Boom Boom Pao

I am now pleasantly stuffed with delicious food from Ben Pao, one of my favourite restaurants. My mom and I wanted to take out some family members who were in town for a little bit. I'm still thinking about that mango creme brulee...

Anyway, quick outfit post:

shirt...gap
skirt...express
shoes...gojane
purse...coach
crazily shaggy haircut...mario tricoci (i've got bangs too, it's insane)

Pearls and Swine

This is just a quick outfit post -- I went to a friend's birthday dinner a few days ago and was puzzled as to what to wear. The dinner was at California Pizza Kitchen, which is totally not a fancy-pants restaurant, but since it was a birthday dinner I figured I'd dress up a little bit. I ended up wearing my comfy grey T-shirt, a black pleated jersey skirt from Old Navy (I know you totally cannot see the pleats in this picture), black flats from Old Navy (they were in remedial healthcare after a long and rainy night when I took this picture), and a pearl necklace from my mom.


I ended up removing the necklace though, part way through, because I didn't totally feel like it went with what I was wearing. Plus, it was way fancy-looking. I totally wish I had invested in one of those really trendy bib necklaces...but sadly, now that I'm thinking about getting one, I probably won't have much of an occasion to wear it to. Sigh.

Outfitted

Here's just a quick outfit from a couple of days ago...I'm catching up on old posts, so expect a whole slew of them right around now.

My cardigan is thrifted, my black tank that you can't see is from Old Navy, my shorts are from Forever 21, my shoes are from GoJane, and my sling bag was a gift from my mom, who got it from a Coach outlet.

I'm still trying to get the hang of these self-taken pictures...as you can see my poses are rather ridiculous so I apologize. I was trying to compensate for the slouchyness of the sweater, which obviously did not work out in my favour.

Illuminating The Sky

This may be belated, but I wanted to share some things from my July 3rd and 4th festivities. On July 3, Chicago holds a large fireworks show, followed by a slightly smaller one on the 4th. It turns out that the 4th fireworks show was a good deal lovelier than the July 3rd one, as they both seemed to contain the same amount of fireworks, but the July 4th show had them really spread out, whereas the July 3rd show had them all squished together in an "eternal finale."

Unfortunately my camera skills are limited, resulting in a couple of totally trippy pictures of the July 3rd fireworks.


On July 4th, I didn't even bother trying to take pictures of the fireworks...but the skyline looked so beautiful as the sun was setting I couldn't resist.


And here's what I wore: shorts are from Forever 21, sweater is thrifted, and the top was from a trip to Asia.


Here's what it looks like without the sweater. I don't know if you can see this in the picture, but there are a lot of pleats on the top, which I absolutely love. When I go back to Asia in August I'll be sure to pick up a lot of tops like this...it's not as though clothing is extravagantly cheaper, it's just that you tend to get fancier articles of clothing with your money.

Don't Rain On My Parade

I love the rain more than anything, but today I was supposed to do two things: scout out a nearby art fair (which is actually quite an event) and attend a little garden party esque reception to celebrate my graduation (!!!). However, the forecast was gloomy showers and perhaps even a few bouts of lightning.

Thankfully, there were some showers this morning but it became sunny enough for me to have enough time to peruse the art fair nice and slowly. I was also able to attend the reception, though there was a large white tent set up, just in case the rain did return.

Here's what I wore!


The dress is an extremely old shirtdress from the shady sale section of my nearest Forever 21. It was a bit long on me, so I got it hemmed, but I accidentally asked for it to be too short. Today, I decided to wear an old Gap skirt underneath. I'm actually thinking of hemming the Gap skirt and taking the bottom and sewing it to this dress. Judging from this picture, it might not look half bad!

The skirt was a bit poufier than it looks in the picture, but that was probably just because I was wearing another skirt underneath it. I thought it looked a little Miu Miu-like, translated into daywear. Oh, and the belt is just a random thrift find...one of the few that really cinches my waist well.

