Weekday/Weekend: Mack the Knife

"Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it … ah … out of sight."

Roughly-cut edges of drapey pieces are fun to play with--they add great dimension to everyday pieces. Overlaping drapery is even more fun.

The Marciano drapey sweater that I found at the Marciano outlet during the summer has been in the rotation quite frequently, since "Summer" this year in Southern California didn't get a whole lot of sun. More recently, I added a very soft Wyatt "Sharkbite" tank top to my collection. Although I intended to wear the tank top as a casual piece, it worked surprisingly well with the drapey sweater for work--the ensemble looked put together, creative yet sufficiently conservative, kept me warm, and was very comfortable.

[Weekday: Marciano cashmere-blend sweater, Wyatt "Sharkbite" tank (from Bluefly), Balenciaga skinny pants (from Barney's warehouse sale), Christian Lacroix gold flats (from DSW), Marc by Marc Jacobs pave pear watch (from Fossil outlet)].




Now that it is supposed to be Fall, scorching weather has arrived. The weather has been bizarre to the point that some people ominously refer to it as "earthquake weather"--as in the weather is so strange that the next "big one" is sure to hit soon. Fall started with hot weather, followed by a few weeks of light rain, pouring rain, thunder and lightning, flash showers, and cool weather, and is now back to hot weather again. Given that we are back to having hot weather, it was time to wear the Sharkbite tank as intended.

[Weekend: Wyatt "Sharkbite" tank (from Bluefly), F21 skeleton key necklace, Gap striped denim shorts, EQ IQ platform ankle boots, Marc by Marc Jacobs sunglasses]



Although it can be fairly hot, it is the right time to bust out the ankle boots. I swooped these off the clearance rack in Hong Kong last year from a Causeway Bay store aptly named "Sole Town," and am happy to take them out of the dust bag again. They are simple but a bit sassy, thanks to the high heel and the zipper/button detail in the back.

Hong Kong is definitely a great place to pick up interesting pieces. I got some pretty cool stuff last time, and I'm looking forward to shopping there again.

Rising in Fall

Life, with its ups and downs, is a continuing struggle. We won't ever learn how to get up if we don't fall down first. We won't toughen up if we don't take a few hits first. Sometimes we won't know what's really harmful to us, or know how to heal from the resulting wounds, without getting hurt first. It's all a learning experience. One thing is for sure--we do not remain fallen for long. After a trip downwards, we realize that we CAN get back up, that we are stronger than we give ourselves credit for. We learn, we heal, we survive, and become stronger than before.

In Southern California, the mercury usually rises in September. This year, it has been uncharacteristically cool--a welcoming change for me. Now that some semblance of my favorite season is here, and now that my life is somewhat back to order, it's time for me to dust myself and my layering pieces off, and rediscover what it means to be creative. Being creative was difficult when I had no time or mood for it, when the heat leaves me little options than shorts/skirts and tank tops, and when much of my clothes and possessions sat in boxes for weeks. Now that most things have been unpacked, I can explore my new surroundings as well as new ways to mix up my wardrobe. It also feels good to be exploring photography and photo editing again.

My work outfits have been largely uninspiring, as layering was impossible during the hotter months, and I wore only what I could easily find. Today's outfit is finally something along the lines of what I really want to achieve--an integration of colors, shapes, patterns, textures, and sophistication. It is quite ironic that my favorite cool-weather items--the stockings and the cashmere-blend drapey sweaters--were found during the hottest months. It makes perfect sense that they were found at outlets, since no one would have been thinking of buying something so out-of-season. While the drapey sweater has been my go-to piece for the office and for air travel, I couldn't wear the awesome patterened stockings until today.

Being told today that I look like a fashion model was kinda neat. :)

[Marciano by Guess drapey sweater, F21 faux-wrap dress, BCBG necklace, American Eagle Outfitters ring, Calvin Klein patterned stockings, D&G mary janes]

On a Slant

The weather in LA was on a mood swing in the past month. One day it's cold and rainy, the next day it's 80 degrees. Now that May is here, the warmer weather appears to be here to stay. Time to bust out the lighter layers and go with the shorter haircuts.

It has been in my habit to test the boundaries of work outfits, but I really pushed the envelop this time with an element that is very apparent and way outside the realm of businesswear. Over the weekend, I stopped by the Calvin Klein outlet at the Citadel because a) it was on my way home from Orange County, and b) I've had much luck with finding affordable and stylish work separates there. An outfit on a window mannequin caught my eye--once I spotted the tissue-thin aqua blue tee bifurcated by a diagonal seam, I was sold. It helped that the shirt was further on sale, but I would have bought it even if it wasn't.

