A New Month, A New Goal

My mini-shopping ban is technically over but I’m extending it for the entire month of September.

I have to gradually build up my discipline when it comes to shopping and learn to say no. It’s so easy to keep purchasing new items, but it’s much better to remix items and get the most wear out of them. When I walk around the store, I’m learning to turn things down because it looks like some version of an item I already own.

However, I will allow myself one clothing item and one accessory this month to soften the blow. A blouse from fredflare and a pendant watch necklace from Free People because they are season-less and classic.

Fall is quickly on its way (though it doesn’t feel like it) and I’m sure I have clothes for this season. One month of no-shopping can’t hurt and it’ll allow me to exercise better self-control when it comes to clothes.

Wish me luck! =)

Petite Fashion Challenge #1 – Do a Petite Don’t

For the first Petite Fashion Challenge, I decided to do capris. After all, capri pants are notorious for being unfriendly to petites since they chop off the leg line and could make the legs look shorter.

When I wear capris, I usually pair them with sandals to go the beach. The shorter length of the pant is perfect for tiptoeing in the water without getting your pants wet.

For this specific cut and style of capri pant, there are a couple of plus and minuses to it.

Pros

• The relatively dark wash streamlines the look of the capri pant
• The small flare at the bottom balances out the hips

Cons

• The low rise shortens the leg line
• The cropped length also shortens the leg line

To combat the negative elements of my capri pants, I wear open toed sandals or shoes to elongate the leg line. However, wearing flats can only add so much to the leg line and the proportions are not quite right.

(If I had a more fitted shirt..it might help as long as I don’t fully cover the waistband.)

But what about a weekend brunch outfit with capri pants?

I don’t really dress up for brunch, so I kept the same outfit but changed the shoes. More specifically, I put on a pair of nude wedges. The nude color combined with the additional height of the wedge extends the leg line so that the legs look longer.

If I still want to wear capris, in the future, I’d look for the following elements to get the “best” looking capri pant for my petite stature and body shape:

• A high or mid rise pant
• A small flare at the bottom
• A dark or uniform wash
• A style that cuts close to the body

How about you readers?

Do you wear capris and what elements do you look for?

A Flashback …Plus, I Need Your Input!

A few weeks ago, I was supposed to hang out with one of my good friends but she needed to run a few errands before our meeting. So I went to the local Goodwill to kill some time. They were having a sale on dresses for $3.99 that day so I went straight for the dress racks.

Most of the time, there’s nothing for me, but that day, there was this awesome 100% silk dress that looked brand new. I checked the tag and it said Robbie Bee Petite, Size 4. It required a little fixing since there were two missing buttons and the elastic was stretched out at the waist. I decided to purchase it and figure out its potential later.

The dress looks pretty good in its original state.

Outfit Details: Robbie Bee Petite – 4 (Goodwill), Valentino Garavani heels (DecadesTwo)

Totally 80’s right?

Well, here’s where I need your input and your fashion advice.

I want to do a DIY project with this dress, but I’m not sure how to proceed because I have several ideas. So I’m leaving it up you readers to decide for me.

You can provide other ideas in the comments below! =)

The Neutral Zone

Outfit Details: BCBG dress + belt – XXS, DIY necklace (gift), Aldo pumps

When I’m feeling lazy, I just want to put on a dress and get going. It takes too much effort to think about separates sometimes. So this outfit is very basic but it still looks put together.

My birthday is tomorrow and I have no idea what I’ll be doing…probably nothing. I’m not one to make a huge fuss about these things so I’d rather have a low-key day.

Another year older is another reminder of how quickly time passes. There’s so much I want to do, but I always give out the excuse that “I don’t have the time” or “Someday.” In reality, I never know what the day brings and things I push for those somedays may quickly become never. So, I’m really trying to accomplish what I keep pushing back. Things as simple as visiting a friend, going camping, or touring another state.

I’ve also been thinking about no-spending days. Last Sunday, I went on a 7 mile hike around Mt. Hollywood and it was amazing! Every once in a while, it’s nice to get away from the city and see things from a different perspective.

The Hollywood Sign is on the left hill in the photo. You can barely make it out, but it’s there.

I loved watching the horses go by…apparently this is part of the trail that was featured on Girls Next Door.

And this crew beat us to the peak by taking all the steep shortcuts up the mountain. But the view was totally worth it.

What Did I Get at H&M?

It’s been about a year since I bought clothes from H&M.

I had a notorious addiction to H&M for a while because it was relatively cheap, trendy, and available. When I noticed that I was buying things on a whim instead of really loving a piece, I had to put an end to it. So, I refused to go into the store for a few months and pretty soon, I almost forgot that H&M existed.

Still, I needed to confront my shopping demon vis-à-vis. After all, what’s the use of being a “recovered addict” if you still have an unhealthy attraction for your past temptation? The true test comes when you can still retain your senses and make good decisions despite being in a high-risk situation.

For me, I needed to go back to H&M and see if the pull to purchase could be tamed. If I could walk away from the store with nothing in hand, it would be a victory. But even if I did purchase something, it had to be something of value, quality, and would stand the test of time. I don’t want to buy any more clothes that will look ridiculous to wear five years down the road. It sounds a bit excessive, but I think it’s proper planning for my wardrobe.

After all, I don’t want to be one of those people who wear only 20% of the items in their closet on a regular basis. I prefer to maximize my clothing “investments” and make sure that I’m getting the most use out of it. What’s the point of having beautiful clothes but it never gets worn?

But anyways, back to H&M.

What did I get?

Review: Fred Flare – Amelia Top

Taking some cues from Emma Pillsbury from Glee, Zooey Deschanel, and all other retro-styled characters/celebrities, I decided to take my chances and create a look that nods to the past while maintaining a contemporary and modern aesthetic.

I saw this adorable button back Amelia top at fredflare.com and thought it would make a great addition to my wardrobe. It’s in a print, not low-cut, and has a nice matte look to it that caught my eye.

In XS, it fits well overall without any strange bunching or sagging.

Review: Theory Ibbey Pant

Just like finding a great pair of jeans, a great pair of trousers is just as difficult to find.

I wanted a pair of slim fitting pants in suiting material that was of good quality and fit me perfectly. I had marginal success with Banana Republic but I didn’t buy the pair because it didn’t make me feel special. They fit decently, but they were kind of…eh.

Thus, I wandered into Theory and tried on a few pairs of pants. It seemed like AlterationsNeeded and PetiteAsianGirl from ExtraPetite had success with jackets and skirts, but what about pants?

I tested out two pairs of pants in size 00 since last time I tried on size 0 pants, they practically fell off me.

At first glance, the Cerdwin K pant had good potential since they were considered “drainpipe” leg elongators. However, in size 00, the pant felt loose overall and had a gap in the waist area. It looked unflattering on my frame. Plus, in the Cupid fabric, the material composition was 71% viscose, 23% polyamide, and 6% elastane which meant that it had a stretchy, knit-like quality that felt a bit strange. I had to pass on this style.