A Casual Day

Just a quick outfit from a while back...I realize that this isn't particularly interesting, but I'm trying to get into the habit of more regular outfit posts.


tank...gap
shorts...forever 21
belt...thrifted

I really like this tank top -- I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but there's a semi-embroidered flower on it...I love wearing it with high-waisted skirts or skinny jeans. The shorts are a staple for me; they're almost like my take on the "nude" trend I posted about earlier, because they're relatively close to my skintone (though tanner). I think they're a nice alternative to, say, black shorts, and they help a petite girl like me lengthen my legs.

I suppose I could mention the flats, but they're just this simple, comfy, nondescript pair I got from Old Navy a little while back. This is something every girl needs; a pair of simple flats in a neutral colour that you can just slip on when you're in a hurry.

Envisioning

What I would wear my beauteous cutout oxfords with...if I owned said beauteous cutout oxfords.


A pair of simple, sheer black tights to shield me from the cold.


A floaty, sweet lace dress that is so sheer it requires its own slip (nude, to be sure...white would look tacky and cream might be too sheer itself).


A coated linen blazer, putting me in the "hipster blazer-wearing folk" category without making me into some goth punk (not that I have anything against leather jackets and studs...just perhaps not with this look).


Oh, and Santa? If you happen to be listening, I'm a size extra small (for the white dress) and have size six feet.

Not So Little J

As far as our littlest Gossip Girl is concerned, there's been quite a buzz about her sartorial choices. First of all, Taylor Momsen's character Jenny is going through quite a fashion transformation of her own. I find it quite interesting to follow, with events like her "guerrilla fashion show" being completely mesmerizing, but I do think she needs to tone down the makeup a tad.

The main reason Taylor Momsen's been receiving so many comments about her fashion is cause she's only 15! And while it's amazing that a 15 year old gets to have an amazing experience like this at such a young age, it also probably sucks that she's quite a bit younger than her castmates. Granted, she's a gorgeous, old-looking 15-year-old, but I'd imagine that it stinks to be younger than everyone around you. Everyone keeps talking about how what she's wearing is "too mature" or that she should be wearing "more youthful" styles, but I can kind of see why she's dressing older for her age. She's always seen around with her castmates, and I know that I wouldn't want to be wearing floral sundresses when I'm surrounded by a bunch of hot young things dressed in fashion-forward, exposed outfits. She probably wants to look just as good as the people around her, and I completely don't blame her for that. So while I'm sure many moms would like to stick her in outfits like this one from Design History all the time...


...I'm sure T. Momsen would reserve that dress for a daytime lunch event, if that. If I were her stylist, I'd try for something like this dress from Dolce Vita:


It's cute and short, but the poufy hem isn't too slinky. Plus, I absolutely adore the colour. I don't know if Taylor's like Natalie in that she doesn't like asymmetric hemlines, but I happen to love them and I hope she does as well.

However, if even that is too youthful for Taylor (and I wouldn't blame her if she felt that way,) then I would suggest this Alexander Wang dress. I like the vest detail and think that it's really modern and hip. Plus, the outfit has enough rocker to satisfy our slightly punky Momsen.

The Fashion Meester

While many choose to focus on Blake Lively, I often find myself attracted to Leighton Meester's fashion choices. Recently, like Blake's they've taken somewhat of a negative turn, so I'm going to try my best to play stylist for Leighton and get her on the right track.

The theme for tonight is gold and black. My inspiration for this outfit and the center of it is this drop dead gorgeous Vera Wang top. Doesn't it look like it could be a Grecian sculpture or something? While I've usually equated Vera Wang with more classic styles, this piece is an example of how something can be both classic and fashionable.


I would pair this with a totally plain high-waisted black skirt. Unlike usual fashionistas, I wouldn't have Leighton tuck in this shirt, because that would completely ruin the structural way the fabric is draped. The reason I'd have her wear a high-waisted skirt is to make sure that the outfit looks almost like a dress. The left side (right to us looking at it) of the top is relatively high, so a high waisted skirt would ensure that no skin is shown.


