Fabric, Frills + Lace

Do you ever feel like your outfit is just 'bleh,' bland, blah, boring? I do, all the time. For instance, today I was running late, and trying to get dressed for work. All my brain could put together were these black skinny jeans from Urban Outfitters, and this tan turtleneck from Banana Republic. By themselves, kind of a dull outfit, sure. But if you spice it up with some knee-high suede boots, then it becomes a fun outfit. These skinny jeans from Urban, are tight, not gonna lie. They're form-fitting, and at times can cut-off my circulation, but I do like the way my butt looks in them. I will give Urban credit, though; these jeans have maintained their black color way better than a pair from American Eagle did. One thing I like about Banana Republic is that they have a petites section. I'm 5'3," and regular sizes tend to fit width-wise, but length-wise it can be too long. This sweater hits just right at the start of my hips, instead of belo...

Continuing our series on adulating, I’ve matched a sweater with a high-waisted skirt with pleats. But wait, isn’t that what I wore yesterday? Why yes, keen eye my friend, it is. After all, most people wear a variation of the same outfit everyday. I know, Kate would label us all ‘outfit repeaters.’ However, just because you wear the same type of outfit, doesn’t mean you can’t spice it up a bit with a little character. Notice the addition of strategic accessories in today’s outfit. The scarf, a French twist on the red, white and blue motif, screams, “I’m a working adult, who pays their bills.” Or, for some, it screams flight attendant. The dark navy of the scarf pairs well with the black, above-the-knee skirt from H&M. Similarly, the beige sweater—also from H&M—offsets the dark neutral tones in the skirt with the lighter whites, without being too matchy-matchy. For a bit of personal flare, I’ve included a beige, wool beret from Urban Outfitters that is indicati...

First-off, sorry for not having a post on Monday. This weekend I ate something that made me feel really sick, and I took the day off, from work and blogging. I did sport an 'athleisure' look, that I may post on Saturday, and break my cardinal rule of "no weekend" posts. However, today I have the first in this week's series of looks, titled "Adults I Admire." Today my mother is coming to stay with me for 10 days. In my mother's mind I'm still that teenager who she sent off to college in thrifted vintage dresses and Doc Martens. Though the Doc Martens still remain, I'm now an adult, who wears more mature clothes. For example, today I matched a cranberry, cashmere sweater that was a gift from my mother, and a knee-length plaid skirt thrifted from Japan. Sometimes I wonder if knee-length skirts that are high-waisted make my hips and butt look bigger, especially when there's pleats. However, I will say that with the maroon...

Today was my day to rock high-waisted jeans at work. Luckily my office has a pretty lax dress code; I've seen people wear jeans everyday with no consequences. So today was my today to shake things up and to try an outfit I've been avoiding. High-waisted bottoms have been a thing since long before 2018. They were present in the 50's and 60's, and were meant to accentuate the female form, specifically by elongating the legs. However, if you've been keeping with modern fashion, then you know that the new trend is to show off a thigh gap, or small waist leading to hips that narrow into thin thighs. I do not have this figure, and I don't think I ever will. Sometimes I let that thought keep me from wearing these cute high-waisted Monki jeans. But not today. Today, I matched the jeans with a new turtleneck sweater from Banana Republic, for a simple but chic feel. Though, when I wore it I felt more like an 80's character—in a good way. To make things a ...

I did not intend to come off looking like a school teacher, or, for that matter, a student. Yet, after looking at my outfit, that's all I can think about. The geometric print on the ModCloth dress with the deep shade of blue did not help matters. Bright yellow colors can also be associated with school buses and number 2 pencils. I'm sure all of that combined together, helped to make me look like a grade school TA. Not that I mind that look. In fact I think it made me look festive at today's holiday brunch. This all started because I wanted to wear the cool vintage sweater I bought in Shimokitazawa while I was living in Japan. Shimoks, for short, is hipster central; there are underground record stores, closet-sized art galleries, and vintage clothing stores galore. This sweater was such a good buy because it has metal buttons, and actually closes. Really I fell in love with the pattern, which I know, for some, can be hard to match with. A year later, after...

I got this Banana Republic blazer in September, almost three months ago, and then I just let it sit in my closet. Of course, September is still a little too warm to wear a blazer. Not to mention, blazers are still a relatively new addition to my wardrobe (#adulting). So I let this gorgeous find—it was 50% off on sale—collect dust in the corner of my wardrobe, because I was too afraid to wear it. Sometimes, I feel boxy when I wear blazers, like they're adding an extra layer of padding, in all the wrong places. So I tried wearing it with bodycon dresses, and I felt a little too adult, like when I was a childhood and I would wear my mom's heels or try on her makeup. I looked good, but a little out of my depth. Then I tried blue jeans. I thought the mix of business-casual would make me feel more comfortable, but then I remembered something: I hate my hips and thighs. It's not something I bring up casually. I've dealt with body issues in the past, and, to a degr...