I've worn t-shirts under blazers before, but this one is far afield from the others. The t-shirt-based cut is at once casual and the opposite of run-of-the-mill, thanks to a mix of color, texture, and structuring. The lightness is perfect for the summer. Although the shirt itself is very sheer, the burnout pattern makes the sheerness far less apparent (at least on my skin tone), thereby eliminating the burden of having to wear an additional camisole. I love how the fabric gathers and drapes on both sides of the asymmetric seam, which stands out boldly with its raw, rolled-up edges. It also helps that the slanted detailing matches my new-ish haircut, so everything looks somewhat integrated.

[Issac Mizrahi for Target cardigan, Calvin Klein top, Stella McCartney cropped pants, Abaete for Payless pumps, Kenneth Cole cuff]

Ties that Bind

Thank you so much for your comments! I'm so happy that you enjoy reading the blog, and I'm certainly happy to be back.

I've been rather dressed up for the last couple of Fridays, so it's nice to go with a more casual outfit this time. The town where I work now is far more populated by business attire, so I have to look a little more refined (even on casual days) to fit in.

Given the fact that I have to save up more money these days for my upcoming travels, among other things, I haven't really bought anything new for the last few months. However, when I ventured out for a friend's birthday party last weekend, I got a few things. One much-needed item is a thicker sweater for work. The cotton open cardigan that I picked up from the Gap (with a 30% off discount) is quite warm. Fifty bucks is a lot to pay for a cotton knit sweater like this, but since I've tried to find a cheaper alternative but couldn't, I just gave in. It is a pretty good investment, I dare say, considering that I've been wearing it practically all week.

The tank top is from Forever 21. Although it appears to be a casual piece to be worn with leggings, there is quite a bit of sophistication to it. I love how the elastic bands are cris-crossed in the front as well as the back. Considering that this is a "cheap chic" piece, I'm impressed by the fact that the bands do align and connect on the sides such that they appear to wrap all the way around.

Since the colors of the outfit are rather low-key, I decided to liven things up with a neon-colored bracelet-watch. I bought this from the Cabazon outlet just before Christmas and have worn it before, but this picture captures the color more accurately. It really pops out against an all-black business outfit as well.

My favorite accessory at the moment is my big ol' Calvin Klein electric blue satchel. Not being one to switch bags every few days, this has been my daily staple for the last few months. I also got this bag just before Christmas, when the Calvin Klein store in the Beverly Center was having a closing sale and everything was 75% off. Although the faux-leather material isn't all that sturdy (there are a few cracks where the bag tends to crease), this bag holds everything, and the color is just gorgeous. One comment I get the most is "that bag is so...blue." Although it sounds rather hesitant, most people I've talked to seem to like it because it is at once an unusual color and a great fit for all the grays, blacks, and blues that are prevalent in businesswear. You'll probably see this bag until it finally wears out, but I've gotten quite a lot of use of it for $40, and there's still has a mileage left.

[Outfit: Gap cotton knit cardigan, F21 tank, Paper Denim & Cloth jeans, Bloch London flats, Marc by Marc Jacobs bracelet watch, Calvin Klein bag.]

The Long Run

Happy 2010! May a new decade bring positive changes and strengthen lasting bonds. I still can't believe that it is now Year 2010; it seems like one of those years in science fictions from long ago that would never arrive. We still use roads, fossil fuels, and don't around Jetson-style in pods yet, but technology has been developing on an exponential curve, so the fictional visions of the future may become reality sooner than I think.

A lot of people make New Year's resolutions, which is good--it gives some goals to work toward. Not all of them may be fulfilled, but we all need some impetus to get started. Here are a few of my resolutions (in no particular order), which I hope will last beyond just this year:

1) Become more financially savvy--I'd like to think I do pretty well in saving. However, there's always room for improvement, and it's important to do more than just save. Given the uncertain economic times, and unexpected expenses, it's good to have a good financial cushion around. It's not just enough to save put money into a 401(k), which tanked for a lot of people. In addition to the retirement accounts, it's important to build up savings that is readily accessible.

Once a particular savings goal is reached (say, a year's worth of living expenses), the next step is to learn how to make some of that money work a little harder. That's something I really need to learn to work on. A savvy friend of mine recommended Motley Fool as a resource to start with. Now that the markets are starting to recover, it is as good of a time to think or rethink investment strategies.

