She Means Business

H&M striped white and black tshirt dress (worn as shirt) // H&M hunter green skinny pants //

H&M black fitted blazer with red satin interior // Mossimo suede black ankle boots //

Photography: self; tripod and remote

What I Wore When I Almost Saw Barack Obama. This is the outfit I would have worn to see President Obama today. As a huge public university with 50,000 undergrads and a major swing state, of course El Jefe himself would come down and get the students revved up. Though I had tickets to elbow it out with the masses, when they opened the doors at 2, the line was at least a thousand people long so I decided to stay inside the tepid med library and duke it out with some studying. Is it silly that I was so happy to find the one cubicle that had an extra bright happy desk lamp? All the small things, guys. Some of my classmates did end up waiting the 4 hours. There will be future chances!

Remember this simple basic striped dress that I got for free from H&M grand opening a month ago? Turned it into a shirt today but tucking the "dress" bottom part of material up and inside, hiding it from view and avoiding the visible-tucking-into-pants-scrunching. Paired it with my favourite crisp, clean blazer and threw on some fall-toned pants to "boot." These skinnies used to be skin tight but maybe after all the stress and high levels of sugar consumption by my brain, they seem baggier (totes matches my eyes). Ran around all day and it was very comfortable and I felt polished. Booked it back from the ultrasound training session to catch the last, last rays in a 2 minute shoot. Curling up with my Powerpoints, pumpkin pie, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks on my Nook tonight (it's not as romantic as it sounds) and wondering how it's only Tuesday.

A fall shoot in the autumn foliage? Plotting ways to self-take photos with the fiery scenery and lying in the piles of fallen leaves ...

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Zen Garden

Pitaya/Lush abstract cocoon cardigan/wrap (S) // Old Navy taupe v-neck cable knit sweater (S) // 

H&M forest green skinny jeans (6) // Predictions for Payless black pumps (5) //

H&M gold segmented choker necklace // Silver inspirational words cuff bracelet (gift from Alice) //

Lipstick: Revlon Colorburst Soft Nude (base), Wet n Wild Wine Room (top) //

Photography: Alice Gu (& JJ for face shots)

SPRING TRANSITIONING. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Was planning on going all-mint green this year but that's a surprise for tomorrow :) Either way, safe from pinching with the forest green, eh? Remember my all-green shabang a few months ago? Ha, grubby finger-proof. This is the outfit I wore for thrifting at Scholarshop (3/9). I wore this ensemble for school before but didn't take outfit photos, but thanks to Alice as my photog, we perfectly caught the Golden Hour and the lighting was beautiful as it lit up the parking lot. Layering this flowy cocoon wrap over my lightweight cable knit sweater provides extra warmth and an interesting mixture of layers and textures. NEUTRAL + ABSTRACT PRINT + BOLD PANTS. Had the hardest time coming up with a title too, almost went with "Abstraction" before I thought of the lines on the cardigan like rocks and the pants like evergreen. This silver cuff bracelet also means a lot to me because it's a heartfelt gift from Alice, giving me strength to take each day hour-by-hour, and to remember that I always have loving people around to pick me up when the pain is too hard.

One more day until I head back to STL to finish off my college career and graduate (time flies so fast wth). That means primary objective has been shifted to stuffing my face full of the city's treats and reveling in the warm Spring. Meanwhile, almost done with the Hunger Games trilogy and can't wait to see the movie!

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NYE: au casual

H&M silver tinsel/sparkle light sweatshirt (XS) // H&M deep blue satin button down top  (Euro 6) //

H&M Pants Collection dark green slim fit colored jeans (Euro 6) // H&M multicolour bracelets (XS/S) //

Merona calf hair leopard print flats (5.5) // Wet n Wild lipstick in Wine Room //

Photography: self-timer/remote & tripod ; Thanks Dad for helping with the photos

TINSELTOWN & JEWEL-TONED. My subtlely sparkling silver top, thin as can be but still with a bit of weight to it - reminds me of mithril, for fellow Lord of the Ring fanatics out there.  The annoying thing is it started falling apart before I put it on, but for $10, who can complain? It reflects light beautifully but my camera doesn't want to capture it properly. Wore this over a satin sapphire button down and some emerald skinnies out to Red Lobster with the fam a few days ago and finalized it for a New Years Eve-Eve (NYEE, pronounced knee, or like the Knights of Ni?) on 12/30/11. Also felt effortless and channeling Alexa Chung while walking my dog, if only she wore more messy buns.

