Ange où Demon

Angel or demon. Feminine or femme fatale. Goddess or goth. There is no denying the beauty of fashion is the ability to shape-shift across a spectrum of personalities. Tobi was kind enough to send me a couple dresses to style, and two of my favourite pieces ended up being on opposite ends of the spectrum. So I had some fun with play pretend, and I ask you: ange où demon?

Ange

Dress: Tobi | Camisole: tout à coup | Shoes: Ground Green Store | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

This feminine dress with its dusting of rose pink and airy kimono sleeves reminded me of the flowing beauty of a Grecian goddess. I knew instantly I would have to pair the dress with my fringed gladiator sandals. I call this outfit the look of the angel, but it is hardly of pure innocence. I added a cheeky boudoir twist by layering a soft lace camisole underneath and bringing the criss-cross straps (which are intended to be worn in the back) to the front across my chest. Another way of styling this dress would be to have a tight lace underlay across the chest - enough to cover up the deep v-neck, but not enough to keep everything hidden. A game of hide and seek.

Demon

Dress: Tobi | Shoes: Ned-Nedy | Camisole: Old Navy | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

I was immediately drawn to the slits along the sheer sleeves of this dress, and couldn't resist ordering it in black to amp up the smouldering evening appeal. There is actually an opening down the front of the torso, but for the more conservative among us, a black lace camisole underneath will work just fine. However, although this cocktail number shows a bit more skin up top, I was greatly impressed by how perfect the length of the skirt was, hitting that sweet mid-thigh spot. I may have glided with grace in my previous look, but this dress gave me confidence of a different kind - the kind that made me walk with an extra strut in my step.

~~~

Dresses courtesy of Tobi.

Love, Actually

This is not my first time blogging about weddings. I've blogged about the outfit I wore to a wedding I attended three years ago, and even partnered with Weddington Way to style a bridesmaid dress into a flirtatious date outfit. But throughout my time crafting sweet lyrical prose about the elation of romance, I had never actually experienced love for myself. I was an outsider writing through rose-coloured glasses about what I thought companionship was.

Last week, however, I attended a wedding for the first time knowing what love really means.

But before we get there, let's review the wedding attire.

Morning

Although I struggled quite a bit with choosing a morning outfit, I managed to happily settle on a ballet-inspired look. The whole ensemble started off with this high-low dress I owned. In the past, I've had issues with how asymmetrical hemlines cut awkwardly across my short legs, but this high-low dress had some magical formula that worked fantastically with my particular stature.

Dress: Unknown - Chinese brand | Bolero: La Senza Girl | Boots: Ned-Nedy | Necklace: Unknown | Earrings: Jones New York | Handbag: Unknown | Sunglasses: Ray-Ban

The only thing I'm not too fond of with this dress is the upper half. The black tank leads into the pink skirt too high up on the torso, leaving me with a slightly childlike chest. I combated that with a front-tie bolero I unearthed from my closet to lengthen the black top. If I was in junior high, I would have undoubtedly worn the bolero the way it's meant to be worn - with the bow-tie in the front. Though considering it's 2017 and I'm no longer a preteen, I took my own spin on the bolero by tying the strings around my back, similar to the more grown-up criss-cross tops which have been in style lately. From there, accessorizing was a breeze. I tightened a gold and pink chain choker around my neck, hooked in a pair of earrings that bore striking resemblance to my necklace, and slipped on a pair of black suede booties with gold hardware detailing. Et voilà.


Evening

I'm surprised by how my evening look coincidentally followed a similar theme as my morning outfit - black on top, colour on bottom. I honestly hadn't done that on purpose! All I knew was I wanted to get some use out of the Banana Republic circle skirt I bought a few years back. I classed the skirt up with some filmy black lace, and once again accessorized with gold jewellery. Although I don't follow many traditions, red and gold signify luck and fortune in Chinese culture, so I thought my outfit would be a fitting combination. Moreover, as hoop earrings appear to be on trend again lately, I rummaged through my mother's jewellery box and found around five different gold hoop earrings to choose from. I went with a mid-sized hoop to hit that Goldilocks formula.

Top: Nanette Lepore | Skirt: Banana Republic | Boots: Ned-Nedy | Tank Top: Old Navy | Tights: Unknown | Handbag: Unknown | Bracelet: Unknown | Earrings: Unknown

Now that we've done the obligatory outfit overview, let me get back to the actual wedding and open up about love.

