Birthday Party Outfit! - simple yet, stylish.

I know i haven't been posting for awhile but with two weddings to edit (2000 photos total), 3 photo albums to design, another photoshoot to edit & working at Anthropologie... it's impossible to get anything done.

But.. I decided to show you my latest outfit and also write some reviews on what I've bought recently!

With winter coming and the weather colder, I wanted something to make a summer dress warmer. SOO I paired the dress with a very long sweater coat. :) I've had many praises about this sweater and sadly enough.. I have them in TWO colors... in the so called "green" - more brown than green, and the red. I've noticed alot of people wearing warm sweaters with dresses this season.. especially as the weather is colder.

Soo.. this is my outfit! I got praises for it at the birthday party I wore this too! :) It makes me happy that someone notices the outfits that I put a little more thought into than usual.

LEFT: Secret Treasure Dress - no longer an item at Anthropologie. This dress came in green and blue. The link to my review can be found here: http://reviews.anthropologie.com/profiles/5310/72829502/profile.htm?r.page=2
MIDDLE: on sale currently, Coiled Cableknit Sweater in red.. really warm and great for the not too cold but cold enough weathers.
RIGHT: The best shoes i've bought as of yet... full price still, Sloan T-Straps in brown!
BELT: still full price & bought from Urban Outfitter.. Ecote Wide Woven Belt

SLOAN T-STRAPS

Sloane T-Straps from Anthropologie.com

These are probably the best shoes I have bought as of yet! :) My first pair of shoes to have been SOO perfectly comfortable straight out of the box.... and what a cute and awesome box it is!!  I definitely am beginning to understand why Seychelles is so popular!

Initial Reaction:
I bought these shoes online, as well as other times, only to fulfill the $100 free shipping. I didn't expect to love them this much. The price was just perfect with my discount and so I didn't hesitate to buy them. Even without, I think these shoes are well worth it.

I loved the way they looked, especially the little details in the stitching as well as the tassels. The overall style and make of the shoe is of high quality - not cheap or shabby looking. The color is also very pretty - the color on the picture is very true to its color. The shoes, overall, looked even better and cuter in person than on the picture. 

The thing that was a turn-off for me was that it was a 2.75'' stacked heel. I normally don't get shoes above 1''. As much as I love heels, it's not worth the pain. But.. i bought these anyways. I was wrong because these shoes were the perfect fit.. in every way!

Fit:
When i first put them on... I was shocked as to how perfect they were. The heels somehow didnt feel like they were actually 2.75''. I think the stacked heels definitely gives that increased comfort.

These shoes did not cause any sore spots - i.e. rubbing or too tight parts. So because of these, I would say that these shoes are DEFINITELY TTS (I'm a 38, 7.5)...  The leather is comfortable and not stiff, the heels were comfortable and not too tall. I didn't feel the pain I would usually feel with too-tall-heels.

Overall assessment:
I have no complaints at all. As a person who usually hates heels and are VERY PICKY about heels in general, I have to say these are a keeper in every way. I haven't worn them, or walked on them long enough to notice the pains. But, so far, I've run in them a short distance and walked in them and have had no problem at all. That's rare for me to say. So you can only imagine how i'm feeling to have found such a perfect shoe.

I definitely recommend it to anyone. 

Fashion of the 1950s!

This week is theme week for the employees at Santa Monica's Anthropologie. To prep for it, I called in this afternoon to see what tomorrow's theme is. And...... <drum roll.>....... it's BESPOKE!

Who or what is Bespoke? Well, to put it simply, she is a vintage 50s girl. Bespoke is very classy and feminine - which was a main fashion focus during the 50's. Following her love for 50s fashion, Bespoke loves patterns & prints: stripes, polka-dots, floral. To top it off and finish the look, she would often be seen wearing red lipstick.

Although that's the simplest way to describe her, the 50s also had fashions that I realized I wear a lot of.
For instance these are a few fashion trends of the 50s:
1) Cardigans - cardigans that are form fitting and becomes tighter along the waist
2) Full A-line skirts - with the love of poodle skirts and such, 50s was all about full, pleated, "puffy" skirts. It was very easy to find skirts there were slimming and tight at the waist and poofs out from the waistline down.
3) Form fitting Dresses: Pencil Skirts- the 50s were popular for anything form fitting. The figure hugging pencil skirts were perfect at that time!
4) Scoop, sweetheart, bateau necklines, v-neck, square - pretty much anything that shows off the shoulders and neckline were popular during that time. 
5) Cinched waist lines & tight, form-fitting blouses and shirts - shirts, dresses, skirts, blouses that cinched and brought in the waistline, bugged the body and showed off the figure was a definite must for all 50s fashion.

