Leather, Maxi and Red Lips

When a long overdue heatwave hit the winter plagued North East over the weekend, every girl pulled out her favorite sundress to celebrate. And I was absolutely in the mood for a floral print maxi dress! Cotton sundress still looks a little flimsy in April? Add layers! Feminine maxi sounds a little out this year? Revitalize it with a cool leather moto vest! When I was in mood for boho chic, no one could stop me. :)

To light up the face, I used a true red lipstick:  Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Best Red. This is the second drugstore lipstick I loved -- I know I'm a late comer to this market. It felt creamy and light on the lips, and stays fresh 3-4 hours without retouch. In terms of color, its neutral red is closest to NARS Jungle Red. If you want a classic true red at a fraction of designer lipstick price, give this one a try.   

Both the dress and the vest were bought last year, but I'm sure you are able to find similar items in the market.

Dress: Free People (similar, similar, also like this, this)
Leather Vest: Bagatelle (similar, similar, similar)
Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Mini in Hot Red
Lips:  Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Best Red
  

Embrace Athleisure

If you bought Lululemon stocks five years ago, you would have seen your investment being more than tripled so far. And this year Lulu had apparently left all the negative news behind and is now heading north all the way again. Despite complaints of its dropping quality year after year and my unwavering verdict of this "overrated sports brand that charges premium mostly on its brand image rather than anything tangible", I have to admit that Lulu had spearheaded in bringing in a new fashion trend that is in full blossom this year -- Athleisure.

The perfectly descriptive buzzword shows women's desire to live a comfortably confident life in style. And for that reason, I see this change of tide more permanent than transient. From designer yoga pants to layering cashmere sweaters, these gym-to-street pieces are functional and comfortable, and at the same time, stylish and curve hugging. And the good news is: now we have more brands to choose from beyond Lululemon.

I've got a few running pieces from Under Armour and Nike recently. I happily notice that they are now taking a page of Lulu's style book and offering more body hugging styles, all with their fast dry fabric designed for serious workout maniacs.

Take this springy Under Armour 1/2 Zip top for example: When I put it on in the fitting room, I just loved seeing myself from every angle. It was definitely body hugging, but in a comfortable and flattering way. The fabric used in UA's ColdGear line wicks sweat away quickly and keeps you dry and warm. I've been using it in my outdoor long runs and weekend hiking trips. No complaints. The only improvement I would suggest to UA is: add pockets please.

Top: Under Armour Women's UA ColdGear® Cozy Printed 1/2 Zip

Jeans: James Jeans

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAC

Unique Glow

Finally we are out of winter! phew~ I know I'd been quiet for a while. Blame this brutal winter please. I'd never seen such a long and cold winter in New York, and I did not have the courage of stepping out of my cozy warm apartment to shoot pictures. But, I'm everything but a quitter! Now that the snow is melting on the ground, I'm finally motivated to take off my bulky Canada Goose and shoot new looks!

Back in my early summer trip to central Europe, I was impressed by the ultra light down coat my friend packed in her suitcase. It fits easily into its own little pouch, but keeps you warm when the temperature drops to ~40F. I scored one this season, and couldn't wait to put it on last weekend. :)

This Uniqlo down jacket also brought me into its enormous store in mid town, and I was shocked at the quality and price of this brand. Uniqlo did make a scene when it hit Manhattan a couple of years ago, but I took it just as yet another cheap brand and did not bother to walk into its store. Now I realized how wrong I had been all these years! A little money goes a long way here, and you get your money's worth!

Besides this ultra light down jacket, I also bought multiple HEATTECH long sleeve T-shirts in the store. Man! They kept me warm in this dreaded winter! Just like the quick dry material you pay big $$$ for in big sport brands, HEATTECH wicks your sweat away and keeps your body heat. You may stay dry and warm in those babies without worrying too much about your bleeding bank account.

Top: Uniqlo HEATTECH Crew Neck T-Shirt
Down coat: Uniqlo Ultra Light Hooded Down Jacket (sold out, new season)
Leather pants: Versace
Handbag: Rebecca Minkoff Mini Perry Satchel in burgendy

Red Leopard

It felt like winter this weekend in NYC, and I decided to pull out my down coat. To brighten things up, I wore a red leopard sweater dress, a new purchase from Express, under it. I didn't even remember how many years have passed since I stepped in an Express store last time. That said, I am pretty happy with my purchase. It was soft and cute, although a little too short even for business casual. After all we do need a little bit color and fun occasionally, right?