2) Evaluate and/or revamp habits and customs--it's easy to fall into bad patterns without knowing it, especially when there are competing priorities. It's important to notice what's been going on, what's been going wrong, why it's been going wrong, figure out the root of the problem, and replace the bad patterns with good ones.

In the last couple of months, I've noticed that my eating schedules and habits have gone awry, I've practically stopped exercising, gotten a bit nonchalant about getting things done/getting to places on time (which is really not me), just stopped caring about many things in general (like watering my plants), etc. Most of these problems stem from being tired, and sometimes sick, which eventually lead to laziness and apathy. A very basic way of fixing the problem is simply getting regular and comfortable sleep, which often went by the wayside on my quest to do as much as possible with what little time I have. Sleep is not a waste of time--it's quite essential. Without energy, discipline and willpower will eventually wear away.

3) Exercise--my Wii Fit is completely underutilized. I need to pop in fresh batteries and start getting on that thing again.

4) Learn when to take a break--this has been the hardest lesson for me to learn. I've always known one speed in life, and that's fast and furious. However, life is a marathon, not a sprint to the finish; there will be no victory lap if the tank is out of gas. Since there are no summer or winter breaks in the life after school, it's up to me to learn when to schedule in vacations and use them wisely.

5) Edit my wardrobe--the growth of my closet has finally hit the hilt of rate-determining factors called time and space, which seemed infinite until now. There's no more room to store things, and there is an inversely-proportional amount of time to look through all the stuff I have. This means I need to reduce my inventory of casual things that I don't wear much anymore (I'm not a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl anymore), be more selective about things I acquire, and replace worn-out clothing with quality, professional pieces that will last for a long time. Given my professional development, it seems like my style has changed permanently from "all kinds of crazy" to "subtly grown-up with a few funky elements."

Editing is easier said than done. I've been clinging to the idea that one doesn't have to choose between quality and quantity--which was fine and all until a certain point. I think the space factor pretty much disproves my theory, much to my chagrin. If my days as a law review editor taught me anything, it would be to preserve as much of the author's intent and underlying character of the piece as much as humanly possible, while tossing out excessive words or florid language that distract the reader from the main point. Translated into sartorial applications, it means figuring out what my style really is (which I've done), and getting rid of things that really don't fit the bill.

I've been paying more attention to the frequency with which I wear certain things to determine what the true closet staples are. Those are the ones I'll stick with for years to come and worthy of investment. Here are my observations:

-One can never go wrong with leather (or pleather)--my leather hoodie gets worn the most because it goes with everything. It doens't hurt that the jacket has garnered the most compliments of anything I've worn.

-One must also have a pair of well-fitting black bottoms--they go with everything. My black slacks get worn the most during the week, while my black faux leather leggings are worn practically all the time on the weekends during these colder months (ironic given the fact that I've eschewed leggings for the longest time). My black wool tights allows me to wear practically any sort of dresses, skirts, and shorts these last few months.

-Long- and short-sleeved T-shirts in a couple of colors, patterns, and cuts will do wonders. My fitted gray Gap crewneck t-shirt is perfect with cardigans and blazers for work, and goes with literally everything I wear on the weekends. A slouchier v-neck t-shirt in a lighter color is great for a more casual weekend look. A few graphic t-shirt breaks up the color-block humdrum. That's pretty much all I need.

-Signature accessories--in a professional setting, accessories provide personality to otherwise standard fare. I wear fairly bland colors because it's easy, safe, and classy to do so, but I don't think I ever look boring. In the winter months, scarves are my friends. My black and white Gap scarf with bold stripes, which I got as a gift, is one of my best assets; it keeps me warm and looks great year after year. I have a few vintage scarves for the summer as well. Patterned and/or colored hosiery, ranging from subtle and loud, definitely add a pop to any outfit. Various combinations of jewelry can make varying degrees of impact, whether in the form of a single statement piece, a stack of mix-and-matches, or a few simple pieces together.

-Great shoes--the importance of great shoes can never be understated. People do notice these things, as shallow as it seems. They don't need to be expensive at all (plenty of my shoes come from Payless or Target), but they have to look solid and feel comfortable. It's hard to go wrong with patent leather (real or faux), even for the cheap ones (at least initially; they look great until they get scuffed up). While the stilettos are sexier and more artsy, the real workhorses are the ones with the thicker but not too chunky heels.

