Outift: Peplum

I didn't jump on the peplum bandwagon when it was all the rage last year because...well....my hips and thighs really don't need any more attention focused on them.

But I saw this top at Forever 21 recently and I fell in love...I think it may have been the sweetheart neckline that called out to me

So here I am, a year late to the party...is it even still in trend? 

Top - Forever 21

Jeans - Forever 21

Shoes - Manolo Blahnik

Earrings - Forever 21

  

3 Ways: Denim Jacket

The only denim jacket I've ever owned in my life thus far was one with a HUMONGOUS picture of Mickey Mouse on the back....

I was only 12.

Even so, it was seriously uncool. Come to think of it, most of my wardrobe in my early school years can pretty much be summed up that way as well...a byproduct of going to schools that require school uniforms. 

    

Almost two decades later, I am trying the whole denim jacket thing again. 

And here's hoping that my outfits have improved by leaps and bounds!
 

1) For work...

Top: Forever 21 / Pants: J.Crew / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

2) For a date...

Dress: Forever 21 / Hat: J.Crew / Shoes: Target

3) For a casual day...

Shirt: Forever 21 / Shorts: LOFT / Hat: J.Crew / Shoes: Target

I love how throwing it on instantly gives the outfit a casual cool vibe.
Even though my 5-year old commented that I look like a teenager when I wear it...

H&M Denim Jacket, $30

Outfit: Comfort Zone

Whenever I have meetings or occasions at work that are a little more formal (I.e. a presentation that I may have to give, or meetings where directors and higher are going to attend), I tend dress a little more  'professional', which usually means that I will be reaching for my No.2 pencil skirts.

Although the laughable thing here is that this would be considered more of a casual outfit in other companies. But when you work at a place that have an extremely relaxed dress code, anything non-jeans and ballet flats would pretty much stand out.

Shirt - J.Crew

Skirt - J.Crew

Shoes - J.Crew

Can you tell that I use to have an obsession with J.Crew?

3 Ways: Shorts For Work

I've mentioned here that I was obsessed with an outfit from Korean drama Sly and Single Again that Na Ae-Ra wore which featured a pair of khaki shorts. So I have been on the hunt for a pair for myself.

Now that I am creeping up the age scale, I feel a bit self-conscious wearing too-short hemlines. Also, my legs are on the short and stubby side, so I was never truly that comfortable with short shorts anyway. 

So in my recent haul, I picked up a few pairs of shorts that have 6" inseams to cover my thighs and  so that they can potentially be worn to work.

Here are some outfits that I pieced together that may work in an office environment that veers on a casual side (which is what mine is):

1) Outfit 1

Top: Talbots / Blazer: Ann Taylor LOFT / Necklace: Ebay / Shoes: Dolce Vita for Target

 

2) Outfit 2

Top: Forever 21 / Cardigan: Forever 21 / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik BBs in Copper Patent

3) Outfit 3

Top: J.Crew / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik BBs

To be honest, I feel a tad like a grandma in them. 

For them to work at all, high heels are a definite must for me.

Ann Taylor LOFT Riviera Shorts with 6 inch inseam, $40 - $55

Outfit: Black and White...Like A Hamburglar

Dress - Target

Necklace - J.Crew

Sandals - Target

Sorry, I completely spaced on taking a picture for Outfit Thursday this week...

It has been warm exactly 2 days this week....then I actually had to bust out the winter coats again... O_o

Can't wait till maxi dresses are back out in full force

3 Ways: Blouses

These type of tops are my absolute favorite because they can be dressed up or down easily, but always result in one looking put-together.

1) For work...

Skirt: J.Crew / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik / Bracelet: Hautelook

2) For a date...
 

Jacket: Mango / Jeans: Citizens of Humanity / Shoes: J.Crew

3) For a casual day...
 

