TBMD

It's New Year's Eve and I have no plans tonight. I'll probably be sitting on the couch watching the ball drop on TV. That might be wishful thinking because there's a good chance I won't even make it to midnight, lol. Oh, the signs of getting old.

Whatever your plans are tonight, have a great rest of 2012 and I'll see you next year!

Hosted by Fashion Blawger, Petite Fashion Challenge #22: Cute Cold Weather Shopping Clothes has us styling an outfit when the weather outside is frightful, but indoor shopping is warm and delightful. Please keep in mind that you should prepare for the cold without looking like Joey from Friends when he wore all of Chandler's clothes.

I tackled this challenge from two sides. First, I wanted the outfit to be a reflection of the holiday season. Second, each item was also chosen for its practicality.

Part I: The Look

I first saw the green plaid with red turtleneck combination on Blair and loved how festive it looked. Then when Khatu wore it, I told myself that I must re-create it for this holiday season. Turns out, there's no better time than for this challenge.

I think this colorful combination would contrast nicely against white bottoms. White jeans were my first choice and a white wool mini skirt was a close second. Since I own neither, I made do with what I had and wore a white cotton skirt.

Part II: The Logistics

Turtleneck + tights: Friends who have gone to sales without dressing rooms (such as Barney's Warehouse sale or Running of the Brides @ Filene's Basement) have all shared stories that wearing a tank top with leggings is the way to go. Both pieces are form-fitting and act like a second layer of skin, so it's easy to slip on clothes to try on while still able to gauge fit. Although those were more extreme shopping conditions, I wouldn't hesitate to adopt the same philosophy when I'm out shopping regularly. The tank top with leggings equivalent for winter is a turtleneck and tights. Chances are, most clothes I try on won't require the removal of this base layer, so I can stay warm and be my usual lazy self (no need to constantly remove and put on layers in the dressing room).

Shirt: An extra layer for warmth that I could possibly do without, or swapped for a sweater.

Flats: Comfortable flat shoes are a must for walking and standing on my feet for extended periods of time.

Coat: To reduce the bulkiness a bit, I chose a short coat over a long coat. It's easier to maneuver around in and also not as heavy to carry if I decide to take it off indoors.

Bag:: Roomy enough to store potential cold weather accessories (ie: hat, scarves, gloves) and with long handles so it can be worn over the shoulder to free up both hands to better peruse items.

Today's compilation features 10 ways to style a pair of fuchsia pants. This color has been on my radar for awhile, first in skirt form, then after missing out, and eventually getting my hands on a pair of pants in this color family. The fabric on these pants wrinkles like crazy (think: sitting down for an hour = creases galore), so I'm weighing the option of buying another pair of bottoms in a different material after I wear these out.

As 2012 comes to a close, so does the third year that I've been blogging. I say this all the time, but it's amazing how fast time flies, especially when you're having fun.

From a blogging standpoint...

- I crossed off multiple items from my (ever-growing) "classics" wishlist: tweed jacket, black riding boots, red cross-body bag, and navy peacoat. I also tried my hand at a few trends, including camo and maxi dress. Jury's still out on the former, but I'm really loving the versatility of the latter.

- My biggest impulse buy (and the one that I regret the most) is the J.Crew Tillary tote. I used it a few times before getting bored, so I promptly turned around and sold it to a new home. My most expensive purchase is the Chanel camellia WOC (surprise surprise, yet another bag). My favorite purchase of the year is the Tory Burch Nadine riding boots. Overall, I spent 6% of my pre-tax income on clothes/accessories/beauty this year.

- My top 5 favorite outfits of the year are: [from L -> R] one / two / three / four / five

- The awkward-photography-moment-of-the-year award goes to the day I was taking photos by the side of a dead-end road (or so I thought). As the self-timer was counting down, I noticed a car round the corner from the supposed dead-end to head towards me. I picked up my tripod to give the car room to pass, then noticed that I was looking at a police car. Thoughts that immediately popped into my head were, Oh crap! I hope I don't get ticketed for parking illegally or something of that nature. Hmm, would it do me any good to walk over and casually stand in front of my license plate to hide it from his view? LOL. Nah, that'd be too obvious. So I just stood there, staring at the cop while he stared right back as he drove past.

