PFC #6 - Dress Up Your Basics

The sixth Petite Fashion Challenge is being hosted by Jess of Stylepint!

The Challenge: 

Jeans and a tee is a classic outfit starter. 
 Start off with a jeans and tee basic look and dress it up to show off your personal style.

I cheated a little and started out with a striped tee (but forgot to take a plain "before" picture, sorry!)

Top: LOFT Painted Stripe Boat Neck Tee, size XXSP
Jeans: A&F Kids Maddy Skinny, size 12 
Necklace: Charlotte Russe (similar)

I'm terrible at remembering to accessorize but am trying to improve... and here I added a newly-acquired long drapey chain necklace to balance out the boatneck of the top.  The attached flower on this surprisingly inexpensive necklace makes it almost like two accessories in one!

And since I easily get cold, I almost never leave the house without some sort of cardigan or jacket.  I decided to add a spring-appropriate blazer on top.  I usually prefer my blazer sleeves scrunched up, and here I thought that the effect of the striped sleeves peeking out underneath kind of gives the idea of a striped jacket... but without the commitment! 

I love that the flower on the necklace serves double duty as a faux flower pin on the blazer too!  Please forgive the feet-less pics... I had on flats but they were a baaad idea.  I was going to change to pumps at the time for a lil' more sophistication, but hubby came home with dinner and I was starving so that was the end of my photoshoot.

Not the most creative effort I have to say, and the attempt ended prematurely before I could try again with different shoes, a belt, etc. due to an unexpected injury.  But at least it is a casual look that I can wear without feeling like I'm trying too hard.  Don't forget to check out lots of other outfits from this Petite Fashion Challenge here!

LOFT Feature: Abstract Print Shell

LOFT recently sent out a request for outfits featuring spring blouses for their Facebook gallery, and the first thing that immediately came to my mind was the Abstract Print Shell that I mentioned in a previous post.  And here's what I sent in!

Skirt: LOFT Slim Denim Skirt, size 00P (post)

Cardigan: LOFT V-Neck Cardigan, size XXSP (post)

Shoes: AT Perfect Leather Pump in Porcini, size 5

Belt: AT Perfect Skinny Belt in Porcini, size XS

Necklace: Nordstrom Glass Pearl Necklace in White

Long-time blog readers may remember the denim skirt from my very first LOFT haul, which I initially thought I would have to alter.  But lo and behold, after just one cycle in the washer/dryer, it shrank enough to be wearable as is!  I still need to belt for it to sit at my true waist, but is definitely passable and hopefully will continue to shrink a bit more over time!

I also tried on a more colorful skirt with this top just for fun, and although it's brighter than what I'm used to, it definitely makes me feel like spring is almost here!

Skirt: Urban Outfitters Chiffon Drape Skirt, size XS (post)

So which pairing do you prefer?

The vibrant chiffon... or the understated denim?

If you haven't already, check out all the fabulous ladies and their outfits on the LOFT feature here!

Alterations: Ann Taylor Texture Pencil Skirt

I recently made a trip to the tailors, which never fails to leave me in a state of mild shock over how much tailoring costs can add up... but I have to say that I absolutely love the results!  One of my favorite alterations this time is the Ann Taylor pencil skirt that I mentioned in the last post, which turned out fantastic!

I probably should've taken proper pics, but was so excited by how it turned out that I just grabbed my phone to snap away, and also threw on the ensemble that I was planning to wear for my presentation, which again was inspired by this stock photo:

My initial thought was to get the skirt hemmed, but my tailor convinced me to get the sides slimmed, which would allow it to fit better overall.  With that alteration it would sit higher on my natural waist, and would therefore hit me at a good length without any hemming needed... and she was right!  I thought she did a beautiful job and it feels seriously amazing on... I think this is probably the best fitting pencil skirt that I currently own!

Here again is how the skirt looked before:

And here again is the after:

Blouse: AT Charmeuse Ruffle Shirt, size 00P (post)

Skirt: AT Riley Texture Pencil Skirt, size 00P      

Shoes: AT Perfect Leather Pumps, size 5

Unfortunately it was a cold rainy day today and I was freezing even with the added cardigan & white coat:

So instead of wearing this outfit, I made a last-minute decision to switch to the petite-favorite (and warmer) Banana Republic tweed dress that I'd also just gotten back from the tailor.  I took a few iPhone pics of it but they turned out blurry, so I'll have to retake the pics for another post.

