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.

Hosted by Angie, Petite Fashion Challenge #19: Trend Benders has us picking a Summer or Fall 2012 trend and making it work for us, whether it's going all-out, incorporating it into a professional outfit or using it in moderation.

Like many, burgundy/oxblood/maroon is at the top of my must-wear list for Fall 2012. I've already been getting wears out of this sweater (with many more to come), so I didn't feel I'd be challenging myself if I put together another regular ol' outfit.

My eyes have been focused on burgundy lately, so I turned to Google thinking it'd be fun if I could somehow mix another trend with burgundy. I saw brocade as another and knew I had an item from my closet to experiment with.

The dress is an old one that was already a bit tight when I bought from Elle awhile back, and even more so now that I've gained some weight. The skirt portion poofed out much more than I remembered, so I ended up channeling Blair, the queen of full skirts. The burgundy sweater served two purposes: 1) complements the patterned gold brocade fabric and 2) hides the strained back zipper that I came this close to giving up on. To top it off, I added simple and neutral accessories.

Be sure to check out outfits from other participants!

Hosted by Amber, Petite Fashion Challenge #18: Impress Your Date has us creating an outfit to impress our date. Generally, we wear what makes us feel good, regardless of what other people think. But what is your secret for making your outfit a little more memorable? Bonus points for pics taken with your dates or on a girls' night out!

Sorry I didn't try for bonus points this time, so instead I'll take a trip down memory lane...

DH isn't going to let me forget this, but I believe for our first date, we ate lunch at Silver Diner and then played a round of mini-golf afterwards. I'm positive I remember lunch correctly because I thought it was a splurge for two broke college kids. The ironic thing is, as we started to make money in our careers, our dates progressively became cheaper, lol. My memory's fuzzy on the mini golf portion because I don't remember why I dressed casually. I'm pretty sure I wore my typical teenaged summer uniform of a polo, denim skirt, and flats. I either said to myself 1) this is me, so take it or leave it, or 2) my competitive nature rears its ugly head when I mini-golf (every millimeter counts if I want to make that hole-in-one! So dressy clothes and teeter-tottering in heels simply won't do).

Fast forward a few years, I can confidently say that my secret for making outfits more memorable is playing up my best feature, my legs. I could argue that I subconsciously knew it back then too, but truth is, I was easily influenced (A&F ads, anyone?) and just wore the shortest skirt possible.

For mile-long legs, I pair short shorts with heels (preferably nude, not too tall but enough to achieve better posture, hence illusion of slimmer legs). My skirts nowadays are longer and somewhat (?) more age-appropriate. Typically I wear shorter skirts with flats and longer ones with heels. But for a night out, anything goes. In general, skirts won't make my legs look as long, but they're a great alternative for when I want to feel more feminine.

For this challenge, I went the skirt route and started with a blank white slate. I like wearing white because of the contrast against my naturally darker skin tone. Bright lip color and lots of jewelry later, I'm all set for a semi-casual night out.

Be sure to check out all the other participants' entries!

Hosted by SewPetiteGal, Petite Fashion Challenge #17: Candy Colorized has us taking a bowl full of colorful candies (M&Ms, Jolly Ranchers, jelly beans, etc.), closing your eyes, and drawing 2-3 pieces. Then use those colors (+ a neutral of your choosing) to form the basis for your ensemble.

My first thought upon hearing this challenge was, "Where am I going to find navy and pink candy [two colors I wear most often]?" Then I came to my senses. What's a challenge if we're not forced to flex those creative brain muscles, right?

From a bag of peanut M&M's, I picked out: brown, yellow, and green. I then mentally ran through my closet and came up with 1 pair of brown pants, 2 yellow tops, 1 yellow belt, 1 brown belt, 1 green top, 1 green jacket, and 1 green belt. Let the mixing and matching begin!

Outfit #1: I started off nice and easy, pairing primary yellow with a more wearable shade of green. Crisp white served two purposes: my neutral color of choice and accent color for accessorizing. The color's been kind to me, probably comprising of a third of my wardrobe, therefore making it the easy default choice.

Outfit #2: For the second outfit, I wanted to avoid neutrals and put together an outfit made up of the same green and yellow shades from the M&Ms. Bright green isn't a color I normally wear, so it took a little digging to remember I own a tie belt in this shade. Thank goodness for random accessories.

