It's winter time: Photo shoot + Navy pea coat

A couple weeks ago, a great photographer friend took some semi-professional pics of Nick and I. I took the opportunity to wear my new navy pea coat from Delia's, which I surprisingly love! This was the day the seasons seemed to change over night, from summer... to winter. It's almost like we skipped fall! Which is surprising for Arizona. Anyway, I spared you all the mushy-gushy pictures and picked out a few that showed off my coat the most. Once again I am adding to my collection of nautical things... This coat offers the classic military pea coat shape, with anchors on the buttons! Not to mention the rich navy color and real wool material. I'm in love with it! I'm trying to find more ways to incorporate nautical styles into my winter wardrobe. This is my favorite so far!
I definitely recommend it if you're looking for a reasonably priced wool pea coat. But, I can guarantee the price will lower towards the end of the season... if they're not out of stock by then!




You can sort of see the shape and length of it here. However, I forgot to cut those little threads that are initially there on the back of the coat to hold it together before it's bought. It makes it look funny. Oops!

You can see it here with my lovely Lands' End boots that you've probably seen a couple times in previous posts!

Coat: Delia's 'Devin' Military Pea Coat, size S
Scarf: American Eagle Outfitters
Jeans: American Eagle Outfitters
Boots: Lands' End 'Chalet' pull on boots, sz 8

On Nick:
Shirt: Hollister Co.
Sweater: Lands' End Canvas
Jacket: Hollister Co.
Pants: American Eagle Outfitters
See guys... you can still wear Hollister and American Eagle and not look like you're still stuck in high school! ;)

Enjoy the rest of your week, everyone! :)

Black Friday finds: Rose gold watch

Did anybody fight the crowds on Black Friday? I only went to Target at midnight and found that it wasn't worth waiting two hours in line just to check out! Later on in the day though, I checked out Dillard's to see if there were any deals on a Michael Kors rose gold watch, which I've been wanting for a while. Sadly, no sale on watches! $250 for a watch is very much out of my price range... but right next to the MK watches were a whole bunch of rose gold Fossil watches for less than half the price! They look just like the MK watches to me. So even with no sales, I bought one and I'm so excited about my new purchase!





It looks gold in the pictures... but it is very much the rosy pink gold I love!

I'm not sure what the exact style name, size, or number is of this watch, but it's the mid-sized one with three extras in the face-- Date, hour, and day of the week. It also has glow-in-the-dark hands, but it doesn't seem to glow for too long in the dark, even after activating it in the light. I also had to get two links taken off for a perfectly snug fit. If you're looking for a rose gold (or tortoise) watch but don't want to pay for the MK version, Fossil offers almost exactly similar styles for half the price or less! I'm so excited to wear it with everything. Since I'm not a bracelet person, this is definitely the perfect arm accessory with function!

Anyone out there been lusting after a Michael Kors watch too?
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

A Happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday list...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I'm thankful for so many things, including everyone who reads and follows my blog. I didn't expect to have any followers by this time, really! Thank you for all of your comments and kind words. :) It really motivates me to keep on blogging! I also want to thank you all who have blogs yourself... without you, I wouldn't know what to wear everyday. ;) You all are the BEST!

Moving on... I wanted to share my list of "wants" that I'm saving for Black Friday shopping, which begins at MIDNIGHT! However, I unfortunately live in a small city where our biggest department store is Dillard's and the biggest chain stores in the mall are Victoria's Secret/Bath and Body Works. No fancy clothing stores in our mall! Except for maybe The Children's Place. Ha...
Midnight shopping for me will probably be at Target and later on at Dillard's. The rest will have to be done online, which is what I normally do anyway! Plus there are no crowds to beat. So here we go...

First on my list are some more ballet flats from Lands' End and a couple of their dresses. I'm hoping there's a huge sale going on online because these things are out of my budget when placed all together!



Lands' end cowl neck ponte dress (I plan to get it in petite for a shorter hemline)
Lands' End pintuck dress (once again in petite)
Lands End classic ballet flats
I'm hoping to get the flats in a few colors... but who knows!