Dress: Express Red Leopard Print Sweater Dress (also available in gray)
Down Coat: Burberry Brit (current season, similar available in Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Saks)
Boots: Cole Haan
Purse: Rebecca Minkoff Mini Perry Wave Embossed Leather Satchel in burgundy
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Burgundy

Rich dark burgundy / wine is a fashion staple that consistently remains a truly classic color, especially in fall/winter. The deep tone works well with a range of other hues, and instantly adds a degree of sophistication to your outfit.

Burgundy goes easily with black and white. When worn together, these three colors lead to a refined and effortlessly chic look. Black forms the neutral basis of your ideal outfit. Burgundy serves as an understated dose of color, and white offers a needed bright contrast to the two darker hues.

Various shades of brown plays up burgundy's classic appeal. Darker brown shades blend well with burgundy, while lighter browns and tan tones serve as complementary contrast.

Burgundy also looks great with a range of blue shades. Burgundy and navy is a timeless color combo: let navy serve as the base of your outfit and add burgundy accents. Because navy and burgundy are both deep, rich tones, keep accessories neutral so they don't compete with your clothes. Another color in the blue family that goes well with burgundy is turquoise. Burgundy base with a pop of turquoise makes a pleasant eye-catching contrast.

Metallics makes burgundy modern chic. Gold brings out burgundy’s warmth, while silver gives you a perfect, cool contrast to the deep red. When wearing burgundy with gold or silver, stay classic by keeping accessories simple.

BTW this Rebecca Minkoff Mini Perry Satchel is my new love. Perry bag is a marriage between the classic Givenchy Antigona and the cool 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli, at a fraction of their price. This mini Perry is big enough to hold my everyday nonsense plus winter accessories such as a scarf and a pair of gloves. I can see myself carrying it a lot this season. :)

Trench coat: Burberry London
Silk scarf: Hermes
Purse: Rebecca Minkoff Mini Perry Wave Embossed Leather Satchel in burgundy (here, here, here, here)
Leather armwarmers: Vince Camuto

Shopbop FF Purchase Review

Ladies! Have you got your purchase from Shopbop Friends & Family event last week? I've got most of my packages (one more on the way)! Here is a quick review of my precious. :)

Loeffler Randall Lock Clutch. I ordered two, one in Zebra/Feather print, and the other in shearling/wool. The latter has been sold out. Here is the picture I found online.

Both bags are of good size and high quality. I can easily put in my credit cards, cell phone, key and still have lots of room left. Absolutely love its clean cut and interesting play of patterns and materials. The only question is: which one should I keep??? The zebra one is more edgy and versatile, but the shearling one is so cute and cuddle-able in winter! What do you think? In the end, I decided to keep the zebra one because cleaning shearling/wool may not be as easy. Do you think I've made a right choice? See how cool it looks in action!

Trench coat with warmer: Burberry Brit (current season)
Clutch: Loeffler Randall Zebra Feather Haircalf Lock Clutch (here, similar, similar,  similar, also like this, this)
Pants: Club Monaco Carolina Skinny Waxed Pant
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Booties: VC Signature by Vince Camuto

Loeffler Randall Fenton Rain Booties. Aren't they cute? They look like leather booties! I'd got a pair of Hunter rain boots, and a pair of UGG wool lined rain boots for cold days, and I thought that covered all four seasons and I needed no more. But I just couldn't say no to these cuties! With those rain boots on, I could still walk around and look stylish on a cold rainy/snowy day. I'm definitely keeping these babies.

Vince Little Boy Tee. Basic tees in awesome soft material and the white one is not a see-through. I'm keeping both the white and black ones I ordered.

Sophie Hulme Mini Envelope Bag. Another evidence that you can't trust commercialized bloggers. This bag has been so popular among fashion bloggers and it looks so cute! But in real life, the leather feels like rubber, and the bag is simply too small to hold anything - not even my Louis Vuitton wallet. I ordered it in tan, navy and black (navy and black are sold out on Shopbop), and they are all going back.

Rebecca Minkoff Paris Clutch. Still patiently waiting for its arrival.

5th & Mercer Asymmetrical Skirt. Disappointing. The material is really cheap.

L'AGENCE Pleated Side Skirt. Cute. The material has the right weight and is not flimsy at all. This is a keeper. The size is small though. You may consider sizing up if you have strong thighs.

OK. That's all for my review. Did you get anything exciting?

BTW it's getting really cold here. So I pulled out my olive color trench coat with a removable warmer. I like its sleek look, neutral color, and military style. I only saw a mid-thigh version in this season's collection on Burberry's website. Glad that I snatched it last year!

It's the Poncho Season!

