Batman! | Gotham City Hall

DivaNY black cutout slit maxi dress (c/o, only $36) // H&M leather biker jacket //

Jeffrey Campbell Soiree Spike (from Kathleencarla & Ashbury Skies) //

Forever 21 black triangle gem silver necklace // Layered silver hoop earrings (old) // 

Low Luv by Erin Wasson silver Aztec ring (exact) (from Suzy) // 
Wet n Wild lipstick in Wine Room //

Photography: JJ

The last time I visited JJ in Pittsburgh, we stuffed ourselves full of good food and did this photoshoot at a location I've been eyeing for months (5/27). These are the steps of the (Carnegie) Mellon Institute, which was Gotham City Hall in the new Batman movies. Crazy, right? Scroll to the bottom to see a collage of proof that I once stepped on the same ground as Christian Bale. I could take on Catwoman in this outfit, right? With all these spikes and leather, I might last a few punches.

I was so ecstatic when I won these head-turning lucite heel Jeffrey Campbells Soirees from Kathleencarla & Ashbury Skies' giveaway. Though these are sky high, the ankle support and backing helps me not twist my ankle since these are a size too big. When DivaNY offered me the chance to try out their trendy selection, I picked this dramatic black maxi dress with shoulder cutouts and a thigh high leg slit. While most of their items would be fit for a night out at the club or geared towards college gals, I found a few reserved yet edge pieces I that fit my personal style (like their dresses).

When I'm not being robbed blind by moviemakers and their steady train of superhero remakes, this last, last week of first year has come to an end. Mini rotations with ophthalmology and ENT left me gushing for the latter, and I am more stoked than ever about this field. Monday marks the beginning of summer research and a more routine day-to-day (you all know by now that won't happen to the Spontaneous Smasher of Schedules). Happy weekend!

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Double Oxblood | Work to Night Out Burgundy Outfit

Day:

H&M cable knit burgundy sweater // Forever 21 burgundy lace pencil skirt //

DIY Christian Louboutin dupe/Payless red-sole black pumps //

Black metal buckle belt (pass-me-up from brother) //

Night:

H&M cable knit burgundy sweater // Forever 21 burgundy lace pencil skirt //

Thrifted @ Goodwill/Ann Taylor black strappy wedges // H&M faux leather biker jacket //

Black metal buckle belt (pass-me-up from brother) // Michael Todd vampy lip stain in Disco (thanks Nikki) //

Photography: self; remote and tripod

OXBLOOD AND BLOOD ORANGES. What is with the violence in colour terminology these days? Why is it oxblood and not simply blood? And even though blood oranges are so yummy, there's something so inherently Bram Stoker and grotesque about it. This all-burgundy/wine red/oxblood outfit was inspired by this pin on a Refinery 29 slideshow on wearing midi skirts. What's more fall appropriate than lace pencil skirts with a matching cable knit sweater in the same exact perfect autumn shade? For the PrettyShinySparkly oxblood challenge: one of my big-time doc blogger inspirations!

I noticed halfway through the day why my neck was itching so badly. Looking side my shirt, I saw a tag *facepalm* ... so I had my sweater on backwards. However, I rolled with it because it gave a more straight cut neckline which looked sophisticated. This black belt with the cool silver square buckle is actually a really old belt my brother wore for piano recitals when he was a little kid. Ironically it fits well around my waist still! How to transition to night time? Throw on a leather jacket to toughen things up and go along with the black and burgundy theme, exchange work-friendly pumps with strappy wedges from summer. Nothing makes me happier than sticking it to the man - in this case, Mr. CL and his uber expensive shoes. $20 pumps, $3 of nail polish and voila! Two things I will never invest in: designer heels or designer bags because I am so rough with my crap everything gets tattered faster than you can say cobbler. I'll post the DIY Christian Louboutin red sole heel tutorial soon if anyone's interested in having some faux glam fun :)

Friday night meant wearing wine colours to wine tasting but I got very lost and missed the bus, so instead mosied on over to a dumpling night event and stuffed myself with the tasty treats doused with Sriracha hot sauce (thank goodness for the sweet tea they had handy). Afterwards was an evening well spent with some new friends, practical physical exam skills. Don't judge - call us nerds now and be thankful when we can wield our diagnostic tools with finesse when you have an ear ache or pink eye. This weekend JJ visited and we had a grand old time eating along High Street and exploring North Market. And today I sang my first performance ever with our med school a cappella group - do epic shift, guys. Every single day.

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Cat Eye

H&M faux leather biker jacket // H&M hunter green colored skinny jeans //

Forever 21 sheer black top w/ woven embroidery // H&M nude cami tank top //

H&M cat eye sunglasses w/ snakeskin inside //

Predictions for Payless black pumps // Aldo black feather rainbow glitter earrings //

Photography: JJ

EYE OF THE TIGRESS. Today's hastily thrown-together outfit, from the cold but delicious time at JJ's Russian professor's annual picnic to the mall for graduation dress shopping with my friend Sherraine (see fitting room review here). It's feminine yet bad girl at the same time. Sheer dolly long top with some coloured skinnies and a leather jacket. The best part is actually these uber fun glitter-dipped feather earrings from Aldo. They shed glitter everywhere, so by the end of the day my body looks like it's covered in unicorn vomit, not that I oppose that kind of thing. Also found the PURRfect pair of cat eye sunglasses (FINALLY) that flatter my round face, stay on my flat nose, and aren't vintage-sharp to the point of Rita Skeeter. They even have snakeskin print on the inside, an added quirk. Yay now I can look like everyone else in the fashion world *eye-rollage*

Thank you JJ for taking time out of your busy Circuits schedule to shoot this outfit! Apparently when it's right about to get dark outside and it's a grey gloomy day, the camera shuts up and picks up the perfect amount of light/exposure/temperature that requires minimal post-processing. However, humidity = instant Ms. Frizzle 'do (gosh I miss Magic School Bus).