I'm so glad my presentation is done... a big thanks to everyone who shared helpful public speaking tips and words of encouragement!  I actually had a really good turnout of attendings... some of whom I'm sure came for the free catered food lol, but it felt good to have an audience to show the fruits of my labor to nevertheless.  Now that it's over, I can relax and enjoy my one week of vacation time that starts today!  I hope you guys are having a fantastic weekend! :)

PFC #4 - Holiday Party

The fourth Petite Fashion Challenge is being hosted by Elaine of Curls and Pearls!

The Challenge: 

Create a holiday party look using festive colors and/or holiday pieces without looking like a greeting card.

It doesn't sound too hard, right?  Except I've never been to a holiday party and don't really have any holiday pieces in my wardrobe!  But here's something I could possibly wear to a friends or family gathering:

Top:  Ann Taylor    Skirt:  Banana Republic    Cardigan:  American Eagle
Shoes:  TB Classic Reva Ballerina Flat in Black with Silver Logo, size 5.5
Necklace:  Nordstrom    Pin:  LOFT    Belt: Gift    Tights:  Simple Vera

I bought this skirt around this time last year, so it had always felt like a holiday piece to me.  I added the flower pin, which is a recent LOFT acquisition, so I'd have some green to complement my red to represent the quintessential holiday colors :)

Speaking of recent buys, I got pair of suede OTK boots from LOFT a while back when there were on sale for ~$60.  Initially I thought the fit was not great as the shaft was loose overall and had planned on returning... but I tried them on with this outfit and now I'm having second thoughts:

Hubby was less than helpful so I figured I'd ask my wonderful blog readers for opinions/feedback.  I like how they look from the front, but here are some side views:

The cuffs can be folded down, but I don't really like how that looks because then you can really see how my scrawny my thighs and calves are by comparison.  The price isn't too bad at all for boots, but I never would've thought I could do OTK boots.  What do you think... to keep or not to keep?

Sorry for all the headless pics.  Wish I had time to get all holiday-glam on ya (well, it'd also help if I actually knew how!), but I'm working nights this month and had literally just rolled out of bed at 4 pm and had to be back at work in an hour, and looked frightful in every single shot.  Serves me right for procrastinating until the last minute, but I'm glad I was still able to participate in this PFC... now to go see what everyone is wearing for their holiday parties! :)

Gap 30% Off Sale: Wardrobe Basics

Wondering what to get during the Gap Give & Get 30% off sale?  I'd probably recommend the Legging Jeans, which I'm really loving as does many petite bloggers.  Was wearing them earlier this week (sorry about the gloomy weather):

Cardigan: LOFT V-Neck Long Cardigan, size XXSP (see post)

Jeans: Gap Legging Jeans, size 00P (see post)

Shoes: Tory Burch Reva Lizard Embossed Flats, size 5.5 (see post)

Scarf: LOFT floral scarf (see post)

I've been holding out for a 40% off coupon to grab another pair in the dark blue wash, but when I checked again today, all the sizes were gone except for 00P and 0P!  I decided that I would probably regret missing out on it more than I would miss the extra $7, so I decided to order :)

If you need a filler to get to $50 for free shipping, I also really like their Favorite Ribbed Tank in XSP ($7):

The material is comfortable, the armholes and neckline are good, and the thicker straps are good for hiding bra straps.  It's just a basic tank, but believe it or not, it's not that easy for me to find a tank that isn't cut too low, fit too loosely/tightly, and is flattering and priced right!

I'm also a fan of the Long-sleeve Thermal T in XSP ($10):

I got it for wearing under scrubs, but it's actually quite slim-fitting and flattering.  The only thing to note is that the bottom hem is curved (which I hadn't realized when I bought).  It doesn't matter to me because I tuck it into my scrub pants, but just a FYI.

To get in on the sale, a multiple use in-store coupon can be printed here.  Gap also sent out one-time use online codes via email, if you need one you can check the AlterationsNeeded Forum for any unused codes.  The sale ends this Sunday, Nov 14.... happy shopping! :)

PFC #3 - The Look For Less

 The third Petite Fashion Challenge, hosted by Sydney of PetiteLittleGirl, was definitely a difficult one!