After a full week's sleek business attire in black, white and grey, this weekend I was inevitably drawn to cozy knits that is bold, bright and fun. This Tory Burch knit poncho was exactly what I was in the mood for: contrast colors, fringes, tussles, and soft chunky material. It's really a Boho chic statement piece. Believe it or not, I bought it two years ago and this was the first time I pulled it out of the closet! //feeling guilty...

Sweater poncho: Tory Burch (more Boho chic pieces like this, this, this, this, this) 

Long sleeved tee: Banana Republic

Leggings: Club Monaco Rochelle Faux-Leather Legging (also seen in this outfit)

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Mini in hot red

Booties: VC Signature by Vince Camuto

Subtle Cutout Dress

Unique cutout designs may add an unexpected element to any silhouette. The key to subtlety and elegance is showing a sliver of skin without revealing too much. When cutouts at the waist or shoulders have become too cliche, this dress with cutouts at the side of thighs still seem quirky.

Dress: Pencey
Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Mini in hot red
Watch: Daniel Wellington classic St. Andrew Lady in rose gold
Boots: DV by Dolce Vita Malika Boots
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Hey, I'm not a quitter!

Sorry for being absent in the past a few days! Life has been hectic, but I'm committed to this blog! I'm desperately in need of a haircut. Nevertheless, I'm here posting more pictures, because you've asked for more... I feel so touched and loved. xoxo~~ :)

Just a quick shot of what I wore this weekend: a beautiful embroidered mini-dress from Free People. Yes, it deserves a close-up. Got lots of compliments throughout the day. This is one of those pieces that represents the brand's free spirit in a more subtle style. I attempted to mix it with a structured purse, a preppy watch, and studded masculine boots to create a Boho chic outfit. Do you like it?

Dress: Free People
Necklace: Cartier Love necklace
Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Mini in hot red
Watch: Daniel Wellington classic St. Andrew Lady in rose gold
Boots: DV by Dolce Vita Malika Boots
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

A Posh Puzzle

As I mentioned before, I'm now selling some of my stuff on Poshmark. This website charges 20% fee to the seller, so stuff are usually not as cheap as you might think. I figured that out. What really amazed me is some people are selling brand name paper bags, including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, Prada, Gucci and many more. And they are not cheap! Dude, who will pay $10 or even $20 for a free-with-purchase paper bag? I always trash my shopping bags, and now I know I've been throwing $$$ away! Oh, my peanut-sized brain cannot figure this out... Calling for help: is anyone able to explain this to me???

BTW, this Minkpink floral skirt is on sale... :)

Tee: Madewell Linen Timeoff Tee in Brandy
Skirt: Minkpink (I'm selling it on Poshmark and MITBBS)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAC Mini in Green
Sandals: Birkenstock Curacao by Birki in black stretch cork

Small Town Girl

I love small towns in the Northeast. They are clean, old, quaint and cozy. All you need to bring is laid-back attitude. Summer summer, please stay!

Top: Ella Moss from Anthropologie
Shorts: Rag & Bone
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Mini in hot red
Sandals:  Birkenstock Curacao by Birki in black stretch cork
Necklace: Stellar McCartney

Pre-fall Colors and My Poshmark

We had a couple of cool days here in the city, and I was consequently drawn to rusty colors. New outfit, old pieces. :)

Despite my ongoing effort of dumping things to Goodwill, my closet is once again exploding. So I registered on Poshmark last night and decided to put some excellent/good condition pre-loved items on the market. My username is "zisu" and has just uploaded one Rebecca Minkoff MAB this morning. More items will come. Please follow me. I will also start a thread on mitbbs once I have collected the items. Keep posted. :)

Tee: JCrew Perfect Fit Tee
Skirt: HD in Paris, from Anthropologie
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Necklace: Anthropologie
Pumps: Nicholas Kirkwood

And here is the MAB for sale...

Gem Over the Shoulder

I'm absolutely in love with this Rebecca Minkoff MAB mini tote. Yes, it may appear a Celine-wannabe, but its textured saffiano leather and magnificent hot red color simply make it hard to pass. Being dressed up or down, it is indeed a little gem swung over the shoulder. Don't get fooled by its petite size at the first glance. It easily holds all my everyday essentials: compact wallet (this size), key wallet, cell phone, compact camera, sunglasses, lipstick and compact mirror. It's a lot more functional than the cool-looking RM Craig camera bag and many other more expensive cute mini bags, including the white-hot Chanel Le Boy medium.