Two years ago, I met the man who would become my first love. During our time together, I learned love truly is about the little things. When he walks back to the car without being told to, just to grab the scarf you forgot to bring. When he congratulates you for completing part (I repeat, part) of a hiking trail, even though you complained the whole way through. When he's seen you with your acne and eczema galore, and still never fails to remind you everyday how beautiful he thinks you are. And the list goes on and on...

In addition to the little things, love is about the rough seas you weather together. Love is as complicated as it is instinctual. As irritating as it is fulfilling. As painful as it is blissful. But ask yourself, if you don't feel the pain, do you really feel the love?

Mistakes and failures will be made, but apologies and kindness will always be genuine. At the end of the day, do you walk out of the storm hand-in-hand, knowing full well there's no one else you rather be going through the rain with?

As I watched the to-be wedded couple that day, I knew they had found that kind of love with each other. The way they joked during their vows about the mundane details of co-habitation, or the way they laughed off technical difficulties throughout the ceremony. They didn't need to make a big show of devotion that morning of their wedding, because they had already been showing it every step of the way since the day they met.

A New Chapter

I can't believe it's already been one year since my business faculty's year-end banquet (which I documented in This Is the End). How time flies. Last night, I attended yet another banquet, but this time, it served to celebrate our graduation. However, while my friends mark an end to a chapter in their lives, I am staying behind one more year to complete my dual degree program. I have yet to feel the buzz of excitement and nervousness of my peers as they advance into real world, but I am filled with both happiness and sadness as I see them begin their new adventures, knowing that I cannot join them. I wish them all the best, and know that they will do great things.

I'm pictured here with two friends on my left and right, both looking fabulous. For myself, I actually chose to wear the same outfit as the one I wore to a fashion show last month. The only things I changed were my hair, tights, and nails. I've mentioned before that my own attempts at curling my hair have never quite been that successful, but this time around, my wonderful friend offered to do it for me. The results are definitely worth applauding considering my hair is very flat and hard to work with:

The same friend also lent me her Essie Merino Cool nailpolish, which I applied literally an hour or two before the banquet was to start  It was my first time using Essie nailpolish, and I loved it! The brush was tiny enough for a clean application, and the formula went on very smoothly. Essie, along with Joe Fresh, are definitely on to my list of best nail polish brands. As for tights, I had opted for classier opaque tights during the fashion show, and so decided to go with sheer patterned tights for the banquet.

Overall, I had a fantastic time. There was dancing at the end of the night, and despite my generally reserved character, dancing is one activity I absolutely love. When I finally got the chance to make my way to the dance floor, my night was made right then and there. But more importantly, I was surrounded by the company of great friends who provided plenty of laughs throughout the night. The banquet was likely the last time I will see many of my friends, but the bond we've developed over the course of our time together will stay with us for years to come. And perhaps one day, if our paths cross once more in the next chapter of our lives, we'll pick up right where we left off.

Meet You at the Junction

For the fourth year in a row, I attended my university fashion club's annual fashion show. If you missed it, I blogged about my previous year's outfit in Live. Laugh. Love.. This year's show was titled JUNCTION, and showcased minimalist, monochromatic tones that spoke to our modern era of dressing.  As proof the runway looks were exceedingly relevant, I was incredibly amused by how many stylish members of the audience were dressed as mirror images of the models.  As for myself, however, I threw caution in the wind and went with a leopard print dress:

Dress: Forever21 | Shoes: Ardene | Hangbag: Unknown | Belt: Garage | Watch: Zellers | Earrings: Unknown

What's funny about this outfit is that it's broadly quite similar to a look I wore over the summer to attend a wedding (see: Blossoming Love), except that it's a fast-fashion version of the former's higher quality pieces. This just goes to show it doesn't matter how much money you spend on clothing; what matters is buying with a discerning eye and wearing with unparalleled confidence.

I had picked this dress up at a clothing swap two years ago, but initially, I had a pretty rocky relationship with it. First of all, it was a size M.  It practically drowned me in puddles of fabric. Second of all, it was very sheer and had excessively large arm holes, and I could not for the life of me think of what to wear underneath. Yet fast forward two years, and now you will find me wearing it liberally to work during particularly hot summer days. I must have grown in the past couple years because this dress now fits me much better than it did before. It also helped that my mom sewed the arm holes smaller, and dug up a wonderful slip dress for me to wear underneath.  All of a sudden, this dress became entirely wearable.

The leopard print is a fantastic statement - people notice it and, I'll be honest, that's what every fashion fanatic lives for. As for the tights, I actually struggled for a while over whether I should wear sheer or opaque (bare legs were not an option with a knee-length skirt, black ankle boots, and my short calves). While both looked equally appealing, I finally opted for opaque because I thought it was a classier look more appropriate for attending a fashion show.