This post surfaced from my desire to wear both a plaid shawl and a long sleeve, striped shirt. About two years ago, I saw a ModCloth ad for a reversible poncho, bought the one I'm wearing in this photo, and regret nothing! Best purchase ever. Ponchos, have so many great uses; but for me, the appeal lies in its blanket-like shape. I really just wanted to be super warm on my way to work. Following my layering rule— as per my previous post —I choose a light, long sleeve black and white striped shirt from Banana Republic to go underneath. Paired with my maroon beret ( also from an earlier post ), the pair make for a cute Parisian look. While I love dressing borderline costume-y, I also try to rock a sensible style for the office, especially because I work with college students, and want to look older (haha!). The shawl helps balance the Parisian top, with a more down-to-earth let's-go-take-a-break-in-an-abandoned-cabin feel. Of course, the ModCloth lib...

Nobody wants to be cold, but everyone wants to look good. At the heart of winter fashion is this quandary. For years, I've tried to find the perfect winter accessories that prove you can wear fashion forward and everyday outfits even when it's 20 degrees and snowing outside. There have been several setbacks—including a recent decision to walk outside in suede, maroon heels for 20 minutes because a Lyft would be too expensive. (Side note: The moral of that story is that if you're too cheap to pay for a Lyft, bring a pair of comfortable walking shoes). Yet, now, that I'm an official adult (I've had a job for more than a year!), I think I've found the key to looking great, and staying warm. Key one: Think before you buy. As I've mentioned before, I'm a commuter. When I use to live in D.C. that meant I was a 10-minute walk from my office building. Now, I'm a 10-minute walk to the train station, a 15-minute train ride, and then another 15-minut...

You probably think of high-waisted, white jeans as the perfect summer pant, easy to match with any floral top. But the great thing about white pants, is they're also great for the winter. Think of all those Fall L.A. vibes, where it gets chilly at night, but the sun stays strong in the afternoon. Now, imagine those pants with a comfy, cable-knit sweater. Voila! You've got an unconventional fall/winter outfit. The first time I wore this outfit to work, my boss—a New York socialite—told me, "you look like the type of person who vacations in the same spots as Audrey Hepburn." Of course, I took that to mean she was calling me cosmopolitan, classy, and pretty, aka Audrey Hepburn. However, I think what my boss was ultimately hinting at was that anyone who feels comfortable enough to rock white when it's 30 degrees outside, is a fashion risk taker. Taking risks pays off. I would be lying, if I said this outfit didn't take some careful planning. The sweate...

It's so hard trying to figure out how to turn a work outfit into a party outfit, especially when it's 19 degrees outside. Of course, the black skinny jean, oversized sweater, and boot outfit works great for this, but every once in a while, you want to take a risk. That's why I opted for a black, velvet jumpsuit on top of a tan, turtleneck sweater from Banana Republic for tonight. I have plans to go to a holiday party right after work, which means going from business to casual in one day. Plus, this jumpsuit was my early Christmas gift to myself, so all the more reason to take it off the hanger onto my body for a spin. Now, I know some people are hesitant to wear jumpsuits; one of my good friends always tells me that she doesn't look good in them, because she's too short. LOL! We're the same height, and I love how I look in this. If you've read my past posts, then you know I've got issues with my hips. They're a gift and a curse. Velvet i...

When the temperature starts dropping below 50 Fahrenheit, I get really excited. The fall and winter air carries a magic spell. They're the seasons of layering. You may love your giant, wool, cable-knit sweater, but there is no worst feeling than wearing that same sweater inside an overheated office. That's why I try to look for dresses made of light fabric, dresses that can be paired with sweater, scarves, gloves, and a warm coat. Five years ago, I left Deep South Texas for the East Coast and had a rude awakening. In my hometown, winter is mild; if it gets below fifty degrees, we bring out the mink coats and snow boots—don’t even as us how we drive when there’s ice on the road. Naturally, none of my winter outfits were durable enough for New England weather. I had to learn the importance of cashmere, 100% wool, and fleece-lined tights on my own. That’s why I love this outfit. Don’t let the short hemline fool you. Underneath the plaid Urban Outfitters dress are flee...