Uninspired...

by Jen on Sunday, October 31, 2010



Maybe it's the weather, but I've been feeling quite uninspired and not in the best of moods lately. I don't celebrate Halloween so this weekend was basically spent sleeping with feeble attempts at studying. What did you do this weekend?







I also have to confess that it was actually quite cold while these photos were being taken and that the little lace top was nowhere near warm enough for the night. So he was there in between shots with my jacket to warm me up (I am spoiled!).



Wearing: Jacob lace button up shirt, self made red skirt, Joe Fresh charcoal tights, Zara peeptoes, H&M hat, House of Harlow 1960 and Forever 21 jewelry

Caped

by Jen on Wednesday, October 27, 2010



Photos by Tiffany Liao

I am not understanding the weather here in Vancouver. One day it's cold and wet enough for a waterproof down jacket, and the next it is gorgeous and the beautiful colours of the autumn leaves are perfectly reflected in the sun's warm rays. But hey, not like I am complaining. The weather was so lovely today, we had to take advantage of it and take some photos (and take the MK Hamilton out again).... on the beautiful campus of the school I attend, no less!



This amazing cape was my last significant purchase before the ban commenced. I haven't felt this way about an article of clothing in a long time, but every time I put it on I feel instantly put together! Ever since I purchased this cape, I kind of feel like never wearing any other kind of outerwear ever again and want to stock up on them (after the ban, of course). Is anyone as infatuated with capes as I am??







And those of you who said you wanted to see more of my personal life... the last photo is a pretty good indication of that. In spite of the ensembles that make me seem all prim and proper... I am really kind of silly at heart. :)

P.S. Almost every element of this outfit has been re-worn from previous posts. Please refer to the links below if you want to see how!

P.P.S. I am looking forward to sitting down and replying to each and every one of your comments. I apologize for the delay!

Wearing: H&M leopard print cardi (last seen here), Zara cape, Love 21 skirt, tights from Japan, belt taken from Madison Marcus dress, Roberto Vianni boots (last seen here), Michael Kors sunnies (last seen here), Noir statement earrings (last seen here), Michael Kors Hamilton (last seen here)

Autumn Showers

by Jen on Sunday, October 24, 2010



Brr! It's getting cold here. Today, I restyled a skirt worn here to make it more fitting for the Fall weather.



Anyway, time to cut to the chase. I have been shopping very excessively and frankly, I need to stop! I've made this effort several times to no avail, but I am hoping for this time to be different. So I will be putting myself on a "ban" for 27 days-- until November 20th (which happens to be the launch of the Lanvin x H&M collection)-- with you wonderful ladies to keep me accountable! I know, 27 days may seem like child's play to the average citizen, but I'm quite sure that as fellow bloggers, you know where I'm coming from. The halt to shopping will also serve well as a reminder to myself that style is never based on having shiny new things. So please track my journey with me throughout this next month as I attempt to get creative with my closet!







Wearing: Zara silk leopard print top, H&M skirt, tights and OTK socks, Zara booties, Vince cashmere sweater

Giveaway Winner

by Jen

And the winner of the Amrita Singh statement cuff is...

Kara of the blog ...of moments in moonlight!

Congratulations, gorgeous girl! Kara always creates inspiring outfits (go check her out!) and I can't wait to see her style this one!

Mr. Waise

by Jen on Thursday, October 21, 2010



You must have seen a peek of him here and there, but I've never had an entry featuring the man behind the camera for almost all of my posts. This is mainly because we've never happened to have the chance for photos to be taken of us. So, imagine how blessed we felt to have a friend who wanted to take these shots this afternoon. I'm sorry for the huge amount of images, but these pictures make me happier than any outfit post of myself ever could.

edit to add (out of slight embarrassment): sorry for the confusion, but he's not my hubby! I'm not quite ready for that yet, haha.





















He is wearing: Zara shirt, Paco Rabanne suit jacket and pants, Cole Haan shoes, Hermes belt

She is wearing: Thrifted dress, Forever 21 cardigan, Wilfred belt, Hue tights, Stuart Weitzman sandals, Tullette leopard print neck wrap (via Modcloth)

Beautiful Day

by Jen on Wednesday, October 20, 2010



After reading your suggestions in the giveaway post (the winner of which will be announced soon), I am hoping to bring more variety to my posts. This afternoon was the perfect opportunity when we took a trip off campus and went for a walk. The weather was so gorgeous I walked around in just my sheath without even a chill! Anyway, Ladies, meet Tiffany: we go to school together and although our style is very different (think Serena and Blair), we have been shopping buddies for several years now, trusting each others' opinions and having a lot of good laughs along the way!



On another note, Michael Kors sent over this beautiful Hamilton bag for me to style. Unfortunately I don't get to keep it, but how I wish I did! I wholeheartedly recommend investing in this bag if it's in your budget. It's really a steal at $398 considering the versatility and timelessness of it. I've been eyeing it all season ever since it showed up in their infamous Fall ads in a gorgeous camel colour. They also come in a plethora of other colours, textures and variations. The shape is classic and the leather, although it is more stiff when brand new, becomes perfectly slouchy with wear.















