Friday, October 31, 2014

Halloween 2014: DIY Gumball machine costume

DIY gumball machine costume

I am not a huge fan of Halloween. It’s mostly for the kids. This year, my girlfriends talked me into dressing up for Halloween. I scouted Pinterest for costume ideas and stumbled upon this one. I thought it was cute, easy enough to make and also age-appropriate =) I stopped by the mall 3 days in a row and couldn't find a basic knit red skirt for the life of me. I then settled for this one from H&M. I could do without the zippers but this skirt was my best (and only) option. The rest of the tutorial is pretty self-explanatory. You'll need: a basic white tee, a mini red skirt, a piece of gray felt and pom pomsHave fun and stay safe on Halloween!


DIY Gumball machine costume

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Weekend outfit: Apple picking

Puffer vest

A few photos from our trip to an apple orchard last weekend. The weather was absolutely beautiful. We're trying to squeeze in another Fall foliage trip this weekend before the leaves disappear for the winter. I hope you enjoy all the fun festivities so far this Fall and have your costume ready for Halloween. This year I decided to make my own costume. Check back Friday to see the final product! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it’ll turn out OK =)

Apple picking outfit

What I am wearing:
Vest: A&F *old* (almost identical here and here)
Shirt: Target (buy one get one 50% off)
Denim: Mavi Serena - size 25
Watch: Daniel Wellington Canterbury
Boots: Hunter original high gloss

Monday, October 27, 2014

Fall Fashion Series: Leopard cardigan

Ann Taylor leopard cardigan

Continuing with my Fall Fashion series, the next installment is all about the leopard print. My love for animal prints continue to grow as I get older. I believe animal print can be so chic and look very sophisticated if done right. I wouldn't wear head to toe leopard print but a small does is always welcome. This leopard cardigan is the perfect piece to pair with this rather plain shirt dress.  Happy Monday, everyone! Linking up with Manic Monday today.

Michael Kors shirt dress

What I am wearing:
Shirt dress: Michael Kors shirt dress *old*
Cardigan: Ann Taylor *old* (similar for under $20)
Shoes: Banana Republic *old* (this year's version)
Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana

Friday, October 24, 2014

Review: Tieks by Gavrieli in Cardinal Red

Tieks flats in cardinal red

At 5’2”, I definitely love the extra height that heels give me. I own one pair of neutral flats and wear on the daily commute. I switch to heels when I get to work. After 2 years, there is literally a hole in the back of the right shoe. I was on the lookout for a replacement before winter approaches. I've heard so many great things about Tieks flats and decided to give them a try. First problem – so many color to choose from. I spent the longest time debating over what color to order. I ended up getting the classic version in cardinal red (also available in prints, patents and vegans). I figured, since I wear mostly neutrals, they will add a bit of interest to my outfits.

Tieks flats in cardinal red

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how gorgeous the packaging is? Inside the box, the flats were folded up all nice and neat. Each pair comes with its own pouch which is ideal for travel. Not only are they super practical, but they are stylish and versatile as well! Who doesn't love the signature Tieks turquoise soles, right? I received recently and haven’t had a chance to wear them for a long period of time. However, they are comfortable, don't give me blisters and feel broken in at first wearing. They really do mold to your individual feet and get more comfortable with each wear.

Tieks flats in cardinal red

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Get It or Forget It: A dupe for Anatasia brow wiz

A dupe for Anatasia brow wiz

I am a huge fan of the Anatasia brow wiz. I love everything about it. However, at $21, I find it's hard to justify. The pencil only lasts me about a month. If you're in a search for an Anatasia brow wiz dupe, I highly recommend you give the Almay brow defining pencil a try. As you can tell from the picture, both colors are almost identical. The Almay pencil is just a tad softer and darker. The Almay brow defining pencil retails for $7.49 at Ulta. I typically buy 2 at the time and use this coupon to get an extra $3.50 off my purchase. That reduces the cost to $5.75 each vs. $21 for the Anatasia brow wiz. The Almay pencil comes with a spooly on the other side as well. It works just as good and costs 1/3 of the Anatasia brow wiz.

Almay brow defining pencil

Sunday, October 19, 2014

September purchase: Rue Gembon Tess earrings

Rue Gembon Tess earrings

I decided to return the jacket I reviewed here. The jacket was nice but it wasn't special enough for me to keep. These earrings were the only purchase I made for the month of September. I adore them! They're very unique and different than my every day studs. I get compliments every time I wear them. This was my first time order from Rue Gembon and I am impressed. My order arrived within a week (they're located in Hong Kong). These earrings look very nice in person and definitely catch the attention. If you're looking for a pair of studs with a twist, I highly recommend you try them out. Shop their entire ear jackets here.

Rue Gembon Tess earrings

Wearing: Rue Gembon earrings (almost identical here) | Dolce & Gabanna sunglasses | Cover Girl lipstick (delish - 255)

Disclaimer: Not a sponsored post. I purchased these earrings with my own money =)

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Review: Burberry Brit Cornsdale puffer coat

Burberry Cornsdale puffer


Despite all the jackets I've hoarded over the years, I didn't own a puffer coat previously. My father-in-law graciously gave me a Saks gift card for Christmas and I planned to use it towards a puffer jacket. I unexpectedly have found a trench coat that I've been wanting in March. Getting another pricey jacket in April was definitely out of the question. I put my gift card back in my wallet and waited for Saks second F&F in October. I went to my local Saks late August and tried on a few puffer jackets beforehand. This little number definitely stood out.