As for shoes, I would deviate away from the traditional uberfierce-studded-huge platform-strappy-intense shoes and go for these gold studded Pedro Garcia pumps. The studs add some edge and make the shoe not a typical Louboutin (not that there's anything wrong with that, we just want something with more pizazz). But, the shoe isn't over-the-top, which directs all attention to the beautiful shirt.


I would then add this Bottega Veneta clutch in black. It's black, so it doesn't really draw much attention, but it's still unbelievably classy. The textured fabric keeps it interesting and deviates from a typical black clutch, but the gold clasp and black colour make it sync with the outfit.


As for jewelry, I'd go for a statement ring on one hand and a gold cuff on the other. Simple and stylish, but not too gaudy.



This Net-A-Porter styling shot is pretty similar to what I've got, so it will give you a vague idea of what the outfit would look like as a whole. Ironically, I picked out that clutch before I saw the picture (honest!), but the picture makes me love that choice even more. Just keep in mind that the shoes I picked are really different!

A Lively Return

Many people have noticed Blake Lively's "I'm too hot to care" attitude towards sartorial matters. I have, and while I don't blame her for trying to carry off the "effortless" look, I think that it would benefit her as well as those who admire her if she tried to be a tad bit more fashion forward with her ensembles. I am in no way degrading her current look, and I think she looks gorgeous as is. However, if I were Blake's stylist...

First, I'd ease slowly into the prospects of fashion forward design. Blake usually goes with no-mess styles, so I wouldn't try to pull anything crazy. She seems to enjoy the neutral palette, just like myself, so I'd start her off with an outfit that echoes that set of hues.

First, this simple tiered/pleated skirt from Bamford is reminiscent of the bandage-style outfits that have become so popular lately. This is something that Blake would probably wear right now, with a plain top and some heels.


I'd pair it with this Celine top, whose structural details are right on trend. The top itself would be very flattering, as well as moving Blake in a fashion-forward direction.


I'd then go with a killer pair of heels, like these Emanuel Ungaro whoppers. They're not in a crazy colour, but the strappy detail would draw attention to Blake's gorgeous set of gams. It's great because she's one of the few people who could pull off such a crazy and high-strapped set of shoes.


Finally, I'd top it off with a jewel coloured clutch. The petal detail is slightly reminiscent of the flowy wave details on the grey top. Plus, the purple tone adds a punch of colour without becoming the focus on the outfit.


What do you guys think? Too dull? Not Blake's type?

Blakeberry

No, no, this isn't a post about Blake Lively and her Blackberry. Remember, it's a fashion blog! This is about Blake and her Burberry.

A while back, at some event, Blake Lively arrived in a head-t0-toe Burberry ensemble, seen here. Needless to say, it wasn't her best night.


I'd imagine that she was "dressed" by Burberry, which might have entailed putting on some sort of pre-ordained ensemble. So at the very least, I would have suggested that she wear something of this sort:


I realize it's a tad blah, but at least it looks more polished than what she had on that night. She's a pretty girl, but somehow that outfit looked really earthy crossed with witchy...all gone wrong.

If she had the choice of what to wear, then I would pick an outfit that brought out her gorgeous features. I'd pick something clean-cut and effortless, just to give an easy-breezy vibe to her looks.

First, I would keep the booties that she wore, because those are just plain fierce. I'd also keep the black tights -- I'm guessing it was a bit chilly.


Then, I'd have the main focus of her outfit be this gorgeous bronze trench. I love the look of a simple trench with loose, cascading waves of hair. I would have her hair the way she usually wears it, as over-styled hair would look too uptight with this jacket.


In case she had to take off her coat, I'd put this simple black dress underneath. It may be a bit boring, but it's a little more reserved and would highlight her great figure. However, if I were her I'd just keep the coat on the entire night.

Barack On!

For those that are celebrating Barack Obama's win, here's a cute outfit to show off your inner Barackstar:

A simple t-shirt, with a not-too-cheesy-but-still-fun slogan.