I could possibly go on and on but I think you get the idea. 

Here's one example of a 50s outfit that i put together...

Banff Trail Belt photoshopped onto the Ihrin Shirtdress
Bowed Lacerta Mary-Janes
& White Oleander Scarf
all by Anthropologie

Other examples are the:

Lepidopteria Dress
more so the type or style of the dress rather than the print

Dantela Corset Top in Yellow & the perfect example of a 50s outfit on the right the printed skirt with a tight form-fitting top

Outlined Celandine Cardigan

And last but not least... a definite must is a nice... polka dotted clutch!

Polka Rounds Clutch

Of course.. this is only a small idea of what 50s fashion is like! If you are ever interested in more, feel free to google 1950s fashion.

Here's a link to a fellow eblogger: Yokelia's Blog

Having said all of this... and looking at the 50s fashion and thinking about what I have in my wardrobe... let's see what I'll turn up with tomorrow :)

Hampden Pea Coat & AG Stevie: Slim Straight

Recently I bought a jacket that i've been waiting to blog about. Not to mention a pair of pants that I've totally become to love! Perhaps I've come to love the pants a lot because they're the only pair that fits perfectly right now. So here it is!

Jacket: Hampden Pea Coat & Pants: AG Stevie: Slim Straight by Anthropologie. Photo by Ax2D Photography

Hampden Pea Coat
I originally wrote a review on this jacket, but I wanted to update it. You can find it here! http://reviews.anthropologie.com/profiles/5310/72829502/profile.htm

I've definitely have fallen in love with this jacket. I wear it almost everyday. I've also surprisingly gotten many praises about it as well.  

As I have said in my reviews, it is definitely thinner than I would like for a "wool" jacket. Although it looks warm, the shell is made of 56% polyester, 41% wool & 3% other fiber(??).  It's definitely only thick enough to wear in LA. The sleeves cause a bit of a draft. But if you put your hands in those really nice large pockets, it helps just a little. 

But overall, the quality of the jacket is quite good. Pretty TTS. The chest area may be some tight for those a bit bustier, but it might be okay as well. The fabric is plush and the colors are perfect for the fall. I have still yet to find a sweater that would pair well with the jacket to make it warmer, but that's definitely something that can remedied. 

I was contemplating buying another Bishop Sleeve Pointelle Tunic in either the Ivory or the Gold. But seeing that it is $118, I might wait on the purchase. It would definitely pair well with the colors of the jacket! :) 

Sidenote: I just recently washed my Bishop Sleeve Pointelle Tunic. Just a word of warning, when still wet, it smells like the chemicals that one would use at an "affordable" hair salon. I believe it smells like the chemicals from perming. 
  
Suggestions to wear this jacket:After I thought about my outfit, I would have changed into my red Cherry Stem Boots to add more color to the outfit, but I was a bit too late - considering I thought that after I finished these photos. 
But, at the very least, I put on a green scarf - which I think adds a pop of color to what seems like a somewhat gloomy picture.  

Something colorful: Perhaps something colorful that falls a little under the jacket length so it shows as a second layer. With the jacket being so much in the neutral colors, it won't hurt to wear something brighter under. 


Something safe, neutrals: Because there is so much more black and browns in the jacket, perhaps an ivory color shirt, skirt, sweater would work well with the jacket. 

Left & Middle: Bishop Sleeve Pointelle Tunic in gold & ivory or maybe even, Right: Thousand Carat Pullover 

Right: Pointelle Variation Sweaterdress Left: Ruffled Vines Scarf in Peach(??)

 
AG Stevie: Slim Straight
These pants have become one of my favorite in my collection of denim. Partially because, as I said, it's the only pair that really fit me. I would definitely recommend them to anyone.

Initial Reaction:
I didn't know what to expect when I bought these pants. I usually don't fit into anything "slim". I was hesitant at first to try them on but when I did, it was awesome.