Tiffany is wearing: Unbranded top and purse from Hong Kong, Urban Behaviour skirt, Mirabell boots, Tiffany & Co sunglasses and necklace, Links of London bracelet

Jen is wearing: Forever 21 dress and earrings, Mackage coat, Joe Fresh olive green tights (last seen here), Zara booties, leather belt taken from trench, sunglasses, Michael Kors sunnies, MICHAEL Michael Kors Hamilton handbag

Make a Statement!

by Jen on Sunday, October 17, 2010



A little less than 3.5 hours left to win this gorgeous Amrita Singh bangle! It is perfect for the statement jewelry trend and is sure to add a chic detail to any ensemble. Contest is open worldwide! Enter here.

Through the Seasons

by Jen on Thursday, October 14, 2010



I don't like only being able to wear things for a short time frame throughout a year. Of course, not much can be done with things like down filled coats, rain boots and bikinis among other things, but I for one like to keep at least 80% of my closet in rotation for the entire year. That's why I was a bit hesitant to purchase rompers. It was hard to resist how cute they are and how many were available for minuscule amounts of money, but their one-piece nature made it hard to wear in multiple ways. Being stubborn, I began wearing them as tops with shorts over them and as bottoms with tops over them. Et voila! An inexpensive piece of clothing that has the ability to be stretched for multiple purposes? Not much better than that.







But of course, nothing beats spending the afternoon with my favourite person!:



Wearing: Miss Selfridges Romper (last seen here), Zara trousers, vintage belt, Coach flats, H&M knit circle scarf

Let Your Flats do the Talking

by Jen

For those of us who don't live amazingly glamorous lives and the need to be practical outweighs pretty on a regular basis, ballerina flats have become a go-to option for years now. But even though they can scream "sensibility", flats need not be boring! After years of wearing them, I have come to see them as an accessory more than anything-- something along the lines of statement jewelry or a beautiful handbag.

A quick scroll through Net-A-Porter in between classes brought me to these gorgeous pairs:



An indigo toned pair of flats turn luxe with satin fabric and tulle ornamentation.
Lanvin Crystal-Embellished Satin Ballerina Flats



Metallic gold leather is such a great way to add a touch of glam to any ensemble and can help tie other elements of your look together.
Tory Burch Amelia Crystal Leather Ballerina Flats




A calf-hair zebra print flat is a statement all in itself and is enough to elevate any outfit to being chic. The pointy toe is a great lady like touch and the silver buckle adds character to the shoe.
Michael Kors Zebra Print Ballerina Flats


Being a fan of the Reva flat myself, I can attest to these being amongst the most comfortable shoes that I own. And any leopard print accessory will be your best friend this fall.
Tory Burch Reva Leopard Print Ballerina Flats

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Of course, these pairs are out of the price range of many, but retailers are coming out with more and more affordable, non-basic options by the day. The danger with this is that sometimes it is hard to pick a pair that looks worth the pricetag and does not appear "cheap" when there are so many choices. So, here are my...

...Tips for finding inexpensive flats that look (and feel) expensive:
  • Look for leather insoles. In my experience, this helps shoes retain their shape so much better. This option is not that hard to find, even in "fast fashion" shops like Zara. A man-made insole will cause your shoes to wear out a lot more quickly and appear much cheaper.

  • Jewel toned satin flats often look more expensive than they are. Look for girly detailing or embellishments on the front of the shoe (so miu miu!). I would advise against fluorescent or loud colours for this option.
  • If choosing an animal print pair, calf hair always looks sophisticated and helps prevent the print from being tacky.

  • Consignment/discount shops! My Revas were purchased for $40 and $60 respectively and I have Stuart Weitzman (huge fan of his shoes) and Marc by Marc Jacobs flats that were both purchased for under $80. And a pair of forest green calf hair DVF flats? $30 at Neiman Marcus Last Call.

  • Rubber soles are great for walking, but make sure they are not visible from the side. I think this takes away from the aesthetic value of the shoe and can make it look too practical (we want to be sensible but not look it!)

  • Make sure your man approves (written by my boyfriend... hee)
Who says we can't have the best of both worlds? An all season, comfortable footwear option that can be just as glamorous as five inch stilettos?! Sign me up.

Tell me about your favourite pair of flats and why!

And on another note: only three days left to enter to win a gorgeous piece of Amrita Singh statement jewelry! Enter NOW!

Cozy

by Jen on Tuesday, October 12, 2010









Wearing: Zara Men sweater (my own, not my boyfriend's!)

Beginnings of Fall

by Jen on Sunday, October 10, 2010



On Friday, Joanne took me out for a belated birthday celebration (thanks bestie!). We went for dinner at a French restaurant (my favourite) and an improv show which was hilarious. We were both tired but the weather was right so my boyfriend suggested snapping a few. Joanne felt under dressed but I convinced her to throw on the blazer that I was wearing and hop into the photos with me. I think she looks simple and chic!

This was my first time pulling out thick knit tights for the year. In spite of what I said about not liking cold weather, I'm actually pretty excited to start seeing leaves on the ground (so beautiful) and knowing that I will soon be able to accessorize with hosiery. I found some olive green ones that I can't wait to wear!











I'm loving all of the feedback that I've been getting from you on the giveaway entry for what you would like to see more (and I am super flattered by the positive comments)! Don't forget to enter for the Amrita Singh bangle if you haven't already!

Jen is wearing: unbranded lilac structured top, vintage belt, Love 21 cheetah print skirt, Hue tights, Zara peeptoe pumps, Amrita Singh earrings

Joanne is wearing: Zara blazer, Joe's ponte pants, Stuart Weitzman flats