LEO

LEOPARD | LEOTARD. Sorry gals and lads! Been extremely lazy on the blogosphere, which means very adventurous in life the past week. Between petting stingrays at the STL Zoo and floating with my fellow graduating seniors down the Meramac River, these exciting events have left me pooped at the end of each day. It's ironic that I'm finding less time and energy to update after school's out versus during stressful exam weeks. Here are some old pictures featuring my faux fur leopard coat from Forever 21 ($10 on sale). It's really strange to strut around in the middle of the Midwest in broad daylight sporting this, so I usually reserve it for the occasional night out. Maybe it'll get some use while strolling through Soulard tomorrow night. Still, I feel self-conscious because even though this is obviously fake fur, it still gives off the idea that I think it's okay to wear animal fur, which I do not. Happy weekending, y'all! 4 days til graduation !!?

Readers - do you think it's okay to wear faux fur?

Enter my CLAWS Jewelry giveaway for a beautiful handmade designer necklace!

Snow Bunny

H&M taupe button neck turtleneck LS top (XS) (gift from JJ's mom) // H&M faux leather biker jacket (Euro 4) //
H&M plaid tweed coat (Euro 4) //

H&M leather camel belt (31-32") // Forever 21 ankle zip skinny jeans (26) //

From Taiwan furry camel chunky heeled boots (36) // From Taiwan white rabbit (?) fur ball scarf // 

Photography: JJ

TAUPES & FUR. Happy belated Chinese (Lunar) New Year everyone! I've been gone from the blogosphere for a mere 3 days yet it's felt like eons - I would blame it on schoolwork but honestly for once I'm caught up and even ahead in certain courses and spend most of my free time catching up with old friends. This is such a sharp contrast from last semester and despite a crazier courseload now, day-to-day is much more live-able. So 'scuse me if I was off writing poetry or having an afternoon coffee to relax (versus to prop up my eyelids) or playing racquetball.

This was what I wore for the Lunar New Year festivities on Sunday (1/22): a twist on the turtleneck theme, leather jacket, and boots with the furrrr. To accessorize, an interesting scarf from Taiwan last year - actually a replacement one bought on the street near a night market because I somehow lost the one I got for ultra cheap (like $4?) at a department store. It's fuzzy and soft but smells kind of funky, so I worry what it's really made out of ... We snapped these shots in the dim lights of the business school after the event, but the T2i picks up light from absolutely nowhere and makes pictures bright as day - still in awe.

Meanwhile, today was a strange day of days. It rained the entire day and I was alternating between sopping wet/drying/sopping wet. I found $11 on the ground outside a bar on my way home (it too was sopping wet). Cold is not my friend, but it keeps insisting that we get to know each other better. Can it be spring already? There's only so much layering permutations my winter wardrobe can handle. Hope y'all have been having a wonderful year so far and keeping up with all those resolutions *wink* : )

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Checkmate, Metallica

Forever 21 checkered peacoat (M) // H&M sparkly metallic silver light sweater (XS) //

H&M light pink lace shoulder LS top (S) // H&M black and white striped pleated mini skirt (Euro 4) //

Forever 21 burgundy tights // CLAWS jewelry turquoise trio gold ring necklace (c/o WhitWatWear) //

From Taiwan fringe heeled boots with bling (35) // H&M super chunky long beige scarf //

Photography: JJ

CTRL+P MIX. So it was freeze-my-butt-off-like-a-wart cold today. And yesterday. And tomorrow. Thank you JJ for braving the bitter temperature to snap these pictures outside (1/19). Oh what I won't do for fashion. Last night, as I tried picking out my outfit in advance for once, the sparkly thin knit came back to mind, along with the lace top and burgundy tights from the pink blazer outfit, yielding a remix of what was in my Winter Break suitcase. While I had plans for my pink tulle skirt again, it just looked downright silly for a day of science madness, so my favourite go-to pleated skirt took its place. Better luck next time, tutu.