Shorts: Forever 21 / Shoes: Dolce Vita for Target / Earrings: Forever 21

Now that I am creeping up on the age scale, I am really trying to be more conscious to dress less like a bum, and more like a classy, confident adult

 

H&M V-Neck Blouse, $25

Outfit: Favorite Blue

Dress - H&M

Shoes - Dolce Vita for Target 

I am terrible at accessorizing, but luckily, the brilliant color of the dress manages to downplay the lack of that. 

Definitely one of my favorite blues.

3 Ways: Korean Drama Fashion

Besides gawking at their flawless skin, there are some noteworthy outfits that stand out to me from watching all my Korean dramas...here are the most memorable ones to me that I would love to recreate:

1) For work

Image from here

From Sly and Single Again, this outfit has made me searching around for tan dress shorts. Even though this is an outfit that Na Ae-Ra wore for work, it is probably just scraping by as acceptable in my work environment. One thing I've noticed is that workwear hemlines are quite noticeably shorter in Asian countries.

 

2) For a casual day

 Image from here

From My Love From Another Star, this is definitely one of Cheon Song-Yi's most memorable outfit to me

3) For a date

 Image from here

From Flower Boy Ramen Shop, the female lead really didn't have too many inspiring outfits, but this was definitely her "Wow" outfit and makeup look of the whole show...

Outfit: Simplicity

Sometimes, it is the simplest outfit that makes the biggest impact on first impressions

Tshirt - Target

Blazer - Topshop

Jeans - Forever 21

Shoes - J.Crew Valentina in Dusty Jade

Belt - J.Crew

Earrings - Forever 21

 

3 Ways: Grayed Out

If I was to take inventory of my closet, I would find that 80% of my knits and sweaters are gray.

There's just something so comforting and cozy about gray sweaters. 

And I think a thin draped cardigan like this is a staple in any closet.

1) For work... 

Dress: Dorothy Perkins / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik BBs in Patent Copper

2) For a date...

Playsuit: H&M / Necklace: Urbanite / Sandals: Target 

3) For a casual day out...

Sweater: J.Crew / Jacket: J.Crew / Leggings : Target / Shoes: Converse

It works as a perfect layering piece, and can be worn as a wrap sweater too.
And at $8, it is a complete no-brainer!

 

Forever 21 wrap sweater, $8

 

Outfit: Casual Chucks

I'm not really a sneakers kinda girl - it makes me feel like I am back in school, where I had to wear white sneakers as part of my uniform for pretty much 11 years of my life. 

Which explains why I only have 1 pair, and that they are relatively new to boot.

But I have been reaching for my Chucks quite a bit this past month because it is just a nice easy transitional piece when it is a bit odd to be walking around in boots with the weather warming up so nicely, but I am not quite ready to discard my socks quite just yet...

 Shirt - Rachel Pally

Cardigan - Vince

Jeans - Forever 21

Shoes - Converse

Bag - Forever 21

3 Ways: A Classic White Shirt

A white shirt is apparently one of the core pieces everyone should have in their closets. I personally had a hard time finding a white shirt that fitted the exact way I preferred, until I wandered into Old Navy due to plain ol' nosiness (they had a 30% off everything sale sign at their front window)

Lo and behold, I found that they fitted lovely and I left with 4 (!!) shirts.

1) For work...

Vest: H&M / Pants: J.Crew / Shoes: J.Crew / Necklace: Urbanite / Lipcolor: Etude House

2) For casual days...

Jeans: Forever 21 / Shoes: Miss Albright from Anthropologie / Scarf: Malaysia / Belt: J.Crew

3) For a date

Skirt: Topshop / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Earrings: NY&Co / Lipcolor: Rimmel, MAC

In comparison to J.Crew boy shirts, I prefer the Old Navy ones due to a better fit and a much more affordable price point.

Old Navy Oxford Shirt in white, $25

  

Outfit: Velvet and Stripes

I am so glad that it is now (occasionally, because the weather is still being temperamental) acceptable to go out with bare legs...I am so tired of being covered up all the time.
And I am also so tired of shivering in the bathroom as I get ready. whilst waiting for the space heater to do its thing.