The Challenge: 

Pick an outfit from your favorite celeb and show us how to recreate that look for less.

I don't have a favorite celeb, so just ended up browsing through tons and tons of celeb pics, but not really finding any outfit that I could replicate with what's already in my closet.  Then I stumbled upon this:

For those who don't recognize her, she's Olivia Palermo from MTV's The City and a NY socialite who has a general reputation for being well-dressed.  She always looks so long and lean, so I was surprised to learn that she's technically a petite at 5'4".  Her outfit is very casual, and basically boils down to a stripe tee, a white skirt, a neutral bag, and a pair of silver oxfords... check, check, check, and sorta check?

Here's my version!

 Top:  LOFT Painted Stripe Boat Neck Tee, size XXSP

Skirt: LOFT layered cotton skirt, size XXSP

Shoes: Ann Taylor Perfect Leather Pump in Porcini, size 5

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mini in Pale Grey (post)

What do you think?  Did I pull it off?  I don't have anything remotely close to her silver oxfords, but I think my gray-ish taupe pumps helped give me the look of longer legs.  I wish I had the stripe tee in vintage blue so it would be a closer match, but the whole outfit turned out unexpectedly monochromatic, which I'm not totally disliking.  And was this a look for less?  The top and skirt probably came out to ~$40, which is definitely not bad... but the shoes and bag are a bit of a splurge so I'd like to think of them as "accessories" so they don't count :P

And did you notice anything different about my picture?  I'm actually outside!  I'm working at a different hospital for a month, so we're currently staying at the in-law's empty house (they're overseas) which is a closer drive.  A nice bonus is that they have a private backyard, perfect for outdoor pics!  

And maybe it's the nice outdoors that made me not want to crop out so much, but I think I finally feel comfortable with showing face on the blog!  I was thinking about "coming out" next week on my wedding anniversary and post some of my wedding pics.  But as luck would have it, LOFT contacted me yesterday for another pic for their Facebook feature, and my outfit (yet again) happened to be all LOFT, so I figured why not kill two birds with one stone!  Here's the pic I submitted... and meet yours truly!

Sorry for the sans make-up look... had to sprint outside after my post-work shower & blow-dry to catch the fleeting sunlight.  Oh, and for my Twitter friends, here's another view of the new haircut:

 

I'm not entirely loving it just yet because the layers are harder to manage than my old long straight hair, but I guess it's "growing" on me a bit  :P

PFC #2 - Wear It Now, Wear It Later

It's time for another Petite Fashion Challenge!  This time it's being hosted by Kelly of AlterationsNeeded:

The Challenge: 

In honor of the fast approaching cool fall weather, what better way to get ready than to find ways to make your wardrobe do double duty. Pick at least one item in your closet and create two outfits, one for spring/summer, and one for fall/winter.

 The item I ended up choosing was this LOFT dress (aka my $8 dress!):

I probably shouldn't have had too much trouble with this one, but unfortunately true to my procrastinating nature I didn't get on it until practically the day of.  The result is therefore not incredibly creative, but I'll try to make up for it by showing several slightly different outfits :)  And here they are!

Spring - Summer:

Fall:

Fall - Winter:

Winter:

Dress: LOFT Cotton Dress, size XXSP (post)
Cardigan: LOFT V-Neck Long Cardigan, size XXSP (post)
Shell: LOFT Twisted Neck Shell, size XXSP (post)
Scarf: LOFT Floral Scarf (post)
Belt: Ann Taylor Skinny Woven Belt, size S
Boots: Uggs Kids Classic in Sand, size 6

I know I recycled the summer outfit, but nothing I tried looked as fresh as pairing it with the white cardigan.  As for the fall outfit, I was loving the unusual moss green of the top but felt like it was a little boxy especially when worn over the dress, so the addition of a skinny belt helped to define the waist.  For the fall-winter outfit, I busted out my uber comfortable Uggs, but unfortunately they somehow picked up quite a bit of dirt/dust during my move so please ignore the dirt streaks and the make-shift floor covering :)  For the winter outfit, I added brown over-the-knee socks (which I find more comfortable than tights but with the same look) and my yellow scarf for a bit of color.

