in my queue just in case I don't have a lot of time, but right now I have nothing and playing a little catch up. I'm still not used to my new work schedule for this current project, and along with the lack of daylight that I see these days, I can't get any sort of rhythm going.

Like many of the petite bloggers, I was contacted by a representative of Allison Izu Denim to review their premium denim (thank you, Cara!). I promise you that this post is an honest review of their denim, so I am not embellishing anything that I I am about to say about these jeans.

I'll start off by saying that I'm extremely particular about my denim. I prefer HE (high-end) for the quality and I have the most luck with the fit for my specific body-type. Allison Izu is different from most other denim brands out there in that the line is geared towards women 5'6 and under. In other words, women with shorter inseams. If you've been following me for a while, you'll know that although I'm only 5'1 with a short rise and narrow hips, I have a rather long inseam for my height. This posed to be a little bit of a problem when trying to choose a proper size at AllisonIzu.com because the only inseams available are 27" and 31". My inseam in flats for a bootcut jean is 30.75. So I had a choice between either bootcut/flared denim for flats only or a skinny jean in which I can take a shorter inseam since the hem sits at the ankle rather than grazing the ground.

In the mail, I received Hotel St. Kolohe TS:

The description on the website reads as follows:

In Hawaii, we all know the kolohe things that go happen on Hotel St. So the re-make of the original Kolohe, had to be named Hotel St., because its got added edge! A super sexy and 80's-esque exposed gold YKK zipper - can you say "naughty". And to stretch those legs longer than imaginable, we've added a great topstitch detail - take a breath and a long look at those long legs!

With a slight flare at the bottom to help balance out the hips and elongate the legs. I've heard petite customers say, "I never could wear a skinny jean, but I love this one!" This rise is slightly higher than the original (ok, it's a inch higher!)
It's got the signature Allison Izu "A" back pocket in a beautiful silver thread color.

Front Rise: 8"Back Rise: 11"
96% Cotton/ 4% Elastin (Stretch)Italian Asphalt Denim
Designed in Hawaii, Made in California

And here are some IRL photos, which some different and unintentional lighting due to the time of day I chose to take these:

The size I received is 0, which is actually their second smallest size. Some styles run smaller than others, but their sizing chart is fairly accurate. If you are a bit smaller than I am, then you may find a style in this brand that fits.

The quality of the denim is actually very nice. It's a thick, stretch denim. It's a little rougher than what I'm used to, but it will likely soften a bit with a washing. It also has a contrasting inner waist band, similar to Paige Premium Denim.

The color of the denim is very uniform with no fading, creasing or cheap-looking whiskering details. I'm generally not a huge fan of flashy pocket designs as I find them a bit too distracting, and these are no exception. I prefer a more subtle design or pattern (even though, admittedly, I do own a few pairs of TRs and other jeans with large pocket designs).

I am also not a fan of the fly zipper. I have no reasoning for this other than to say that I'm just old school when it comes to closures. Again, too distracting. The other detail that I didn't like was the lack of front pockets. The missing front pockets actually emphasized my lack of hips. In this case, I like the distraction at my hip area to make my hips look curvier than they are. There is a top-stitch detail down the front of these jeans but I'm indifferent towards them. I don't love them nor do I hate them. If I had the choice I would prefer a style without them, but having said that, one of my favorite pairs of jeans about eight years ago had pin-tucking which is similar in idea to this top-stitching detail. Here, they don't really add anything to the jeans. One might argue they help lengthen the leg-line, but...eh. Maybe they would if I was wearing these with heels and they had front pockets.

The overall fit in comparison to my other denim is just OK. The rise isn't too high, nor too low, though they do sit a bit higher than I generally like, but the higher rise does help lengthen the leg. I do wish that the legs were cut slimmer below the knees, but that's just my personal preference. Some women prefer a straighter and looser leg and this cut is more flattering for women with larger hips that are trying to de-emphasize them or for those women who are still trying to get used to the look and feel of they skinny jean. The rear doesn't look half bad but there is a bit too much creasing. If the jeans had side pockets, they would be much more flattering overall. They also have a bit too much bunching at the knee but a part of that reason is due to the wider leg.

If you are smaller than I am and appreciate some good quality denim, this brand is worth considering. There are many different washes and cuts with different detailing, so there is a chance you may find something that suits your fancy. At the moment, Allison Izu has many of their previous season's styles at 50%-70% off, making them ~$70 a pair. A good price for premium denim. Aside from skinny and straight styles, they also carry bootcut, trousers, flares, shorts, capris, skirts, and even tops. To see more (including their new collection!), check out ShopAllisonIzu.com.

Lacey day.

2011-12-12T20:10:00.000-05:00

Sweater: J.Crew Tippi Sweater (Heather Dark Grape, size XXS).

Skirt: H&M (Black/white lace, size 4).

Shoes: Ann Taylor Signature Pump (Porcini, size 6).

Bracelet: Express.

Clutch: Botkier Charlotte (Black).

Pendant: Forever21.

Ring: Forever21.

Sorry, only one shot today. I only took five shots of this outfit (because I was lazy) and only one turned out decently. This is the one...and I'm kind of slouching.

Still trying to think up different ways to style this skirt that doesn't look like I'm going to a formal dinner party. More ways here:

Review: J.Crew Minnie in Bi-stretch Wool and Cafe Capri in Wool

2011-12-07T22:43:00.000-05:00

I wasn't going to post about these but since I haven't had a whole lot to post about lately, I thought I would just go ahead and do it anyway. Plus, since I reviewed the Minnie in stretch twill, I thought it would only be fair. :P

Back not great after a few hours of wear (blurry, sorry):

The bi-stretch wool Minnie fits almost exactly the same as the twill in 00P. They fit pretty well overall, but the length, although they're supposed to be ankle-length (24" inseam), they definitely are not on me (I have almost a 31" inseam in flats). I'm not a huge fan of capris, but these aren't so terrible, I guess. At this length, and even if I let out the inseam an inch, it doesn't have a whole lot of versatility particularly for the office. For me, that makes it pretty much a deal-breaker because that's where I would actually like to wear these pants!

As to the material, two points need to be made. One, they do seem to hold their shape a little bit better than the twill. I see it start to bag a little bit, but it isn't so bad. The second point is that because it's wool, it's a little itchy. I'm finding myself a little bit more sensitive to wool as I get older, and I was scratching a bit while wearing it. These pants are not lined, so this is definitely something to think about it if you are sensitive to wool. They're nice pants, but I just wish they were about 3 inches longer. I can't do much with these otherwise even if I do tuck them into boots in the winter, so these will have to go back.

The second pair of pants I ordered was the Cafe Capri in 00P. Kelly from AlterationsNeeded reviewed these and seeing how they were on her, I thought these would be big on me also although my measurements are a bit larger than Kelly's. Nonetheless, I was interested and didn't want to keep wondering, so I ordered them.

When I first put them on, my first thought was that I looked like a jester. Cee from ToBrightenMyDay and I had a good laugh over these on Twitter as I tweeted a photo with striped socks for full effect. As I put these on again for this post, I started to see a bit of potential in them:

The color is "Port Wine", a little bit more purple and less red than it might look on your computer screen on the J.Crew website. The material is similar to the bi-stretch, just with much less stretch and actually less itchy, but it could be that it's just because they aren't super snug to my legs. They are too big around the hips and the thighs (my hips at it's widest point is 32.75"), the rise is a bit too high for me, and the back looks like mom pants. But I took some pins to it and realized that these could possibly work with a bit of alterations. I don't know if I mentioned this, but I recently purchased a sewing machine. I've wanted to learn to sew since I was a little girl, but one day I became really irritated with one of my tailors (I have two, one in DC and one in Toronto). In Toronto, I take my clothes to Stitch-it (a chain, I'm sure all the Canadians are familiar with). I love the way they do a Euro-hem for jeans, but I always forget that I'm not all that impressed with some of their other work. I pay my tailors a lot of money to get things to fit, but let's be honest, if I wanted a crooked hem I would have done it myself. =/ And so after a failed tailoring attempt (two fails for one skirt), I decided that I *will* do it myself!...At least for more basic alterations; I certainly don't think I would ever be skilled enough to alter a fully lined coat.

Anyway, as I mentioned, I took some pins to the pants and this is what I got:

Not bad. And since these pants have a cuff, I can actually take these down about 2.5". So it would go from 25" to maybe a little longer than 27.5" making it a pretty decent ankle pant. So what do you ladies think? Should I engage in some DIY slimming and lengthening? Keep in mind, I am a newbie and have never slimmed pants before and these after sale discount is about $90. At the risk of tooting my own horn, I think I'm pretty good for a beginner, but I'm certainly not incredibly skilled at sewing yet. Should I risk it?

Pop.

2011-12-03T15:13:00.001-05:00

I'm not very comfortable wearing all over color. You've seen me do it a few times on this blog, but I'd rather do a neutral base and have one or two pieces to help give the outfit a little pop which is what I did here:

Shirt: Theory Atticus Button-down (Brown/Black Gingham, size P).

Denim: J Brand 910 (Ink, size 24).

Boots: Cole Haan Air Sarafina Boot by Maria Sharapova (Grey Suede, size 6.5)

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

Necklace: Stein Blye.

Belt: Banana Republic Factory Skinny Belt (Black, size S).

Scarf: LOFT Purl Rib Infinity Loop Scarf (Fiery Orange).

Wow, I'm looking pretty tired in these photos. Long hours at work + minimal sleep = Cher.

I actually wore this outfit to work yesterday. I've been working at pretty casual firm, and on Fridays we can wear jeans as long as the rest of the outfit is "business casual". The only thing that is different than what I'm showing in these pictures is the boots. I actually folded them down so they weren't OTK. I generally wouldn't recommend an OTK boot in the office, especially a heeled one. They are more acceptable to the younger generation, but for the more traditional and older generation, OTK boots are still strongly associated with prostitutes. Obviously, not a good image to be portraying to your clients or potential clients. Of course, use your own judgment as to what is appropriate to your particular workplace, but to be on the conservative side, no matter how "casual" my office appears to be, I always err on the side of caution and fold my OTK boots down--at least until I can figure out if I can wear them OTK without being yelled at. LOL.