The color is light - not too light or too dark - and goes with alot of things. The fabric is soft and perfect for summers. These were my first $100+ jeans. The price shocked me but when I wore them, I liked them immediately. 

Fit:
The fit was almost TTS - the waist has a little extra but the legs are perfect. It has a bit of stretching room. The soft material helps keep the pants against the skin and not bunched up. The fabric also allows people with thicker legs, like me, fit into them. The bottom flare out just a little bit - but that's probably because they are slims and not skinnies. They still fit well in boots, but may bunch a little.

Dislikes:
These pants are definitely only for the spring, summer and fall - so not winter. They are a bit on the thin side. Although, if you wear wool stockings under, it might remedy the fact that these jeans are rather thin. This will depend on how much room you have to fit under the jeans.

I definitely prefer if there was less bunching in boots. But that's only a small problem.

Don't know if this is a problem for everyone, but for me, I wished that all 4 pockets were deeper. I've had a many things fall out of my pockets because they were too shallow - both front and back.

Cherry Stem Boots & Gradated Stripes Pullover

Just last week, I purchased, online, the Cherry Stem Boots. I'm usually much more cautious about boots due to my wider calves (16''). I've bought SOOOO many boots from Zappos.com and only 2 have made it into my collection of shoes (a small collection really. I don't really have that many).

When I saw that 16'' on the Cherry Stem Boots,  I thought, "mmmm perhaps they might actually fit". Sure enough... they did.  So, this morning, I decided to do a little photoshoot with the boots.

I put together a simple outfit with a skirt & a sweater that I've come to like very much. I'll put a review after these pictures!

Gradated Stripped Pullover from Anthropologie
a brown skirt from Banana Republic (from maybe 3+ years ago, stockings
and the Cherry Stem Boots from Anthropologie 

Cherry Stem Boots from Anthropologie 

Review

Left: Gradated Stripped Pullover from Anthropologie     Right: Cherry Stem Boots from Anthropologie 

Gradated Stripped Pullover from Anthropologie
I already written a review on this, but I thought another one would be useful. Here's my past review on it - http://reviews.anthropologie.com/profiles/5310/72829502/profile.htm.

I'm just going to do an update here.

Update :) 
I've actually come to like this sweater quite a lot. I've gotten a few compliments on it and it's definitely grown on me a lot more as I wear it.

The cut looks very slimming and sit perfectly on the shoulder. The overall cut is not baggy at all,  like some of the shirts that are at Anthropologie right now. The fabric is very comfortable, which is one of the most important thing. I really love the color combination and the details just make it more awesome.

The thickeness of the sweater is definitely only warm enough for the fall. If you want it to be warmer, maybe wear a cami under and it'll help thicken it up a bit. 

Cons: 
I know this is funny but the word "gradated" is a misnomer because the color on the stripes don't really gradate. It just goes from orange to red.

Yet again, I wish the sweater was a little longer. BUT... I've found this sweater to pair very well with a skirt... as you see up above :).
  

Cherry Stem Boots from Anthropologie 

First Impression:
I bought these boots because I've been looking for red shoes/boots for quie sometime. Of course, as the weather gets a little bit colder, I started looking for boots instead.

When I took it out of the box, I felt that the boots were very soft. The lacing definitely made these boots more stylish than boring. The opening definitely looked wide enough.

The leather is real both inside and out. It, all around, looks very well made and the material/leather quality is very good. I really like the pairing between the red and the skin tone/beige interior. Because of the quality, I definitely understand why it costs as much as it does (although less than many other boots). My boots came with a few small scratches, so maybe it's safer to find it in stores instead of ordering it online - then you can do quality control before purchasing.

Fit:
The overall fit was great. The way the boots are made, it allows for a lot of movement with little or no restrictions or uncomfortable points. The red is quite nice and is actually a little muted from the original picture on the website and also from our pictures. The boots are very comfortable and can be even more comfortable with a thin insole for more padding.

Having 16'' calves, it makes it hard to find boots in general. Seeing that these were listed at 16'', I had to try it on. Usually, unless listed, you don't know which size the 16'' is referring to - considering each size of shoes would have a different radius. For these specific ones, 16'' is definitely referring to the 7.5. My calves are a little under 16''. Because of this, without stockings - and thus more friction - the boots sit up become a bit sweaty (due to less movement). With stockings, the boots sit quite comfortably around the calves without being too tight or sweaty. The stockings allow for the boots to have movement - both up and down without feeling restricted.

