Playing ball

 

 similar items: shirt dress, wrap bracelet, wedge sandals

You know the general rule not to ask a woman if she's pregnant unless she is actually in labor? Let's add another level to that: "If she has confirmed her pregnancy, don't ask if she's in her third trimester - unless she is actually in labor." No, not even close to third trimester, thank you very much, but clearly taking that as a hint to stop waddling when I walk. It's going to be a loooong summer.

PS - why does something the size of a softball need a house the size of a volleyball? I just don't get it. 

PSS - my legs really are that fluorescently white. It's not just a fancy Photoshop effect. It's a fancy wear-jeans-year-round effect. Stylist trick. Take note.

Lazy days

Another attempt at a back lit shot (like this one) but it just didn't turn out the same. That's not going to keep me from continuing to try though. Who needs to workout, when you have faux-tography on your side?

This sweatshirt may be the best $2.80 I've ever spent. It's the perfect oatmeal-gray color, lightweight, soft, comfortable, and less than a kids meal at Chick-Fil-A. I saw it hanging misplaced at the end of a rack with a $6 sale tag as I perused through the accessories. What a happy surprise when it rang up for less than the bracelet. Yes, it's these little surprises in life that keep me going. That, and the educational prize included with Chick-Fil-A kids meal.

Designer doodie

You've probably heard me preach the 3-outfit-rule many times on this blog (and even on other blogs), so here's to putting my outfit where my preach is. This is outfit #2 with the mustard sweater. Outfit #1 was pretty lame but what do you expect from someone with half-a-lung that's been in bed all week?

This mustard sweater is the perfect example of how something looks like a good idea in the store, in expensive lighting, but closely resembles the color of baby poop in real life. You may not be able to tell in this photo, as this photo seems to be the most flattering picture I've taken of myself in a long time. (If only I were wearing make-up!) Seriously, I look insanely skinnier than I really am (on the right) but it's just the lighting! How can I walk around back-lit for the rest of my life?

Sunday funday

While your Sunday funday may consist of day-drinking and watching football games (is football still on?), mine is a shower and a trip to the grocery. Jealous?

I really just wanted to wear this sweater with the same sweats I've been wearing the past week to pull off a similar look to this one from last fall, but it turns out wearing the same pants 24/7 outside of the house is considered "poor hygiene". Pffffsssshhh.

Buy similar pieces:
Mustard cardigan 27.80
Fuschia tank 16.00
Skinny jeans 69.95
Black glitter ballet flats (not what I'm wearing but they're cute) on sale 31.82

Hats off

The truth behind today's look: my hair was beyond 'messy ponytail' and had entered into 'pre-dreadlock' state. So when I had to run a quick errand before having a chance to shower, I was left with no choice but to throw a hat over this mess. Unfortunately, I don't wear hats, even though I love them. This one, originally my grandfather's, is the only one I own. (In other news, my head is as large as my grandfather's.) 

Despite a few awkward stares (mostly from older men - did they own a hat like this?), I liked my new accessory. I think I may even branch out into more styles. A big floppy hat? Maybe a beanie? Or a fur trapper! Think of all the bad hair days this will save! And good-bye showers!

Do you wear hats? What's your favorite style?
And what do you do to hide bad hair days?

PS - do you like my new shoes? Major score for $14.99 at Target! They were the only pair left in the clearance rack - which I happened to be walking past on the way to check out (and not even looking at shoes), so it was meant to be. Happy shopping trip accomplished.

Gray days and blue jeans

Click links below to view or purchase similar items:

cobalt blue jeans 57.50  ||   flat desert boot 38  ||  white button-up 19.99  

similar beaded necklace 24.88  ||  similar box chain necklace 18

I'm pretty sure I got dressed in under a minute this morning, which is record time for me. A white-button up (with the looks-effortless-but-actually-just-lazy front tuck), new colored denim, suede peep-toe booties, a couple long necklaces and I was out the door. I usually roll up the sleeves of everything, but this time, I kept them long and left the cuffs unbuttoned to add to the polished-effortless look.