It's been a while.

2011-11-27T16:25:00.000-05:00

You all haven't seen me in a work dress in a while, huh? That's because I haven't put one on in a LOOONNGG time.

I had an idea for an outfit, but what resulted was something totally different than what I initially envisioned in my head (it's still fairly warm here in DC if you're wondering why there are no tights yet):

Blazer: Zara (Black with contrasting blue lapel, size S).

Dress: Banana Republic Sheath (Grey, size 00P).

Shoes: Ann Taylor Signature Pumps (Black Patent, size 6).

Scarf: Adrienne Vittadini, inherited from my late grandmother (Leopard).

Ring: Forever21.

Clutch: Botkier Charlotte Clutch (Black).

Belt: ASOS Double-wrap Leather Belt (Black, size S).

This Zara blazer is one of my favorites in my closet right now. I bought it out of necessity a few months back when I went home to Toronto for a friend's wedding and realized that I had forgotten to pack a blazer or a coat to wear over my dress. D'oh! I needed some sort of black cover-up around the $100 mark and this fit the bill. I love how just a bit of the lapel is blue so it can only be seen when it's folded down, and how I can pop the collar and it suddenly looks like a different jacket. I do wish, however, that there was some sort of button closure to hold it closed. I think I may add a small hook-and-eye myself.

Any good finds this Black Friday? I bought a bunch of things, but I think they might all be going back. Lots to return this coming week! Maybe I'll have better luck tomorrow (Cyber Monday).

Blazer worn not too long ago, here:

AFD Inspiration

2011-11-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

Love Love Love this look on Olivia Palermo. Photo taken from her blog--read the full post here.

When her blog first began a few months ago, I wasn't all that impressed with the content. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting, but it's really starting to come into it's own and is now one of the few blogs that I just can't get enough of.

Happy (US) Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

...and to all my American friends. It's a special day of reflection to be sure that we remind ourselves of all our wonderful blessings. No matter what is going on in our lives there are always things to be thankful for. I hope you all get to spend the holidays with your loved ones.

Now are we all ready to shop?? Black Friday/Cyber Monday, I'm ready for ya!

Keeper.

2011-11-22T10:39:00.000-05:00

One of my other purchases from the J.Crew 25% sale was the Keeper Chambray (regular price, $78). I eyed this in the store in Toronto a few months back before it was in the catalog or online and I knew I had to try it out. The color isn't too light, the material not too thick or sheer and is actually very soft. It's *almost* perfect.

Initially, I purchased it in a 00, but I eventually ended up with a 0. In 00, it was quite snug in the back which I didn't find surprising given the fact that this shirt is 100% cotton. Generally it's probably a good idea to go up a size when your jacket or shirt doesn't contain any stretch (admittedly, I don't always follow this rule and regret it later). At first, I was sure I was going to stick with the 00 given how big J.Crew runs, however, as I began layering it under sweaters and blazers, there wasn't enough room for my arms to move around without feeling like I was going to rip the shirt. Not sure what's going on there. Lately, I've been finding the need to go up in size on top to accommodate what is apparently an increasingly muscular back, despite the fact that my measurements haven't changed at all and I'm not exercising as consistently as I usually do. I'm starting to develop a complex. Or maybe things are actually being made smaller?!

The sleeve length and width is great, and fits well across the shoulders. In size 0, it is still a bit snug in the back. It would be a different story if the material contained stretch, but given what chambray is, it was never going to happen. So ladies who are a size smaller than I am on top and are struggling to find a chambray shirt, this Keeper is worth a try.

Two issues with this shirt. One, the overall length. Oh how I wish J.Crew would make a petite chambray shirt. The Keeper is not overly long, but the shirt tail does peek out under a long jacket. Tucked in, even just partially, it's not noticeable at all. See here under my J.Crew Hacking Jacket, again (yes, indeed, I've done it: chambray on blue denim):

Shirt: J.Crew Keeper Chambray Shirt (Afternoon Sky, size 0).

Necklace: J.Crew Five-Layer Pearl Necklace.

Denim: J Brand 910 Skinny Jeans (Ink, size 24).

Shoes: Sam Edelman Adena Studded Loafers (Black, size 6).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

Handbag: Olivia Harris (Dark Teal Patent).

Shirt pulled out completely under the jacket (whoops, popped collar gone wrong):

As you can see, the shirt is longer than than the jacket. The shirt tail actually doesn't show at all under my Aritzia Exeter Boyfriend Jacket, so its not *that* long (sorry, no photo). I was a bit put off by the length of it at first. But the more I played around with the shirt with the rest of my clothes, the less it bothered me. It's a bit long, but workable.

The other issue I have is that it's a bit too wide in the waist, however, I'm starting to think there isn't really a way around this unless I add darts since it is a "boyfriend"-fit shirt. The boxiness also isn't noticeable unless I wear a high-waisted skirt with it and I don't foresee myself doing this too often anyway. Overall, I'm really liking this chambray shirt! Finally, "the one"! I've been wearing it non-stop since I got it.

BTW, what do you ladies think of the "denim on denim" look? It's uh, interesting. I haven't done denim on denim since the early 2000s, but the light/dark contrast here seems to make it work.

New Beauty Faves.

2011-11-20T16:05:00.000-05:00

I don't usually do beauty reviews, however, given that I posted about the Sephora F&F sale a few weeks back, I thought it would be fun to show you all some new favorites that I discovered. I usually use the F&F to try out new products that I've had my eye on for the past year. As a result, I usually make multiple purchases and make tons of returns. This year, even though I was trying to just buy my usual "necessities", I ended up trying a few new things I've had my eye on anyway.

The first one of my new faves is the Urban Decay Naked Palette:

I'm not going to say too much about this since every blogger and her cousin has blogged about it. I've been eyeing this since last Christmas, but I never bit the bullet because it is a bit on the pricey side for someone who doesn't wear eyeshadow on a regular basis. It's often sold out in stores and online, but it was actually on display at Sephora in the front of the store and when I saw it I couldn't put it down. Initially, I thought I wouldn't like it that much because I wanted more matte colors. However, the more I used it, I actually prefer eyeshadows that are a little shimmery because add a little extra depth to the eye. Some may think it's too much for daytime, but as long as you blend well enough, it doesn't look over the top at all. Anyway, I love this. And because I love it so much, I've been using it everyday.

As a comparison, I also bought Stila In the Light Palette and I just didn't like it as much. It is less expensive, and if you think the UD Naked palette is still too expensive even with 20% off, it is a good alternative. The color pay-off is good, and the colors are nice, somewhat similar to the UD palette but the colors appear to be a bit more glittery rather than shimmery. As a result, it seems to be a palette more for night time looks since I can't see myself using this palette that often for daytime. It comes with a little book to show you how to different make-up looks which is what had my buying this in the first place. Overall, it is s a nice palette and it comes with a brown eyeliner, but I just prefer the UD.

The second thing I fell in love with was the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour blush:

I got two colors and ended up keeping Blissful which is a peachy color (the color is a bit washed out in my photos above). With my skintone (I'm a C40 in MAC), I find it difficult to find good pink and red blushes that don't look extremely unnatural when worn. Peaches and corals are much easier to pull off mostly because they are pretty much universally flattering on all skintones. I have quite a few peachy and coral blushes, but because Blissful has a bit of more of a pinky tone to it than my other blushes I decided to keep it. The color pay-off is amazing. A little goes a long way--I will never get through this thing. Does it stay 12 hours? Well, no. My skin is on the oily side, so it tends to just absorb blush, but it does stay on for a good while. I've seen it stay on for as long as eight hours, which is unheard of on my skin. Love. I also want to purchase the shade "Natural Beauty" in the near future. I didn't like it when I tried it on in the store probably due to the lighting, but when I got home and saw it in natural light, it looked really nice so it is on my shopping list. Jen from From Head to Toe has a great review on these blushes.

The final item that I absolutely fell in love with was the Stila All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner:

LOVE LOVE LOVE. This thing does not budge. It has an interesting tip, which is actually a sponge as opposed to a brush. It is very pointy, but so easy to use. The point allows you to get the perfect cat-eye look. By the end of the day, it may fade a bit depending on how oily your lids are, but smudge? No way. Not unless you've deliberately rubbed your eye. I have extremely oily lids and this does not move. I compared this to Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner and I just didn't like BB as much. Even with a UD Lid Primer, it would still smudge during the day.

A few things to note about the Stila Eye Liner: It does have a bit of a "glossy" finish. The BB Gel eyeliner is completely matte. Some people say the Stila dries matte over the day, but I never noticed any change. Also, if you make a mistake or left a gap in the lash line or whatever, fix it while it's wet. Once it dries, it's difficult to go over the line again. Third, you might find that as you get to your second eye, the tip dries a bit and you can't get the ink flowing to finish your other eye. I was getting really frustrated about this point. As much as I loved the liner, the fact that the tip was drying out before I got to my other eye was pretty much a deal-breaker if I couldn't figure out how to to get the ink flowing again. After asking a Sephora SA, she said to press the sponge tip against the back of your hand until the ink starts flowing again, then you're good to go. It's also a good idea to store tip down. BINGO! I cannot say enough about this liner. It even stays on the waterline all day. Holy grail? Quite possibly. If you like that cat-eye or winged- eyeliner look or even if you just like to line your eyes the boring way like I do, I most definitely recommend this liner. I'm not sure how long this will last after everyday use, but so far, it's certainly worth its price (regular price $20US). And the question of how easily it comes off? With a good cleanser and water, it washes right off. Much easier than my UD 24/7 and MUFE Aqua eyes pencil liners which smudge and fade throughout the day. Go figure.

Did you find any new winners during this year's F&F that you think I should try?

Letting it all hang out.

2011-11-16T23:25:00.000-05:00

Blouse: Ann Taylor Leopard Trench Blouse (Leopard print, size 2P).