Since I have nowhere to be, I figured as much as I want to get dandied up in my sequined and posh best - the glitter's best left on the dance floor. Someday though, I will count down in Times Square (think of the potential riffing: NYE in NYC). Someday I will attend opulent holiday parties and be decked in boughs of sartorial awesomeness. Reality check? Bumming at home with my parents, watching the ball drop a whole three hours early. At least there is White Zinfandel and a trunk full of hope for 2012 involved. Happy New Years, everyone! (Am I the only one who only feels comfortable when it's an even numbered year?)

The two winners for the UNESTABLISH giveaway have been selected and announced here. Congrats!

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Pumpkin

H&M orange cropped knit sweater (S) // Forever 21 chambray shirt (S) //
H&M Pants Collection slim fit hunter green skinny jeans (Euro 6) //

CLAWS Jewelry turquoise tri-stone gold hoop necklace (c/o WhitWatWear) //

H&M plaid tweed coat (Euro 4) // Forever 21 lace up oxford booties (6) //
Eye makeup: Coastal Scents Frenzy Mineral E/S (shimmery light pink)
Wet n Wild Vanity Palette (brown for outer half)
Stila waterproof liquid eyeliner

Photography: JJ

ARCH-ITECTURE. What's one of the only commonalities between October and November? Besides cold, it's pumpkins! In the spirit of the countdown to Turkey Day and being home with family in sweet warm San Diego, today I am a carrot orange & hunter green pumpkin squash. JJ is coming this year too, so hopefully we'll be able to show this Silicon Valley boy around a little better than last time. Squashes are strange but usually delicious. Did you know their cousins are gourds? As a kid I tried to dry one out and fill it with water like the storybooks always depicted xD

What I wore for meandering around campus Saturday, what was meant to be a night of studying and writing papers (11/5), but I ended up watching a singing competition. Did you know one of the reasons I chose WashU was because I have always loved architecture? There is this beautiful arched building called Ridgley Hall that from the side, creates this wonderful series of tunnels that was too picturesque to pass up. Distractions led to 3 mini shoots for one outfit, woops. Another victory for last week: actually getting up quickly at the alarm instead of lazying in bed. Daylight Savings celebrations went *poof* as soon as I started cracking on 4 papers and an exam ... Luckily the day was spent in good company, as misery loves company and legit Chinese food.

Favourite moment: when the sunlight streams through fall leaves at golden hour.

Readers - have you frolicked in the fall leaves?

H&M Fall 2011 & Pants Collection Fitting Room Review

Are you ready for this HUGE fall fitting room review at H&M? There were so many inexpensive items at the beginning of this fall, but prices rose again by late September. These were accumulated over two visits, showcasing the Fall and Pants collections, which H&M had 20-25% off coupons for those who subscribe to their newsletter (it's easy and pays off). Click any of the photos with price tags to see the store code in case you want to call in about certain pieces. Also, use this coupon for 25% off an item 10/5-10/10.

1) H&M pink fitted blazer w/ side ruffles, size Euro 4 ($50 $40 with 20% off coupon)
At last! After over a year of hunting down a pink blazer, I still wasn't able to talk myself out of these pricey suckers. This one is perfectly fitted, girly with a feminine silhouette, complete with a few ruffles! It looks great with an A-line skirt. First saw this on Jean - she said it was too long on her, but it's fine on my 5'3" frame.
- Verdict: Purchased, reluctantly due to price

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