I used to have this thing where I couldn't wear bright colors on gray days, but today I threw caution to the wind and wore my bright, happy pants even though it was dark and dreary. I'm such a risk taker.

Do you have any personal fashion *things*? 

And not wearing white after Labor Day doesn't count. That's just silly.

Black and white

Halloween and pumpkin-picking evoke black and white stripes from my closet. Here, a striped sweater layered over a boys' gingham shirt with white jeans and a suede ankle boot freshen up the look. Wear the shirt hem sticking out from the sweater, untucked, with sleeves rolled up for a casual look, or button up to the neck for prepster cool. 

Bonus: everything listed is under $100, half of it under $40!

  

Click on the links to view or purchase:

boys gingham shirt 29.95 //  stripe sweater 34.94  //  structured satchel 38.00  // ankle boot 79.90  //  glasses 58

We're all in agreement that it's ok to wear white after Labor Day, right? Don't argue with me. You can. Because I said so. (I'm practicing my mom voice.) If you don't already have white jeans, then find some great deals on designer jeans at 40-60% off regular prices: here-99.99, here-77.00, here-79.00, cropped here-77.00. Sizes are limited because they're on sale, so check each link and you may get lucky to find yours.

How are you wearing white this fall/winter?

Ready for some football?

It's fall and football season, which means, inevitably, I'll be going to some football watching party and hanging out near the food table Tweeting about how I have no idea what's going on. I enjoy all the fun and cheering and camaraderie, but really, I'm there for the food.

Since the weather in Texas is fickle, I have two bottoms prepared for my game watching outfit: cutoff denim shorts or my favorite red jeans (which I will likely be wearing most of fall).

Click to view or purchase:

baseball tee 42.50  ||  hat 21.95 ||  shorts 14.80  ||  red jeans 196 ||  shoes138

Do you like watching football? Who's your favorite team?

Casual Tuesdays

I sprained my ankle this evening because I wore clogs to the playground. Genius, I know. I was wearing faded jeans and my Crew Cuts tee with hair in a ponytail, so cute tennies would have just added to the 10-yr old Asian boy look. Not something I was going for - at least not today. So tomorrow, I must wear my riding boots. Real riding boots, for real equestrians. I am definitely not one, but I scored a custom-made pair in just my size. They have arch support and lots of ankle support, which is what I'll need when running around all day.

Wish I had a denim shirt to pull off this easy, pulled-together look:

Black blazer 71 || Jeans 50 || Denim shirt 20 || Cross body handbag 32 ||  Gold shawl 28 ||  Riding Boots  35

{How To} wear a scarf as a top

With the heat barely dropping below 105 degrees the last 40 days in a row, I've wanted to wear as little clothing as possible.  So when it was time to go to brunch with friends, I thought, "Could I just go naked?" (Answer: not again.)  Instead, I pulled out this old scarf and wore it as a top.  It's so thin and lightweight, I'm planning to wear it every weekend until the weather drops well into the double digits.

Boho bottoms

In case you were curious about the bottom half of my date night outfit...

See, I was actually wearing pants!  The wide-leg, high-waist, super paper soft variety.  While I love the skinnies, these babies are the perfect, lightweight pair to have on summer nights when you didn't shave your legs the restaurant will be on full-blast air-conditioning.

Make it work for you:

• Top: My top is an embellished-neck silk blouse I bought years ago at Neiman Marcus.  It isn't meant to be worn with anything underneath but it's so low-cut on me that I risk a wardrobe malfunction, so I found a camisole to layer under.  Now that I have a little one, I'm not wearing silk on a regular weekend day, nor am I bothering with the underpinning-and-extra-straps-while-carrying-a-baby issue.  This top has the same boho feel but much more user-friendly.
• Jeans: Unfortunately, my 7 for all mankind jeans from Saks Fifth Avenue are no longer available in that wash but the same fit is available this darker wash. These Gap jeans aren't as soft, but for $34.99, you can't go wrong.
• Shoes: The shoes are Michael Kors wooden platform heels (shown here), which is not recommended when you're drinking and walking.  Definitely not recommended when you're running after a busy toddler.  Stick with flats with a 1" wedge and wide leg jeans for that easy boho feel. If you need extra height (do we have to sacrifice height for children?) these wedges are a cool bohemian alternative.
• Extras: Add a statement necklace with all the right natural elements and a small suede clutch to finish off the look.