On my trip to Hong Kong, I had to pack for occasions ranging from formal to casual, and I narrowed down the essential footwear to 4 pairs: a pair of black Marc by Marc Jacobs mary janes with a shiny star and martini heel (for the formal occasion), an old pair of black knee-high boots with a blocky heel (to go with practically everything), a pair of classic flats in white with black captoes (for a dressier outfit on a day that requires a lot of walking), and a pair of blue and yellow Nikes (for a casual outing). Ankle-length boots are also great to go with slacks for work or something shorter for play. Not that I'll kick my shoe habit anytime soon, but I do recognize that if I really have to limit myself to as few pairs of shoes as possible, these are the true "needs."

-A good shift dress is a must. My blue DvF wool shift dress goes with everything--blazers and cardigans for work, leather jacket, boots, and a funky scarf for weekends.

-One or two good bags--a chic bag in a medium size, with some structure (either a tote or a satchel), and solid classic color (black, something neutral, blue, or dark red), without bells and whistles, will carry you everywhere. If it has an additional shoulder strap that could be readily put or or removed, then all the better.

-A good coat, a few cardigans, well-fitted blazers, light-weight silk blouses (in solid colors, a few bold prints, and a couple with asymmetric details), and undergarments (of course) round out the true "essentials."


What are your goals for life and style, for this year and beyond? Any particular essentials you can't live without? Discuss.

Merry (Fifth Day of) Christmas, and Happy New Year

Since there are 12 days of Christmas (according to the song, at least), I figured I'm not too late with Christmas greetings. I hope everyone had a great time on December 25.

My Christmas season was rather hectic up to Christmas Day, when I actually left some gifts at home and had to run back and get it. Normally, I would have shopped all year round and got all the presents with plenty of time to spare, but this year things were different. Due to a number of circumstances this year--some unforeseen and unfortunate, others inevitable--I didn't have much time for gift shopping. Consequently, I was fitting in shopping here and there after work on some days, resulting in multiple days of driving and frustration. I was literally running around town on Christmas Eve up until the stores closed around dinner time in an effort to get all the presents. I haven't done any online shopping this year because it would require me to know exactly what I want for people, whether it'll fit, whether it'll get here on time etc., but I think I will try to do more online shopping next year. Brick and mortar stores have limited hours, but I can shop online in the wee hours of the night and have more time to find what I'm looking for.

Frustrating logistics aside, it was a fairly good Christmas for me because things went back to basics. The current economic recession affects everyone, and it also had its effects on gift-giving. For the most part, most gifts that I've seen passed around were smaller and on the very practical side (i.e. socks, nail polish, bath products). How much to spend, whether something is nice enough to give as gifts, etc.--none of that mattered this year, and I really like that. The important focus this year was simply to spend time with those we care for, to help each other get through the hard times, and hold out hope that things will get better.

Tough times like these make me see more of a silver lining in the stormy clouds--"problems" are really just minor annoyances compared to the real problems and difficult choices that many people have to make every day. A lot of things happened in the last month or so, and it's been tough to make time to deal with everything, but I am thankful that I get to be busy and gainfully employed. Although I didn't have as much time to scope out super-deals this year when shopping for gifts, I'm glad the end result was splurging a little for loved ones who couldn't afford to get themselves a well-deserved year-end treat. Although I'm grumbling about the troubles of having to save up and replace a big hunk of motorized scrap metal (which is currently sitting idly on a street somewhere), I'm just very lucky it managed to protect me before its demise and I'm around and able to deal with the aftermath, not to mention that it happens to be a time when there are very good deals abound.

How have your holidays been, and what are your wishes for the next decade? I hope that the New Year will bring all of us inspirations, motivations, felicitations, and (at least in my case) perhaps a new set of wheels that will keep on going round and round for years and years to come. The cautious realist that I am, I tend to be weary of prognostications of "everything is going to be OK," but I do believe that things are starting to turn a corner and will get better.

Enjoy the celebrations, and stay safe!

Skewered and Askewed

The first week back in the States after travelling overseas felt awkward. I thought that by thinking, "Jet lag, what's that?", I'd be able to ignore the issue and feel completely settled in. Alas, that was not to be. I felt completely upside down all week. I've been busy trying to get caught up with the hundreds of emails (work and personal) and stacks of papers that piled up in my absence, and in doing so, there was no time to buy groceries and fix up a proper meal. Now that I want to cook to start the week right, I have to be out of town again; there's no point in buying groceries, not have time or be around to do anything with them, and let things spoil for no good reason.