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H&M Spring/March 2012 Fitting Room Review

Florals! Leather! Florals! I am cray cray for these things and H&M has been my outlet for these massive sartorial cravings. While you lucky ducks in big cities braved the Marni x H&M collection release this morning, I sat back and enjoyed my birthday haul. So, here's what's in store for March 2012 H&M Spring. See what I found last month in this recent fitting room review. The black pumps are from Payless (size 5). Went a little buy-happy and will probably return/sell most of this xD You should definitely check out my friend Alice's H&M fitting room review for more work appropriate/less crazy pieces she found at the same mall :)

1) H&M pastel floral flare top (size S), $18 USD
I've been eyeing these flared tops for a while now and never thought they'd look good. They're pretty cute to give more curvy shape and it doesn't look bad with tights (though I'm still not going to run around without my butt covered!) and sneakers, as on the left. It skims over the butt nicely. This top is very thin and upon closer inspection not EXACTLY the same colour and definitely not the same texture as the skirt (below). It's full of pastel big flowers and the base colour is a light grey/taupe.
- Verdict: Purchased, wanted to try it out with the pencil skirt I got back in December/January (see below). Maybe return/sell.

Intentionally dark photo to show the floral detail

2) H&M pastel floral pencil skirt with brown croc belt (size 4), $25
Pastel giant flowers, so spring! Excuse the crappy phone pics - my camera batteries were dead that day. The skirt is actually very much knee length but the angle was funky in the photo. It is SUPER tight and runs really small so I should have considered getting a size 6. After wearing it for a day, it always rode up to mid-thigh because of my bulky thighs of mine and wrinkled ugily because of the stiff fabric. The belt is super cute though and a soft texture. It can be detached of course.
- Verdict: Purchased, really was dreaming of spring back in January or so ... considering selling!

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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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Rock & Bumble

H&M yellow tiered dress with sash (size ??) // H&M leather biker jacket (Euro 4) //

Taipei night market bling heel and detail black velvet boots (5) // Forever 21 black semi-sheer tights //

Thrifted Melie Bianco camel faux leather satchel bag //

Photography: JJ

BEELINE | SKYLINE. A zippy post for zippy times. Took some quick shots after meeting Wong Fu on Saturday, trying out flash/night photography (11/12). Obviously not as nice as daytime photos but there are some cool effects. This sunny yellow dress had a double purpose: match my community service group's colours for our wrapping party (think pretty foil paper, bows, onesies and other adorable presents for our adopted St. Louis families) and stand out for meeting the Youtube stars. A little bit of "Yellow Fever," anyone?

These boots are super cute and comfy - around $6 USD from a Taipei night market sale. The bling is actually hollowed out spots versus the usual crystals, but nevertheless it's entertainingly sparkly in the night lights. Bow on the back, bling on the kitten heel, velvet texture - perfect replacement for my worn out black knee-highs from last winter's battles. Falling asleep as we speak and headed to Oklahoma City in the morning. Hah, fooled you St. Louis - I'm skipping town before you can call take-backs on the gorgeous 70 weather this weekend.

Busier than a bumblebee, work hard play work hard like a G.

Readers - have you taken photos in the dark?

Leather and Lace

H&M leather biker jacket (Euro 4) // Forever 21 lace dress (S) //
Xhilaration oxford flats in Cognac (5.5) // Forever 21 multi-strand chain necklace //
From China real pearl necklace // Aldo snake coil ring (5) //
Nail polish in Estee Lauder Autumn and Sally Hansen Commander in Chic //
NYX lipstick in Snow White //

Photography: JJ

GOOD GIRL, BAD GIRL. There's nothing nicer than that serenity in the cafe before the 11:30 rush, listening to whatever indie music they had rolling out of the ceiling, sipping at my piping hot thermos coffee and enjoying an overpriced slice of pumpkin cheesecake slowly with no work on the table.

Last Friday's outfit (9/30): I'm a sucker for dichotomy. Lace and leather together are an odd but compatible pair, and to make it even more extreme I threw on pearls and chains for accessories. Paired with a perfectly deep red lip (NYX in Snow White), it was easy to transition from fall-appropriate school outfit to study party at my friends' dorm. It was an epic night of yogurt & egg white (and sugar?) facial masks, watching The New Girl and Psych, and painting our nails.

Meanwhile, most of that weekend was spent being increasingly sick. "Blehhh" does the job in summing up how my body still feels, but I have to push through a lot of work as per usual. Surprisingly with minimal cold meds, I pulled through relatively unscathed. KEEP CALM and CARRY ON my wayward son.

Many random shots around campus, JJ practicing Chinese yoyo/diabolo, flowers near Brookings Hall. It is prime time for fall, but the past week has been gorgeously sunny in the 80s. The leaves are falling and it's magical everywhere. I want to do a shoot tomorrow in the fallen leaves. Between work and more work - this is the busiest week yet of the semester. Will be updating with STL Fashion Week coverage - so excited! Looking forward to seeing fresh faces and listening to many sartorial stories.

Rest in Peace, Steve Jobs. Your story has just begun. 

Readers - how do you incorporate polar opposites into your outfits?