[PFC #19] Burgundy and Gothic Lace: Inspired by Fall 2012 Trends

I'm excited to be participating in this month's Petite Fashion Challenge (PFC #19), hosted this month by fellow petite blogger Angie from Pandaphilia.  The theme for this month's challenge is Trend Benders: "Pick your favourite Summer or Fall 2012 trend and make it work for you, whether it's going all-out, incorporating it into a professional outfit or using it in moderation."

For my outfit, I've chosen to incorporate two Fall 2012 trends that I'm particularly excited about: burgundy and gothic-inspired lace.     

Talula Blazer from Aritzia (also loving this one from the Topshop/Nordstrom collection)

xoxo Top (old)

H&M Pleated Skirt (other great picks here and here)

ProMod Wrap Watch from Germany (similar here and here)

Shoes by Connie

Michael Kors Sunglasses

Unbranded Necklace from Taiwan

Chanel Purse

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To channel the rich burgundy pieces and gothic-inspired looks gracing the runways, I'm wearing a burgundy blazer, lace top, and a studded wrap watch I bought during a recent trip to Germany.  I've paired these trendy, edgier pieces with some of my favorite classics: a preppy pleated skirt, gray, buttoned peep toe pumps, and my favorite Chanel 2.55 bag.

Which Fall 2012 trends are you most excited about?

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Like this post? Please follow via Google and Bloglovin', and thanks so much for visiting. Until next time! :)

Love, S

Something Borrowed: Floral Silk Blouse and Flouncy Skirt

Lately, I've been on the hunt for silk blouses.  They're a lot more feminine and pretty than the usual button down dress shirts I wear to the office and can easily be dressed up or down for the weekend with the right skirt and accessories.

Vintage Silk Blouse and Gold Necklaces - Both Borrowed from Mom, Forever 21 Skirt (similar here) and Bracelets, Gina Tricot Ring, Jessica Simpson Shoes (similar here and here), Michael Kors Sunglasses, Chanel Purse

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I borrowed this pretty silk blouse and these gold necklaces from my mom's closet during a weekend trip back to visit my family in Texas last month.  For a casual weekend outfit, I've paired them with a flouncy black skirt, gold heels, my favorite Chanel 2.55 classic flap purse (a semi-recent splurge from earlier this year), a ring I bought during my recent trip to Germany, and matching bangle bracelets.  

Do you also like borrowing from Mom's closet?

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Like this post? Please follow via Google and Bloglovin', and thanks so much for visiting! 

Love, S

Structured Shoulders, Stripes, and JEWELIQ Necklace

Hi, Everyone! I'm finally back in the San Francisco Bay Area after a lovely trip to Germany and Amsterdam.  Europe was fun, but it's also great to finally be home after almost 2 weeks of packed itineraries and non-stop traveling.  Since my return, I've been busy catching up: on sleep, with friends, and (of course) on blogging! 

JEWELIQ Necklace (c/o), Kate Spade Purse, Zinga Jacket, XOXO Skirt (old - another good pick here), Aldo Shoes (identical pair here), Gina Tricot Ring (from Germany), Michael Kors Sunglasses

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I'm loving the structured, somewhat futuristic-looking shoulders on this jacket.  It somehow manages to be soft and comfy, while still looking a bit polished.  I've been throwing it on over everything lately.

For today's style post, I'd like to thank Anna and the JEWELIQ team for the necklace I'm wearing here.  Lately, I've been pairing the 'Leafy' necklace with my favorite pink Kate Spade bag and Aldo pumps, and I love the pop of color it brings to any outfit!

If you've never heard of JEWELIQ, I definitely recommend checking out their site, as they have a ton of cute stuff and frequently add new items.  All of their jewelry is under $25, and free shipping is included with each order.  

Until next time! 

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Love, S

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Event Photos - Jean Paul Gaultier Fashion Exhibit @ the De Young

Earlier this month, I attended the Jean Paul Gaultier fashion exhibit at the De Young Museum in San Francisco.  In case some of you aren't familiar with Gaultier's work, he was the former Creative Director of Hermes and also worked for Pierre Cardin before eventually launching his own eponymous line.  Haute couture aside, he designed the famous cone bra worn by Madonna and has also done costume work for major motion pictures (including The Fifth Element).  The name Jean Paul Gaultier is synonymous with one of the most innovative haute couture houses in Paris. 

I realize that high fashion is not everyone's cup of tea, but I find it artistically fascinating. I have long admired Gaultier's avant garde design aesthetic and his wildly theatrical runway productions.  

I took photos of my favorite designs from the event and wanted to share them with you all here.  Hope you find them as inspiring as I did... or at the very least, find them interesting! 

