Hippie or Preppy?

Dude, Brazil's catastrophic defeat in the semi-final left me with a blank brain. I'm still trying to recover from the concussion... So this is gonna be a super short post.

OK -- an outfit over the long weekend. I was trying to include this Birkenstock in my casual playbook. I think those hippie babies make the look less preppy and more relaxed. Somehow I like the way these two styles blend... What do you think?

Top: Peter Pilotto for Target (also seen in this outfit)
Denim shorts: Abercrombie & Fitch
Sunglasses: Miu Miu Cat Eye (also seen in this post, new with cute embellishment, more colors, summer glitters)
Purse: Chanel Le Boy
Sandals:  Birkenstock Curacao by Birki in black stretch cork (also available in rainbow stripes)

My First Purchase from ASOS

As many of you already know, ASOS is an online store that offers quick fashion at reasonable price. I decided to try some midi to tea length skirts from ASOS thanks to its friendly shipping and return policy. And here is my review on some pieces in my first ever ASOS package... Not exactly what I want, but seems OK.

Many of their so-called midi skirts are just 1-2 inches below the knees, a little shorter than I expected. Look at this ASOS Midi Skirt in Tweed Check with Pockets (see left): it sits low on the waist and just hit below the knees. If I pull the waist line up and make it high waist, it will look even shorter. This is a little disappointing in that midi skirts tend to make people look short, unless they are long enough and sit high on the waist, which will visually lengthen the legs and create a better proportion. But its material beats my expectation. So I've decided to keep it. I may do some alteration and make it work. Stay tuned!

This ASOS Midi Skirt in Ponte with Pocket Detail in fuchsia (see right) has a high waist (a plus!), but again hits just below the knees. If only it were two inches longer! Anyway, I like its color and fabric. So this is also a keeper.

I ordered ASOS Full Midi Skirt in three colors. Well, full+midi, sounds so in for this season, doesn't it? But the result is not that encouraging. This chartreuse color looks more greenish yellow than the color displayed on my monitor. Think about the color of a butterfly... no, I mean a worm, before it morphs into a butterfly... or the color of green cabbage heart that is wrapped tightly and has never seen sunlight... You've got the idea. Really hard to pull off. This fuchsia pink color is also off. These two are going back. The only one I'm going to keep is this pastel pink full midi skirt. Pastel pink or baby pink, whatever you call it, is just a bit pink-er than blush or nude. It goes well with the light flowy fabric.

I also ordered two mesh skirts, one maxi and one midi, both in nude color. Sheer is another theme of the season. The maxi dress is a little long on my petite frame, but I like its airiness, and I have some clever way to make it work. The midi one is again just one inch short of my expectation. So maxi stays and midi will go back.

This ASOS Midi Skirt in Sheer Burnout is a bummer. The material is stiff and does not flow with the body. Absolutely terrified.

Oh, did my eyes fool me? This ASOS Pleated Midi Skirt is already sold out? Well, the material is OK and the blue color is OK (green is blindingly bright, FYI), but the pleats are so wide that it looks cheaply made. The Club Monaco pleat skirt is 100 times better than this.

Overall, I have to say that you get what you pay for. ASOS has good price, and friendly shipping/return policy, definitely worth a visit once in a while for some quick fashion stuff.

Left
Black cashmere Henley: Rugby
Tweed skirt:  ASOS Midi Skirt in Tweed Check with Pockets
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength in black
Scarf: Yarnz Zebra Print Scarf from Bloomingdale's
Belt: Alexander McQueen
Boots: Prada

Right
Floral print tee: Anthropologie
Midi skirt: ASOS Midi Skirt in Ponte with Pocket Detail
Sunglasses: Miu Miu Cat Eye
Belt: JCrew
Silver pumps: JCrew Everly Cracked Metallic Leather Pumps in metallic silver

Cropped Top in Office

Temperature is soaring every day and spring is finally here. I can't wait to change to my colorful spring/summer outfit, and today, I'm in the mood of cropped tops! But wait, it's not weekend yet , right? You are not supposed to go crazy and bare your midriff... Hm... Guess what? I managed to put together a quite office-appropriate preppy outfit with a cropped sweater. The dress has a sleeveless faux wrap shirt top in blush, with a tie-knot and collars. Throwing my crew neck cropped sweater on top of it seems quite seamless. :)

Off-white cropped sweater: Free People (similar)
Faux wrap dress: Leifnotes from Anthropologie
Black short boots: Prada
Sunglasses: Miu Miu

For your curiosity about the dress, here is a throwback from 2012. We don't have to wear new cloths every day. It's so much fun digging into the closet and fitting old pieces into new fashion trend!