A nod to patriotism?

 

Yesterdays outfit on today's person.  I've just realized that I'm pulling the whole "patriotic-American-look-on-foreigner" on this our nation's Independence Day.  When I bought the shirt, I was actually thinking it would be more of a Parisian look with the stripes and skinny pants.  (Ironic, oui?)  

Now, let me spell the irony out for you just so we're crystal clear:   Asian + wearing red, white, blue on Independence Day + thinking it looks Parisian = WTF.  

Side note: I also thought if I threw my white blazer over this outfit, it would look more nautical.  So now, I'm an Asian attempting a nautical look (read: fresh off the boat)???  I need to stop.

Now on to the fun stuff...we went to a couple museums, which seemed to be a popular idea as everyone was escaping the summer heat.  I was almost run over by three strollers (not including my own), knocked over by a large derriere, included in countless photos, and hugged by a child that didn't belong to me.  Despite the crowds, we had a really good time and enjoyed all of the activities for kids.  What have you been up to?

{chic finds} in the kids section

I took my own advice (because it's really that good) and picked up a couple items from my favorite children's stores.  The striped top is from Crew Cuts boys and with the additional 30% off sale prices, I paid only $6.99!  The watch is a silicone slap bracelet (remember those?) from Nordstrom girls.  At $16, you can buy several colors and layer them on like you did back in the day when you were looking at Zack Morris pictures in Teen Bop magazine. It's, like, totally.

We're off to begin our Fourth of July weekend festivities which will include eating, eating and more eating.  Cause the "honey badger's a hungry bastard."  (Watch the video.  Make sure you empty your bladder first.  It's that funny.)

Pants on fire

I finally wore my red pants again.  I've only worn them once because all the looks I had envisioned made me feel like a clown.  A clown in stylish red pants.  So I pulled out one of my favorite blouses, my old white blazer, and did my best impression of a giant rainbow popscicle with all the bright color and me melting in this heat.  I think I succeeded, don't you?

I found this new filter in Photoshop and tested it out with these pictures.  I was hoping it would distract you from my poor picture taking skills.  Did it work?

Here you go - untouched.  I love this blouse.  It's as comfortable as a t-shirt, but in a silk fabric so it's dressier.  I've had it for a couple of years and usually wear it back to black pants, white jeans, or a high waist pencil skirt so the colors and print could stand out on their own.  I like it with my new clown pants, though, because the red in the print marries the red pants without looking too Garanimals.  

BTW - The blouse is supposed to look wrinkled - I wasn't just being lazy this morning.  That's a lie.  I was. 

Coral craze

If black is the predominant color in my closet for fall, then coral rules the spring and summer.  What do you think about that, Ken Downing?

Exhibit A is my latest purchase.  I bought it for a wedding, but decided it wasn't dressy enough, so now it's just my new summer maxi.  You may be thinking that it looks suspiciously similar to Exhibit C, but you would think wrong.  Obviously, A is a maxi and C is shorter with kimono sleeves.  Duh.  B (not fully shown) and D are the same stretch poplin fabric, but one is sleeveless and one is a shirt-dress. Side note: I think the turquoise tassel necklace is the perfect accessory to wear back to all my coral, don't you?  It's my latest purchase and you will be seeing it often.  Or not, since I don't take daily outfit pictures.

Anyway, this is four coral dresses with two more in the laundry basket.  As with birds, I clearly tend to gravitate towards coral dresses when shopping.  In my defense, I mostly wear dresses in the summer because I just don't think the world needs to see so much of my thighs in shorts.  (Ok, not really, I just think dresses don't look as sloppy as shorts.  Unless I'm wearing this outfit, which I have been the past two weekends.)