A simple navy fleece skirt, to keep the blue theme going while not being too matchy-matchy.


Yellow sneakers, to add a pop of colour.


A preppy navy blazer, to add crispness to the look while keeping you warm.

Le Drake

I'm off to the Drake for tea!


It's one of my close friends' birthdays, so we're celebrating it in a very ladylike manner :) My friend and I got her a small bottle of Marc Jacobs Daisy, so we're passing by Sephora to pick it up...but not without doing our own makeup first, of course! I'll be back with little beauty tidbits and details on what I wore.

R.I.P. Fanny Pak

I was so sad to hear that Fanny Pak was eliminated from America's Best Dance Crew. Yeah, some may dismiss the show as yet another MTV cash cow, but I've definitely fallen for the show's creative choreography. Though I may retain my love for Kaba Modern, I'm not so sure about this year's "similar" group, SoRealCru. They started out pretty strong, but I think they've succumbed to the MTV effect -- namely, they've started churning out more and more routines that try to grab attention...and not in a good way.

Anyway, I decided to create an outfit that reflects Fanny Pak's outgoing nature and bright neon colour scheme. Check out the lightning earrings; their banner on the show featured a lightning icon.

Hoodie, Shorts, Earrings, Sneakers

You're A Hoot!

If you guys haven't looked at Urban Outfitters' sale section, I'd advise you to do so pronto! Seriously, there are some ridiculously amazing sales going on, and it's not size-discriminatory at all. I'll be posting right after this on some of my own sale favourites, but I would definitely encourage a quick browse of the site.

A while back, I received the Urban Outfitters catalog and immediately fell in love with this white, short-sleeved shift dress with embroidered flowers. Now, the black version is on sale for only $39.99! I want it so very much...but really, with all the things on sale it's so hard to choose! I figured I would pay homage to this dress by breaking a fashion rule: pairing black and brown. Plus, I managed to work in this really cute Tracy Reese bag, which is only $75.00 at Bag Borrow or Steal's outlet.

Dress, $39.99 from Urban Outfitters
Sandals, $38.00 from Urban Outfitters
Bag, $75.oo from Bag Borrow or Steal

How adorable are those owl sandals?

Send In The Clowns

Inspired by the Miu Miu Harlequin Bag.

To be paired with a bright red lip, cropped hair, and long black lashes from the Shu Uemura lash bar.

Skirt, Top, Shoes, Bag

A Junior Out to Lunch

Usually when people think of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, they think of fabulously expensive designer pieces that have been brought down to a mortal price range. When I think of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, I think of relatively reasonable sale pieces going down to ridiculously small sale prices.

An example of one of those pieces would be this cute little black top, found in the B.P. Juniors section. I'll post on some other good finds from the Juniors section (and how they don't have to be worn by juniors) later, but for now, these next few pieces are going to be mainly for younger people. I love the ruffle detail at the bottom, and how the top plays with texture rather than colour.


This top is only $31.90, so I challenged myself to make a cute, casual, out-to-lunch outfit where each additional piece did not exceed the price of the top. Here are the results:

Outfit pieces: jeans ($25.90), bracelet ($12.95), earrings ($7.50), purse ($5.49), shoes ($6.24).

It's probably really hard to see everything, and I apologize for that, but I don't know how I can post larger images on Blogger. Can anyone help? Anyway, concerning the outfit, I tried to steer myself away from the Nordstrom sale and move into some other cheaply chic shops. The jeans are from the Nordstrom sale, but all other accessories reflect other teenage-y stores that have great bargains. I personally am in love with the leather bracelet and the bow moccasin-flat mix, because they're cute, but they also lend a very earthy-girly vibe to the outfit.

