TBMD

I'm embracing this recent heatwave by stepping out of my comfort zone completely. Talk about lots of skin baring (for me!) in a sleeveless top and cropped pants. I chose thin fabrics that are loose but yet still fitted. (Side tangent: the pants are unlined and a tad itchy, so even in this heat, I wish there was an extra layer). I stuck to a neutral palette because... well, the cropped pants already kind of stand out at the office. Of course, a cardigan (in white) is tucked away in my bag for when indoor temps become unbearable.

Rounding out the month of April on a high note! 4 posts in the last week, with the majority featuring one of my favorite jackets ever. I don't know how much longer this in-between spring and summer weather is going to last, so just trying to prolong jacket season as long as I can.

When I was putting together today's outfit, I was aiming for classic and understated (in my simpleton mind, that's how I equate neutrals and office appropriate-wear). By the end of the day, I was blown away at how much the caramel-colored wide tortoise belt stole the show. Ladies at work stopped to inquire, and I was only too happy to share it's a recent purchase and still available. Another generalization example: no comments = fly under the radar = understated. How wrong was I?! Time to change this mindset of mine.

The mere thought of wristlets conjures up memories of my first "purse", the Coach wristlet. <insert laughing/crying emoji> Who else lived in this glorious era and what did yours look like? Mine was the signature C monogram in green.

In the years since, my love for bags have grown, collection has expanded, and tastes have matured (I'd like to think so anyway). So it's funny to feel like I've come full circle with the latest purchase: Polene Numero Six.
The shape of this clutch/wristlet/small purse is simply stunning in its simplicity. I love the way the wrist strap loops through the gold hardware to keep the inner contents secure while maintaining its shape. Tangent: one of my pet peeves with traditional wristlets is the floppiness of the wrist strap.

With so many colors to choose from, I had a hard time deciding. Ultimately my eyes kept going back to the crocodile print, and felt the navy version fits with my wardrobe better than burgundy or black. If I were to choose between the monochrome colors, peach would be my pick (not a fan of the contrast stitching with some of the other color options).

As much as I loved the Numero Six, I couldn't hit the checkout button due to reservations of it fitting in with my lifestyle. You see, with the dimensions being 18 x 14.5 x 5.5 (in cm), would a smartphone even fit (I have the iPhone XR)? Let alone my other daily necessities like car keys and credit cards. In the Coach wristlet era, this would not even be a dilemma.
I scoured the Internet but couldn't find definitive answers. Some said only smaller iPhones would fit; others said bigger phones will have to be placed inside diagonally. I ended up spamming a handful of Numero Six Instagram photos asking if the owners can fit their phones inside (pats self on back for resourcefulness). Thank you to all who replied with assurances that though the clutch is small, XR phones fit fine inside!
As you can see, the right side is slightly larger, and I'm able to fit my iPhone XR with Casetify case snugly inside with no more room to spare. I actually placed my phone diagonally initially, but was not able to close the clutch. There is also an inner compartment for credit cards and bills. Then in-between fits my car keys comfortably. Whew! I'm happy to say this practically impractical clutch will fit in with my lifestyle just fine.

Long time no post! Been busy with life, work, and more life that I just needed a break from blogging. Hopefully with the holiday season upon us, work will slow down some and I can share more winter outfits. For now, I'm still going through a backlog of photos, so bear with me as it's still fall on the blog.

Today's fashion inspiration is thanks to Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex at Wimbledon from last month. What is it about British women (she counts now, right? Also looking at you, Victoria Beckham & Amal Clooney) who are just so chic? I'll never tire of perusing through their photos, new and old.

Between work and the Olympics, I've been pretty much MIA the last 2 weeks -- both in posting and taking photos for the blog. Good thing I still have a few outfit snaps from before... such as today's much belated Valentine's Day outfit. Hope y'all have a good start to the week!