Hosted by Lauren @ Petite on a Penny, Petite Fashion Challenge #16: Summer Wedding has us creating an outfit for a summer wedding (the dress code is up to you). For bonus points, try to make your whole outfit, head to toe, come in under $100! (Or, exclude shoes and accessories to meet the $100 mark.)

Most of the summer weddings I've attended in the past featured an outdoor ceremony with an indoor reception. I kept the possibility of temperature variances in mind when selecting an appropriate outfit as a guest.

Outdoor ceremonies could very well occur on a hot and humid day, so I tend to favor dresses in lighter colors or ones with breathable fabric (or both). For this challenge, I went with the latter, a dark-colored dress in silk. The dress isn't clingy and flows nicely as I move -- great for dancing the night away.

The dress is on the casual side, so I dressed it up through accessories and strappy sandals. There's something about metallics that just scream "fancy" to me (shiny objects = bling, lol). I also brought along a shawl in case temperatures cool by nightfall. Ideally I would've preferred one with a nicer fabric, but I worked with what I had in my closet and loved the lilac pairing with navy.

Hosted by Megan @ Love live classy, Petite Fashion Challenge #15: Chic Pin-spiration has us finding a pic of an outfit we love on Pinterest, and re-creating it the best way possible!

My inspiration photo for this challenge is old-school J.Crew (surprise, surprise). I love how she wore the tie paired with a feminine color palette.

In my previous attempt at tie-wearing and tie-tying (which I've still yet to master), the size of the tie has been an issue for me. Aside from buying a skinnier tie, there's nothing I can do about the width. The length however, can be "fixed" by tucking inside the skirt. Why didn't I think of this before?!

I based my look on a similar color scheme while keeping the same key pieces (tie, shirt, sweater, and pencil skirt). This outfit is one that I may or may not have eventually figured out to wear together, but I'll take inspirations sooner rather than later.

Check out the other participants here.

Hosted by Couture Coco, Petite Fashion Challenge #14: Holiday Emergency has us styling a travel outfit into a special evening look using whatever you carry in your purse and anything else immediately at hand (for a pre-booked dinner date due to a luggage delay).

Since I'm not a great traveler, I'm once again coming up with outfits that I would wear in my daydreams (exotic locales are only a thought away!)

For traveling: I kept my outfit comfortable with some layers (for temperature changes), flat shoes, and free of jewelry (hate holding up the line at airport security). A roomy bag was also a must for my carry-on items. I cheated with this challenge and just so happened to pack dressy shoes and a scarf. In reality, both items do come in handy. A scarf is great as another extra layer in case what you're wearing isn't warm enough. I also like to store odd-shaped items like shoes in my carry-on instead of using shoe boxes with checked luggage.

For dinner date: A quick change in the airport bathroom involving a shoe swap, unrolling of pants' hem, rearranging the top, and convenient accessories additions later, I emerge ready for my dinner reservation. No wallowing in sorrow for my lost luggage... until after a delicious meal. Or hey, there's always shopping at the new destination.

Hosted by Annie @ Really Petite, Petite Fashion Challenge #13: Stylish for under $100 has us putting together a professional outfit (excluding shoes and accessories) for under $100. Bonus points if you can put together a completed outfit including shoes and accessories for under $100.

Yikes! Most of my "professional" clothes are on the higher-end of my spending spectrum. So for this challenge, I had to keep those to a minimum (or non-existent) while mixing in cheaper clothing that still maintain the professional vibe.

I already knew I spend an ungodly amount on bags, so I really did try hard to keep the rest of the outfit under $100. But the deal-breaker that I hadn't counted on? SHOES. I better hope my feet stay the same size for a longgg time.

The cost breakdown for this outfit that works in my fairly casual work environment:

$0 pearl ribbon necklace - gift from SewPetiteGal (shop her Etsy store)
$9 H&M basic jersey tee (similar)
$38 H&M draped blazer (similar)
$21 J.Crew skinny leather belt (similar)
$28 Gap knit tulip skirt (similar)
$4 Forever 21 pearlescent cluster ring (sold here)
$9 American Eagle classic tights (similar)
$108 Longchamp medium LM metal tote (sold here)
$93 Ann Taylor perfect patent pumps (sold here)

= $75 total (excluding shoes and accessories)

Are there items you spend a lot of money on without realizing it?