 

Dress: Dorothy Perkins

Jacket: Anthropologie

Shoes: J.Crew

Earrings: Forever 21

Lipcolor: bareMinerals Moxie Lipstick in Risk It All, Rimmel Show-off Lip Lacquer in Nova

 

And slightly off-topic, but you can really see the whitish cast from the BB cream base I was using -- so either I really need to bring it all the way down to my neckline, or I need to find a way to brighten my neck, or I need to find a darker shade (which isn't always easy since majority of the BB Creams come in one-shade-fits-all)...Frustration

3 Ways: Red Pants

There's something a bit loud about wearing non-neutral pants. And the fact that the non-neutral color is red practically makes them scream. Which makes outfit parings a bit of a dilemma

Here are 3 ways I've made it work for different occasions...

1) For work...

Blazer: Topshop / Shirt: Rachel Pally / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Jewelry: Forever 21

2) For a date...

Top: Old Navy / Shoes: Aldo / Bracelet: Haute Look / Lipcolor: Rimmel

3) For casual days...

Shirt: J.Crew / Hat: J.Crew / Shoes: Delman

This is where having a wardrobe that is heavy on the neutrals can be a pro, because it makes pairing a stand-out item all the easier.

J.Crew Minnie pants in red, $90

Outfit: Statement Earrings

 

Following trends from the past year or so, I prefer keeping my earrings on the smaller side, whilst letting the necklaces be the statement pieces.

 However, in keeping with influences from My Love from Another Star (yes...again), I'm starting to reverse that.

Turtleneck - H&M

Skirt - made by me

Booties - Rag & Bone Harrow

Earrings - Urbanite Royal Racquel

 

3 Ways: Easter

I think Easter is probably one of my most favorite yearly "special occasion" (even though I actually don't celebrate it, non-Christian that I am) It has something to do with the warming up of the weather, the shedding of thick, bulky layers, and all the pastel colors and cutesy packaging that comes out.

And of course, the Easter candy.

Here are outfits for 3 different ways of celebrating

1) For the churchgoers

Dress: Catherine Malandrino / Shoes: Pour la Victoire / Necklace: Forever 21 / Earrings: NY & Co

2) For the more fashion forward

Dress: Forever 21 / Shoes: Christian Louboutins / Necklace: Forever 21 / Hair bun: Claire's

3) Casual get-together

Tank: H&M / Skirt: made by me / Wedges: Aldo / Necklace: J.Crew / Earrings: NY & Co

Personally, I would much prefer to be in casual clothes that allows for...complete enjoyment of Easter brunch/lunch/dinner and the running around searching for Easter eggs after =)

Outfit: Headwraps

Like I've mentioned here, I have been obsessed with a Korean drama series recently.
I've never been one who was terribly interested in Korean shows. Hong Kong and Japanese series? Those are more likely.
But upon a monthly favorites recommendation from a fashion blogger, I got curious and decided to check it out.

And immediately got sucked in.

My Love from Another Star, starring Kim Soo-Hyun and Ju Ji-Hyun, is hilarious, heart-breaking, romantic and suspenseful.

Plus, the male lead is absolutely swoon worthy...if I met an alien like him, I'll make a mad dash for him! Always loved the quiet, brooding, mysterious type who is strong, loyal and capable as well....mmmm!

Fashion-wise, I am definitely more drawn towards Do Min-Jun's classic style rather than Cheon Song-Yi, but have managed to get sucked into her headband/wrap style 

(even though I look stupid in them)

So here's a combination of classic with a little bit of oddity thrown in:

 
Shirt - Old Navy

Jeans - Forever 21

Flats - J.Crew

Headwrap - Forever 21

Sunglasses - Kenneth Cole Reaction

You can watch the show, along with other Korean TV series here