At least I feel committed to cooking. As long as I have a particular dish in mind, I'll get motivated to work on it. This is the same situation as what occurred before I left for my trip--I somehow got fixated on the idea of making kabobs because it was easy, filling, and delicious, so even though I was tired after getting home from work, I went ahead and did it. This recipe is great for working professionals because the labor can be split into different days, and if the portions are small, less prep time is needed. Also, if you know in advance that you need to feed a small army on the next day, kabobs look great and are generally crowdpleasers.

The concept is simple--cut up the meat one night, marinate it, put it on skewers on the next day along with some veggies, and grill or broil. The process really is that simple. However, it can be a bit time-consuming. The bamboo skewers had to soak for 30 minutes before use (so that they won't burn), and while that was being done, I washed and cut up a bunch of veggies. Since the value pack of sirloin I got was a bit short of 2 pounds of meat, it took a while to get them all skewered up. It was pretty fun to try and come up with different configurations so that no two skewers were exactly the same:



Cooking was very quick and easy--drizzle some olive oil on the kabobs, broil one side for 5 minutes, turn, and broil some more until the desired level of doneness (another 5-10 minutes). It was delicious, and I had enough food for lunch and dinner for almost a week.



Now I have to figure out what to cook next time...

Layering Chains

My work style for the past several weeks had been rather woeful. I didn't really have much time to think about what to wear--just throw on something black or gray and face the long day ahead. This week I finally got back on track, and it's quite fun to make work outfits interesting again. It also helps that the heat waves have finally come to an end, and I can work with layers.

Although I tend to make some rather outrageous jewelry for myself and for the shop, I haven't been very adventurous about layering chains. My style tends to be fairly predictable--something bland mixed with a statement piece or two--so it's a good time to try something different. Like Elaine at Clothed Much, I got inspired by the J. Crew catalog's idea of layering necklaces. I'm more of a minimalist, so here's my take with faux pearls and a silver multichain cluster necklace I picked up from the BCBG outlet:

[Love Yaya tunic (worn as top), secondhand pencil skirt from clothing swap, a really old Tally Ho sweatercoat purchased from Ross many, many years ago, faux pearls ripped from a Forever 21 top and converted into a necklace, BCBG cluster necklace, Hue tights, Calvin Klein pumps.]





My eyes locked onto the cluster necklace the minute I saw it at one BCBG outlet, but I didn't pick it up until later, when it was marked down. The necklace a very simple piece, and it's easy to just throw over my head and go. The clusters are really cute (love playing with them) yet sophisticated. Since it is somewhat of a hybrid of a chain and beaded necklace, I can mix it with colorful beaded necklaces or silver chains. It is very contemporary and livens up a classic look--it punches up pearls in a "not your mother's pearls" fashion.

I've been debating about wearing patterend or colored tights to work. What do you think about that? I've seen a court reporter wear a plum pair of tights with a black shift dress, and she looked very polished (we actually had a conversation about that after a deposition, which was pretty cool). I have a lot of tights that have fairly conservative patterns, but once in a while I want to wear something more adventurous. The checkered tights above are a little more out there, so I kept everything else rather low-key (except for the layered jewelry). I probably won't wear these to court, but it was refreshing to see someone at a hearing wearing some fabulous knitted pattterned tights with a pair of black Loubotins and a beige trench--very businesslike, but definitely not boring.

Blue on Blue

Autumn has finally hit Southern California with a vengeance. I'm getting quite a bit of use of my wool suits now. I only have one wool suit and one wool-blend jacket, which doesn't quite do the trick...will have to look for more.

On cold days when I have to suit up, but not need to be quite as formal, I turn to my trusty Diane von Furstenburg blue wool-blend shift dress. After wearing it so many times, I can say that it is a very worthy investment piece (though luckily I didn't have to spent too much money on it). You've seen it before in a more casual form. Now I'm wearing it for work as intended, but definitely not in a typical way that one would envision as a work outfit:



[DvF shift dress, Mike & Chris fleece blazer, Capezio boots (many years old, still going strong).]

I've remixed this dress before (though not captured on "film") with black blazers for court and various cardigans for the office. This time, I needed something warmer for a deposition in a cold hotel conference room and strong, cold winds on the way there and back. In fact, the winds have been strong enough to knock out power in various places, including (lucky me) my neighborhood. Since the blazers that would have looked good with the dress were not all that warm, I reached for the fleece blazer that I got roughly a year or two ago for $10 at a sample sale. To my surprise, it worked surprisingly well as a tone-on-tone match. The peplum shape of the jacket also couples well with the slim profile of the dress. I think I can actually wear this to court next time if I wore a pair of pumps instead of boots.