Next on the list is Delia's (I know, a store catered to trendy juniors), for a coat and a party dress:

Delia's 'Devin' Military pea coat (I own one in navy blue already... it's my favorite coat of the year! Pics will be up soon.)
Delia's one-shoulder bow dress (This is definitely taking a plunge into something a little out of my classic style, but somehow I really like it.)


Also on my list: Sephora for some makeup (I'm not a big makeup person, but I always use the more quality stuff), Dillard's for a Michael Kors rose gold or tortoise watch (hopefully on sale!), Gap for dress pants and jeans, and Alloy for jeans (still on my hunt for the perfect pair).

It's nothing special, but I just wanted to share. :) I hope you all stumble upon some great finds if you're taking advantage of the sales too!
Enjoy your four-day weekend, everyone! What's on your list for the biggest shopping day of the year?

Daily Outfit: Loving my new flats

The pictures aren't great quality (I'm hoping for a DSLR for Christmas!), but I had to quickly snap these pics after work to beat the sunset. I have two things to show here: one of my outfit variations with my favorite Gap bell dress, and my brand new flats I featured yesterday from Lands' end.



Dress: Gap bell dress, sz 0
Cardigan: Merona for Target, sz XS
Belt: Ann Taylor patent belt, sz XS
Tights: Target
Shoes: Lands' End captoe ballet flats, sz 8
Necklace: Gifted from Nick

I wore these flats all day today with absolutely no discomfort. They are so perfect!

Review: Land's End latest finds

If you saw my previous post here, you'll remember I ordered a few items from the latest Land's End catalog. Well, here they are!


First is the cotton merino fair isle sweater (in XS) that I absolutely loved on the model in the catalog. I've never been a big fan of turtlenecks, but I was really attracted to this one. It's not as form-fitting as it seems on the model (like every other thing we see on the models!) and it's a bit itchy straight out of the box. I think a gentle hand washing and drying may fix that. This was a pricier sweater at around $60, but I think it's perfect for winter.



Next, is the Land's End Canvas thermal knit sweater, which sadly isn't available online anymore! It isn't anything exciting, but I just wanted a thicker cardigan-like sweater for the winter. I have way too many regular cardigans and needed to switch it up.



Lastly and my favorite out of the bunch, are these classic captoe ballet flats in size 8. I got these on sale for about $30 and they are the best pair of flats I have ever put on! They run very true to size, not too loose and not too tight, which is often a problem with flats. The cushioning on the inside is perfect and they are so comfortable to walk in. Not to mention they're very classic! I would definitely recommend these flats to all you readers looking for the perfect pair. I'm thinking about buying another pair now...

Have a great Thanksgiving week, everyone! :)

Daily Outfit: Colored tights

I've never liked wearing tights until recently, when I realized they make your usual summer/fall work outfits look more winter appropriate. I started off with basic black to go with all my skirts and dresses, but yesterday I picked up another black pair...and ended up with a gray pair, a purple pair, and a navy blue pair as well. I figured wearing different colored tights would add some interest to my otherwise basic and neutral work wardrobe.



Blouse: Gap
Skirt: Dillard's juniors dept.
Belt: Ann Taylor patent belt
Tights: Xhilaration for Target
Shoes: Ann Taylor Perfect Patent Pumps

You can't really tell in the pictures, but I wore the purple tights today. I tried to keep the rest of the outfit as neutral as possible, so I think my first attempt went well. My biggest fear with the colored tights is looking like a spunky 5 year old. I really think the key to colored tights is making it the main focus of your outfit. Keep everything either monotone or neutral, or both, which is better (ex: all black or grey with colored tights). I don't think matching your whole outfit to the color of your tights, unless they're black or grey, looks very professional. But maybe that's just me!

What do you all think? I haven't seen many bloggers pulling off colored tights lately! :)

More latest finds... coming soon!