Around the feet area, I had a little extra room to put on a pair of socks. So I can definitely say that these boots are TTS (TRUE TO SIZE). Having wider feet, these boots were perfect and comfy and not too narrow. The front allowed for extra toe space and movement. There are no real uncomfortable points - like the boots putting pressure here or there.  

The stacked heels and the more "workman" like sole of the boots makes for a, surprisingly,
comfortable fit and wear. I didn't feel the typical pains of wearing a 2.5 heel. The sole of the boots are definitely slip free and will be good in almost any terrain.   


Cons:
The workman like sole and the heels make the shoes look a bit clunky. The lip also comes out a lot. This overall sole definitely dresses these boots down and make it more casual/stylish vs. elegant.

The boots bunch and scrunches up a bit around the top of the lace. It actually sits a bit awkward there, but not so much that it's unacceptable. The actual picture of the boots is a little deceiving. It doesn't show how it will fit on a person. I still haven't quite decided whether or not the boots should be loosely tied or tightly tied on the bottom.

Overall Pros & Cons: 

Pros:

• good quality leather 
• pretty color 
• good for wide calves 
• casual/stylish 
• tts - true to size
  
• good fit and comfortable - thick stacked heel

Cons:  

• clunky looking 
• easy to see scratches/flaws in leather 
• bunches around the top of the lacing where you tie 
• picture doesn't properly show the fit 
• lip of shoe comes out too much
  

   

Tribute to a great jacket!!! - Theodora Jacket by Anthropologie (Spring 2011)

Not too long ago, I was eyeing this jacket on the racks of Anthropologie. Something about it just attracted  me so much. To my luck, I went in one day, and found it on sale. To this day.. it's become my favorite jacket!

I've worn this jacket almost everywhere! I recently brought it to Europe and thought I almost lost it at the Manchester, England airport. Man did I throw a HUGE fit about it. Cried as well. My husband couldn't understand why I was feeling this way. Perhaps it was fatigue. Perhaps it was just my being too sentimental. But isn't it funny how one gets attached to things?

Honestly though, this was probably one of my best purchases yet! It's stylish for almost any outfit! It's comfortable, flattering and the little details just make it so appealing. I never thought I would like the ruffles in front but they've grown on me so much! The only qualm I have is that it's not warmer and thicker. But other than this... I wouldn't ask for a better jacket for Spring-Fall.

Soo, here, I pay tribute to my best purchase ever at Anthropologie - Ms. Theodora. Isn't she beautiful? 
 

Anthropologie: Theodora Jacket (Spring 2011)

Looking for a large bag? Find it at Urban Outfitters!!!

Surprisingly, I've actually been shopping at Urban Outfitters (UO) since I started UCLA in '05 (don't try to guess my age because this year doesn't mean much). Perhaps it could have even been much earlier that I discovered UO. I definitely remember my first purchase there... it was a VERY pink bean bag pillow that everyone had and that I wanted. I've always wanted one, actually, and when I finally became more independent, I HAD to get one! And, of course, I did.

Now, as I working at Anthropologie , definitely had to utilize it's perks as an employee. Since Anthropologie is an offshoot of UO - also the mother company of Free People (I didn't know that till later.. but it totally makes sense...) and, the newest addition, BHLDN - we, as employees, have the same discounts at UO as well. So it's only natural for us to "peek" into UO from time to time - especially when it's employee's appreciation month and such.

To get to the point... this time, I definitely went into UO with a mission.

I was at a point where I was finally ready to get rid of my not-so-fashionable-GAP-black-and-boring messenger bag that even my husband complains. The first thing I did was do an online search. I went to Amazon, Zappos and many other places. And, of course, as usual, I couldn't find anything that I REALLY liked. Not only that, but you can't really see how big a bag is or how sturdy it is online. So I went back to the drawing board.

On, Wednesday, I made it a point to get a bag somewhere at Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade. I also wanted to make the most use out of having a shopping buddy for a few hours - a friend I hadn't seen for almost 3 years. With our mutual love for all things UO and Anthro, we, of course, went into UO before our last stop - Anthropologie. There @ UO, I found exactly what I needed and for a price that I could afford. :)  And here it is!