- I had a wonderful time meeting Yvonne and Elle when they visited my area on separate occasions. What were the chances they both loved and wanted to eat Korean food?

On a more personal level...

- DH and I became homeowners for the first time. My advice: DON'T DO IT unless you're prepared to deal with the time and cost it takes to maintain a home. We bought one that's less than ten years old, but we've already had to deal with a broken garbage disposal and dishwasher (we think the two are related), a squeaky step (drives me crazy!), and a leak on the roof of a bay window caused by Hurricane Sandy. All three of which we still haven't gotten around to completely fixing. For us, the mortgage interest tax deduction is pretty much canceled out by property taxes and maintenance costs. So not worth it if that's your primary reason to buy.

- We also celebrated our 10 year anniversary by tying the knot. Does that mean I have to start over with the yearly count? Or can I simply continue? At least I still only have one date to remember.

- I was lucky to have the opportunity to travel to Asia and San Francisco/Napa this past year. I'm hoping Europe is in the plans for next year. Fingers crossed.

Lastly...

I want to thank each and every one of you for visiting my little corner on the web. Whether it's critiquing my outfit choices, putting up with my attempts at humor, sharing personal experiences, or engaging in conversation, I have truly enjoyed it all.

Please stay safe and have a happy holidays!

Like many, I've been having trouble refraining from the recent J.Crew sales. As one promo period ends, bam! we're hit with another* that's as good as (if not better than) the last. I put my willpower to the test when I went shopping with my cousin over the weekend (mistake #1). I was all set to walk out of the store empty-handed when she held up this J.Crew lustre lace mockneck tee in navy, size XXS (item #: 28229; in-store price: $69.99 + 30% off). It was hanging by its lonesome self and was too small for her, but may fit me (for reference, I typically wear XXS-XS in J.Crew).

She loved it, I liked it. And that was apparently all it took for me to head towards the fitting room (mistake #2). What can I say? I'm so easily enabled :( My initial like turned to love the minute I tried it on. The top came with a navy cami, but I didn't even bother and just wore the top over a long sleeve tee that I already had on. The floral lace detailing is thick and sturdy (almost crochet-like) and reminds me of my much-loved Ann Taylor lace dress. Perhaps due to the thickness, the lace is a bit itchy, even when worn over a turtleneck like in today's outfit. I'm thinking of doubling up with another layer underneath in the future. Aside from the material being machine washable, my favorite part is how I can change up the look with different colored/style layers underneath. Versatility ftw!

Also see the top on Gigi.

*Current promo: 30% off and free shipping on $100+ with code CELEBRATE until 12/20

I usually don't think twice when pairing warm with cool colors. Perhaps due to the similar tan and gray shades I'm wearing today, I felt they don't exactly clash, but yet doesn't look quite right together either. So I broke up this almost-monochromatic color scheme by accessorizing with other colors from both sides of the spectrum. Reds and browns (warm) from one and black and silver (cool) from the other.

I wore this layered look last week on a dreary and windy day. I thought about finishing the outfit with an Aerie knit trapper hat, but decided against it. Though the hat works with the ripped jeans, it looked too casual with the jacket and heels. I'll have to try again after I find the right balance between casual but not sloppy.

Hope you had a good Monday!

In my best Chandler Bing impression, "Could I BE any more of a cliché?" Black, leather, cargos, camo. They're pretty much all the badass items I own, lol.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

I turned to my friend-with-considerable-knowledge-and-many-talents Elle, seeking advice* on when the best time to buy the navy J.Crew Majesty peacoat (that I can't stop thinking about) at a "reasonable" price. Turns out, I missed two opportunities to buy at ~$140 with a stackable code on top of a sale by mere days #storyofmylife A few days later, Elle calls to say she found one in my size at a J.Crew sample sale for $105. I can not thank her enough for always thinking of me. Much, much, much appreciated!

*Her advice: $140 is about as low as it goes for popular colors. If supplies last, the coat will eventually be marked down to the $70 range, but colors/sizes will be limited.

Tweed. Pearls. It was only a matter of time before I wore this no-brainer but classic combination together. In fact, I'm not sure why it took me so long ;)

Have a good Tuesday, everyone!