Cat Out Of The Bag

贾宝玉说：男人是泥做的，女人是水做的。而我要说：男人属狗，女人属猫。狗，不管多么淘气捣蛋活蹦乱跳，内心深处终究是有一份忠厚纯朴老实可靠的，那种大气稳妥才能撑起家的归属感；而猫，外表或慵懒或乖巧，却逃不掉独立反叛贪玩自赏的天性，时不时地有点坏脾气和小性子，搅搅家里的一潭静水。男人没有了狗性，抑或女人没有了猫性，在我看来，这个世界可就乱了套，家将不家矣。

猫女自然需要猫眼墨镜！这副Miu Miu猫眼墨镜是不少明星戴过同款或类似款的。猫眼的好处在于它几乎适合任何脸型，尤其是大圆脸大方脸能被修饰得小一圈儿。今年又出了新款，比如这副紫红色 和这几副亮闪闪的，都青春洋溢，在春夏会特别抢眼，而这副玳瑁的则四季皆宜。不管什么颜色，今年镜角的小装饰真叫人喜欢。

如果你嫌这个还不够夸张呢，可以看看Tom Ford家的猫眼墨镜。Miley Cyrus (here), Taylor Swift (here) 和 Anna Paquin (here) 都戴过。

假皮裤 是Club Monaco家的，现在正打折。我喜欢它正面皮背面布的设计，看起来挺时尚的，屁股后面又不会亮光光的叫人不好意思。这条裤子弹性很好，穿起来比前面秀过的两条Club Monaco都要轻松些，宁可买小也不要买大。因为我有黑色和棕色的真皮裤了，就买了这条青苔绿的，也还很好搭配。现在这么便宜，要不要多收条紫色的呢？

羊绒斗篷也是Club Monaco家的，不过是两年前买的，今年他家的款式都不如这件好看，嘻嘻！

We may have different personalities, but I truly believe that every woman has a cat in her heart of hearts. That's our desire to be sexy, naughty and playful. And this sunny weekend has wakened my little Miss Cat that has been sleeping for a long winter.

So, I decided to dig out my Miu Miu Cat Eye sunglasses. Yes, this is the pair you've seen on Miranda Kerr, Katy Perry, and many other celebrities. Its winged frame compliments almost all faces, and in particular, has the magic of visually narrowing square or round jaws. It was updated this year in a cute and playful way. This violet pair and the glitters are definitely statement accessories that scream "I <3 spring/summer". For an all-season more sophisticated take, tortoiseshell is always a safe bet. The tiny embellishment at the corner adds a youthful and cheerful touch.

For an even more dramatic look, check out Tom Ford, spotted on Miley Cyrus (here), Taylor Swift (here) and Anna Paquin (here).

The faux leather leggings, my yet another purchase from Club Monaco in the past winter, are now in deep discount. I like its play of texture -- we all want to look updated and chic in the front, but may want less to show off our behind in glossy leather. The leggings are quite elastic. If you are between sizes, you may consider sizing down.

The cashmere poncho was from Club Monaco two years ago. I like its high-low uneven hem and the button detail on the side (not shown in the picture). There are some similar items this year (here, here), but I do think mine looks better... Oops!

Cashmere poncho in navy: Club Monaco (similar, similar)
Olive faux leather leggings: Club Monaco Tasha Faux Leather Legging in peat moss
Sunglasses: Miu Miu Cat Eye (new with cute embellishment, more colors, summer glitters)
Leopard print cashmere/silk scarf: Louis Vuitton Leopard Stole in brown
Wedge sneakers: Stella McCartney Faux Suede Leopard-Print Wedge Sneakers
Lip stick: NARS lipstick in Autumn Leaves