Burberry Cornsdale puffer

Come October 1st, I stopped by again and asked my SA if she could put the jacket on hold for me despite the fact that she didn't even know the exact sale date. My jacket is held in the stock room for almost 2 weeks. She finally called and informed me that Burberry is excluded from F&F sale this time. It was a major disappointment. Even though it’s excluded from the sale, I decided to pull the trigger and used my gift card towards the purchase. If you sign up for their mailing list, you’ll get a unique code for 10% off (takes about 2 to 3 days for the code to be arrived). Not a huge savings but it does help. This coat is available at SaksSpring and Bloomingdales

Sunday, October 12, 2014

3-in-1 trench coat

OASAP Trench Coat 1

I love trench coats and this particular one is super unique. You can actually wear it in 3 different ways. Even though the quality is nothing to write home about, the versatility kinda makes up for it. We took a drive to rustic countryside for some Fall activities yesterday and this jacket served me well - from the brisk morning to the warm afternoon.

  OASAP Cropped Trench

What I am wearing:
Trench: Double-breasted trench coat c/o OASAP
Dress: Express *old* (buy similar here or under $25 here)
Booties: Dolce Vita ankle booties (50% off)
Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana
Earrings: Rue Gembon Tess earjackets (almost identical here)
Cuff : Express bar cuff (30% off)
Lipstick: Covergirl lipstick in delish

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

August purchase: Chanel caviar wallet on chain (WOC)

Chanel caviar WOC

August purchase was actually a gift from the husband. We just celebrated our milestones anniversary last month. The plan was to take a trip somewhere but his travel schedule was just too crazy for the month of September. Since we decided to forgo the trip, he said I can cross something off my wishlist as a gift for our anniversary =) I ended up getting the Chanel wallet on chain in navy. I was looking for a non-black, caviar, silver-hardware WOC and this little beauty couldn't be more perfect. I can't even express how much I adore this bag. It's classic, timeless and functional at the same time. I am not going to review this bag. These days, you probably can find anything you want to know with a few Google searches. Pre-own Chanel WOCs are widely available on the market these days. Just a quick search I found many pre-owned versions available here or get the exact same one here.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Burgundy denim & striped sweater

Burgundy denim

If I was to describe the perfect Fall outfit for me, this would be it. I love a pair of rich colored jeans paired with a chunky knit sweater. Of course, a bold lip really helps pulling the look together. Now that Fall is officially here, I look forward to taking a drive to see the foliage, Fall festivals, pumpkin carving, Halloween and let's not forget the football season is in full swing. What activities do you look forward to in the Fall? Happy Monday! Linking up with Manic Monday, today

Burgundy denim

What I am wearing:
Denim: Fidelity Belvedere - size 25 via TBJB
Sweater: Joe's Jeans striped sweater
Pumps: Charles  by charles david
Sunglasses: Dolce & Gabbana
Lips: NYX in Auburn

Friday, October 3, 2014

Boden City Padded Jacket

Boden City Padded Jacket

I am a bit of a snob when it comes to outerwear. Every Fall, I look forward to adding a new jacket to my closet. Over the years, I have built up quite a collection of coats. However, most of them are neutral. This year, I am looking forward to add more fun elements to my outerwear collection such as prints, bright colors and textures. Since most of my clothes are in neutral colors, this adorable quilted jacket adds instant excitement to any outfit. It is the perfect transitional jacket for this time of year. A size 2 petite is nearly a perfect fit for me right off the rack. Not to mention the adorable lining! Measurements are as follows: shoulder-to-shoulder = 14.5", sleeve length = 25", body length = 24". Most of the online reviews said the jacket runs small and I tend to agree. One thing I didn't like about the jacket is that it flares too much toward the bottom. Please note that the color was definitely not red as seen online. It's more like a raspberry color in person. This jacket is great for both work and play. I wore it to go apple picking last weekend and have gotten many compliments. All in all, it's a light weight, well-constructed jacket and most likely would be a good option when it's 50 degrees or above outside. If you're interested in this jacket or any items from Boden, please use this link that include a special discount code for 15% off plus free shipping through 10/4/2014.

Boden City Padded Jacket

What I am wearing:
Dress: H&M sweater dress *old* (similar, similar)
Jacket: City padded jacket c/o Boden - size 2P
Booties: Banana Republic (this year's version)
Sunglasses: LOFT

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Banana Republic Petite Textured Moto Jacket

Banana Republic Petite Textured Moto Jacket

I wanted to quickly review the petite textured moto jacket just in case you’re interested. As mentioned here, my size was not available at the time so I order the 00 in petite to try. The jacket fits just like I expected. Measurements of a size 00P: shoulder-to-shoulder = 14.5”, length = 20” , sleeve length = 20”. This jacket is absolutely perfect for this time of the year. My only complaint is that the sleeves run short. They are about 2 inches above my wrists. Also, please keep in mind that the jacket is 100% unlined. I personally don’t think it’s worth full price. However, it's reasonably priced at 40% off.

   Banana Republic petite textured moto jacket

I absolutely love the new BR. Thanks to Marissa Webb as the new creative director. Everything looks so fresh and modern. I can’t remember the last time I actually bought something from BR. I got the new catalog in the mail yesterday and am drooling over everything.