Nothing says 'tis the season like tartan. I've been wearing this top quite often as of late, so here are two outfits that have been on repeat.

Hope you had a great weekend!

When layering in cold weather, I pick items by paying close attention to their fabric content and thickness. The innermost layer is generally the thinnest, and increases with each layer added. For today's outfit, I chose a "tissue" turtleneck as the base layer for its practicality (keeps the neck warm). I then added an oxford shirt, which is slightly thicker and goes with the color palette I had in mind. I finished with a blazer that's partially made of wool. Three layers sound like a lot, but each is thin enough so I didn't walk around feeling like the Hulk.

Sometimes I feel silly wearing green and red together, like in late summer. But not so right now! I better take advantage of the holiday season as much as I can.

Have a good Wednesday!

The girly side of me has been wanting a tweed jacket for awhile and I can now happily cross that item off my list. Jacket #2 from the last month is this season's UniQUEEN Malang tweed jacket. The jacket gained popularity last year after Jean blogged about it in both pink and blue, the latter of which I realized I wanted after it had sold out. None of this spring's colors really spoke to me, so I'm glad I waited to see what this fall had to offer. I chose the black version over the white because the colors were the most similar to last fall's blue. Patience has finally paid off!

I went on a jacket shopping spree this past month, and am currently eyeing a third. Someone talk some sense into me, please?

Up first is the American Eagle military jacket in olive, size XS (sold here / tag info) with faux-leather sleeves. I initially ordered this jacket on Black Friday in size S, but eventually exchanged it for my normal size at AE. Size S was slightly bigger and longer overall, which didn't look bad, but felt I already have a similar fitting jacket from Zara, so I wanted this to be more fitted.

I like the two-tone combination of olive green with the black faux-leather sleeves. They're both neutral and dark colors, so the contrast isn't too jarring. I was pleasantly surprised to find the faux-leather to be so soft to the touch with a nice thickness. I also didn't notice a smell, which is another plus.

I do wish the jacket was released earlier in the season because temperatures are dropping everyday. I wore the outfit below when out and about in low 50s weather and felt fine. Any colder and I'll have to swap for a thicker jacket.

Other details that I didn't capture through photos include a drawstring waist (that I won't be using unless I want a peplum shape), front zipper as well as button closure, and epaulette tabs on shoulders.

Quick measurements:
- Sleeve length is 24.5" (love the longer length)
- Shoulder-to-shoulder is 14.5"
- Length measured from the back is 18.5" (front is slightly longer)

The jacket comes in sizes XXS-XXL (tag info) and should still be in stores, though quantities may be limited.

Unfortunately I didn't participate in this month's PFC due to lack of a fascinator (and the fact I'm all thumbs when it comes to real DIYs). If you have time, be sure to check out the challenge hosted by KT and all the entries here.

Have a great Thursday!

A few weeks back, I saw a J.Crew store mannequin wearing a navy peacoat with lilac pants (looked to be these two items). I immediately fell in love with the color combo and mentally added the items to my wishlist (even though I wasn't sure how many wears I'd get out of lilac pants).

Then while rummaging through my closet for a scarf, I re-discovered this lilac colored one hidden in the back. Two things immediately came to mind: (1) you know your closet's too big if you can't keep track of all the items in it :( and (2) even knowing the first point, I'm still itching to find a navy peacoat (with gold buttons). Perhaps this will be the perfect opportunity to donate the beige peacoat in my possession.

In the meantime, here's today's outfit featuring the navy + lilac color combo that's been on my mind far too long.

To Black Friday or to sleep in? I've stayed home the last few years, and this year was no different. I couldn't resist the sales though and did place one order for a two-tone military jacket from American Eagle (40% off sitewide + free shipping). I sized up because my usual size (XS) sold out much too quickly. I'm hoping the jacket runs small or I'll be able to exchange it in stores later down the road. Fingers crossed. Update: jacket is now sold out.

Today's outfit may look familiar (heck, all my recent outfits are essentially copycats of one another). I rewore all the same base layers but switched up the accessorizing to better suit the cooler weather. A little update on the boots: they're still holding their shape nicely (sigh of relief that the leather's retained its stiffness). The only discomfort is the side of the boots rubbing against my ankle bones. Wearing thicker socks help somewhat.