So if we have any plans this summer, you know what I'll be wearing.

Tuesday's repeat

This is what you throw on when Monday rolls around faster than you expected.  This is also what you throw on when you forget that you had an appointment first thing Tuesday morning and your alarm doesn't go off.  I changed the shoes and bracelets, in case a quick accessory change qualifies as a whole new look (like eye glasses and Clark Kent).  Good thing I don't see the same clients two days in a row or they would start to question my qualifications for working in fashion. 

I'm really loving this cool May weather, aren't you?  If this is what it's like on the west coast, I'll see you guys there in June.  You'll recognize me because I'll be wearing the same thing.   Honestly, if you felt the buttery leather on this cognac jacket, you wouldn't ever take it off either.  mmmmm, butter.
 
**My mom took these pictures, so you can see how my poor photography skills were inherited from her.

Sisterhood of the red pants

I found them.  And immediately wore them this weekend.  If you can't wear orange + red to a two-year-old girl's birthday party, when can you wear it? I think my dog wasn't sure who I was since I was not in black, gray, white, or navy.  Or maybe he had me confused for one of the two-year-old girls wearing the same thing.

The pants aren't really jeans, like the JBrands -- they're even better.  Lightweight, soft, zippered ankle and gold rivets, a great tomato red color - and the best part, under $40! Thanks, Zara!  And thanks, Ahn, for spending so much time in there and enticing me to go. 

PS - This is why I don't post outfit pictures. Despite my Asian genes, I am incapable of taking a good one.

PSS - I may wear mostly neutrals, but evidently, I'm drawn to orange. (See here, here, here, here.) Problems.

You say tomato, I say coral

I've been on the hunt for red (or coral) jeans since I spied these J Brands at Neiman Marcus.  I live in jeans and white shirts in the summer - usually of the Hanes mens v-neck 3-in-a-pack variety - so I thought a bright color on the bottom may spice things up around here.

blazer, jeans, scarf, oversized clutch, sandals

I've been wearing my old white blazer so much that it's turning into a lovely shade of dirty-kids-hands. Care instructions say "dry clean only" but it's 100% cotton, so I don't see why it can't be tossed in the wash.  Famous last words, right?

White hot weekend

I have an old white suit that I've worn about 3 times since I bought it 5,349 seasons ago.  I love the fit of the blazer but the pants have, ahem, "shrunk in the wash".  So now my nail-the-interview-white-suit has turned into my spring-weekend-casual-white-blazer.  Worn with a soft cotton tee, baggy denim shorts and sandals, my favorite suit jacket has found new life.  Unfortunately, the pants are waiting for the 30-day workout to show results.

Here's a similar look:

blazer (86.99 orig 150)  shorts (17.80)  tee (21.00)  bib necklace (16.99)  ball necklace (26.90)  sandals (49.00)

If you have an old blazer, you could crop the sleeves to give it a more casual and modern feel like the one above.  Denim shorts are best when worn a little baggy and not too short or tight.  Even though the 70's style is back, trashy is not.  Shorts not your thing?  Try boyfriend jeans for a similar, easy look.

Black and white

Source: Uploaded by user via Cameron on Pinterest

Isn't this just an easy look to meet friends for coffee on a Saturday morning, peruse around a flea market, ride your beach cruiser bike around the city with fresh flowers in the basket...wait, I was day dreaming again...

Cut to real life: wake early, make breakfast, play with Bitty, try not to get strawberry-jam-baby-hands on white skirt, run errands, find peanut butter in your hair (again), lunch, nap time/clean up, bathe, dinner, bed.....

Ahhhh, well, a girl can dream.

Get the look here:

• Striped top, 39.99
• Skirt, 89 - not the exact same but still a really cool look
• Belt, 14.50
• Hat, 40 - complete with red feather
• Glasses