Dress-ing multiple ways

I must have bought today's dress at least 5 years ago (time sure does fly!). Back then, I would only wear it on special occasions, and I certainly wouldn't wear it any other way other than toss it over my head :P (as pictured on left). What was I thinking -- the dress looks so shapeless and long on me?! Adding a wide belt sure helps make it look less like a sack (pictured on right). Granted, the belt makes the outfit look more casual, but it looks so much more put together.

The outfit I actually wore out to run errands today (pictured left below), is a modern take on the same dress pictured above. I wasn't sure the dress would work as a top at first because by itself, it hits me a bit below the knees! Where was I going to hide all that fabric?! Luckily by pulling it out of the skirt a bit and bunching some of it around the waist seemed to do the trick :) Of the four outfits pictured, this one is definitely my favorite. I think next time I try this outfit, I'll pick a longer skirt though. The last outfit (pictured right below) was for fun... my take on the country-club-prep-look :P

dress as top: Express

cardigan: Old Navy (currently sold here)

skirt: Express (currently sold here)

belt: Express

necklace: Etsy

Haul: LOFT jacket + top

My first time visiting the LOFT brick-and-mortar store was 2 weeks ago. Shocking, right?! Their clothes just never really appealed to me before -- I guess I'm still stuck in the dressing-like-a-teeny-bopper stage in my life lol. I saw this LOFT Twill Cropped Military Jacket in fresh navy and my heart skipped a beat. It looked so much like Olivia Palermo's Kimchi Blue Ruffled Peacoat!

Luckily the store had a size 0 in stock. Imagine my surprise when the 0 fit perfectly... after all, LOFT is known for their vanity sizing. I didn't end up buying the jacket though because it looked like a return, kinda worn-looking. Unfortunately, I couldn't find that size anywhere else, not online, not in other stores =/ 2 weeks later, I see that the jacket came in petites! So I hurried and bought a 2P online, not wanting it to sell out soon. I found the jacket fit well, except in the sleeve length. Doesn't it look a bit short to you? I don't know if it's just supposed to be that way, or if I'm just used to Abercrombie/Hollister's ridiculously long sleeves haha. I'm sad, but this jacket's got to go back... but I'll keep my eyes peeled for a size 0. The petites are still being sold online though

I also picked up the LOFT Pleated Front Blouson Cami-Autumn Bouquet in pink, size 00P. It looked nice online, but on me, it just didn't look as nice. The fabric was also kind of stiff, which I didn't like... so this one is going back too =/

belt: J.Crew (currently sold here)

jeans: Hollister

*Olivia Palermo image courtesy of Celebrity Style Guide

Reusing and remixing

Today's outfit is pretty much the same as this previous one, just swapping out the skirt and bag.

Why am I standing on my tippy-toes in the first pic? It's my attempt at posing like Olivia Palermo :P

top: stephanie b

tank: Old Navy (currently sold here)

necklaces: Banana Republic, Etsy

skirt: Express

belt: J.Crew (currently sold here)

bag: Chanel

flats: Mossimo

Pink and ... plaid?

I'll admit this isn't one of my better attempts at putting together an outfit. Every once in awhile, I like to dig out items that haven't seen the light of day in ages... and well, that is today's outfit haha.

top: Abercrombie & Fitch

tanks: Gap, Old Navy (currently sold here)

belt: Old Navy

jeans: Hollister

boots: Burberry (currently sold here)

Delayed weekend outfit

A weekend outfit befitting icy cold indoors and humid outdoors.

top: Abercrombie & Fitch

skirt: abercrombie

bag: Rebecca Minkoff

necklace: Simply Vera Vera Wang

Working with Chanel

First modeling pics with the new Chanel! A bag like this needed to be paired with a dressier outfit, don't you think? At least dressy by my standards ;) I figured it's still work appropriate enough, with the subtle navy blue pinstripes. Hope y'all had a great Monday!

cardigan: Old Navy (currently sold here)

dress: Plastic Island

necklace: J.Crew

bracelet: Brian Nagourney (currently sold here)

bag: Chanel

New layout!

This blog needed a face lift ;) I continued with the usage of pastel shades, except replacing the green and pink with salmon/pink/grey. No more vectors either with the top image, but instead I'm using some favorite photographs of mine :) Admittedly, there were other images that I liked more, but in the end I went with a mix of fashion related ones and personal favorites!

Chanel M/L Classic Flap in caviar with silver hardware

Happy birthday to me! To celebrate turning another year older (ugh haha), I went out and purchased a lil something for myself. It may be small, but it sure ain't cheap! The timing was just right because Chanel decided to raise prices this time around by a whopping 30%+! o.O I don't know what the hell they're thinking?! It's already bad enough that they have 1-2 price increases per year, but this one tops it all. Ranting aside, here is my lovely Chanel M/L Caviar Flap in silver hardware <3 (buy pre-owned)

I chose caviar leather over lambskin because I've heard Chanel's quality has gone down, and lambskin needs babying so much more. I think caviar is still dressy enough where I can carry it to functions and also use in the daytime to run errands. It's one of the smallest bags I have, but it's ok because I can still fit the essentials :) I love love love this bag!

Monday work outfit

Was told by management to dress business casual today, with no flip flops. Everytime I see that line in the emails I feel like it's directed at me lol. I'm probably the only one who absolutely lives in flip flops :P I figured, if I were to look nice, why not go all out? I love this pair of Express Editor pants and feel I don't wear it enough. It definitley has to be paired with heels because of the inseam. So I also busted out my 3.25" heels. My god, I must be out of practice cuz I couldn't stay on them for more than half an hour. My feet were killing me!! Wahh!! Good thing I work behind a desk so I can rest my poor feet.

cardigan: Old Navy

top: Abercrombie & Fitch

pants: Express

bag: Balenciaga

shoes: BCBGirls (currently sold here)