However, what I really want to highlight are the shoes. I didn't end up bringing any heels over to include in my university wardrobe, but thankfully, my friend graciously lent me a pair of ankle boots. Not only did the boots have a sleek silhouette, they also harboured a little surprise:

Red soles, ladies and gentlemen. Please, contain your excitement. Even though the soles do look very similar to Louboutins in this photo, in reality, they are actually more of a burnished red. No, these are not Louboutins, but this is as close as I have ever gotten to living up to my blog's name. Mistake me not; I will live up to my name one day, but for now, let a girl dream...

P.S.: A huge thank you to my friend (pictured with me) who unexpectedly gifted me a silk scarf! That was so kind of you, and the scarf is exactly my style!

Blossoming Love

One of my favourite things to do is go to weddings.  You get to dress up, see the bride's dress, eat a lot, and witness the beginning of a wonderful marriage.  I'm a sucker for romance.  I practically burst with joy after receiving an invitation to a wedding this summer, and spent all four months planning an outfit.

The thing about dressing up for me is...I don't have a lot of fancy dresses nor heels.  So to make do with what I had, I came up with a simple look that focused on quality separates.

Dress: Charlie Jade | Heels: Prada | Handbag: Unknown | Necklace: Tiffany & Co. | Tights: Unknown

If you'll recall, this dress is one I bought from Holt Renfrew for $9 (thanks to a gift card), and as for the shoes, I have been dying to find an opportunity to bring out these heels.  For once in my life, I didn't feel short - I felt average height, if not even tall.  I had a great time walking around in these booties, even though, no, they were not painless.  They didn't scratch or rub at all, but height like that doesn't come without sacrifice (no pain no gain, ladies).  The dress was understated, but I felt the artful mixing of colours and slippery silk material were details that elevated it slightly.

As a final note, this particular wedding I went to was one I will remember.  The bride and groom were clearly in love, and not because they were overt, but because they were so subtle.  The tender, silent communication they shared through the simple locking of eyes was palpable. A romantic, I am.

This Is the End

What a year.  This was the year I started my business program, and I can confidently say I have not felt such a sense of academic community and camaraderie since my time pursuing an International Baccalaureate diploma.  The experience I've gained in my business program is one-of-a-kind, and I couldn't have been more grateful for the opportunity to be surrounded by like-minded, ambitious students who challenge me each and every day to think outside the box.

To celebrate the end of a rigorous - and oftentimes stressful - year, our school hosted a banquet.  I was excited for another opportunity to get fancied up so shortly after a fashion show I attended two weeks ago, but was faced with a big problem: I didn't have a dress.  I don't party very often, so eveningwear has never seemed like a worthy investment (as some of you know, I even borrowed my grad dress). However, my fellow fashion friend was generous enough to let me go through her wardrobe and pick out this number:

Dress: eBay (borrowed) | Heels: Calvin Klein

My other friend had actually worn this dress to the fashion show we attended, but I had no problem with that as I intended to wear it differently.  When I tried on the dress, it just felt so right.  It had fashionable elements that made it more than just a typical party outfit.  I absolutely loved the lace sleeves (so me!), and you can't see, but the back had only one layer of lace, subtly countering the conservatism of the long sleeves.  The skirt was a comfortable mid-thigh, and the soft peplum helped elevate the dress from clubwear to eveningwear. My friends and I agreed the look was busy enough without accessories, and so I simply threw on a pair of low-heeled, black pumps to keep it classy.  It was an overall sultry look, but one that was grounded by elements of sophistication.

I received a couple compliments that night, but in the end, I felt confident in what I was wearing and that was all I needed.  Our year-end banquet was, of course, bittersweet.  It wasn't until my cab ride home that it hit me the banquet was the last time I would see all of my classmates together.  As hectic as these past 8 months have been, I know I will look back and realize how this was one of the best years of my academic life.  Time flies when you're having fun.  And so, a toast to an end that signals the beginning of new friendships, new opportunities, and new milestones.

Live. Laugh. Love.