Speaking of powerful winds that knock out power, the night before the deposition was a rather surreal experience. I came home late from work, which was bad enough, only to be further frustrated by the fact that a) I couldn't get into the garage because it was power-operated; b) there was no hot water, and the cold water was even colder than usual; c) I had to get up at the crack of dawn the next day to move my car before the towing patrol came around; d) there was no microwave to heat up my dinner on an already-late night; e) since the pilot on the stove was electrically-dependent, I had to light the stove the old-fashion way; f) [insert gripe here about the lack of modern conveniences]. Since all the lights were out and I left my brightly-lit cell phone at home that day (yup, lucky me again), I literally had to feel my way up the stairs and then back to my apartment unit.

It was frustrating to come home to something like this when I had a lot more work to do before the next day, but it was also quite nice to spend the night in candlelight. The entire apartment complex was eerily quiet--no TVs, no radios, no whirling noise from various equipment...and no human voices, as people presumably found other places to stay for the night. Although I didn't sleep much that night, I slept very soundly. It's a reminder to me that in an electronics-laden world, slowing down once in a while is a good thing.

(Color-)Block Party

After having zero energy for weeks, I'm feeling much better this weekend. I still haven't figured out what exactly is making me so tired--could be allergies, could be not eating well because I have no time to cook lately, or it could be (ironically) too much caffeine--but I'm trying to get back to living a healthier lifestyle. The hardest part is motivating myself to take the time to rest, cook, and exercise. It's a bit of a Catch-22: it seems like there is no time to do any of those things (especially when I get home really late), but if those things aren't done, the body will just get tired and productivity will keep on sliding downhill. It's just a vicious cycle. If you can get your hands on a Wii Fit, I highly recommend it--it really does work you, yet it doesn't feel like a workout. While that little 30-minute fanfare music is a bit cheesy, it sets an easy goal to shoot for.

Anyway, on with the real post. I know that I've been teasing everyone with mentions of the crazy House of Holland colorblock tights. They're tougher to work with than I thought, but I really like how the initial experiments worked out. There will definitely be more experiments with them, but it depends on how long the tights last. Sadly, on the first day I wore them out, a splinter from a wooden chair caused a run and a hole. I patched it up a bit, and it lasted through the second wear fairly well. Let's hope that it'll hold up a lot longer...

I started with some obvious companion pieces on the first try--a pair of shorts similar in color with the separation bands, and lots of black.

[Gap t-shirt, Development blazer, Red Rocket Glare necklace made by me, Miu Miu sunglasses with silver rectangular frames, rings from Etsy, American Eagle Outfitters shorts, House of Holland x Pretty Polly tights, Ciao Bella peeptoe booties.]


The second experiment involved a different strategy--bringing in something brightly colored to contrast the grayscale tights. I definitely took a risk with this look, and people probably thought I was crazy to wear this out.

[Target tank top, White by Development corduroy mini ($5 from a parking lot sale), Mike & Chris hoodie vest, House of Holland x Pretty Polly tights, Marc by Marc Jacobs shoes.]



More looks with these tights are sure to come in the future, but it is hard to say when. This is not something I can wear to work, that's for sure.

Weekday/Weekend: Freedom of Movement

While I like flowy tops and outerwear, loose dresses usually do not suit my body type very well. It creates the illusion of a huge midsection. Somehow, Stella McCartney's signature loose look works for me. I feel like can move around freely, and even throw in a silly twirl or two. This is pretty important on busy workdays--after all, all work and no play turns Jane into one dull lass.

A casual dress with a pretty print makes dressing up literally effortless. The dress doesn't need accessories, though I usually throw in a simple necklace or two. A jacket instantly sharpens the sillouette for the weekdays. After putting on a pair of shoes, everything else is optional on the weekends.

[The feature: Stella McCartney silk tank dress from Barney's Warehouse Sale. Weekday: Development blazer, Modern Vintage pumps. Weekend: Sigerson Morrison sandals, F21 fleece bomber (for air conditioned interiors), secondhand bag from the last clothing swap, $1 3-rhinestone necklace from Robinson's May a long time ago.]

Dressed to the Nines (from Nine to Nine)

It is hard to work to really, really long hours. It is even harder to motivate oneself to dress up for it. However, I do believe that making a little bit of effort to look good does somewhat translate to feeling a little better and adopting a more serious demeanor to face the challenges of the day.

My workwear this past week consisted of a mix of loose, flowing dresses to fitted but stretchy pants, things that are sharp but decidedly comfortable. Most of the outfits could have swung to weekend mode, but a pair of pumps instantly makes them look office-ready. It's amazing what a difference a pair of shoes make.