Denim: J Brand Lightweight Lovestory (Dark Vintage, size 25).

Blazer: Zara, popped collar (Black, size S).

Necklace: Forever21.

Ring: Le Chateau.

Boots: Coach Letty Wedge Boots (Black, size 6.5).
Clutch: Botkier Charlotte Clutch (Black).

I've been experimenting with my shirt-tails lately. Fully tucked in, the "mullet"-tuck (think J.Crew), and all hanging out. The mullet-tuck and a fully showing shirt-tail isn't always so appropriate for work, but it's still kind of fun to see how it looks under layers of different lengths. In this case, a shorter jacket.

The story behind this AT Leopard Trench Blouse: I am in love with it. I'm not sure what possessed me to try this on in the store, but when I did, there was no doubt that I wasn't leaving the store without it. In fact, I loved it so much, I didn't even really pay too much attention to the fit (does anyone else do this?!). It felt a little small in 0P (my regular size), but I thought that was just because it was polyester and there wasn't much stretch to it. But when I brought it home (to Canada, no less), I realized that it was *REALLY* small. I'm pretty much a 0P/XSP on top across the board in most brands, sometimes an XXSP, or a regular XS in Canadian or Euro-brand things. But I had to exchange this for a 2P! I don't think that's ever happened before in my lifetime. But even still in 2P it is still a little snug across the chest when buttoned up all the way, and I'm not even large chested. I contemplated going up to a 4P but thought that this would make the blouse way too boxy around the waist. I love this thing though and I thought I would never be one to wear a leopard blouse. How things change.

Like these Lovestory jeans? Me too:

AFD Fashion Fixation: Teal Denim (and Piperlime sale).

2011-11-15T11:03:00.001-05:00

Now that I'm officially sucked into wearing colored denim, I'm trying to resist purchasing a pair in every color. Right now I'm totally obsessed with a teal pair, teal being one of my favorite colors:

These are Flying Monkey Colored Skinny Jeans, and they can be found on Tobi.com for $47 with 30% until tonight. They come in six other colors, regular price $68, and they run small. I'm also loving the Royal Blue:

And on somewhat of a sidenote, Piperlime has 20% off (almost) everything on their site until 11/16 with the code "TREAT". If you have a GAP/ON/BR card, you can get an extra 10% off with "TUESDAYS" (EDIT: OK, apparently this code doesnt work with the 20% off, I tried. Boo). Plus, 10% cash back on ebates! Link:

These are the AG The Sateen Stilt Pant in Dark Teal on Piperlime, regular price $159:

I'm oh so tempted.

Hey there, Sailor!

2011-11-12T17:11:00.000-05:00

Trying to hold my purse J.Crew-style, but it just looks messy. Too many straps. I give myself an "A" for effort though:

Blazer: J. Crew Hacking Jacket in Double-Serge Wool (Bright Poppy, size 0P).

Trousers: Theory Alleen Trousers (Sailor, size 00).

Belt: Banana Republic Factory (Black).

Sweater: Jacob (Black/white, size XS).

Boots: Coach Letty Wedge Boots (Black, size 6.5).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

Ring: Le Chateau.

Handbag: Olivia Harris (Dark Teal Patent).

If you're wondering what the title of this post has anything to do with this outfit, the color of these Theory trousers are actually called "Sailor". They are deep, deep navy. Almost black. In fact, I thought they were black until I took them to the cashier at TJ Maxx and realized under the lighting that it was actually blue. It reminded of when I was a child and my dad always asked me if his socks were black or blue because he could't tell. I thought he was nuts. Apparently as I've gotten older, I've become nuts as well. Like father, like daughter.

Sweater and Hacking Jacket re-styled:

AFD Inspiration

2011-11-10T23:53:00.001-05:00

Madonna's outfit on the cover of the December 2011 issue of Harper's Bazaar (via People.com):

Perfection.

Conditional Love.

2011-11-06T17:02:00.000-05:00

Sweater: Jacob Kimono Sleeve Sweater (Grey, size XS).

Bag: Olivia Harris (Dark Teal Patent).

Pants: GAP Really Skinny Pants, folded (Black, size 00P).

Bracelet: Express.

Booties: D&G Suede Booties (Charcoal grey, size 6).

Necklace: F21 Pendant.

Shirt: Smart Set Crew neck Long-sleeve T-shirt (Black, size XS).

I've been getting a lot of wear out of these GAP Really Skinny Pants lately. I love the idea of them, however, they bag out like crazy and not only in the butt area, but at the knees as well. It drives me completely insane because it can really make an outfit look sloppy. If anyone has any suggestions as to a similar pant that does not bag out so much, please leave a comment below! The J.Crew Minnie pant was too short, and although it doesn't bag out as much as the GAP, I really want something that holds its shape throughout the day.

Now, having said that, I'm really trying to minimize my spending the next few months (aren't I always??). The Christmas holidays are coming and I have some very expensive bar exams that I will need to pay for in the coming months so I'm *really* going to try! I've already cut myself off from jeans, shoes, and purses. I have one more sweater purchase allowance for the F/W season which I just ordered from Nordstrom but we'll see if I love it enough to keep it. Other than that, there isn't much left except blouses, skirts and maybe some trousers. Admittedly, I have been stalking a few things for the last two or three months, so if those go on super sale I probably won't be able to resist. But if not, this blog is likely going to be filled with a lot of re-mixing and re-styling and even some experimenting for the next little while (I do still have a few newer items I have yet to show you all). Hopefully I won't fall into a style slump, but I'm already starting to feel it. I'm just so uninspired lately, but I think it's just a result of certain aspects of life leaking elsewhere. Do you have any tips for staying out or coming out of a style slump without having to buy new pieces? I'd love to hear them!

Birthday Cupcake!

2011-11-04T18:35:00.000-04:00

Can you believe my favorite cupcake place in all of D.C., Sweetbites, of *all* days in the year, decided to service their truck on my birthday?! (Yes, they're even better than Georgetown Cupcakes). I was severely disappointed. The only other alternative near my temporary place of work is Hello, Cupcake! So I settled. It didn't taste as good as my beloved Sweetbites, but the cupcake it was still pretty good and it was certainly pretty. (Confession: This is a photo of an old cupcake, because my camera phone refuses to allow me to download the pic of the cupcake I took today. You'll have to trust me when I say that it was pretty. :P). Have a great Friday night! I will be spending it with some beer (and friends).

Endless Family & Friends, again.

2011-11-01T06:21:00.001-04:00

For anyone who missed it a few weeks ago, Endless.com is having another Friends and Family sale. Use the code "NOVEVENT" for 20% off your purchase. Free two-day or overnight shipping and free returns within the US. Free international shipping to Canada for purchases over $100. Good until November 3 and some restrictions apply. Don't forget your Bigcrumbs cashback for another 13.6% off! Referral link:

Enjoy! :)

Sunday stroll.

2011-10-30T13:18:00.004-04:00

To my local Target, that is. The weather improved from yesterday, when it snowed. Yes, you read that right. It SNOWED. In October. In D.C.. That's wrong on so many levels. This coming from a Canadian. I guess I should count my lucky stars that we didn't get a foot of snow like in other parts of the country, but even so, being this far south I should not be seeing *any* snow this time of year.

Jacket: Jacob Leather Bomber (Black, size S).

Sweater: J.Crew Boucle Cowl Neck Sweater (Winter white, size XS).

Pants: GAP Really Skinny Pants (Black, size 00P).

Bag: Olivia Harris (Dark Teal Patent).

Boots: Marc Fisher Kevins Boot (Tan Leather, size 6.5).

I decided to bring my camera with me because it hasn't been getting enough love. I'm still trying to get used to taking the photos with people around and proper posing is much easier when you aren't so self-conscious. I also thought my hair looked better than it did when I left the house, but apparently not (hence why my head is cropped off).

GAP Really Skinny Pants and Jacob Leather Bomber Jacket re-styled here:

Heart to Heart.

2011-10-28T16:00:00.000-04:00

Please excuse the hair. I'm about a month overdue for a haircut and my appointment with my stylist isn't until Wednesday. =/

Blouse: Jacob Heart print blouse (Black/white, size XS).

Trousers: Talula Babaton by Aritzia Trousers (Black, size 0).

Belt: Banana Republic (Black, size S).

Shoes: Ann Taylor Perfect Pump (Black Patent, size 6).

I thought this Jacob heart print bow blouse was just the cutest thing. The print adds a little something to the basic bow blouse. It has a slim cut, so petite ladies who have very small waists might find this a little less boxy than a lot of flowy blouses out in the stores right now. BTW, good news for Canadians (who live in Canada), Jacob now offers online shopping! Woot. This makes my life a whole lot easier now that Jacob has closed quite a few of their stores lately. Now I don't have to go on a hunt for a Jacob store whenever I go home, I can just shop whenever I want!

And as a bonus to this post, I shall show you my J.Crew Hacking Jacket in double-serge wool:

J.Crew hacking jacket in double-serge wool (Bright berry, size 0P).

I never intended to keep this, but the longer I have it in my possession, the more I want to hold on to it. It's beautiful. The double-serge wool is amazing, along with the quality, details, and overall fit. The only problem I have with it is the bracelet-length sleeves:

It hits right at my wrist bone. Being the obsessive nerd that I am, I studied all the stock photos on the J.Crew website where the models are wearing the jacket, and it seems that it really is supposed to be this bracelet-length. It looks great layered over a blouse or sweater, but on it's own, it seems a little weird. If I keep this, I might consider letting out the sleeves at a later time. Other than this sleeve "problem", this is well worth the $200 I paid for it (purchased during the 25% off sale), and I would certainly purchase another in a neutral color if I could when it goes on super sale. As much as I'd hate to, I may have to return this due to budget constrictions.

One of Three.

