Soft winter shades // Stuart Weitzman Highland vs Lowland boots review (good for narrow calves)

Stuart Weitzman boots, Ann Taylor sweater (similar in blush pink)

J.Crew coat + skirt (similar), Saint Laurent wallet on chain, Old Navy hat (similar)

Some of you guys may remember this older linen sweater...the material is a loose weave more suited for warm weather, but I love the color and wanted to winterize it for now. A simple long-sleeved tee layered underneath filled in the little holes and added warmth. I think I have almost all the texture bases covered here with wool, cable knit, suede, leather, chain...and can't forget the faux fur pouf!

After I did a review of my Stuart Weitzman Lowland flat boots earlier this season, several of you had questions in this post on the heeled Highland version. A few readers requested a comparison of the two popular styles, so here goes!

Shaft fit: The shaft construction of both boots appear to be exactly the same, made of Stuart Weitzman's signature lycra-backed stretchy suede which is lined in a satiny material. Both boots have laces at the back opening, which I secure by tying in a bow twice then tucking the ends into the shaft. I've also found the shaft measurements and fit of both styles in the same style to be exactly the same. The fit is wonderful for narrow calves and thighs, and I've heard the suede stretches nicely to accommodate curvier legs as well.

Measurements of sz 5 (please note these will vary for different shoe sizes) for both Highland and Lowlands: 4" across the ankles, 5.75" across the calves, 6.75" across the thigh opening, and 21" shaft height excluding heel. Please account for some thickness for the lined suede material. Highland has a 3.5" heel, and Lowland has a 1" heel.

Foot fit: At the foot, the Highlands feel narrower throughout than the Lowlands, which you can kinda see in the sole comparison above. The front toe area of the Highlands taper in just a bit more. The Lowlands measure 1/4" wider at the sole, but in the picture below you can see that may also be due to the thin edging detail along the foot, which I rather like. I'm clumsy and often stub my toe, rubbing off the material on the very tip of beloved shoes. I feel like it'd be easier to discreetly patch up the coloring on the edging compared to on the whole toe.

I was told by sales associates that both styles run half size big compared to other brands. I typically wear 5 to 5.5 in most brands, and found size 5 to be the most comfortable in both styles. I still have wiggle room in the Lowlands for thick socks and inserts, but the Highlands in the same size are more fitted on my feet.

Look and comfort: In the picture above, I put the heels of both shoes against a straight edge to show the difference at a glance. Not surprising for heels, the Highland looks notably smaller and more dainty relative to its flat sister. But compared to other flat boots, I think the Lowland is definitely one of the sleeker options out there. I can walk miles around the city in the Lowland with my "orthopedic" heel inserts, and find the Highlands to be comfortable for the 3.5" heels that they are. The thicker blocked heel helps a lot if you're not vigilant about sidewalk cracks!

Overall I think they're hard to compare since the two styles serve different styling purposes. I like flats for walking around the city, but prefer heels for going out and dressier occasions where I'll be taking a car. For those who mentioned you're debating between the two, it really depends on what would get more use in your own lifestyle - living in Boston, I'd pick the flats first! The price tag is not for the faint of heart, but was worth it to me given my frustrations with finding high quality tall boots that actually fit (and it doesn't hurt that they're very warm).

I also got more questions on color choice - these boots come in quite the range from dark to light. Classic black would be my first choice if I didn't already have tall boots in that color. I feel black is the easiest to "color in" or patch if the suede wears down, and also most versatile for matching with same-colored tights, leggings, and jeans. I love both gray and taupe so ended up with colors that are a little mix of both. My Lowlands are in "Londra" which is a medium gray with just hints of taupe brown, and my Highlands are in "Praline" which is lighter and more taupe. Praline is only left in the flats version at Zappos, however the similar "Taupe / Topo" is still available at most retailers in heels.

Highland sold at: Zappos, Stuart Weitzman, Nordstrom, Shopbop, Elyse Walker
Lowland sold at: Zappos, Stuart Weitzman, Nordstrom, Shopbop, Elyse Walker
All with free ship & returns in the US; Shopbop w/ free ship to several other countries

Here's my Lowland review again for photos of that style, and a tip for pulling these babies on/off with minimal struggle!

Baublebar slim bar pendant necklace, Laura Mercier lip glac� in Orchid

Storage and care: I'm working on a longer post about shoe care, but in the meantime, I always store my boots with wadded up paper inserted in the ankle and lower calf area, even my rubber rainboots. Most tall boots arrive with cardboard inserts or these paper wads, which I like to shape to best mimic my leg size. Boot shapers that are too big might stretch leather out; too small ones won't keep the ankle area filled, which may result in ankle sags and creases. I keep my most frequently-worn pairs ones out and like to keep others lying horizontally in their boxes or dustbags. Here's the leather & suede protectant again that I like using on shoes before wearing - 1 can is enough for 2 thorough coats on a pair of OTK boots, and can cover two pairs of shoes with less material.

Ann Taylor Petite Linen Shirtdress (on flash sale!)