My Big Fat Indian Wedding...Bradshaw Style

As I mentioned in my earlier post, I had the fortune of attending an Indian wedding, held at the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier. For those of you non-Chicagoans, the venue was a very large room at the end of a pretty touristy pier. The entire event was beautiful and vibrant, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. One thing that really stood out to me during the wedding was the colour scheme. Perhaps I haven't been to enough Indian weddings (which is entirely likely, as this was my second), but the fact that the wedding centered on three colours which seem like they would clash entirely really astounded me. The three colours were a bright fuschia pink, bright yellow, and red. Though the wedding was mainly the pink and yellow shades, it managed to not be tacky and instead look very cheery and playful, like a true celebration. Everything, down to the rose petals sprinkled onto the tables for people to stand around by and sip cocktails, was in these three colours.

So, while I was shopping around the Saks dress section ("Dresses" is always my first click whenever I'm shopping anywhere, even if I know I really should be getting more practical things) I came upon this beauty, by Laundry by Design for $133.90.


Ordinarily, I would have completely bypassed this frock, deeming it "too loud" and "totally unwearable." But after having been a guest at the wedding held the previous Saturday, this dress seems like total genius to me. On the one hand, the bright colours ensure that you won't look like anyone else around you, and on the other hand, everything still manages to coordinate. This, to me, is an example of how fashion isn't just ditzy girls staring at magazines of beautiful people in beautiful clothes. Me considering this dress is me taking experiences from my life and injecting them into my own personal expression through clothes. Take that, fashion cynics!

After looking at this lovely dress, I was given a sudden burst of bright and colourful energy. I say "sudden" because now that I'm typing up the description for this outfit, it has sunk into my head that I would never wear such a thing, but this blog isn't just for wearability...it's also for having fun. I decided to build an outfit based on this dress, inspired by the colour scheme of that wedding. I haven't overstepped my boundaries though, and I chose not to include the red shade in this outfit because I really don't like the idea of a pink dress and red shoes. Anyway, here's the finished product:


All items are available at Nordstrom: dress - $189.90, shoes - $169.90, coat - $75.90. I'm still unhappy with the shoes, but I wasn't able to find anything better. This outfit was partially inspired by Carrie Bradshaw, just because she's a figure who would have the attitude to pull this sort of thing off. What I tried to do with this outfit was to let the colours speak, rather than anything details or texture-wise. The dress on its own is like a fresh and modern Audrey Hepburn, and the coat is a great, classic way to add some punch to your wardrobe. The coat was actually a pretty good find; it's a Michael Kors trench, which should last you a while, and it's only $75.90.

I warned you guys about the Nordstrom-themed posts for a while...

J. Crew Sale Outfit For Tea

Here's a pretty little blue and yellow outfit inspired by the J. Crew sales...yes, J. Crew sales might seem like full price to some people but their pieces are always high quality and very classic.

If I were meeting up with my grandma for tea or something of that prim and proper nature, I would start off with a nice, pastel-coloured cardigan. Something about a light and lovely cardigan just screams "tea with grandma" to me. Plus, it never hurts to add another cardigan to your collection -- they're simple, chic, and classic and there's always room to have fun with brooches and extra details. This yellow one from the J. Crew sale has a cute but not overpowering bow on the neckline and is $37.50, because of the extra sale discount (EDIT: This is no longer on sale).


I would pair that lovely cardigan with this indigo split-neck dress. Though it looks a little daring, I've seen it in real life and it isn't that low-cut. Then again, it all depends on your body structure. This dress is $59.99, but with the 25% off discount it's $45.00.


And finally, to top it all off...a cute pair of flats. This pair is $37.50, again because of the discount. You could have a lot of fun with the flats to pair with this outfit, but since it is grandma I'd opt for something colour-coordinating.


If you wanted to be a little less matchy-matchy, some fun bangles or cute earrings would definitely work with this outfit. Try not to go for a necklace though, as they can sometimes look strange with split necklines.

And...while we're on the topic of J. Crew sales, words cannot describe how in love I am with this linen double-breasted light grey jacket, on sale for $60.00:


and these unbelievably darling green polka dot flats, also on sale for $60.00.