2011-10-25T19:58:00.000-04:00

I made a promise to myself that I would only buy three sweaters this fall and winter season. So far, I'm doing OK, but it's only October. It will be interesting to see how I handle the end of season sweater sales, especially since I would love to get my hands on more of these J.Crew Tippi sweaters. I already have already purchased sweater #2 (which I will show in a later post), but I'm thinking long and hard about sweater #3. I'm pretty sure I want it to be a big and cozy cowl neck sweater. I saw a great one at the Theory outlet but I convinced myself at the time that it was overwhelmingly big for my small frame. However, now that I've left it behind, I'm having second thoughts.

Sweater: J.Crew Tippi Sweater (Heather dark grape, size XXS).

Trousers: F21 (Brown plaid, size XS).

Belt: Nine West reversible belt (size XS).

Boots: Coach Letty Wedge Boot (Black, size 6.5).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

I purposely left out the jewelry in this outfit. You might find this hard to believe, but I like the slight masculinity that the lack of jewelry gives off (yes, that was sarcasm :P); the three-quarter sleeves and the pop of color of the sweater helps balance it out a little bit.

You can't really see much of my feet, but I'm actually wearing Coach wedge boots. They're a perfectly classic almond toe, that is just the perfect height I want in a wedge boot for work. I'm generally not a fan of Coach handbags, but I have to admit, whoever is designing their boots is doing a pretty impressive job.

Sephora Family & Friends!

2011-10-20T06:39:00.001-04:00

I wouldn't necessarily call myself a beauty junkie, but I love playing with makeup, and it's that time of year again: Sephora F&F for 20% off entire purchase. Here's the link to generate your one-time use code:

Sephora F&F

Hint #1: generate the code right before you use it or else you may lose some beauty points going back and forth between pages.
Hint #2: forgot to buy something after already making your order? I always do. Use a different email address to generate a new code.
Hint #3: Use BigCrumbs for 5.6% cashback. My referral link:

Have fun!

Day Six.

2011-10-19T20:24:00.001-04:00

I've been trying to come up with different ways to style this pussy-bow / neck-tie blouse:

Blouse: T. Babaton by Aritzia Collette Silk Georgette Blouse (Whitecap Grey, size XS).

Sweater: LOFT Cardi (Army Green, size XS).

Bottoms: GAP Really Skinny Pants (Black, size 00P).

Bracelet: Express.

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

Boots: Marc Fisher Kevins Boots (Tan Leather, size 6.5).

Today is day six of my 80 hour marathon work week. I'm not feeling too bad yet even though I do look a little sleepy in the last photo (it was 6:30am!), but it's usually after I've gone about two weeks without a day off is when I start to get super tired.

I know I haven't had any EOTD posts in a long while (and I see some readers have protested by un-following me), but along with not having the time (it's dark when I leave for work and dark when I get home from work), I'm also really trying to figure out what I want to do with this blog -- and my life for that matter! I've hit such an impasse in my life, and it's really been illuminated by watching all my friends "grow up" and settle down and have seemingly decided what they wanted out of life while I sit and watch from the sidelines. It's really a very strange and trying place to be, to say the least.

Boots!

2011-10-17T21:34:00.000-04:00

An early birthday present from my parents:

Marc Fisher Kevins boots. Shaft circumference? 13". Look pretty great with jeans. On a bare leg, just a bit roomy on my 12" calves, but still look pretty darn awesome.

Review: Ivanka Trump Magnolis Ballet Flat in Wild Leopard Pony

2011-10-14T14:06:00.000-04:00

I've been a little obsessed with leopard print shoes lately. I used to have a pair of leopard print flats that I loved a few years back. But having extremely narrow heels, once they stretched out even just a little bit, I couldn't wear them anymore. I was actually walking down some stairs in the mall when they decided they didn't want to stay on anymore so every time I lifted my feet to go down a step, my shoe would fall off. So embarrassing.

So I've been on the hunt since then. And since leopard is big right now, it's a really great opportunity to find that perfect leopard shoe. I found these Ivanka Trump flats in haircalf (calfhair?) and with Endless' F&F sale, I couldn't resist:

The fact that it had an elasticized collar was enough to win me over initially to try it out.

Look: You are all going to think I'm crazy, but I hate the little bow. LOL. The toe is also too rounded for my liking. I feel like an 8 year old.

Quality: Not bad. The sole is leather and the shoe overall seemed pretty well-constructed. Not sure I would pay full price for these though.

Fit: Pretty TTS length-wise, but as to width, they seemed a little wide for my slightly narrow feet.

Comfort: Actually, kind of hurty for my hyper-sensitive feet. The slight elastic around the collar of the shoe just felt too "rough" against my feet all around. I'm not sure how else to describe it. It wasn't digging into my feet, per se, but it just didn't feel very nice. The footbed wasn't too bad though. These might work for someone with "tougher" feet than I have.

Price: $130 regular price, with 20% off with F&F and 13.6% cashback with BigCrumbs. ~$90

Verdict? Return.

On a side note, I'm starting a project with really heavy overtime hours, which is good because it means I'm making some money after three months off. The bad news is that I'll be working an 82+ hour work week for the next 3-4 weeks, possibly more. The blog? Well, keeping up with posts might be a problem. When I work hours like this, there's usually no time to do anything except sleep and work. I set up my camera in the corner of my room like back in the day and hopefully I can sneak in a few EOTDs or "half-EOTDs" before work. I can't guarantee the quality is going to be spectacular though. :P I'm going to be a zombie by the time this project is done. But as they say, you gotta do what you gotta do.

My mom hates my shoes.

2011-10-11T17:10:00.000-04:00

Well, "hate" is a pretty strong word but she definitely thinks they're weird.

The story behind these Sam Edelman Adena Loafers: I actually purchased these shoes from Endless during their F&F sale. I've been seeing smoking slipper/loafers everywhere online and even though they're really unusual-looking, they've really intrigued me because they seem to be a great alternative to the ballet flat. Months ago I purchased the Matt Bernson Gitanes loafers and they were insanely hurty. After that, I kind of convinced myself that all loafers would feel like the same way. But I can't resist an F&F sale, and despite these weird looking spikes and sparkles, I went ahead and ordered them even though I fully expected to return them once I received them. But when I actually put them on, they were so comfortable! Lots of padding under the feet, no rubbing, feet for the most part didn't slip out, and they didn't dig into my ankle bone which is generally what happens with 95% of shoes. They are really funky, and I'm usually not one to fall for trends, but they look so darn cute with a pair of denim. I bought so many pairs of boots and shoes in the last few weeks and I still have my eye on another. I need to return a few pairs, but I'm having a hard time putting these back in the box. What do you ladies think? Do you agree with my mom?

Happy Turkey Day!

2011-10-09T22:15:00.001-04:00

Happy Thanksgiving to my Canadian friends! I was actually home in Toronto with my family for this Thanksgiving, so for that alone I am thankful. Sorry, no EOTD yet, and I'm not sure when I'm going to be able to post one up. My mom is staying with me for the next three weeks which basically means no time (or space) to myself for quite a while. I may go a little insane. If you want to see if it will actually happen, follow me on Twitter. :P

Just a taste.

2011-09-29T19:24:00.000-04:00

A friend was visiting from England and it was her birthday, so I decided to take a little break from studying to take her out for a birthday dinner. I need to eat anyway, right? Every time she comes into town, it's my chance to perfect my [awful] English accent.

I don't have my tripod with me right now and no one to take my picture, so the best I could do was prop up the camera up on a table. So here is half my outfit:

Blazer: Zara (Black, size S).

Shirt: Jacob (Black/white stripe, size XS).

Necklace: Forever21 Pendant.

Belt: Ann Taylor Leather Skinny Belt (Leopard calfhair, size S).

Scarf: Tolani.

Denim: Habitual Audrey Skinny Jeans (size 24).

LOL. Better than nothing, I suppose. Other blogs manage to make little snap shots of "half-outfits" look so cool. I'm working on it.

My big exams are in FOUR DAYS. Am I hyper-ventilating? Maybe just a little. Please send me good vibes!

Need a good laugh?

2011-09-28T13:31:00.001-04:00

You have to admit, this is pretty ridiculous (from the Jamesjeans website):

Um. Negative pant sizes? OK then.

Endless.com F&F Sale.

2011-09-27T10:01:00.001-04:00

It's that time again!

20% off minimum purchase of $100 at Endless.com using code "SEPEVENT". And don't forget the 13.6% cashback with Bigcrumbs! Referral link:

AFD Opinion Poll: Boooottsss.

2011-09-26T21:31:00.000-04:00

I want a classic and versatile boot. Mostly to wear under pants at work, but I suppose, if it looks nice with skirts as well, that's a bonus:

(1)

@Piperlime, $210

(2)

@Aldo, $120

Both are leather, but obviously, they have a pretty marginal price (and probably quality) difference. So, (1) or (2)? Please leave your preference in the comments below! Your reasons also appreciated (but not required)! :D

It's a Love Story.

2011-09-22T12:26:00.000-04:00

This is a combination of some of the pieces in my closet that I'm loving right now:

Jacket: Talula by Aritzia Exeter Blazer (Black, size 0).

Blouse: DV by Dolce Vita Camper Shirt (Orange, size XS).

Denim: J Brand Lightweight Lovestory (Dark Vintage, size 25).

Boots: Charles David Nexus Boot (Black, size 6.5)

Bracelet: Express

Necklace: Stein Blye

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver)

Belt: Ann Taylor Calfhair belt (Leopard, size S).

I think I need to try harder with adding earrings when I accessorize an outfit. I like earrings, but it just feels like too much effort to put them in and take them out everyday (OK, mostly because I have a lot of piercings and I can't be bothered).

I like to re-use my clothes. See?:

Review: J.Crew Pencil Skirt in Wool Crepe.

2011-09-16T10:31:00.000-04:00

Almost two months ago, I received a 20% off coupon in my inbox from J.Crew. How often does that happen? Like, almost never. I couldn't pass the opportunity up even though I shouldn't have been buying anything in the first place. I ended up getting this Pencil Skirt in wool crepe:

What I *really* wanted was the double-serge skirt (last year's version in 00P fit me perfectly) but for $96 after sale, the price was still too steep for my bank account. I'm a little obsessed with non-neutral colored skirts, so at the time I thought that it would be a good compromise. The fact that it's wool crepe also means that it could be suitable for all-season wear, as opposed to the double-serge skirt which is a much thicker, and heavier material that can only be worn in cooler months.