OFF THE SHOULDER, PEEP LACE. I remember getting the inspiration for peeping lace shoulders in the H&M dressing room during my pre-Christmas sale hunt. Pulling down the lightweight sweater to reveal a bit of dainty femininity, I tossed on a favourite small statement necklace (if there is such a thing) to top it off. To cover everything up and switch things up, this checkered coat rotated to the forefront to temporarily replace my plaid one I've been wearing daily this year. It was purchased on sale for about $13 last last winter, on a whim of course. I liked its dolly shape and potential layering space for a medium size. Like is to chunky as my scarf is to soup.

Meanwhile, I LOVE second semester senior year. I LOVE my science classes (never thought I'd confess that aloud), and I love having free time to catch up with old friends and do the things I love. I also enjoy sitting in a room bursting with intense neuroscience majors and feeling like I know something for once ; )

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H&M Fall Collection Fitting Room Review

First day of September! I'm a victim of online-window-shopping addiction. Every since the beginning of August, stores have been bringing out their fall pieces in resplendent thicker fabrics and neutral earthen tones. I have also been drooling nonstop wondering when this weather will dip below 90 degrees (like right now, It's 104 Fahrenheit - I walked in that for 1.5 miles on the way to school and ended up sopping sweaty in my first class). H&M has a gorgeous lookbook online and I've been wanting to try out some of the popular pieces other bloggers have been featuring lately, like the lace shell dress and orange swing jacket. Thus, commence fitting room review, H&M Fall Collection 2011 edition.

Bonus: If you sign up for H&M's online newsletter, you get a 20% coupon off a single item! A bunch of brand-new items right now is $10-20 off right at the counter.

1) H&M camel tweed double-breasted coat (Euro 4), $30 USD
Reminiscent of Burberry but at a fraction of the cost, I initially thought this coat would be too light and thin for St. Louis colder weather. However, fall is a gorgeous time and there's room to layer underneath this (I've figured out by now wearing 4 thin layers is warmer than 2 thick ones). It's nice and structured with a bit of A-line which flatters small petite frames. I also like that it emphasizes my shoulders. It will even look great over a short skirt and knee high rider boots.

- Verdict: Buy! With my 20% coupon and $10 in returns (pretty sale pleated chiffon dress but unflattering chest-area poofing), total = $14! What a nab for a stylish fall coat, right?

2) H&M black lace shell dress (XS), $35
The fit is great - there were many back buttons that I couldn't reach, but regardless this is a flattering shell dress with a hint of drama. It looks much better belted to accentuate the waistline (found a cute bow detail camel ultra-skinny belt for $13 that snaps into each hole) but H&M has this "no accessories inside the fitting rooms" policy they're not enforcing - most inconvenient.

- Verdict: Pass. I do have way too much black lace and dresses, so I reluctantly put this down. It's just not "everyday" enough to get enough wear in before winter starts.

3) H&M orange cropped swing jacket (S), $40
Fit: this store ran out of XS and S is boxy on me. However, the little gold buttons are endearing, and this piece looks nice over a dress, but I have wayyy too many orange pieces in my closet from summer. There's no need for another pumpkin piece. It can be worn many ways. It's also expensive for a tiny jacket, though the fabric is nice quality and thick.

- Verdict: Pass, pricey and already have lots of orange

Open

 Buttoned up

 

 Swinging (weirdly bluish tinge due to yellow lighting correction)

4) H&M navy lace shell top (S), $25
This is the shirt version of the lace shell dress. It's less elegant as a top, but still nice with a Victorian touch. Again, S too boxy, XS good.

- Verdict: Pass, don't love

Boxy, not foxy

White/cream version in XS

5) H&M butterfly print summer dress (Euro 4), $25 ($10 off), $15

Mainly tried this on for the price. It's light, not tooo revealing, pretty for summer.

- Verdict: Pass, too many sundresses.

 

6) Forever 21 curly pink tulle skirt (S), $18
Very cute, poofy, super girly. Tried it on for fun and the twisties.

- Verdict: Pass, already have a similar one but wish I would have gotten this one instead!

 So I walked out of there happy with a new fall coat and nothing else that I didn't need *proud* Have you browsed the H&M Fall Collection or seen other fall pieces that you're coveting?