Monday: I tried to start off the week by setting the right tone--a comfortable silk racerback tank dress with a fitted blazer. After much hemming and hawing as I was about to leave the Barney's Warehouse Sale last week, I'm really glad I stuck with the decision to buy this dress. The pretty bird and sailboat print and the silk fabric make the dress elegant, but racerback style and loose fit leave a decidedly casual mark. It certainly deserves its own Weeday/Weekend feature.

[Development blazer, necklace I received as a gift, Stella McCartney tank dress, Modern Vintage gray suede pumps.]



Tuesday: After wearing dresses for almost a whole week before, I decided to go back to wearing pants. The weather was sweltering, and the wildfires blazing in the surrounding mountains only add to the suffocating nature of the heat. Non-clingy cropped sleeves and cropped pants were in order.

[BCBG seersucker top, Calvin Klein silk anorak, Fashion Q cropped pants (really old, really cheap, and still alive and loved), Abaete for Payless pumps.]



Wednesday: Since I got home too late the night before to pick up my newly shortened pair of pants from the tailor shop, I decided to go get it first thing in the morning and promptly put it on. I took advantage of the Barney's Warehouse Sale to stock up on some high-quality dress pants, and I am happy I was able to find something. These Balenciaga cigarette leg dress pants are seriously the most comfortable pair of dress pants I own, beating out even wide-legged pants (which present tripping hazards). It was previously impossible to find something high-waisted and slim-legged without accentuating the hips too much or making my legs look like stuffed sausages, but these pants did the impossible. Best of all, I look really tall in them! It is definitely an article of clothing that I will reach for repeatedly to counterbalance loose blouses. The trims and other details are pretty awesome. Because these pants are so versatile, a future spotlight feature is warranted later on when I have the time for it.



[Calvin Klein printed blouse (with exposed zipper in the back), Thakoon for Target cardigan (one of my favorites at the moment), Balenciaga pants, Dolce & Gabbana mary janes, ring from Etsy.]

Thursday: In order to start my day efficiently, I headed to the office even before the crack of dawn. Dressing for the day in California has always been difficult, since it can be cold in the early morning, hot by mid-morning/afternoon, and chilly after the sun sets. Too lazy to think, I wound up doing a mashup of 2 outfits that I wore recently involving the same dressy t-shirt. Light and breathable layers of cashmere and wool kept me comfortable all day long.

[Ann Taylor Loft t-shirt with chiffon flowers, F21 cashmere-blend cardigan, Rick Owens wool pants (fooled people into thinking it was made of linen), Givenchy wooden sandals.]


Friday: I love living on the West Coast, but the downside is that I'm 3 hours behind East Coast time, hence another early start to my morning. Too lazy to come up with new outfit ideas, I went with the same chain necklace and faux pearls combo from the past weekend, albeit with a darker shirt this time. I could have just given up and wore jeans, but I decided to make an effort with the clothes and go a little crazy with the shoes instead. My strategy seemed to work--I had an efficient and productive day. The pic is a little different, since I was too lazy to stand in front of the camera when I got home, but I thought it would be a good opportunity to experiment with a photoshoot concept.

[Friday: Target dress shirt, Ben Amun chain necklace, faux pearl necklace made from beads on F21 tank top, Mike & Chris blazer, Vince pants, Pierre Hardy sandals.]

Weekday/Weekend--The Embellished T-Shirt

I try to distinguish myself in a suit-and-tie world by dressing a little less corporate, but no less professional. I just hate fussing with collared shirts. The dress shirts are saved for my suit days; I try to avoid them on days when I don't need a suit.

It might surprise some people to learn that a large percentage of tops I wear to work are well-fitted t-shirts. It makes perfect sense to me, actually--they're easy to take care of (just throw it in the wash and dry cycle), and a good t-shirt lasts quite a while. However, by no means do I just roll into the office with a t-shirt-and-jeans combo (unless it is Friday, in which case I usually wear a blazer with the t-shirt). I like to dress it up with accessories and add a few layers to diffuse the casual, commonplace look.

Most of my t-shirts are black or gray--simple, streamlined, and fairly discrete backdrops for blazers, cardigans, and skirts. My newest t-shirt, however, is anything but discrete. When I ran out of clothes in Arizona a couple of weeks ago, I had to go to the mall to get something quick. I just love the pretty lavender color, the delicate chiffon embellishments, and the fact that the t-shirt is still machine-washable even with that frontal floral arrangement. The t-shirt turned out to work perfectly with the cropped pants that I wanted to wear for work, and it is so pretty that no one would see the t-shirt as a t-shirt.