Hosted by Khatu @ i am Khatu, Petite Fashion Challenge #12: From Night to Day has us restyling a glamorous look that you would typically wear for a night-out-on-the-town into daytime casual wear. Easy right? Bonus points if you can restyle it for work!

Coming up with three outfits for this challenge was hard. When I think glamour, I picture something fancy, sparkly, black, or a mix. I nixed out styling around my most versatile dress because I've already done that in a previous challenge. I also ruled out a skirt because it would probably be too short for most office environments. That leaves me with some sort of top as the common piece between all three outfits. After rummaging through my closet, a white sequin top it is*.

Night-out-on-the-town look: I chose a classic color combination of white against black. A little bling and (faux) leather adds some fun to a night look.

Daytime casual look: Continuing with the white against black bottoms theme, I dressed down this outfit with a casual tee and fur vest.

Work-appropriate look: And lastly, I swapped out dark bottoms for a dark jacket up top.

*I've been known to interpret past challenges in my own way, so hopefully I read this one correctly.

Hosted by Alli @ Ski Petite, Petite Fashion Challenge #11: Vacation Vogue has us putting together an outfit made for sightseeing. It should be one that will be comfortable for walking around in and can last you from the early morning until dinner and drinks in the evening. You can choose just one outfit but vary it by adding or taking off layers or accessories to take you from the a.m. to the p.m. and make one outfit easier to last through the day.

I've always dressed like a bum on vacation, therefore sticking out like a sore thumb in both photos and as a tourist, lol. In the spirit of this challenge, I came up with outfits that I would wear while traveling in my daydreams, all the while keeping in mind one must: comfort.

For my a.m. look: I chose a soft sweater, skinny jeans, and the most broke-in pair of flats that I own (to avoid blisters). I accessorized through layering, which allows me to stay warm (indoors and out) while remaining comfortable.

For my p.m. look: I kept the core items from my morning look, but changed it up with the sweater styling and shoes (less walking, so heels are doable). Cowl-neck sweaters are so versatile and perfect for vacations when you want a range of looks but limited in suitcase space. Other ways of wearing these type of sweaters include: off both shoulders and with the cowl-neck draped down the front.

Be sure to check out all the other participants' outfits!

Hosted by Liza @ Fashion for Teens, Petite Fashion Challenge #10: Summer to Fall has us taking traditionally summer pieces (ie: tank tops, shorts, mini skirts, sundresses, etc) and make them appropriate for fall.

A sundress was my chosen piece of clothing for both looks.

For a casual summer outfit: I raised the hemline, wore a bag crossbody and added flip-flops. I accessorized with fun flower pins, rings, and a denim jacket for chillier weather at night.

For the transition to fall: I played off the dress' print and used darker shades of green and brown for the rest of the outfit. A longer jacket and booties finished off the look. I considered wearing tights, but it didn't seem right with the fabric and print of the dress.

Hosted by Elle @ Fast Food & Fast Fashion, Petite Fashion Challenge #9: Heat Wave Appropriate has us creating a work outfit that accounts for the various environmental factors that plague us in the summer. How do you dress when it's 90 degrees outside and 65 degrees inside?

I had an extremely hard time with this challenge. Since my work place is very casual, I try to wear my most comfortable clothes (usually the bummiest) when there's a heat wave. To meet the requirements for this challenge, I picked dressier but still light-weight items that are machine washable because the worst is sweating through dry-clean only clothes in the heat. The choice was between light-colored fabric vs. dark-colored fabric. With lighter colors, sweat stains are more visible. But with darker colors, you tend to sweat more. So... it came down to grossing others out or dealing with periodic waves of hot flashes? (Ok, I exaggerate, it's mostly not that bad) I chose the former.

For the commute: A tee, pencil skirt, and flats.

For work: Don a blazer and swap out the flats for a pair of pumps.

Hosted by Gracie @ Radiator Sessions, Petite Fashion Challenge #8: Spinning the Favorite has us venturing out of our comfort zones to expand our styling skills. We are to take a “go-to” outfit, put a spin on it by styling it in a different way but still keeping a couple of essential components.

My go-to outfit (sweats and a tshirt doesn't count, right?) usually consists of a button-up, accessories, and flats. This suits my simple, laid-back, and preppy style.