After I made the purchase, I started to have second thoughts. I'm not sure what it looks like on your screen, but the from the photo above, the color ("decadent red") looks like it's on the verge of being a bit "pastel-like". For me, this is a problem because I really dislike matching pastel-y colors with bolder colors like black and other deep jewel tones which makes up most of my closet--I find it too sharp and odd of a contrast. On the other hand, I was going though the J.Crew website and found this dress also in decadent red which looks like a much bolder red:

See the difference? It's quite subtle, but the fact that it's a richer red actually means I could wear black and other darker colors with it. Anyway, this skirt went on backorder and for a few months I've just been hoping that when it finally comes, the color is as bold as the dress...and of course, that it fits. When I opened the package, it was...orange:

The actual color is more like the dress rather than the skirt--more of a reddish-orange. But being orange actually wasn't a problem--the color is actually quite beautiful. In fact, even the fit wasn't a problem. Despite the fact that the skirt was a little too short for my personal preference, it actually fit well in waist and hips in 00P (keep in mind I carry most of my weight in my middle and my hips are very narrow). What I didn't like was the quality of the material. *Very* unhappy. The wool seemed like it was something that would come from H&M. It was thin and flimsy and if not for the lining underneath, I would imagine that it would be see-through. Some may like this super lightweight wool material for summer months, but I am not a fan, especially for the price. The regular price is $98 and I purchased it with a 20% discount and cashback. So *not* worth it, IMO. I'm going to wait on the double-serge wool skirts. Extremely unhappy J.Crew!

I'm currently in Toronto AGAIN, for another wedding. Except this time, I'll be hanging around for a while because I have some very big exams to write in early October (one of the many reasons why my blog has slowed down to about one post a week). I have a few posts in my backlog, but it's not a lot, so either (1) this will become more of a "lifestyle" blog rather than a "style" blog for the next three weeks, or (2) I may disappear for a little bit, but hopefully not for long.

Fashion Fixation: Rebecca Minkoff Covet

2011-09-13T00:08:00.000-04:00

Photo credit: JustJared.com.

O.M.G.

Need I say more? I haven't seen this purse in this color before, and this is hanging off the arm of Michelle Trachtenberg at the Rebecca Minkoff S/S 2012 Runway Show, so it's probably one of RM's new spring colors.

It.is.so.MINE.

Sucked in. [Zara review]

2011-09-12T14:58:00.000-04:00

Anyone else who got sucked in to purchasing stuff at Zara when it went online, raise their hands! Yep. That's me.

We've had this conversation not too long ago, but I have a love/hate relationship with Zara. I can stare at their clothes all day (and I've done this on their website many, MANY times), just don't let me come within six feet of it. If I see seams or buttons coming off, or feel polyester that seems like it will catch fire at even just the sight of a matchstick, I will put it down faster than Clark Kent can put on his blue and red spandex suit.

However, one thing that can almost always suck me in to buying something is free shipping and free returns. It's a brilliant idea and I wish more online stores would take the hint. I will buy twice as often if you just offer me free shipping and give me a way to return for free even if that requires that I go to the mall (BTW, Nordstrom does this now too, and as a result, I made a purchase a few hours within learning of this fact. LOL). Heck, if you don't offer me free shipping at all, there's a 98% chance I won't ever buy from you online. EVER. Zara, you so smaht (in my best Chinese fob accent).

Do you know how badly I got sucked in to buying Zara online? I bought a coat. If there is one thing that I avoid buying at Zara, as much as I love the look of them, it's the coats. Generally, they are just made terribly with horrible material particularly the wool coats (or whatever they're made out of). And as much as they are visually appealing, it's not enough to justify the price tag. Oh, but did I take heed of my own knowledge when browsing through the website? Nope. I ended buying this trench coat:

It's not wool, so it had a chance. I loved the subtle military-inspired look of it--the high collar/lapel and the narrowly placed buttons), the extra structure, and being able to buy risk-free, I couldn't resist. So for $129, this made it's way to my doorstep (or more specifically, my concierge).

One of the (many) things I was worried about on this jacket, was the length. Given how long this was on the model, no doubt this was going to be super-long on my 5'1-self. But hey, if I like the quality and look of it overall and it fit in the shoulders and waist, I may be willing to hem this to fit. I've been needing a lighter colored trench and Burberry is not within my budget.

I ordered on the 7th and I received shipping confirmation on the 8th and the package arrived on the 10th. Not bad!

Here it is (Sorry, I made no attempt to hide the tags):

The length hits me just above the bottom of my kneecap. With heels, it doesn't look too long, but with flats, it looks a bit overwhelming on my frame. To be properly proportioned, this would need to be taken up a few inches. The sleeves are also a little bit long. It was small across the chest and the shoulders, however, which is pretty typical of how Zara coats fit me. I wouldn't describe myself as particularly "broad" or "wide" on top, but my shoulders are more muscular (?) than a lot of smaller petites out there. I definitely have to go up a size in this jacket for comfort especially if I want to do some heavier layering underneath. I kind of laughed at these pictures when I first looked at them because my shoulders look so squished even with the top unbuttoned.

And the quality? Well, actually for $129, it's not bad. The material feels a little rubbery (which in a way I suppose is good because it means it will be water resistent?). The outer is made out of 48% polyester, 44% cotton, and 8% nylon. The lining is 100% polyester. It's mid-weight, so this jacket can probably get me through November in D.C., and mid-November in Toronto with some thick sweaters underneath. There is quite a bit of padding in the shoulders, but that's to help give it a strong shape since it's military-inspired.

I didn't notice any seams coming apart of buttons falling off. I do see a few threads sticking out of the seams, but nothing that made me extremely suspect of the overall workmanship. There were a few things that did bother me though. First, was the fact that there was no rear vent, which, practically, means nothing because in no way was my walking impeded by the lack of vent, it's just purely for aesthetic reasons; but more significantly what bothered me more was the flap pockets. When tucked in to try and get a welt pocket, the pocket didn't sit flat. Neither are huge issues, but sometimes it's those little details that can make or break the deal:

I wish the coat was slightly darker, but it doesn't really bother me that much. Admittedly, it's probably one of the nicer looking trench coats I've come across in a while at this price point, so I may order this in a size S to see how that fits if I can get over the vent and pocket issues. But I fear that it will fit in the shoulders and across the chest, but be too large at the waist and I'm not sure if I'm willing to get this thing shortened.

I also got these shoes for $99.90:

They are total beauties...from far away. And they were much too small. I ordered them in a 6, which is my usual pump size, but they were still too small. Maybe a half to a full size. The suede was decent, but the black leather, which apparently is real leather, was just awful. I honestly thought it was plastic. My heel was also slipping out of them despite feeling tight in the front (my typical problem of most shoes) and that's not really something that could be fixed with a heel grip because the zipper is in the back. So back these go.

Returns are pretty easy. You have to get Return Authorization online, which is super fast. Seal up the box and send it away Fedex by pick-up or drop-off. For me, that's easy because I actually have a Fedex office downstairs from my apartment.

Anybody get some winners from Zara?

A Little Romance.

2011-09-10T00:04:00.000-04:00

Blouse: T. Babaton by Aritzia Georgette Blouse (Whitecap Grey, size XS).

Skirt: Zara (Royal Blue, size XS).

Shoes: Nine West Jaewon Mary-Janes (Black, size 6).

Purse: Botkier Charlotte Clutch (Black).

I know, I know. Ankle-straps shorten the leg line. But I couldn't help myself. There's something about a sexy mary-jane that can really change the feel of an outfit. I fell in love with these Nine West platforms. They are so pretty on the feet.

Skirt remixed here:

Suit up.

2011-09-07T15:22:00.000-04:00

If you have to wear a suit to work every day, you know that sometimes it can get pretty difficult to be creative and it gets so tiring after a while, you just don't even bother anymore. I personally love a great suit. Perfectly tailored, a great pant suit can look absolutely amazing and flattering without having to be tight or look as if it was painted on. Luckily for us ladies, we have a lot more variety at our disposal unlike the men who are basically stuck with a button-down and a tie.

A lot of the "grown up" blogs out there focus a lot of casual and business casual wear--which is great, but the truth of the matter is, there are many professionals out there, including myself, that need to dress more formally. Many blogs also focus on a fashion that is a lot more feminine, and while I do sometimes enjoy a little bit of femininity in my workwear, it doesn't always appeal to my tomboy tendencies. LOL.

A little pop of color and pattern can instantly make a plain ol' suit more interesting without having to accessorize with a lot of jewelry (if you're brain dead in the morning like me to even remember to do such a thing):

Jacket: Theory Nichelle Blazer (Light Heather, size 0).

Trousers: Theory Max C Trousers (Light Heather, size 00).

Belt: Ann Taylor Calfhair Skinny Belt (Leopard, size S).

Shoes: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pumps (Black, size 6).

Sweater: GAP Elbow Length Cardi (Coral, size XS).

Cami: Smart Set Lace Cami (White, size XS).

A few non-deliberate folds below the elbows there. Oopsy. But can I tell you how much I LOVE Theory suits? This suit I'm wearing is completely unaltered! Not even hemmed! My only complaint is that the rise is a little too high for me but I can overlook it.

This is the Nichelle Jacket, not the Gabe. For some reason the Gabe fits me really strangely in the shoulders. I can't get it to sit flat. Does any one else have this problem or do I just have very large trap muscles?! It was really quite frustrating when I was trying to choose a matching jacket for the trousers because the Gabe is the most popular Theory jacket made with every color and every material.

Other suit brands I like are Aritzia (they fit much smaller than Theory!), and Club Monaco's are which very nice too, but they still fit about half a size too large on my frame. Do you have a favorite suit brand? Please share! I may need to check it out!