The shorter days make taking daily outfit pictures difficult and lots of college work keeps me from getting anything (like my videos!) done! But of course... there is always time to sneak in some online shopping. :-)
I received Lands' End's new winter catalog a couple weeks ago and was bookmarking so many pages! Lately I've found that Lands' End offers a lot of classic/preppy clothing that I love. While it's ultimately catered to middle aged women, there are some pieces (skirts and dresses) that could be shortened to look more youthful and others (pants, tops, shoes, etc) that could be styled to fit a youthful preference. Lands' End does have a line catered to the younger crowd, Lands' End Canvas, which is one of my favorite stores. Since a lot of the new arrivals are a little expensive for a broke college student like me (but hey, you pay for the great quality!), I only ordered three things:

First is their Emma Classic Cap-toe Ballet flats. A great pair of flats is on my fall/winter wish list, and I thought these would be classic and chic enough to wear with work outfits and casual outfits. I got them in the color shown, which is black and grey. They offer so many other colors and patterns as well.

Next is their Cotton Merino Fair Isle turtleneck sweater. I'm not usually a big fan of turtlenecks, but after seeing this on the model in the catalog wearing this along with these boots (which I own and love), I had to get it! I bought it in the color shown, which is "frontier brown". The price was a little steep, but I figured the quality made up for it.

The last of the bunch from this order was a long sleeve thermal cardigan from Lands' End Canvas in navy blue, which is no longer available! Therefore no picture. :(

I also bought one more thing on a whim that I may return. It's a classic black satin sheath dress from my grandma's favorite store, Newport News. (My grandma is an extremely fashionable lady for her age.) I saw it featured in their catalog while visiting my grandma! This retailer offers more trendy clothing than I prefer, but after seeing the Audrey Hepburn-esque model it caught my eye. The price now is $109 on sale (and is only available in larger sizes now), but I was able to snag this dress for a little under $40, because of their 40% off sale and other promos they offered during Veteran's Day weekend! I must have gotten the last of the small sizes because nothing under a size 10 is available online now. We'll see how it goes! Doesn't it just look so classy?

Lastly, I wanted to say thanks to everyone who is following my blog! I'm new to the blogging world and seeing my number of followers increase every so often is so motivating. Thank you all!! :)

Daily Outfit: Prep School

Deep down inside, I've always wanted to attend a fancy prep school... just for the uniforms. Since that will never happen, there's nothing wrong with trying to dress like it! This was Thursday's outfit for work. I've been late with my blog posts!



Blazer: American Eagle Outfitters (old), sz S
Sweater: Land's End Canvas, sz XXS
Skirt: Gap, sz 0
Tights: Target
Shoes: Gap, sz 8 (old)

Have you ever bought something years ago and let it sit in your closest, only to be found later and absolutely loved? That's the situation with this blazer... my grandma bought it for me a couple years back when I had no sense of style (it was horrible!) so it has just been sitting in my closet the whole time. I just pulled it out now and I love it so much!

On an unrelated note: I've been brainstorming ideas for features on this blog that cater to broke college students (or people on a budget) like me. I know some young professionals can't afford to buy Ann Taylor or J. Crew, and I know it's hard to find classic, quality clothing at cheaper retailers. I'm going to try to do a post every once in a while featuring a whole outfit under $100, if possible. It's going to take some research and lots of clothes hunting, that's for sure! Also, I am working on my first ever fashion video to be posted on YouTube... stay tuned!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)

To Keep or Return: Zara khaki blazer

While out thrifting a couple weeks ago, I stumbled upon this Zara Basic blazer for a great price. It's a size medium, which is not a size I would normally wear, but I tried it on in the store and it seemed fine. Looking at the pictures now, however, I am not too sure. The fit is a little too baggy for me (especially the arms) and I feel the shoulders are too square. It fits okay, but its not perfect, which I think is important for a blazer.






The final verdict is to return...though I can't really return the blazer to the store, that's fine with me because I didn't pay much for it. I will give it away to someone whom it will flatter more!
I find that blazers have to fit you just right to feel confident while wearing it. After consideration, this one just doesn't work for me. An impulse buy gone wrong, once again!

What do you all think of it?