What I have a hard time doing is dressing up. So for this challenge, I channeled my inner glamourazon with a slight vintage* feel. I kept the same dress but mixed up the accessories. Yes to over-sized sunglasses, up-do (hard to tell, but I swear I put effort into it!), red lips (I cheated in Photoshop though :( because I couldn't find my lip gloss), and high heels. Is this too much? Too little? Just right? Kudos to all you girls who take the time every morning to do your hair and makeup; I am at the top of the list for laziest bloggers :D

*I ran the photo through some Photoshop filters, so the colors are slightly off

Hosted by Jessy @ The Little Dust Princess, Petite Fashion Challenge #7: The Little Black Dress has us adding a pop of color to our little black dress to change up the look.

I own one LBD, one I bought ages ago. My tastes have somewhat changed, so the dress has been sitting in my closet collecting dust. It's on on the casual side, so instead of forcing it to be something it's not (dressy), I styled it as if I'm on an island getaway. One that I wish I'm at now, instead of on a rooftop parking lot. At least the breeze felt nice?

(I have a feeling a lot of other participants will be wearing their Amrita Singh jewelry from the recent sales, so hopefully I changed it up enough!)

Hosted by Jess @ Stylepint, Petite Fashion Challenge #6: Dress Up Your Basics has us starting off with jeans and a tee, and dressing it up to show off your personal style with accessories, jewelry, etc.

I took the easy way out and picked a blazer and scarf *chagrined* But, I went out of my comfort zone and wore heels. It's progress, even if I only wore them during this photo shoot. Baby steps, I tell myself.

Silly as it seems, I couldn't bring myself to poke holes in my beloved theory blazer, so I taped the flower pins on. Yes, another ghetto fabulous solution to my fashion dilemma. Knowing me though, instead of a holey lapel (since I wouldn't have gotten the placements right in one try), tape seems like a great decision now.

Hosted by Cynthia @ Shorty Stories, Petite Fashion Challenge #5: Brighten Up Your Winter Blahs! has us creating a sophisticated work appropriate look that has no more than one dark piece (it can be a skirt, pants, a blazer, sweater etc...) excluding shoes, accessories and hosiery.

My one dark piece is my theory blazer, which I can't get enough of. And to brighten things up, I paired it with a fuchsia top and neutral colored pants and coat. In real life, I don't get many chances to dress up for the office, so this PFC was fun and quite challenging.

Hosted by Curls And Pearls, Petite Fashion Challenge #4: Holiday Party has us creating a holiday party look using festive colors without looking like a greeting card.

When I think of the holidays, I picture dressing in jewel-tones. Sparkling greens, vibrant reds, shiny metallics come to mind. I picked out accessories from these colors and created an outfit that would be appropriate for my company's holiday party.

The dress is an old one I dug out and I think the shiny material fits the holiday mood, even if it's a darker color. As for the shoes, the only metallic pair I own are strappy sandals, so they'll have to do even though we are in the middle of winter :) How would you accessorize this dress? Should I have added some sparkly bracelets? My arms do seem sort of bare.

Hosted by PetiteLittleGirl, Petite Fashion Challenge #3: The look for less has us recreating a look for less of our favorite style icon. Everyone knows I love Olivia Palermo, but her style isn't really me, it's what I want to be. She's so put-together all the time whereas I'm more... simple and laid-back. Therefore, I chose Lauren Conrad of The Hills (sorry Olivia for cheating on you!)

After scouring the Internet for pics that I could possibly use, I came across one of Lauren wearing Christian Louboutin pumps and possibly J Brand jeans while carrying a Chanel bag. The items I dug out for my outfit are considerably less in cost, but I really wish I had round-toe pumps! The witchy ones I have on are better suited for Halloween haha. (Note to self: keep an eye out for black patent round-toe pumps)

*Lauren Conrad image courtesy of Celebrity Gossip

Petite Fashion Challenge #2: Wear it Now, Wear it Later has us going into our closet and creating two outfits, one for spring/summer and one for fall/winter, both centering around one item. In my case, I've selected my LOVE 21 knotted shift dress.

Bottom left is my summer outfit where I wore the dress as a top. What I love about summer is the ability to accessorize with bright, fun colors against crisp white. Oh, and of course, getting away with wearing short skirts ;)

Bottom right is my fall outfit where I wore the dress as... well, a dress :) The color itself transitions well into cooler weather. Add a blazer, tights, suede wedges, and I'm ready for work.