Sunday Deliberations: AFD Style Poll.

2011-09-04T12:54:00.001-04:00

We all have our own personal fashion rules. For example, don't mix black and brown, don't mix leathers, no white after Labor Day, etc., etc. I personally have no problems with those particular things. However, one "rule" I do seem to have is: Don't cover exposed zippers with belts. I'm not sure if this is irrational or not, but it seems to me that if the zipper is supposed to be exposed, why obstruct it's view with a belt? I'm sure it's just a personal preference, but what do you ladies think? Is covering an exposed zipper with a belt OK? Or am I being irrational?

What are your own personal fashion rules that you can't seem to break, but you know it might be completely irrational? Leave a comment below!

From the backlog: Shorted Out.

2011-09-03T19:46:00.003-04:00

I found these photos in my backlog. I can't remember why I chose not to post these intially, but I think it was because I forgot to put on a necklace (again). Nonetheless, I've to posted these photos anyway until I can come up with another outfit post since I've been a little slow keeping up. Adding a pendant necklace would have been perfect for this.

Blouse: Ann Taylor Silk Camp Shirt (Winter White, size XSP).

Shorts: Forever21 (Brown Plaid, size XS).

Belt: Abercrombie & Fitch Braided Belt (Bronze Metallic, size S).

Bracelet: Aldo (Gold).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

Sandals: Aldo Cork Wedge (Natural, size 6).
Necklace: F21 Pendant.

If I had changed out the sandals for booties, this may have qualified for PFC #10, which was only a few days ago.

I like to think of myself as a fairly practical shoe buyer. And I am, for the most part. My hyper-sensitive feet makes sure of that, but I do make mistakes. I'm trying to completely eliminate those occasions where I buy shoes that I'll only wear once. The first and last time I wore these wedges was my law school graduation (the first one), I think. It's an awful cycle. I'm always on the look out for a pair of shoes that I can wear for years and years. When I finally find a pair, they are almost always out of my budget, so I figure I will wait until I can afford them...which seems to be never. But when I really need shoes for a specific occasion, I don't have anything in my closet so I'm forced to purchase a pair of shoes at the last minute that I may or may not wear again. And do I wear them again? More often than not, no. I seem to do this with dresses as well. Anyone else do this or am I freak?

Ann Taylor Silk Camp Shirt and Forever21 shorts remixed here:

Endless Love (Again).

2011-09-02T08:30:00.002-04:00

I don't do a lot of sale promotion on my blog, but I have a tendency to do it for Endless.com. I'm not sure why (I swear, I'm not affiliated). I probably just love it too much, and sometimes you can just find the *best* deals. Endless is having an extra 25% off select styles (including sale stuff!) for Labor Day (taken off in cart), plus you can get 13.6% cashback though BigCrumbs! My referral link by clicking the image below:

Good news, Canadians (and other non-Americans)! Free International Shipping for purchases over $100! And my favorite part is the free returns (US only). Click here to find the extra 25% off select items. They haven't added a special search or a link on the site to find this sale yet, so the best thing to do is add stuff to your cart first going through the link I've given above, and then when you're ready to make your purchase, to get your cashback, go to BigCrumbs and continue on to the Endless website and check out.

I also noticed in my inbox this morning AE.com is having 40% of everything through the weekend. A great chance to pick up some basics or some Aerie undergarments. They also have a few pairs of colored denim (blue and red!) and a few cute blazers. Labor Day sales may make me break my reduced budget for clothes and shoes this month, I know it!

P.S. As of 1:15am 09/03, the 25% looks like it's working on EVERYTHING on the site. EEK!

The Wedding.

2011-09-01T12:14:00.000-04:00

Not mine, of course. But it was beautiful and a lot of fun! I had a other photos on my camera, but I gave my camera to my friend to use during the ceremony, and some reason was playing around with the ISO (I think because he couldn't figure out how to adjust the aperture) so everything from 1:00pm and on is really poor quality. =( So just a couple of photos taken by the best man:

Traditional Filipino Money Dance

I had my makeup done professionally, and the makeup artist actually said to me, "Your eyes are too big!" Umm, so what exactly did you want me to do about that?? =/

If you are wondering about the cake, it is made by Erica of ERICAKES who is located in the Toronto area. She is AMAZING and the cake tasted sooooo gooooood! If you order from her, make sure you get the red velvet! One of the best red velvet cakes I've ever tasted! I don't even really like cake, but I gobbled this up. She is worth every penny she charges (which is actually *very reasonable*), and more. And I'm not just saying that because we shared a locker in Grade 9. =P

Nudist.

2011-08-29T19:38:00.012-04:00

I've been running out of outfit ideas lately. For one, it's still too hot. The temps have cooled down a little bit, but humidity has still been hanging around. Lest, you forget, D.C. is built over a swamp. Secondly, my days have been consisting of going to the gym and studying with the occasional trip to Starbucks to read. I've had no need (or desire) to get dressed in more than just cut-offs and a tank. As a result, my blog has been suffering a little bit, but I'm trying.

This outfit has more of a fall color scheme, but I love the classic and pared-down look of it.

Top: Jacob Cap-sleeve Drape Neck Top (Camel, size XS).

Skirt: Jacob (Black, size 0).

Belt: Ann Taylor Perfect Patent Leather Belt (Black, size XS).

Shoes: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pumps (Black, size 6).

Clutch: Botkier Charlotte Clutch (Black).
Necklace: Target.
Bracelet: from my grandmother.

I was at Yorkdale mall a few days ago when I was in Toronto and saw the new J.Crew store. I wasn't going to go in after hearing about the insane Canadian pricing, and living in the U.S., I really didn't have much a reason to go in. However, my friend was late meeting me, so to kill time I went in to check it out. I didn't bother paying too much attention to the price tags, but I looked at the items that they had because this store is big. Probably the biggest J.Crew store I've ever been in. They had lots of items my own local J.Crew store does not have. They even had shoes and bags. And let me tell you, the shoes seem to be pretty impressive with respect to quality despite being a bit on the pricey side. I tried on the Mona, and I actually didn't walk out of them like I normally do with pumps! With a discount code, the shoes could definitely be worth the price. What I wasn't impressed with were the Schoolboy blazers. I've been eyeing them in the catalog for months now, but for the American price of $188-98, I was expecting a lot more. The material seemed to be very thin, flimsy, and cheap and I was expecting much more structure to the jackets. On super sale these blazers *might* be worth it, but for their regular price, I wouldn't even consider it. I also saw a really great chambray shirt, that I didn't recognize from the catalog. The material seemed much lighter than the Selvedge and the color was a really nice medium blue. The Canadian price is $98, but I can't seem to find anything online that might correspond to something similar. I'm starting to think it's the chambray popover, but I distinctly remember double checking to make sure that it was a full-button down. If anyone makes a trip to the store and can check this shirt out for me, please let me know!

On a side note, I met one of my readers at the wedding I went to on the weekend! Hi Julie! LOL. My blog has been a secret from all my friends until now. My cover is now blown. Ha ha. If anyone questions my true height, Julie can now vouch for the fact that I'm truly (not quite) 5'1! And yes, the wedding was beautiful! If I find some good shots on my camera, I will post a few in the coming days. :)

H&M Fitting Room Finds.

2011-08-24T18:05:00.001-04:00

I have a few H&M gift cards that have been burning a whole in my pocket since Christmas. I make a lot of trips to H&M, but if you take a peek into my closet, very few items actually come from there so I'm not really sure why I even asked for H&M gift cards in the first place. Nonetheless, I have them now, so I'm looking to spend them without settling on pieces just because I can get them for "free". Not an easy task.

I wasn't really impressed with what I saw, but I managed to pick up a few pieces to try on in the fitting room that I thought could have potential. Please ignore the slightly unruly hair, I left the house in a little bit of a rush:

This vest is the piece that I actually liked the most:

Somewhat of an equestrian vibe, and it is just so cute. This is a size 4, but I think I probably could have gone down to a 2 since there was no sleeves. Price is $29.95CA (which probably means its probably around $24.95US--just subtract $5). I own a vest already, but I rarely wear it, so I had to pass on this.

I think I saw this sweater in an H&M ad, and I kind of liked it (blurry sweater but in focus camera lens, go figure):

It was OK. Nothing spectacular about it. It felt pretty cozy, but it didn't grab me. I also saw a hole in the seam where the sleeve met the shoulder, so that kind of turned me off. I'm wearing a size 4, and it's regular size is $34.95CA.

I saw so much potential in this little jacket. I could totally envision it with my Lovestory jeans, but once I had it on, it just didn't hang right:

The back is a little bit cropped which is a nice detail, but overall just meh. There was just not enough structure to it (maybe I need a size 2 for a better fit?). It also comes in a light grey color. This is a size 4, and its price is $34.95CA.

The last item is a little comedic. Recently, I've been a little bit drawn to oversized sweaters. I found a sweater that I thought might give me an idea if I could pull it off. I could only find it in a size small, however, but I went with it anyway:

Yea. LOL. I'm not sure that an XS would be much better, but this was pretty ridiculous. I could fit four of me underneath there. This sweater comes in a multitude of colors, if you're interested--black, blue, and grey, I think. Price is $29.95CA.

Failed trip at H&M again. I'm sure one of these days I'm going to get frustrated and just buy a bunch of their leather belts. But of course, as soon as I spend all my gift cards, I'm going to find something that I actually *want* to buy.

I have a wedding to attend this weekend! Wish me good vibes that I don't trip on my bridesmaid dress and fall on my face! :D

'Til Death Do Us Part.

2011-08-22T17:20:00.002-04:00

Do you a piece in your closet that you can't part with even though you never wear it? I do. And I actually have no problem purging my closet multiple times a year. I purchased this Le Chateau skirt around seven years ago and have worn it once:

An Indian-inspired, embroidered, knee-length skirt. It's A-line, and too dressy for every day wear, but it is stunning. The photos don't do it justice. Honestly, it's one of the prettiest pieces I own. I don't wear it, but I can't bring myself to give it away either. So it just sits in my closet (at my parents' house, no less) waiting for me to make use of it. And yes, it still fits, so I don't have much of an excuse either way. Maybe you'll see me one of these days try to make use of this skirt. Maybe.