Review: Ann Taylor High Heeled Boots

I've always tended to stray away from boots with a heel because they always seemed awkward looking on other people. However, after seeing so many of them in my fashion magazines, I figured I'd give them a try. I found these Ann Taylor Lavinia pull-on high heeled boots during their 40% off sale, and used the extra 30% off code other bloggers have been providing. For these all leather boots, I paid a little under $150 (full price is $350!). Pictures are blurry because my brother doesn't know how to use the settings on my camera. :-)



With skinny jeans, these boots fit perfectly snug. The heel is the same height as a pair of AT perfect pumps, but the thickness makes it more comfortable and stable to walk in. My only complaint is the shaft height... which comes right at the bottom of my knee. I love tall boots, but these may be just a little too tall. The problem is solved by scrunching them down a bit at the ankle, and I'm hoping they won't be as stiff after a few wears. You can see below how high they come up on my calves.


The verdict: Keep. I think $150 for all-leather Ann Taylor boots that are originally $350 is a great deal. They're comfortable, and the shaft height is only a small problem. However, if you are any shorter than I am, which is about 5' 2.5", these will be much too tall for you! Unless over-the-knee boots is your thing. These aren't the perfect pair of high heel boots, but they're pretty good for a first time owner like me!

Has anyone else found their absolute perfect pair of boots yet? Please share!!
Have a great week everyone!

Daily Outfit: I love Gap

I've been looking for ways to extend those basic sleeveless sheath dresses well into the fall season. I finally thought of a way, which I'm sure everyone knew about besides me! Either way, I love how it worked out. I'm also having so much fun styling my Gap sleeveless bell dress that I reviewed here. It works so well for any season! Plus, layering for fall is the best. I love it!!


I am getting so pale and it's only the beginning of fall! Time for more sunshine and self-tanner. ;)


Blouse: Gap (old now)
Dress: Gap Sleeveless Bell Dress, size 0
Shoes: Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps, sz 7.5
Belt: Ann Taylor patent belt, sz XS

I'll also add in yesterday's outfit-- with a tweed mini from Gap! It's nothing special but I loved how I could use this outfit to wear flats. Pencil skirts and flats don't mix, so I'm in definite need of some minis to wear with tights and flats in the winter.

Skirt: Gap (old now)
Cardigan: Merona for Target
Flats: Gap (very old)
Belt: Ann Taylor patent belt, sz XS

I'm finding that Gap can have some really youthful, modern work clothes at reasonable prices, especially when they have a sale going on. (Great for us young professionals!) I'm hooked for sure. On an unrelated note, if you didn't notice in the pics above, I have an almost perfect bun in my hair... This is now achieved using Goody Spin Pins and a few bobby pins. I've never been able to make a perfect, comfortable bun until now! No more hair ties and lots of styling products! I definitely recommend them!! Has anyone else tried them?

Review: Banana Republic Mad Men Collection Lace Shell

After seeing Jean from ExtraPetite wear this lace shell from Banana Republic months ago, I had to get one! However, the original price of $60 kept me from buying one right away. Luckily, these lace shells from BR's Mad Men collection have gone on sale and are deeply discounted, at around $25 a piece (I got them for $18 with a promo code). However, they aren't exactly what I expected...

First up: BR lace shell in cream, size small. Looking at these pics here, you'd say it's not flattering. The length is too short, it flares out in the front, and the arm holes are too big. Other bloggers who have tried this top have also said the same thing!

But tuck it into a pencil skirt and it looks just fine. I don't think I would ever wear this untucked over a skirt or pants, so wearing it this way works for me.

I bought the black in size XS, and while it does feel better while wearing it, it's absolutely tiny on me untucked!

Tucked into a pencil skirt looks better once again.

And... this is how I wore the cream shell today. These tops definitely need a jacket or cardigan over them to look appropriate. As for the final verdict, I'm so glad I waited until they went on sale because they aren't worth $60. The quality of the tops seem surprisingly mediocre as compared to BR's other "high class" items. In the end though, I'll definitely be keeping both.

Tops: Banana Republic Mad Men Collection lace shell, in cream (sz S) and black (sz XS)
Skirts: Dillard's (old)
Cardigan: Merona for Target, sz XS
Belt: Ann Taylor patent skinny belt, sz XS