For the past three years, I've had the pleasure of attending an annual fashion show organized by a student club at my university.  I decided to write about it this year because it was such a memorable experience. Not only was the show done differently this time around in a more intimate setting, I had a great time dressing up before the show and attending with six of my good friends.  I'm not actually going to talk about the show - even though it was amazing - because instead, like every typical fashion blogger, I feel the need to blog about what I wore!  Here I am in the centre with two great friends I met this year:

Sweater: From Hong Kong (gift) | Skirt: Handmade by friend (borrowed) | Flats: Town Shoes | Belt: Laura Petites | Necklace: Charlotte Russe (borrowed) 

When deciding what to wear, I knew I wanted a long skirt.  University girls often opt for short dresses, and while many still look wonderfully fashionable, a long, ethereal skirt is more my style.  Luckily, my talented roommate had a handmade midi skirt in a pretty muted pink which she lent to me.  I love that the underskirt is cut shorter, allowing you to show some leg without, well, actually showing leg.  Walking in such a skirt is heavenly; it swishes around gracefully with each step.  Initially, the plan was to wear a lace top to really work the feminine look, but I didn't have one that paired well with the skirt.  And so I went with a black sweater with gold threads my friend gave me, and my new pair of black flats (as I said, future post on those coming up!) to finish off the balletic look.  I would have worn heels but I didn't have a good pair here and comfort was important as I needed to arrive earlier to help with set-up.  My neck felt bare, so I added my friend's statement necklace that I saw her wearing months ago and really liked.  Lastly, this was my second time curling my hair (my first was for grad), and it turned out alright considering I used absolutely no hair product.

Shoes: Town Shoes

Earrings: Betsey Johnson (gift)

And something I rarely do on this blog: beauty!  I wasn't going to talk about these products until I realized they all fit with the colour scheme of my outfit: pink, gold and black.

Nailpolish: Dr.'s Remedy | Perfume: BVLGARI Omnia Crystalline | Lipstick: Elizabeth Arden

I actually received the nailpolish from a giveaway I won, and the lipstick I blogged about in First a Rose, Then a Kiss.  The Bulgari perfume was a free sample I ordered online, and it had been mailed all the way from Italy.  The best part was the bottle in which it arrived:

A gold star to anyone who knows the secret to opening these bottles!  The scent was surprisingly good - very light, feminine and illuminating.  

Overall, I had an awesome evening.  The fashion show was classy, the company I had was priceless, and our "after-party" of McDonalds (complete with coupons) made it a hilarious, ironic night.  When I got home, I sat down, opened my laptop, and did what I do best: write. I was so honoured to have been asked to write an article recapping the show for the club's magazine, but of course, I spent my time writing for another group of people dear to my heart: you.

P.S.: A huge thank you to my friend who unexpectedly gave me a handmade headband as a gift that night.  So sweet of you!

Rags to (Relative) Riches

I'm all about experimenting when it comes to putting together outfits. Sometimes I pull together a winner and feel on top of the world, other times I miscalculate and feel like burying myself into a hole for the rest of the day.  Despite the hit-and-miss nature of outfit risk-taking, it's the thrill of finding that unique look no one else has that I live for.  Part of that process involves looking for pieces in places other people don't think of going to. I've already recounted the time I raided my dad's closet to find an oversized denim button-up (that has surprisingly garnered me multiple compliments throughout the years...click here to see the post), and today, I present to you a new spin on my pajamas.

T-shirt: Random Chinese brand | Shorts: H&M | Bag: Mom's vintage bag | Sunglasses: Coach

Yes, my pajamas.  I've had the above t-shirt for more years than I can remember, mostly wearing it around the house and in bed.  I did consider it among my nicer tops to wear at home; putting on a pair of jeans underneath made it supermarket-ready.  But two years ago, when my friend commented and said it was actually a very "hipster" top, it made me rethink the possibilities this faded rag (or so I thought) could bring me.

To combat the bagginess, I knew I had to roll up the sleeves and partially tuck the ends in. I had considered pairing it with a chiffon skirt, but knew the faded top just wouldn't match the femininity of a skirt. So with my friend's "hipster" adjective in mind, I went hip. Crossbody bag, printed bottoms, and a pair of sunglasses to add a slight V to the neckline.  If I had my complete wardrobe here, I would've thrown in a couple of my punk rings. You can't see here, but either my black pointed toe flats (yes, if you read my Missing the Point post, you'll realize I finally found a worthy pair of black flats...expect a future post on that) or cognac studded ankle boots would've completed the look (although I wish I had a pair of oxfords).

Lesson of the day: take a second look at your so-called "ugly" clothing.  Retain a casual air, but pairing your rejects up with higher quality pieces just might leave you feeling like you're on top of the world.