Do you have any pieces in your closet that you haven't worn in years, but can't part with? Please share!

Chambray: A Fashion Lesson.

2011-08-19T18:36:00.001-04:00

I didn't think I was going to be one to jump on the chambray fashion wagon, but one day I realized the incredible versatility of a chambray shirt, and I just *had* to get one of my own. But before I introduce you to my first outfit, let's begin with a quick fashion lesson.

What is chambray? Contrary to popular beleif, chambray is not necessarily a lightweight blue denim shirt. Of course, that is what comes to mind when we think chambray, but its actual definition is a lightweight fabric (usually cotton) that uses a colored warp (down) weaved with a white filling yarn (across). The colored warp is usually blue (which is partly why we think denim), but it doesn't have to be. And although it is usually plain, it can also be in stripes or checks or other patterns. The end result is something is generally something that seems to be like denim, but you may actually come across some items that are chambray, but don't look or feel like the typical denim-like chambray at all.

Now that we have that out of the way, a little background on this particular shirt. I splurged on this J.Crew Selvedge Chambray shirt. I'm still debating as to whether to keep it because compared to what all the other petite ladies have spent on theirs, this thing costs a bloody fortune. It's regular price is $98, but I bought with 20% with my J.Crew credit card and 4% cash back from ebates, which brought it down to about $75. Yea, I know. Ouch. But I've searching for the *perfect* chambray shirt for MONTHS. Everything was either too light or too dark, too sheer, had some sort of weird details on it, or fit was too big. This was truly only one of two chambray shirts that I actually liked (the other one was a Ralph Lauren Cristo Chambray Shirt, which turned out to be much too big even in XSP). This J.Crew chambray is an XXS and it fits fairly well and the color is a perfect medium blue. I have a few complaints, one being it's a bit too wide in the shoulders and even though you can't see it in these particular photos, it's actually too long which makes for weird proportions when the shirt tail is not tucked in. The material is a medium-weight. I actually find it difficult to layer things over this (sweaters and blazers) because it is a thicker material.

Here is my first outfit incorporating chambray. I decided to do something more work-appropriate because I've been slacking on those types of EOTDs lately.

I'm having an angry face day.

Shirt: J.Crew Selvedge Chambray Shirt (Coastal blue, size XXS).

Skirt: H&M Lace Skirt (Black lace, size 4).

Necklace: Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger.

Shoes: Ann Taylor Signature Pump (Black patent, size 6).

Clutch: American Apparel (Reptilian Poppy).

I've been *dying* to try out this combination just to see what it would look like IRL, as opposed to in my head. Because as I'm sure some of you have experienced, sometimes an outfit should work theoretically, but in actual practice, not so much. Of course, if your office is extremely conservative, I wouldn't try this. Because hey, the shirt does look like denim. I also did some crazy experimenting with textures in this outfit.

Betcha thought you'd never see those giant baubles again, huh? Actually the vision I had with this outfit was a necklace that looked more like this:

Kate Spade Cascade Short Necklace, $78, from Piperlime.

...but orange. But since I don't have one of those, I thought that this would be the next best thing.

Help me decide, ladies! Is it too expensive for chambray even though it's the only chambray shirt I've found that I actually like? I'm having a little buyer's remorse over this thing, so I'm leaning towards sending it back. =(

See the lace skirt remixed here:

The Boyfriend. [Review: Talula by Aritzia Exeter Blazer]

2011-08-15T18:56:00.004-04:00

I wasn't going to review/post about this blazer for another few weeks (because it's so darn hot still!), but since the petite community has been wondering about this jacket, I thought I would do a quick review now.

I love blazers. I've worn them since I was ten years old at my mom's insistence because she thought they were stylish. I used to argue a lot with her about fashion when I was a child, but this one of the few things we agreed on.

I have quite a few blazers, but if you are petite like I am, it's more than likely that most of your blazers are the short or "shrunken" fit to help "even out" the proportions of your body. You can't deny that if you are petite, small jackets pretty much never fail. So when the "boyfriend" blazer suddenly made its entrance into the fashion world, I was pretty hesitant. I wasn't sure it was one of those trends I wanted to get into, and I for sure thought it was going to pass. A long jacket on a petite? 'ell no!

But now, a few years later, it seems like a mainstay, and I decided that my jacket collection needed to expand outwards with a different cut. I also knew that it had to fit well so I wouldn't look overwhelmed by its length, which probably meant that this boyfriend blazer would likely have to come from Aritzia if I didn't want it to cost $300. And I found it. It's called the Exeter. It's a little bit longer in length than my other blazers, with big pockets and gold buttons. It also comes in five different colors. The fit on me in a size zero is looks pretty great (it also comes in double zero in all the colors that I tried on). It is probably a little borderline tight in the back of the shoulders (the shoulder length itself is fine), but going up a to a size two would be slightly too big on me and big in the waist. That's typical of all my Aritzia blazers, so go with your regular Aritzia size if you are planning to buy this jacket. The regular price for this blazer is $125, which IMO isn't *that* terrible given that it is fully lined, well-structured in the shoulders like a real suit jacket, and made of a light wool blend...and no alterations needed! Although, admittedly, I won't be buying two at this price. I also had a $40 gift card to spend from last Christmas, so this cost me $85 plus tax. Something I'm not totally crazy about is the oversized pockets, I'd much prefer welt or small flap pockets, but it's not a deal breaker given the fit. Jean from ExtraPetite, isn't a fan of the gold buttons, but I like them as it gives a more casual look to it, which is how I'll be wearing this jacket (as opposed to the office). After trying on three different colors, black, charcoal, and navy, I decided on the black and I'm super happy with it! I can't wait til the weather cools down so I can actually WEAR it instead of staring at it all day.

I've also been trying to figure out if I can wear these GAP Broken-in Skimmers in a more dressed up way. And this is what I came up with (I added a few extra photos in this post so you could see what the blazer looks like up-close):

Blazer: Talula by Aritzia Exeter Boyfriend Blazer (Black, size 0).

Top: T. Babaton by Aritzia Jersey Slub Pocket Tee (Red, size XS).

Bottoms: GAP Broken-in Skimmers (Cement, size 00P).

Shoes: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Amaya Pump (Black, size 6).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

Belt: Ann Taylor Animal Print calf-hair Belt (Leopard, size S).

Handbag: Olivia Harris (Dark Teal Patent).
Bracelet: H&M Men's Leather Cuff (Dark Brown).
Necklace: Dogeared Mantra Necklace (Silver).

This jacket also comes in a shorter, shrunken version--it's kind of more "office-y", but if you are shorter than I am, it might be a better choice. The key to the fit of the boyfriend blazer is to make sure it fits in the shoulders and the length doesn't go past the bottom of your derriere. Anything longer will be overwhelming (and matronly).

Now that I look back at these photos, I'm not sure I'm crazy about the proportions down below my knees. Capri pants are so difficult to pull off, especially if you're not built like Charlize Theron. Next time I'll try a higher heel and see if that will fix it.

I'm going home to T.O. for a week and a half for a wedding (if you follow me on Twitter, I've been posting random tweets about this). I'm not sure if I'm going to have anything to post in the meantime (possibly just some fitting room posts). But don't be alarmed if you don't see a post for a few weeks!

Skimmers remixed:

Blocked.

2011-08-12T08:59:00.005-04:00

My first color block!...I could almost say that this is also my first Zara purchase, but it's not. A few years ago, I purchased a pair of linen pants that I proceeded to return the same day. LOL. I think this may be my first *successful* Zara purchase, though. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you probably know that I love the style of Zara, but the fit and the quality generally don't agree with me...or I don't agree with *it*. I do like to look though, and a few days ago I dropped in for a quick peek before my CLE class and saw some gorgeous pencil skirts. I'm a sucker for royal blue. It is my favorite color EVER. Even my Clarisonic brush is royal blue. No joke.

So when I saw a royal blue pencil skirt laying on the table, I made a bee-line for it. I took it into the fitting room, and there began the debate/confusion. On the table it looked royal blue. In the fitting room, it looked like an old man's trouser blue. Do you know what shade I'm talking about? Blue, but not a deep navy, but kind of gross looking. Then I was on the fence. It looked great. The fit was great. Quality seemed pretty darn good, for once. Cute exposed zipper in the back. But what color *was* this? I was also debating the purchase because I already have a blue skirt, and girl doesn't really need multiple blue skirts, does she? I then took it back to the table and compared it to the the other skirt they had in burgundy (it also comes in black). I didn't really like it. It was much more brown than I would have liked. If it had more of a red tone to it, I would have taken that one, no question. But then given the lighting in that store, I really couldn't be sure what color it was.

Anyway, after staring at it for a while, I just went ahead and purchased the blue one. And I think I made the right choice. What do you ladies think? Is it royal blue or old man's blue?

Top: Rachel Roy Ruffle Halter (Fuchsia, size XS).

Skirt: Zara Sheath skirt (Royal blue (purple?) size XS).

Shoes: Boutique9 Thomsina (Nude, size 6).
Bracelet: Express (Gold).

From these photos, I'm starting to believe this skirt is actually PURPLE!

If you're wondering, how much the skirt costs, it's $49.90US. The sales associate also reminded me that Zara will go online on September 7th. Rumor has it though, that they will not ship to you, but rather to the store for pick-up. Kind of strange and a complete disappointment if you don't live near a Zara, but kind of cool if you actually do live near a B&M store and you can only find what you want online.

On Second Thought.

2011-08-09T09:05:00.001-04:00

I was also also one of those women who got caught up in the Ann Taylor sale last week. 40% off plus an extra 20% off with code? Who could resist? I received them in the mail a few days ago, and surprisingly (or not so surprisingly), it was an utter fail.