Ann taylor linen shirtdress, Talbots sandals (current version or similar on sale), 

AC pearl jam necklace c/o, Saint Laurent convertible bag (my review)

Ann Taylor is having one of their flash sales - I picked up this dress earlier this month and can't believe the current price with all sizes left in stock. I love my linen pieces in the summer, and this one is work-friendly with no layering necessary for business casual due to the long sleeves. I'd pair with neutral pointed flats like these BP ones for a comfortable office outfit...


I forgot to take a photo before I machine washed & dried it, and it did shrink a little like I had hoped in order to fit me like the photo above (wearing petite xxs with no alterations). Please note this dress is cut straight with no waist definition, so the included waist tie is necessary for it to not look like a tunic. Since the material is 100% linen, it does need an ironing each time you wear it. I love the texture of linen enough to go this extra step. Color in person is true to the stock photo - a light blue with very pale pink stripes. A few other suggestions on major sale:

- White cotton eyelet dress (see on me) - still available in all petite sizes! Also love the pretty pink version with pockets, left starting in size 4 petite.
- Cropped colorblock sweater in classic navy/cream. Still in all petite sizes!
- Seersucker jacket - in a cotton/spandex blend with many 5 star reviews. Would be cute paired with navy or white bottoms for work. Here's the matching crop pants if you want to wear it as a suit.
- Satin jersey twist dress - 4 colors, left in all petite sizes. And if you or a friend are getting married, definitely check out their sale weddings section (lots of bridesmaid dresses in regular & petites for $30-$60, or a lace wedding gown starting in size 00p for a bargain).

Exploring Paris: Tweed jacket, striped tee + jeweled sandals

Ann Taylor striped tee, Ann Taylor jacket c/o, Saint Laurent bag

Sole Society sandals c/o (3 colors), Banana Republic navy pants,

Bonjour from Paris! We�re visiting for a few projects and are trying to soak up all the yummy baguettes, cheese, and pretty sights in between � follow along on Instagram for our daily snapshots! Today�s post is my outfit from our first day here. I had traveled in these same pants and sandals on our red-eye flight (pairing below), and just freshened up the upper half for a day around the city. Swap the sandals for closed-toe flats or heels, and this is easily a work-appropriate pairing as well.

Sole Society sandals and bag, BR trench (similar), Halogen shirt, Bric's suitcase

I also wanted to mention that my Sole Society Cassidy weekender bag (3 colors, bigger size "Lacie" sold here with metal feet) has finally been restocked! My default travel set shown above is the Bric�s carry-on and this weekender bag (love the neutral scheme with the two together), if Nick hasn�t claimed it first. The faux-leather has a decent weight to it so I usually transport it resting on top of my roller suitcase instead of on my shoulder.


I picked out these Sole Society sandals after seeing them on a fellow blogger, who mentioned they fit true to size and were comfy right off the bat (thanks, Fran!). They indeed required no breaking in for me, and have a fair amount of cushioning on the soles. The stones helped spruce up my most basic of airport outfits, without adding much weight to the shoe. Sizing felt true to size if not a little small, typical of Sole Society. I�m usually between a 5 and 5.5 in US shoes � got a 5 in these and probably could've gone up half, as the back of my foot is almost past the edge of the sandal. For T-straps like these, I think fit also depends on your toe length. Since I have shorter toes, you can see in the second photo there's still space in the front, which could be taken up by someone with the same shoe size but longer toes.
I walked in these shoes for around 3 miles the first day and am happy to report no comfort issues. Our first journey brought us to the beautiful Jardin Du Luxembourg, which was abuzz with visitors sun-tanning and enjoying picnics. We had hoped to have tapas at the nearby, popular L�Avant Comptoir but the line was wrapped around the corner. Will have to go back earlier another time!
After walking a bit more we came across Little Breizh, which filled our bellies with savory and sweet crepes the size of our heads. I�m in awe at how the French can enjoy copious amounts of cheese, bread and sweets while staying so fit!

From there it was an easy stroll along the Seine river. We stopped by the bridge full of love locks, not having had any idea that those locks (700,000 of them, estimated weighing ~ 45 tons) were being removed this weekend due to the weight and public safety concerns! We felt fortunate to have gotten a last glimpse.

Thank you to Sole Society for sponsoring this post! Can't wait to share more from our trip, including our charming apartment rental that I know a few of you expressed interested in.

Bag review: YSL Saint Laurent wallet on chain & Cassandre purse (in comparison to Chanel WOC)

Saint Laurent bag, Express shorts, Ann Taylor sweater c/o, Ray Ban sunglasses

BP wedges (runs small), Kate Spade watch

I've gotten lots of questions about this Saint Laurent wallet on chain in caviar leather, and had been waiting to use it more before doing a formal review. Long story short, I�m in love with it and find it to be both beautiful and more importantly, super functional! 
My Chanel caviar wallet on chain is one of my top three favorite bags in my entire wardrobe, so I was thrilled to find a similar functional, convertible purse in a different color scheme. For all my trips this year I've been packing this one with me - it serves well as a cross-body for casual wear (above) and clutch for more formal events (ie. here), all in one.