I've been told that purple is a good color for me. I don't dispute that, but purple can be an awfully difficult color to work with. A purple top looks terrible with black pants or with light-wash blue jeans, which can make it difficult to wear no matter if it is a weekday or weekend. It seems like cream, beige, and light brown are the colors that contrast quite well. The addition of another shade of purple, fuschia, or a dark blue ties it all together rather nicely.

[Weekday: F21 cardigan, Ann Taylor Loft t-shirt, secondhand Banana Republic khaki skirt, Giuseppe Zanotti Design slingbacks.




Although t-shirts are by definition casual wear, I find that an embellished t-shirt is much harder to wear on the weekends. Perhaps it is because my weekend style is far from girly. After piling on a lot of jewelry, an indigo cardigan, shorts and boots, the prettiness adopts a sassy attitude.

[Weekend: Ann Taylor Loft t-shirt, Thakoon for Target cardigan, Calvin Klein shorts, cuff with chain detail was a Christmas gift, multiple rings from Etsy, Bandolino boots]

Wool Over My Eyes

I spent much of the last week in hot weather, both at home and on the road. I had an unexpectedly long stay in Arizona, where it was 115 degrees every day. Looking professional and staying cool was something of a wardrobe challenge, especially when I expected only to be there one day and ended up staying for three.

By now, I've gotten pretty good at packing very few clothing items that could be mixed and matched should an extended stay become necessary. Too bad I didn't have any time to take any pictures of my actual outfits, but I think I can cobble together a description.

My go-to pieces are things that will not wrinkle despite much jostling around. The pretty and light blouse that I actually paid full price for from Target (about $20) is definitely worth the money spent--I wear it all the time, and it never wrinkles no matter the abuse (and I mean never). I wore this blouse on Day 1. You can see enough of the blouse from this older outfit of mine:


[Target blouse, Mike & Chris blazer, black pants from Ross, Bloch London ballet flats]

I also packed a pair black pants, which was worn on the first and last days. Yes, the weather is really hot, but you really can't go wrong with a pair of black pants because no one can tell you've worn the same pair of pants for a few days in a row. If you know that you will be in air-conditioned spaces for most of the time, it really won't be too bad.

My PJs double as an emergency change of daytime clothes. The top I brought to sleep in is comfortable, and definitely not a pajama top--it is an H&M cotton top with a ruffly collar and floral print. I wounded up wearing that top on the last day I was there.

The clothes that I wore to the airport the night before work started also serves as a backup outfit. I wore an Old Navy sleeveless tie-neck, tuxedo-front shirt, Marc Jacobs low-heeled "mouse" slingbacks (which I wore everyday), and my new Rick Owens cropped wool pants (which I got from The Outnet for 80% off). I ended up not wearing the Old Navy shirt again because it got too wrinkled (and I had no time to iron), but I did end up wearing the wool pants again on Day 2. Yes, you've heard right--wool pants in 115-degree heat.

It is actually not as loony as it sounds. I have a couple of pairs of lightweight wool dress pants that are very light and do not feel like wool at all; in fact, I get to wear them year-round because they stay cool in the summer but keep me warm in the colder weather. This new pair of pants was something I got as an alternative to linen pants--I wanted the lightness and the rough texture of linen without the propensity to wrinkle the minute it is worn. I also wanted something that was clearly office-appropriate but relaxed enough for the weekends. I test-drove the pants in a casual weekend outfit before the work trip. I felt like wearing earth tones that day and blended into the urban landscape:




[Forever 21 tank, my own Rock Paper Scissors necklace, Liz Claiborne bag, Rick Owens pants, Maison Martin Margiela shoes]

The "summer-weight" wool is just perfect. It was a hot day, but the fabric felt very breathable. The wide pant legs also make the pants very comfortable. When I wore the pants in 115 degree heat, I didn't feel remotely like I was going to fry. Who would have thunk that wool would be good for summer?

Since my Old Navy shirt was too wrinkled and my H&M shirt did not look right with the wool pants, I had to buy something for my Day 2 outfit, something that I can get a lot of mileage out of. Although I could have just gotten something really cheap from places like Charlotte Russe, I opted for an embellished tee in "Montana Grape", which I bought from Ann Taylor Loft. I love that a) it's essentially a t-shirt, so it was comfortable, b) it is machine-washable/easy to take care of, and c) the petals are just downright pretty and looks professional. It also does not wrinkle easily, which makes it an ideal candidate for travel.