Firstly, I ordered this skirt:

Due to user error, I ordered a 0 instead of a 0P. However, it actually fit in the waist. The hips? Not so much. It was quite horrid. I didn't even bother taking a photo, but you can use your imagination. I actually did like the feel of the tropical wool material, though. Return (obviously).

The piece that I was most excited about was this Drape Neck Cardi:

I missed out on it last fall, but I loved how it draped when it was open so I jumped at the chance for this one. It doesn't come in petite, but I thought that taking it in XXS would do the trick. Again, not so much:

It just didn't sit right open. And when buttoned up, it was just much too wide. Way too boxy. Return.

I purchased this silk Layered Shell in 0P. It looks really nice online, and I've been absolutely obsessed with silk blouses lately (actually, I've always have, but it's only in the past year that brands have been feeding this obsession):

It had so much potential (Sorry, strap showing even after I tried fixing it).

It looks better tucked in:

And for a 0P, the armholes were a little bit too small. WTF? I think it's nice on super sale, but at the price that I got it for (~$37), I wasn't fully convinced.

Finally, I purchased this rayon Striped Tee in XXS. I figured it was a nice basic to have just to layer under cardigans:

It actually flares out ever so slightly. It's actually the one item that I thought about keeping out of this bunch, but I really didn't it enough to say that I *had* to keep it. So this is going back too.

Did anyone have better luck than I did?

Sunday Deliberations: Bordeaux.

2011-08-07T01:08:00.009-04:00

One of the hottest colors for fall? Bordeaux. That deep, dark blood red color. LOVE. Here are my pre-fall picks:

1. Jessica Simpson Elley Pump @Piperlime $70. I generally try to avoid Jessica Simpson brand for no other reason than it says "Jessica Simpson" (LOL), but, I can't deny these pumps are pretty hot.
2. Vince Twisted Infinity Scarf, @Neiman Marcus, $475.
3. Jacob Tie Waist Dress, $79.90.
4. OPI Mrs. O'Leary's BBQ Nail Polish, $7.50.
5. Marc by Marc Jacobs Bianca Clutch @Endless, $228.
and my most favorite piece yet:
6. Elie Tahari Brenna Blouse, @Shopbop, $178.

Do you have something bordeaux on your fall wish list this year?

Fashion Fixation: Tucker Side Ruffle Dress

2011-08-06T14:38:00.001-04:00

It's a little bit out of my own personal comfort zone, but I have to admit, this dress is stunning. Such a classic shape with a little bit of a vintage feel. And it's 100% silk, so not only does it look like a dream, it feels like it too. The tie belt looks like it would be easy to move up on the waist, if necessary. Find it @Piperlime for $347. Quite a bit out of my price range, so I'm on look out for something more affordable.

Endless.com Sandal Sale

2011-08-03T09:45:00.002-04:00

I know we're all itching for fall fashion right now. I've already crossed a few things off my fall wish list. But it's also that time of year where you can find great deals on summer clothing and shoes! So I just wanted to share that Endless is having an extra 25% off sale sandals (discount taken off in cart) PLUS, it is 13.6% cash back at Bigcrumbs. This is my referral link here. Free overnight or two-day shipping and returns in the U.S. and they also have free international shipping now! There are some great deals to be had! HAPPY SHOPPING!

Petite Fashion Challenge #9: "Heat Wave Appropriate"

2011-07-30T20:00:00.047-04:00

I decided to take part in PFC#9! I figured, this challenge can't be too difficult, I do this just about every single day in the summer (when I'm working)! But as it turns out, it was really difficult. It's was a huge challenge for me to put something together PFC-worthy because when it gets as humid as it does in D.C. during the summer, I really just don't care about being creative. LOL.

The Challenge:

Create an outfit that accounts for the various environmental factors that plague us in the summer. I want to know how you dress when it's 90 degrees outside and 65 degrees inside. Do you utilize peel-able layers? Are you particular about choosing fabric that is light but resistant? Or do you just tack on a blazer over summer clothes?

Here in D.C., it's more like 100F (37C) outside and 65F (18C) inside, so it's pretty darn hard to get fancy. And to be honest, I don't. I also tend to get a little more casual the hotter it gets. Not really on purpose, but I prefer not have to go through the laundering process (dry cleaning!) of all my nice blouses if I can avoid it. So I usually pick light, machine-washable fabrics because they are much easier (and cheaper) to clean. The best I do is try to add color and mix prints (which I'm not that good at), otherwise it's usually a skirt and a short-sleeved or sleeveless top because I sweat like a fat kid. Long sleeves is just not a good idea unless I want massive sweat marks circling my underarms right down to the bottom of my shirt. Oh yes, it's happened. Over top, it's usually a cardi or a scarf depending on how cold it's going to be in the office, sometimes even both. =P I actually would prefer to wear a blazer, but it's not something I like to carry around on my commute to work and I don't have a permanent office space to store it.

To start:

Add a colorful layer:

Skirt: Banana Republic Lightweight Wool Pencil Skirt (.Black, size 00R)

Tank: GAP Striped Tank (Black/White, size XS).

Sweater: LOFT Linen-blend Cardi (Green, size XSP).
Necklace: Forever21 Pendant.
Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).
Shoes: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pump (Black, size 6).

Or a scarf:

Scarf: Tolani

Or, bright colored cardi and a scarf!

Thanks for hosting, Elle! I can't wait to see all the other PFC posts! Hopefully they're all much more creative than mine!

Bejeweled.

2011-07-27T06:54:00.002-04:00

Shirt: LOFT Jewel-bib Tee (Cream, size XSP).

Skirt: Theory Larryn Skirt (Black, size P).

Belt: Ann Taylor Patent Skinny Belt (Black, size XS).

Shoes: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Zabrina Pumps (Black, size 6)

Do you know what's great about this little tee? That it accessorizes itself!

You may not notice at first glance, but there are actually few things happening in this outfit:

(1) As mentioned, self-accessorized. Too lazy to think of jewelry? No problem!

(2) The fact that this skirt sits right at the waist elongates the legs; and

(3) the high heeled pumps don't hurt either. Leave out the strappy mary-janes and you give yourself a longer leg line.

High-waisted skirt + non-strappy pumps = long legs!

(4) While the skirt and the shoes elongate the legs, the little belt actually draws attention away from the fact that my torso is very short (and it would be really emphasized if I removed the belt); and last, but not least,

(5) This skirt flares out at the waist camouflaging my very narrow hips.

This simple outfit is actually doing a lot of work for which I'm thankful, because it disguises my true laziness.

Sunday Deliberations: Colored Denim.

2011-07-24T11:49:00.003-04:00

Hanneli for Shopbop. Great lookbook here.

One of the big trends this summer and likely through the fall is colored denim. I did colored denim once. When I was 15, and it was all the rage. It wasn't skinny jeans, however. It was the baggy, ghetto kind like Aaliyah would wear (please say you all know who Aaliyah is or I'm really going to feel old). I didn't think I would go back there again, but I've been seeing some really cute photos of the red jeans on celebrities lately, and I suddenly needed to have them too.

A few tips on helping you figure out how to wear colored denim:

Wear with a neutral colored top to help balance the bright color out. For example, white, black, or grey can work with any color. Even a navy blue could work with red, yellow, orange, etc.
However, don't feel like you need to be limited to neutral colors. Color-blocking has been a big trend as well, so something like a bright orange or yellow tee on top? Go for it!
Something else that works? Prints! Striped, floral, polka-dots, they all "go". When doing prints, you can think of the colored denim as a neutral piece. Also, taking a color out of print that matches the colored denim can really pull the whole outfit together.
I suggest sticking with a skinny denim. Anything wide leg or baggy, or even bootcut is too reminiscent of the '90s. Keep the look clean.
Avoid doing all one color. Yes, you will "match", but looking like a crayon isn't a great look. If you insist on going head to toe in pieces in the same color family, make sure they are in different hues. For example, it is possible to pull off fuchsia jeans with a pale pink top (but with all the different colors out there, I'm not sure why anyone would do this, I'm not judging though :P). Make sure there is some sort of contrast between the denim and the top to break it up.

Are you starting to develop some style ideas in your head? Here's an obvious one and the pointy heels give the look a little edge:

Tank: Express racerback tank (Black/white stripe, size XS).

Denim: Blank Spray-on Skinny Jeans (Rust, size 24).

Shoes: LAUREN by Ralph Lauren Amaya pumps (Black, size 6).

Belt: ASOS Patent Leather Skinny Belt (Yellow, size S).

Watch: Michael Kors Runway Watch (Silver).

Necklace: Dogeared Mantra Necklace (Silver).

I know I look a little bit sweaty, it was really hot and humid in the storage locker area.

More photos:

These are Blank Denim Spray On Skinny Jeans in Rust (yes, that's really the name of them), that I purchased from Shopbop for $80 (size 24). They are *very* stretchy, and a little on the smaller side, so someone a size smaller than I am could fit these easily. I would describe them as more of a stretch twill rather than denim because the material is very light and thin. They're more of a rusty brownish-red as opposed to a bright red, which is sort of what I wanted because they are more "subdued" in color (as subdued as red jeans can get). The rise is pretty low, I measure it to be about 7". So if you like your bottoms to sit a little higher to prevent that muffin-top, these aren't for you. The front pockets are faux, which is kind of annoying because I keep trying to put my hands and other things in them. Otherwise, I kind of like the jeans overall, but I've been really trying to be selective about my purchases lately. I've been asking myself, "Will this help complete my vision of the perfect wardrobe?" This question has really reduced the number of purchases I've made recently when it comes to work clothes. However, I do allow myself more leeway when it comes to my casual wardrobe. I don't do a whole lot of trends, but when I do, it's usually limited to casual pieces. I think these jeans may be far too trendy even though they're fun. I would rather spend my money on something else that is more timeless. I can't really see these lasting any longer than the fall/winter season, though I have been wrong before.

I'm also really loving the electric blue version. Check these ones out from J Brand:

Shopbop, $176

What do you ladies think of these jeans? Should I keep them? Will you be partaking in this trend?