VivaGambita Petite Jeans Review + Giveaway

H&M oxblood cableknit sweater // DL 1961 Toni Cropped Jean in Switch, size 26 (c/o VivaGambita) //

Firmoo round cat eye tortoiseshell glasses (c/o) // Zac & Zoe for Payless penny loafer pumps //

From China black and crystal detachable peter pan collar //

Photography: self; tripod and remote

Today the temperature took a dip into the nippy 50s and a lightweight cableknit sweater from the colder months still left me shivering. Today's outfit was inspired by the hipster librarian - cat eye tortoise shell glasses with a strong cat eye eyeliner, comfy sweater with a little sweet, comfy jeans and "mannish" shoes. I pulled on these fit-me-like-a-glove jeans that are the perfect length for 5'3" petite me and surprisingly stretchy to leave room for my thighs and acrobatics. Getting creative here, I wore my detachable peter pan collar backwards because of the more subtle rounded shape. Popped on some pennyloafer heels and we were good to start off another week of work.

I got lots of compliments on these glasses too and my classmates kept asking if they were new prescription glasses (they're not). Firmoo contacted me again for another collaboration and let me choose 2 pairs (the other one is quite unique - the frames are totally clear) to style and review. As you remember, they offer stylish frames and prescription glasses on the cheap. Whenever I pop on some cat eyes, my whole mood becomes surlier and cattier as the corners of the glasses are tugged past my eyebrows.

VivaGambita is a brand new petite clothing store that I am excited about. From their adorable mint and white logo to their curated inventory, their chief Caroline has it covered. This pair of petite denim came cuffed but when tried rolling it down, I was surprised to see that it was the perfect tailored length. While I can dish out a few bills and get all my pants rehemmed, the fit around the rest of my leg is much harder to manage. This dark wash pair does it all and from the lack of unsightly bunching lines and muffin top, they are finally a true "ready to wear" piece for us petite ladies. We are excited to give away a pair of VivaGambita's legit denim - enter via the Rafflecopter widget at the end of this post.

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Princess Bumblebee | Neon Nails

H&M yellow ruffle dress w/ black belt // From China black bead and crystal detachable peter pan collar //

Thrifted Ann Taylor/Goodwill strappy ankle wedges // Bracelets: Forever 21, H&M, Poshlocket (c/o) //
Forever 21 white and yellow floral headband //

Rings: green amethyst from medieval fair, owl from F21, mosaic from Claires //

NYX dark red lipstick in Snow White // Island Girl neon yellow nail polish in Aloha Color (from Hawaii) //

Photography: self; tripod and remote

TIERED YELLOW CAKE. Today I stared at my chipping neon highlighter yellow nails (which I bought in one of Hawaii's bajillion ABC stores to match my now-soiled-after-rainforest-hikes neon Nike running shoes) and threw open my closet doors, picking out my ruffly yellow cake costume dress, aka bumblebee dress, aka never-know-how-to-style-this-disaster (7/30). After considering doubling up on black skinny belts, laziness won out and the sash that came with the dress stayed. I can never seem to break free of the yellow and black colour template when I wear this dress - it's as if my past life as a hive-dweller won't let me break free of that particular mind mold. Suddenly I remembered my ultra-cute detachable peter pan collar I got in China for something like $7 USD that would perfectly accessorize this otherwise frumpy frock. I know, making dramatic molehills out of getting dressed. It's like us fashion-obsessed who beat our pillows in frustration because we have "nothing to wear" though our closets are bursting at the seams and carpets littered with clothing in various states of distress.

(Sunny + highlighter) yellow. So when I was shooting these photos tonight, a random dude on his phone walked up to my then-secluded area and stared at me while I'm trying to pose in front of my tripod. AWKWARD o_o. He wouldn't go away and kept expecting me to continue as if he weren't there so I chased him off with some excuse about being shy. Self-photographers know that tripods double as self defense weapons and my mind was definitely wandering in that direction. Then a granny with a Slavic accent jogged by and complimented me on my dress, to which I blushed and uttered thanks. Gramps also with a Slavic accent sauntered on by ten minutes later, noting that I seem to always be there fiddling with my camera during the sunset. Most likely with a confounded expression and furrowed brows as I try to tinker with Manual (deargod). That concludes this chapter of #iknowishouldbeinstitutionalizedforthecrazyshitidointhenameoffashionblogging - a hashtag that will never fit into your allotted tweet space.

Something I ate must have made me extra snarky today. *burp*

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Back to Schoolgirl

Pitaya/Ezra bunny print peter pan collar top (S) //
Faded Glory pleated plaid mini skirt (S?) (old from high school) (buy midi version) //
H&M polka dot socks // Xhilaration oxford flats in Cognac (5.5) ($20) //
Aldo snake coil ring (5) ($2, $8) //

Photography: JJ + Thomas Roach (wingtips photo)

MY LAST FIRST DAY OF CLASS. Well, until med school. Yesterday's (8/30) outfit combines old and new pieces, taking full advantage of the exploding suitcase I lugged back from home in preparation for fall and my blog sale. This bunny print peter pan collar shirt was one of the Pitaya sale finds from Missouri Tax Free Weekend - I love that it's cute, opaque with a sheer lightness, and my favourite colour. Can't beat $9 for a boutique find either. The skirt is definitely from high school haha-dressup-days when my friends and I all got schoolgirl skirts for transforming into Catholic schoolgirls (of course we covered up more than this). It was odd because I've been a public schooler all my life and we had some of the weirdest strict rules and dress codes (unfun). This is what I love about college. Socks and shoes recycled from last fall. Aldo's rings are so small my finger was stuck for a few minutes trying them on! Size 5 fits great on my middle finger, taking into account my huge joints.

Nostalgia! The first leaves are starting to fall in St. Louis!!! Riding uphill-ish to class is a struggle for my atrophied leg muscles after an exercise-less summer but it gets me to class in 5 minutes from my off-campus house. Meanwhile, allergies are kicking in :( Senior year, here we are so soon. In addition to eating healthy and trying to have a regular schedule of sleep, library study, and exercise, I vow to have more fun and go out more. Yesterday, I hit the library for about 7 hours between classes (ugly gap to be filled with research and meetings later). Clean slate, pretty caught up. How long can I keep this up? xD

My blog resolutions are to:

- Catch up with all my reviews

- Morning photoshoots in 5 minutes before class, every day

- Post every day

- Set up that blog shop!

- Reply to comments

P.S. Shoutout to my friends Jane and Francis for following :) You guys made my day! 

Readers - what did you wear for back-to-school?