I can't wait to see what everyone came up with for this challenge! :)

Petite Fashion Challenge #1 - Do a Petite Don't

The always lovely Jean over at ExtraPetite is holding the first ever Petite Fashion Challenge (PFC):

The Challenge: 

Create an outfit for weekend brunch with your girlfriends. 

The outfit must include one garment that is typically notorious for being a petite "don't".

I chose to do a double petite don't: wide-legged pants (uh-oh) that end at the scary mid-calf length (noooo!).  Why? Because I love a challenge!  Just kidding... I'm clueless, and this was the only readily available item I found in my closet.  And unfortunately, I was playing around with my dad's DSLR camera at the time, and the pics I took turned out pretty terrible in quality since I had no idea how to work the settings.  But this was already last minute, so please bear with me!

The offending item in question is a pair of wide-legged white linen carpris, size XS from F21 that I bought many years ago because they amazingly fit my waist/hips.  My first thought... throw in a fun print and class it up with some pearls and a pair of neutral, leg-elongating pumps.

I suppose the top is pretty offensive too in terms of length and fit.  So I tried adding a belt:

And I guess if all else fails, tuck tuck tuck!

Blouse: LOFT Ruffle Neck Top, size XXSP (post)

Necklace: Nordstrom Glass Pearl Necklace in White

Belt: Ann Taylor Perfect Skinny Belt in Porcini, size S

Shoes: Ann Taylor Perfect Leather Pump in Porcini, size 5

What do you think?  Do any of the outfit variations pass muster?  Or should I give up on these linen capris?

Eyelet & Ruffles

It's my Dad's 55th birthday today! And here's what I wore when we decided to take him out for an impromptu dinner last weekend to celebrate:

Top: J.Crew Grand Ruffle Shell, size XXS (post)

Skirt: Urban Outfitters Pins & Needles Eyelet Skirt, size XS (post)

Belt: Banana Republic Skinny Leather Belt, size XXS

Nothing special... just threw it together from whatever clothes I had left that wasn't in the laundry.  The skirt was brand new and I think I wore it with the tag still on!  It's the same one as the white eyelet skirt from my last UO haul.  I already have a white skirt from LOFT so I decided to keep the blue version, especially since it was a steal at $11!  SoCal weather finally started to heat up recently, but I get cold so easily in air-conditioned places so I always make sure to bring a cardigan. 

Cardigan: Banana Republic Italian Merino Cardigan, size XXSP (stock photo)

I've been on a couple of easy rotations recently so my schedule hasn't been too bad, but it's about to get real busy.  I'm also in a specialty where I have to pass three different board exams before I can be board-certified, and the first one is coming up in September.  So I foresee a lot of work and stressful times ahead in the upcoming weeks.  I probably *shouldn't* spend so much time online but let's see if I can manage to stay away!

Real Work Clothes

I've been on a little hiatus from blogging and even blog-reading (although I do cheat), due to being busy with a huge presentation for work.  It's a formal hour-long lecture that I have to research and put together, which I presented today (podium-included!) to a group of more senior residents and attendings... which is a little ridiculous to have a more junior resident like me do because I know they know the material better than I do.  But anyway, we have to give one lecture a year and this was my first one, so a little nerve-wracking but I'm finally done with the thing until next year!

Anyway, most of the residents my program generally show up to work in scrubs on a daily basis, and this is literally the first time in a year that I put on actual clothes to go to work!  So of course I took some pictures lol.

I'm wearing a pinstripe pink dress shirt and neutral dress pants with a greyish-brownish tone, both of which were tailor-made in Asia.

I even washed my white coat for today (which I don't do often enough lol).  Notice the nice empty pockets... usually you can tell a resident from an attending by looking at the pockets of the white coat.  A resident will always have pockets full of stuff (pager, books, notes, pens, medical tools, snacks, etc).

Of course my white coat did not originally come in convenient numeric petite sizing... even the smallest issued size was humongous.  My lovely aunt (who used to be a seamstress) took it in, in addition to helping me alter all my scrubs.  I used to think that she did a pretty good job (considering how large it was before), until now when I saw this side view:

She still left too much room I think... funny how I never noticed in the 2 years I've been wearing it.  But ah well, it's not like I'm making any fashion statements in my usual slouchy scrubs anyway!