Fairytale Reality

Thank you all for your well wishes on my exams, and your wishes must have done something, because my French exam went by wonderfully.  My exam was on Monday, but I didn't blog at all this past week because grad was on Saturday, and grad prep takes time!  Grad is one of those times that most girls look towards as a time to transform themselves into princesses, and to go all out and release their inner girl.  Two girls from my school did end up looking like princesses with pink ballroom gowns and tiaras, and others surprised me with how they rid of their usual casual attire, and donned floor length dresses

However, I didn't end up getting the full dress shopping experience, as I actually borrowed dresses for both the ceremony and banquet.  I didn't want to spend a lot of money on grad (university itself is expensive enough), and so all in all, I spent a total of $16 on my entire grad look, which went towards a curling iron.

Even though I had a graduation gown overtop my dress for the majority of the ceremony, I still wanted to look put together underneath the gown.  For my ceremony dress, I went with classic black, but in a sexier way with a strapless, lacy, body-con dress.  Nonetheless, to keep it appropriate for the formality of the occasion, I put on a black cardigan and pulled on some black tights.

Dress: Unknown (Borrowed)

Cardigan: Prada (Gift)

Shoes: Tahari

Necklace: Unknown (Gift)

Crystal Earrings: Fifth Avenue Collection (Gift)
Tights: Unknown

My friends too, of course, took the occasion to dress up:

The grad ceremony, while long and drawn out, was a memorable moment of pride.  It was a culmination of three years of hard work into a precious couple of seconds on stage.  It was a celebration of all 704 graduating students, and it marked the beginning of each and every one of our future endeavors.

Despite the importance of the ceremony, all the girls were truly looking forward to the banquet.  The banquet was our chance to live our very own fairytale.  At the beginning of the year, I knew that I did not want the typical satiny, embellished, jewel-toned grad gown.  I had it clear in my mind that I wanted an angelic or ethereal dress.  My morning outfit was black and body-con, but my evening outfit would have to exude quiet, innocent beauty (somewhat of a reversal, is it not?).  So with that in mind, I went with a silver, delicately sequined dress.  The theme of my outfit was subtle sparkle.

Dress: Unknown (Borrowed)

Shoes: Feet First

Shawl: Tricot de Crayon

Clutch: Aldo (Borrowed)

Necklace and Bracelet: Unknown (Gift)

Earrings: Anne Klein

I wanted it so that you wouldn't quite realize the full potential of my outfit until you saw me moving underneath the light.  And it turns out that the idea worked, as I was complimented twice more on my dress as I danced later in the evening.  This idea extended to my nails as well; I decided to forgo coloured nails for simple, clear polish.  Again, it would only be up close before you realize the polish on my nails.  To pump it up and add a bit of colour, I went with purple accessories.  By the way, these are simply home photos, so the quality isn't at its best, and this was my first time curling my hair, so that's not at its best either.

You'll notice that I wasn't wearing heels, and that's because I couldn't find a good pair of heels I was willing to spend money on.  A lot of my friends were telling me to wear heels, but after I spent the evening dancing in my flats and then could still walk briskly back to my car, I was glad I didn't wear too crazy a pair of heels.  Below is a photo of my friend and chief editor of the school newspaper.  She's read all of my fashion articles this year, and when she saw me in flats, exclaimed that she was disappointed, knowing how I am.  Haha!

And then there was my friend who looked fabulous in a dress made by her mom, inspired by Versace's latest Resort collection:

But all my friends looked fantastic that night, with the majority of them actually in full length dresses!

After an entire year of anticipation, grad finally flew by in a day.  In a way, I wish grad could last and last forever, but no amount of time would be sufficient enough to make the last day of school with my classmates any less emotional.

Now that's what I call menswear-inspired

As you have probably already noticed, this is not a street style blog, or a blog where I document my outfits.  Reason for that is because I believe that there are already plenty of wonderful street/personal style blogs, and also, I simply don't have a digital camera to take pictures with.  But bear with me as I try to describe my latest fashion discovery.

As a frugal fashionista, I'm always looking for ways to re-invent my outfits.  Sometimes this means constantly mixing and matching, and sometimes this means borrowing from my mom's wardrobe.  Today, however, I borrowed from my dad.  I know, I know, this is nothing new for some people, but I never thought I'd find a fashion treasure in my dad's closet.  This Banana Republic shirt is almost exactly like what I found:

All I did was roll up the sleeves, unbutton the top buttons, and wrap a belt around it.  Voilà!  A perfect button-down tunic that actually fits.  I've been wanting to buy a button-down tunic for a while now, but now I don't need to!  Don't be afraid to borrow from your dad/boyfriend/husband/guy friend's closet!  You never know what you might discover.

Image Source: Bananarepublic.com