Urban Outfitter's Grey/Gray BDG Till Tote w/ Buckle (only in stores).
$58 (without discount)

photo by: Ax2D Photography

Here's a picture of a model holding the big. It definitely looks really big doesn't it? This bag is SOOOO big that it fits my REALLY fat 15.4 inch wide and almost 2 inch thick PINK Dell Inspiron 1525 (I hate this computer) AND MORE... Here's a funny "x-ray" type picture I just had to try out to show you JUST how big the bag is...

Left: picture from http://svpply.com/item/737446/BDG_Buckle_Tote
Right: picture with my FLAMING HOT PINK laptop by Ax2D Photography

So yeah... if you EVER need to find a bag that trendy... useful... sturdy (hopefully) and not too expensive (like Anthropologie) UO is definitely the place to find it!

Ready for the Fall - Bishop Sleeve Pointelle Tunic Review

Just received a wonderful package in the mail. Yes... I guiltily did a bit of shopping. After being away for a month... I couldn't help it.

This was my favorite in the few shirts & sweaters I bought! I absolutely fell in love with it right away! Especially the poofy sleeves.

Left: from Anthropologie, Bishop Sleeve Pointelle Tunic    Right: Me :) Ax2D Photography

Because this sweater was SOOO long, I paired it with a pair of brown leggings and boots. Yes.. they are brown, although the picture makes it look purple.

I wore a belt to bring the sweater in a little and to break it up a little. I originally had a pair of thicker brown tights on but I found that it was way too airy. The open-weave on the bottom definitely will not keep the air out without a little help. To dress it warmer... perhaps a very thin long sleeve shirt would help keep the air out of the arms.

This sweater was definitely VERY soft and comfy. I totally recommend it... if you are willing to spend a few more bucks on a really soft and intricate detailed sweater. I don't normally like fabric like this but this sweater isn't scratchy at all. This sweater turned out to be quite long. It is more like a sweater dress if anything.

I origianlly took the picture with intent on writing a review on it on Anthropologie.com. I figured.. why not also post it up on my blog. SOO I'm going to combine the both and I'll add the link to the review when it shows up.

Review on Anthropologie.com - October 4, 2011 - Comfy & Feminine

Pros:
beautiful delicate design soft and not scratchy
light and airy for fall
color is bright

Cons:
a little pricey
not warm enough for winter

* First Impression
I bought the lilac colored one online.

This sweater is beautiful and it fits so perfectly. I saw it online and liked it immediately. The details on the sweater are very pretty and intricate. Knitted & Knotted really spent a lot of time designing this sweater!

The color is slightly brighter in the picture. The real sweater is a bit toned down a little but the color is still very pretty and not too far from what you see online.

The sweater comes with a little warning tag that YOU MUST READ before wearing :). It pretty much says that this sweater is unique because of the weave and the soft delicate material/thread. Because of this, please take off all jewelry before wearing and taking off this sweater. :) In simple words... take good care of the sweater.

*Fit
I'm 5'7'' with a short torso and longer legs. The medium was a perfect fit. So.. I would say this sweater is pretty true to size. This tunic fell a little below mid-thigh. The picture doesn't really show how long the sweater is.

The sweater is pretty flattering. The threads are thin so it's not bulky. So it can be worn by both larger and smaller sized people. The sweater tapers in a little around the waist area and flares out. The open weave on the bottom may be a little airy and unless you want to show skin, you should probably wear a cami or maybe even a long tight, long sleeve undershirt.

For me, the neckline was perfect. I can wear a spaghetti strapped cami and a bra without both straps showing. It's probably only because I have wide shoulders and chest. Because of this, the sweater sits perfectly. In terms of the armpit area, it's not tight at all. Just perfect actually.

The cut and open-weave design of the sleeves are awesome. The perfect amount of poofyness. There's also small details along the bottom and ends of the sleeves that's quite unique. The sleeves may be a little long for those who have shorter arms. Since my arms are long, it fits perfectly.

*Dislikes
The only qualm I have is that this sweater will be hard to wear during the winter. It's a little too airy around the arms and below the waist. But that can be remedied by wearing the right thing under.