I have a soft spot for navy and orange because they're my alma mater's colors. There hasn't been much to cheer about recently, until I realized we have a shot at making the annual basketball tournament! Yes, a shot (not even a guarantee) is reason enough to show some school pride. A win tonight against #2 Miami would go a long way to beefing up the resume. Let's go 'Hoos!

Also see Wendy in a navy lace top with orange.

I'm not ready to let go of summer yet, but I couldn't resist wearing my new sweater out on an abnormally cooler day. I've been pining for a thin burgundy sweater since last year, so imagine my giddiness when I started seeing this color pop up everywhere. It's just my luck that burgundy is being touted as the it color for this fall.

I live in Virginia, but most of the locals will tell you that the northern part doesn't feel very southern. There is little southern hospitality, not many speak with a southern twang (y'all does slip past my lips once in awhile), and life is generally very fast paced. To sum it up, the region doesn't really have a sense of identity and instead is full of workaholic transients.

I hate to say it, but I've never fully appreciated the area I live in (darn you traffic for messing with my head!) Amidst all the changes over the years, there are still remnants of the South, in the historical landmarks, architecture, and even some of the food. So as the weather warms up, I've promised myself to slow down and smell the roses so to speak. Truly take in my surroundings, both the old and the new.

Wearing a little red and some pink for today's occasion. Or in our household, it'll be known as VaLINtine's Day. We'll be staying in tonight to watch Knicks vs. Raptors as bf is all caught up in the hoopla. This weekend though, I'll be dragging him out to see The Vow, muahaha. Channing Tatum in a chick flick?! Sold. A no-brainer, actually.

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Happy new year, everyone! My flight landed on New Year's Eve, but I did manage to stay up to see the clock strike midnight. Shortly after that I slept for a good 12 hours. Jetlag, I'm over you.

I'll be honest, my 2011 resolutions were promptly forgotten after a few months *ducks head* and only resurrected because it's a new year.

How did I do?
(1) I did manage to stop buying useless dresses. All the ones I've bought in 2011 have been worn at least twice, I believe. Some were worn more than that (as they should).
(2) Fat to weight ratio have probably remained the same but redistributed throughout the rest of my body. Once a lazy bum, always a lazy bum.
(3) I did end up taking a vacation (at the end of the year, just barely). High five!
(4) I've surprised myself with heels this year. Not only have I been wearing them more, I've been easing into 4" territory. I'm still quite the wobbly-walker but slowly gaining more balance.
(5) I broke this one and it happened only 5 months into the year.

All in all, 3 out of 5 isn't horrible. I don't think I'll be setting any for myself this year, because well, I'll probably forget about them in mere weeks. Again.

Today's outfit is all about experimentation. I typically roll up my sleeves to elbow length, but left it down today for a more ladylike look. Pictures don't lie and this is proof that I should stick to regular sizing in Ann Taylor blouses.

The blouse is also sheer, so I always wear it over a tank of sorts. Today's choice is a black turtleneck. My initial thought was just to stay warm, but the look is growing on me. The same color palette helps the high neckline blend in with the overall look instead of being a distraction.

Hope you're having a great Thursday!

Finally a break from recent purchase reviews and back to our regular scheduled program. Outfit pictures also mean less wordy posts :) I've got to say though, I think today's look is one of my favorites this year. I sure am having fun embracing the browns, greens, and gold right now.

Hope you're having a great Wednesday!

I've had my eyes on a couple of coats since fall fashion started trickling in. One is this Zara Double-Breasted Coat in dark red, size S (sold here). Both pictures from Zara's site is misleading: the stock photo shows a model wearing a bright red coat, while a darker red was featured in the promotional ads. The color in real life is somewhere in between, but closer to a true primary red.

For a long coat, I was surprised at how light in weight it was. The fabric is pretty thin so I can only see this coat being worn in the fall and perhaps transitioning into the early stages of winter. Definitely will need something heavier in the dead of winter.

The coat fits me pretty well overall. The shoulders fit nicely and still allows for easy arm maneuvering (I always do the jumping jacks test but it's not like I ever find myself in that position...). I prefer sleeves on my coats to be on the longer end and I found these to be perfect. I did find the coat to hang on me in a boxier fashion when unbuttoned, but not so bad when buttoned. The buttons themselves are kind of cheap looking, but I can live with that.

I'm still on the fence about this coat. What do you think -- flattering enough to keep or return?

*Stock and promotional photos courtesy of Zara

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.

At their Give & Get event over the weekend, I bought a Gap crossover dolman blouse in caviar, size XS (currently sold here) because I really liked how it looked on the model. On me though... eek! I'm pretty flat-chested, so I think where the elastic hits doesn't help at all. Any ideas on how I could make it work? Otherwise, I shall be returning this back to the store.

I also bought this Gap striped cowlneck T in black stripe, size XS (currently sold here). I actually eyeballed the fit of this top in stores (didn't get a chance to try it on) and decided to buy it. The fit turned out better than I imagined, not too tight and not too loose. I really like the cowl-neck draping and how it has a longer length. It's made of 100% pima cotton, so it's super soft to the touch. It is a bit see-through, but it's nothing a tank underneath won't solve. I think this one is a keeper. Gap will be selling their cowlneck tops for $10 at their pre-Black Friday event, so hold out for that if you're interested!