       

Above: Left - Palm Leaf Jacket hat (made with real palm leaves inside), from his Buttons collection Spring/Summer 2003

Right - Sailor Striped "Lascar" Gown - made of silk and ostrich feathers, from his 2000 Romantic India Collection. Worn by the Princess of Monaco at the Rose Ball.

The designs above are two of my favorites.  Black and white Parisian stripes never go out of style, and I love his haute couture twist on this classic pattern. I wish I could pull off something like this in real life! 

[Click below see the rest of the photos and my thoughts on each after the jump...]

Chevron, Blue, and Gold + New Michael Kors Bag

Hello from Germany! I'm currently in Cologne after spending a lovely 4 days in Berlin. It's been a whirlwind of sightseeing, shopping, eating, and meetings.  I can't wait to share some photos from my journey with you all soon, as soon as I can sort through them all and pick out the best ones...I've taken over 1000 photos since I arrived!

 After over a week of non-stop activity and limited internet access, I finally was able to take an evening off by ordering room service and catching up on reading my favorite fashion blogs.  

Now that I'm finally able to get online and post, I also wanted to share some outfit photos with you all from earlier this month.  My boyfriend / photographer (whom we'll call J) and I spent a lovely afternoon in August strolling around downtown San Jose.  We don't make it down to San Jose as often, as we're usually up in San Francisco.  It's always fun exploring another city, discovering cute cafes, wandering into local boutiques, and trying new restaurants.

HM Blazer (similar here and here), me2 envy Dress (other great chevron dresses here, here, and here), belt and necklace - vintage (both from Mom), Michael Kors Hamilton Bag and Sunglasses, Bracelets from HM and F21, Shoes from VANELi (similar here and here)

HM Blazer (similar here and here), me2 envy Dress (other great chevron dresses here, here, and here), belt and necklace - vintage (both from Mom), Michael Kors Hamilton Bag and Sunglasses, Bracelets from HM and F21, Shoes from VANELi (similar here and here)

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I love the chevron (a.k.a. zigzag) pattern on this dress and the ruffle detail along one side. So much fun!

I bought the Michael Kors Hamilton Tote during a recent shopping trip to New York.  I had been in need of a warm, cognac colored bag for awhile before finding this one.  I've been bringing it everywhere - to the office (amazingly, my 13 inch MacBook Air fits inside the bag) and on weekends when I need to lug around a lot of stuff. 

The gold necklaces and red belt are both borrowed from my stylish mom.  I've been wearing both a lot lately, as they just seem to go with everything.   

I'm off to Amsterdam this weekend after one more day in Cologne.  If any of you have any suggestions on great places to eat and shop in Amsterdam, I'd love to hear them! 

Hope you're all having a wonderful week...and don't forget to enter my giveaway (co-hosted with JEWELIQ)! 

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Love, S

Giveaway: Win your favorite piece from JEWELIQ! (Now Extended to 8/31)!

I'm excited to announce my first giveaway, co-hosted with JEWELIQ!

For those of you not already familiar with this chic online jewelry boutique, JEWELIQ is home to a hot new jewelry line that has recently been making waves in the online fashion community.  I fell in love immediately with their curated, on-trend pieces and find myself checking their site often, as they frequently add new items.  JEWELIQ features a stylish selection of unique, fresh pieces that are guaranteed to make a statement...and best of all, shipping is always free.  Imagine my excitement when I was contacted by the JEWELIQ team about hosting this giveaway...I'm looking forward to sharing my new love for these stylish pieces with one lucky winner! 

I've featured just a few of my favorite picks from JEWELIQ below.  

*Note: Images above are just a sample....there's a much larger selection to choose from on JEWELIQ's actual site.

This contest is now closed.

The winner of this contest (by random drawing) is Cathy Y. Congratulations!

Didn't win?  Don't worry - you'll have another chance.  I'm planning several more upcoming giveaways and will be announcing them on this blog....so be sure to stay tuned!

You can also still buy your favorite piece at JEWELIQ here:

Until next time! 

Love, S

High-Low Hem and Aztec Print

A friend took a peek inside my closet recently and was bewildered to find that at least 75% of my wardrobe consists of dresses.  In fact, I own less than 5 pairs of pants in total.  (If not for a few frigid San Francisco winter weeks, I wouldn't own slacks at all.)  Hey, whatever makes us girls happy, right. ;)

Blu Pepper Dress (a few other great high-low dresses: here, here, and here) and Belt (similar), F21 Envelope Clutch (similar picks here and here) and Bangles (another fabulous pick), H&M Bracelet (similar), Pierre Dumas Sandals (other good picks here and here), Michael Kors Sunglasses

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 I'm particularly loving dresses with high-low hems right now...so fresh and fun!  In keeping with the Aztec-inspired theme for the look, I paired this fun, Aztec print dress with similar shapes -  a pyramid bangle, envelope clutch with gold V-shaped opening, and strappy sandals. 