MAB totes, mini or medium, are spotted quite often nowadays in NYC. Loyal RM fans may miss those signature slouchy bags in buttery soft leather, but MAB tote, Hudson Moto, Amorous satchel and other recent saffiano leather bags have signaled RM's march into the more structured styles that dominate the handbag trend these years. For me, a nice bag is a nice bag; branding is secondary. I own several RM classics (MAB, MAM, MAC, MAC mini), but it doesn't prevent me from embracing the new structured styles.

The dress is from Ralph Lauren's discontinued line Rugby. It left me with a void that I seem unable to fill. If you know any other brands that make you feel so British preppy, please let me know!

Dress: Rugby
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength
Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Mini in hot red
Sandals:  Birkenstock Curacao by Birki in black stretch cork

Walking in the Green

Summer is an interesting season. The city is packed with tourists from all over the world while the local residents all rush to the countryside or the beach to escape the hustle-bustle of city life. Nothing is more therapeutic than a walk in the woods or a splash in the ocean.

In recent years, my weekend outfits have grown more and more relaxed. Madewell oversized tee is one of my must-haves for the summer. This basic linen timeoff tee, in particular, has a really nice drape and feels super cool on hot summer days. I have it in multiple colors.

Here I paired the oversized tee with a midi skirt from ASOS. It's made of a drapery fabric that's soft to the touch. The baby pink color is slightly more pinkish than shown on the website -- and I like that. My pictures have done a better job in capturing the color in different lighting.

Click for large pictures. 

Tee: Madewell Linen Timeoff Tee in heather grey

Skirt: ASOS Midi Skirt In Heart Print With Pockets in pink

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Necklace: Stellar McCartney

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff MAB Tote Mini in Hot Red

Sandals: Birkenstock Curacao by Birki in black stretch cork

Here is the closeup of my Stellar McCartney necklace. I bought it in Italy two years ago, and it has become one of my favorite pieces of fashion jewelry. And yes, you may play with the golden ball and make it spin. :)

TGIF: Heading Out of the City!

I'm dying from this busy week! I need a weekend trip as much as fish needs water. The ambitious may live to work; I work to live. Maybe that's why I will end up being a mediocre. But, if it's a happy mediocre, be it! :)

Have a good weekend, everyone! Don't let the summer slip through your fingers...

Maxi dress: C&C California (current season)

Sports bra:  GapFit Racerback Pullover Bra

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Purse: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC

Sandals: Birkenstock Curacao by Birki in black stretch cork

Necklace: Stellar McCartney

Summer Color Splash

Fashion police may tell you: No more than three colors in an outfit unless you are five years old or younger.

Rules are meant to be broken.

And summer is the time to break one or two just for fun... :)

I've been eyeing this pair of JCrew shorts in Gemstone print for a while. Finally it went on sale and I immediately snatched one. The original fit sits quite loose in the waist (size 00). So I had to take it to a tailor first. No complaints other than that. The material is substantial and comfortable, the fit around the hips is preppy and modest, and the pattern is simply fun!

It could be the center piece of a modest preppy outfit if paired with white, gray, blue, nude/blush/peach or denim tops. But this time I decided to go a bit crazy and throw in a neon yellow slouchy tee, a bright green purse, and a royal blue baseball cap with yellow embroidered crest. The outfit doesn't look too bad, right?

Click for large pictures.

 

Slouchy tee: Free People in neon yellow

Shorts: JCrew Cotton Pique Shorts in Gemstone Print (same print in skirt)

Baseball cap: JCrew Cotton Twill Embroidered Crest Baseball Cap in Deep Sea

Crossbody bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC 

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength

Sandals:  Birkenstock Curacao by Birki in black stretch cork
Necklace: Stellar McCartney

Spring Blossom

Hi everyone! Can't imagine it's still chilly in May. And I've got a bad flu this week. I don't even remember when I got this sick last time... at least not since I came to the states. Stayed in bed for a good two days. Now I'm back and fully functional again. :)

It's spring time anyway. Flowers everywhere. On a sunny and warm day, the flower trees do light up your spirit. I'm looking forward to a nice weekend!

Denim on denim is not that boring, as long as you throw on some light colors, isn't it? I love this Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack. The orange color is the best for spring/summer essentials. And a pair of super soft driver shoes is a must for a walk in the park.