Have fun shopping, everyone!

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble.

With the upcoming holiday season on my brain, I picked up this top in a tartan pattern (30% off with code MERRYDAY until 11/19). The festive colors were what initially caught my eyes, but it was the extra ruffle detailing around the collar and down the front that cinched the deal. A masculine style shirt with feminine touches? Yes please. With this contrast in mind, I styled the outfit with pants but accessorized with girly elements (red bag, heels, pearls). Here's to the holidays!

It's just my luck to have the camera capture me mid-shot looking like I forgot how to stand/walk/pose in flats after wearing heels for consecutive days *facepalm* On the upside, the awkwardness inspired the perfect pun for today's blog post title.

Have a good weekend!

It took me awhile to warm up to brown/gold (prefer black/silver), but over time, I've accumulated variations of both colors in my wardrobe. To date, I still think this olive-brown cardigan I'm wearing under the blazer is one of the hardest colors to pair. As the main color, it sometimes reminds me of vomit, but as an accent color, no such thoughts cross my mind. I suppose for some things, less is more.

I'm often late to the game when it comes to fashion choices. The most recent example? Jeggings. I've tried on many over the years (the latest being Old Navy rockstars) but haven't come across one that felt right, until now.

Having had luck with LOFT jeans in the past, I figured I'd give their jeggings a try. I went with my usual size, 24R, and really liked how I pulled them over my ankles with ease without having to hop up and down. The next issue I usually have is the comfort level. Most jeggings make me feel like a stuffed sausage, but this pair was so comfortable, both sitting and standing.

I washed the jeans once before wearing them for the first time, but there was still some denim transfer. I should've known better than to wear it with a light colored trench (!) Sigh. At least it happened on the inside lining.

The LOFT denim jeggings are currently on sale for $41.70 (40% off from $69.50) with code FRIENDS until tonight 11/12.

Another weekend post, another casual outfit. Have a great weekend, everyone!

Colors that could be mistaken for others are pairings that I tend to stay away from. However, my options were limited if I wanted to wear a dark, tailored blazer with a turtleneck. So instead of wearing navy directly on black, I broke it up with a middle layer in gingham. Blue is now in the forefront, with black not as noticeable in the background.

I had planned on leaving home in just this green top with fuchsia pants... until I started feeling a little bit self-conscious. I added an extra navy blazer for its dark neutral color (which helps tone down the overall brightness), and because the blue matches the stripes on the tee. Then did I feel more like myself.

Happy Election Day, voters!

It's been the best kind of weekend, one of no commitments, bumming around, and watching all the TV my eyes can handle. Hope y'all have a good one!

Cooler weather is finally here to stay! The novelty hasn't worn off yet (for this year) so bear with me. I'm sure in a few weeks' time, I'll be cursing the cold and darkness in the mornings. Until then, boots + sweater + jacket will be on repeat.

PS - My boots are now $331.65 (33% off) in both black and sienna with many sizes still available (review here).

I received great responses from my lace dress roundup post, so I figured why not continue? Perhaps this ways to wear series will become a semi-regular feature. Thank you Elle for letting me copy your way it five ways idea. Sometimes it's just easier to see how versatile an item can be when outfit images are placed side by side.

Today's featured item is a maxi dress worn four ways, suitable for every season in a year. That's not to say that the spring outfit can't be worn in the summer for example, or the winter outfit will work for everyone's climates. I just thought One Maxi Dress for Four Seasons sounds more interesting than 4 Ways to Wear a Maxi Dress.

Spring: After a drab winter, accessorizing with bright colors only seem appropriate. But just in case there's still a chill in the air, it's nice to have a sweater handy.

Summer: This is the time to wear maxi dresses as is, with no extra layers. I felt the dress was too plain by itself, so adding statement jewelry solved that issue.

Fall: With the weather still fluctuating as summer transitions to fall, a light cardigan is easily removable for warmer days or worn for cooler nights.

Winter: Scarves and sweaters are essential cold weather accessories. Flats might not be the most appropriate footwear, but anything closed-toe that's half-hidden under the dress should do.