I've got travel on my mind lately. Over the past week, when not working, catching up with friends, or blogging, I've been busy planning for my upcoming trips to Germany and the Netherlands.  I'll be in Cologne, Germany for a week-long conference and also plan to spend a few days in Berlin and Amsterdam in order to sightsee, eat, and (of course) shop!  I'm especially excited to visit Berlin...in addition to its myriad of history and cultural sights that I look forward to checking out, Berlin has also put itself on the map as an emerging hotspot for fashion and design.   Luckily, my company is paying for my flight, hotel, and meals, which means more trip budget for shopping. ;) I've been spending a lot of time researching and putting together my itinerary, and I'd also love to hear what your favorite spots are in these cities.

For those of you who have been, what are your favorite places to eat and shop in Berlin, Cologne, or Amsterdam?  If not, what destinations are at the top of your travel wish list?

Wishing you all a happy Wednesday! 

Love, S

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Peplum, Teal, and Sky High Heels

Lately, I've been in love with teal.  I repeatedly find myself reaching for items in this color when shopping in stores.  I snagged both the clutch and heels while shopping Bloomingdale's recent private sale.  I'm especially loving the 5 inch Sam Edelman heels due to the height they add to 5'2'' me. As a petite gal, I definitely use all the help I can get. ;)  Another style obsession of mine at the moment is peplum, especially when paired with a pencil silhouette.   

Peplum Top by Guess (similar here and here), HM Skirt, BCBGeneration Clutch (similar for less), Shoes by Sam Edelman, Bracelets by InPink and HM, Ring by Vera Wang, Sunglasses by Michael Kors

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One of the things I love most about blogging is discovering new blogs and meeting fellow bloggers and fashion lovers.  I also love hearing from all of you, so please don't be shy about leaving a comment to say hi. 

My favorite morning ritual consists of catching up on reader comments and my daily fashion blog reads, while sipping a caramel macchiato and munching on a croissant.  I can't think of a better way to start each day!

Please follow via Google and Bloglovin'...I'd love to be in touch. I'm also now on Twitter. Looking forward to hearing from you. :)

Love, S

Girly for Summer: Floral, Stripes, and Pockets

Bebe Top (similar) and Purse, Skirt by Fire, Shoes from a boutique in Hong Kong (identical pair here), F21 Bow Ring (similar ring here and here),  Nordstrom Initial Watch, Banana Republic Bracelet, Michael Kors Sunglasses 

Bebe Top (similar) and Purse, Skirt by Fire, Shoes from a boutique in Hong Kong (identical pair here), F21 Bow Ring (similar ring here and here),  Nordstrom Initial Watch, Banana Republic Bracelet, Michael Kors Sunglasses 

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Summer to me means flouncy tops, breezy skirts, peep toe pumps, and girly colors.

I wore this outfit to a barbeque recently.  Overdressed? Perhaps....but as my motto says, "life is short...dress up!" :)

What I love most about this skirt is the fact that it has pockets. Fashion meets function!  I'm also wearing some of my very favorite accessories: my favorite bow pumps that I discovered in a small boutique during a shopping trip to Hong Kong with Mom, a sequined, striped purse from Bebe that I stalked last year until I finally discovered it in a pile of purses at an outlet (it was meant to be), my initial watch from Nordstrom, and my favorite bow ring.  

Please follow via Google and Bloglovin' if you like my blog, and thanks so much for reading! 

Love, S

Black Lace and Pearls: Breakfast at Tiffany's

Top by Mind Code (another good pick), Skirt by Lily White (similar), Jewelry from Banana Republic and F21, Aldo Court Shoes, Kate Spade Purse (other great picks: here and here), Michael Kors sunglasses

Top by Mind Code (another good pick), Skirt by Lily White (similar), Jewelry from Banana Republic and F21, Aldo Court Shoes, Kate Spade Purse (other great picks: here and here), Michael Kors sunglasses

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July thus far has been filled with dinners, parties, and social events.  I was excited to receive an invitation to a friend's Breakfast at Tiffany's themed engagement party earlier this month...what a fantastic opportunity to channel one of my all time favorite fashion icons.  I decided to go for a modern Hepburn look, with a black and white lace top, vintage-inspired peter pan collar, high-waisted skirt, pearls, and Audrey's signature high bun.  I added the pink accessories to keep things fresh and modern.  There's this classy, ladylike vibe about Audrey that I just love... she never goes out of style!   

Who are your favorite fashion icons? 

Love, S