Denim shirt: Anthropologie
Boyfriend jeans: James Jeans Neo Beau Slouchy Fit Boyfriend In Genevieve
White cotton blazer: Club Monaco
Yellow silk scarf: Burberry
Driver shoes: Cole Haan (similar)
Backpack: Rebecca Minkoff Julian backpack in Orangina (also in black & studded, black, white, orange & studded)

Super Duper Funkiness

Last weekend I went across the river and spent a beautiful spring afternoon in Hoboken riverside overseeing Manhattan skyline. Sipping a glass of wine, I couldn't help wondering why I and so many others were blinded by the hustle and bustle in that tiny island and forgot how beautiful it looked from the other side of the river. With decent presence of bars and restaurants, Hoboken waterfront is a wonderful weekend retreat.

That said, make sure that you walk in flats. Built on reclaimed land, Hoboken water front is a piece of land that wrinkles here and there. As you see from the picture, the pavement is uneven and needs to be ironed and steamed extensively. Since I didn't have a powerful iron to fix it, I felt lucky that I was wearing a pair of JCrew Viv mirror metallic bow flats. It seemed that JCrew shoes tend to fit narrow. So I sized up 1/2 for this pair.

For such a relaxing afternoon, I put on my Karen Walker Super Duper Strength sunglasses. Unlike the Miu Miu Cat Eye I wore last weekend that exudes city attitude and outright confidence, this pair is retro and funky. The oversized round frame resembles cute bug eyes, and brings out the artistic cuteness in a woman. Whenever I put it on and look into the mirror, I just can't help laughing at myself. It makes my face small, almost ridiculous. Cat eye or bug eye? That's the question for this summer.

Just noticed: Shopbop is having Friends and Family Sale!  25% off site-wide sales, 4/15 – 4/17, code: INTHEFAMILY14. Snatch Super Duper Strength before it's gone! I've also tried the Karen Walker Number One (here and here). That's a cool shade too!

Other items in the outfit: a tribal tee from Anthropologie (on sale now!), waxed pants from Club Monaco (another outfit with it), a green cutie from Rebecca Minkoff (as you seen yesterday).

Woven print T-shirt: Ellery Top by Sunday in Brooklyn from Anthropologie
Waxed pants: Club Monaco Carolina Skinny Waxed Pant
Silver flats: JCrew Viv mirror metallic bow flats (similar)
Crossbody bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC (also like it in orange, red, peach, pale pink and twilight sky)
Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength in Black (also like it in Crazy Tort)
Lipstick: NARS lipstick in Manhunt

The Rub of the Green

没有比绿色更春天的颜色了！当我看见这只绿色小包的时候，就跟巴浦洛夫的狗一样，哗啦啦的流口水，绝对是童叟无欺的真爱。Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC可以说物美价廉，颜色多，质量好，还很能装。我很小农的，舍不得花钱买浅色或者鲜艳的名牌包，觉得大几千买个容易脏或者不容易搭配的包性价比不高，放在家里供着就亏了。我买的名牌包一般都是深色的，随便走哪儿往地上一扔，再背上也看不出脏来。所以鲜艳的Rebecca Minkoff就正好填补了小农的空白，深合朕意。这个牌子虽然便宜，我对它可不是廉价的爱情，这是超越了价格超越了阶级超越了时空感天动地海枯石烂的真爱，就跟有钱人家小姐爱上穷书生是一个道理，虽然咱也不是神马有钱人家。这个包看起来小，里面可装了不少东东：短钱包，手机，钥匙，小相机，口红，墨镜（无镜盒）。差不多出个门就够了。

When everyone was rushing into Chanel to grab her dream bag before the much rumored price hike in Q2, my fingers itched at this green mini MAC from Rebecca Minkoff. After this long brutal winter, nothing lit me up as much as this little springy cutie. Pretty late to the Rebecca Minkoff club, I was soon amazed by its almost endless color selection every season. And this bright green is definitely one of those hard-to-find colors that I can swing with. Mini MAC is about the right size for daily essentials. It holds a small purse, a Galaxy S3 cellphone, several keys, a compact camera, a lipstick, and a pair of sunglasses w/o the case.

To make the color pop, I paired the mini MAC with a JCrew side-zip varsity dress. I like its preppy style and the light grey color. The Nicholas Kirkwood block heel pumps and the layered necklace added a little spice that blended well with the MAC. Oh, and the Karen Walker Super Duper Strength sunglasses? Let's discuss it next time. :)

Dress: JCrew side-zip varsity dress

Pumps: Nicholas Kirkwood two tone patent leather block heel pump (similar on sale, similar, similar) 

Crossbody bag: Rebecca Minkoff mini MAC (also like it in orange, red, peach, pale pink and twilight sky)

Necklace: Bloomsbury layered necklace from Anthropologie

Sunglasses: Karen Walker Super Duper Strength in Black (also like it in Crazy Tort)