Left: Saint Laurent wallet on chain - in 6 classic colors (mine is called light rose or pale blush)
Right: Chanel wallet on chain (not sold online)

The leather of the Saint Laurent is a pebbled textured caviar leather that feels sturdy, and is very easy to wipe clean. I take this bag everywhere and have had a few mishaps with food and drink, but thankfully everything has wiped right off. The interior of the bag has plenty of little details for organization, very similar to the inside of the Chanel WOC....
There are slots for over 20 cards, a larger pocket behind the back row of card slots, another larger pocket that my lower thumb is holding shut by accident, and a small zippered compartment. The chain strap is removable and snaps on and off. In comparison, the Chanel WOC strap does not come off so I just tuck it inside when using it as a clutch. Being able to remove it vs. having to tuck in is a nice option to have, when every little bit of interior space is valuable!

I usually carry the following inside: phone, keys, coins, bunch of cards, sunglasses (only case-less or very slim cases like the Ray Ban ones will fit), and makeup essentials like eyeliner, lip balm, and concealer.
Although the measurement of the Saint Laruent bag is notably bigger at 9" length x 6" height, it turns out the Chanel WOC does expand quite a bit in depth and can possibly fit the same amount of items. I have never carried sunglasses in my WOC bag though - I don't like expanding the bag quite so much as I'm afraid the snap button will pop open.

This brings me to my one and only complaint about the Saint Laurent bag - when the top is closed, there is a tiny gap which you can see below right where the chain comes in and out. Although it hasn't happened to me, I feel like small objects like a pen or eyeliner could potentially fall through. Hence I always keep important small things like keys in the zippered compartment.

Back view:

Here's how it looks with the chain detached:

Another thing I love about the Saint Laurent bag is the length of the chain strap is very petite-friendly! See how it compares to the Chanel WOC, for which I always have to tuck an extra length of the strap inside the flap of the purse. The Saint Laurent strap drop length measures approximately 19 inches.

I hope you guys found this review helpful! Let me know if you have any questions. By the way, Instagram friends know that I actually bought a different bag first - the Cassandre medium with tassel:

Be still my heart, I still find this to be an absolutely gorgeous and classic purse, down to the clean design and vintage YSL-inspired tassel. I had been looking everywhere for it and ended up having it shipped from a Saint Laurent store in PA. (Big FYI, their brick & mortar store policies are completely different than their online ones. They charge for shipping, and I was surprised to see on my receipt that there are no refunds - only store credit for returns within 10 days). However, upon careful inspection I noticed the bag arrived with scratches already on the calfskin. I felt that with my klutzy habits, this poor bag would be completely stained and scratched up in no time. I was able to return it despite the stringent store policy, due to it arriving damaged. It all worked out for the better because the caviar one is definitely the one for me, but I just wanted to share about the Cassandre for those interested!

ASOS petite lace dress review + Dune jeweled sandals

**Update: my favorite lace dress below has just been restocked in all sizes!**

ASOS is one of my go-to brands for items that fit without alterations, plus they offer free international shipping for orders over $40 & free returns which is awesome. Quality can be hit or miss and sizing can be tricky (can run 1-2 sizes small compared to American brands). What adds to the confusion is ASOS sells both their in-house brand (ASOS regular, petites, tall, plus, etc), as well as tons of other brands, so sizing and quality will differ across all of these brands. However, when you do find winners, they tend to be gems that you won't see on everyone else.

ASOS petites lace dress, Saint Laurent bag (light rose), Steve Madden heels

Instagram friends have already seen this lace dress, which is one of my favorite pieces ever from ASOS...
I'm wearing a US size 1 and it fits like a glove (every time I see the word "bodycon" I automatically order a size up than I would for other ASOS items). For fit reference, my measurements are 32-24-32 with a 30A-32A bust size. It feels smaller than a 00 petite in American brands and similar to an H&M size 2. Here are a few other adorable dress options available in all petite sizing:

Another department I love at ASOS is their swimwear - I have never seen such an extensive array of sizing, starting at 30A to 30H (look for the styles labeled "fuller bust")! The best way to navigate the selection is to filter for your size on the left hand navigation bar. I have one of their bikinis in 32A which fit great (UPDATE: see my ASOS swim review).

Lastly, I recently discovered a British shoe brand, Dune, and am in love with my jeweled sandals. The crystals aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I must've gotten a dozen compliments and inquiries the day I broke these out. I initially discovered this brand out at an industry conference and thought the products on display were nice quality. You can find these same shoes on their website in a number of colors (just type "Harah" in their site search box - the international language conversion doesn't allow me to link to the specific product). Unfortunately for small-footed ladies, the smallest size they make is a EUR36 which they say translates into a US 5, but I do find that it fits more like a US 6 or generous 5.5. These are a little loose on me, not bad because I usually straddle 5-5.5, but would be too roomy for someone who is a true size 5. Shipping from Dune's website is $5 which is really pretty good for international. I also wanted to mention that ASOS carries a few of their styles, including a version of these sandals in a taller heel and patent leather.

Soft pink + florals: ASOS petites fit and flare dress

True Decadence petites dress sold at ASOS (runs small)

Steve Madden sandals in "blush patent" (review), Saint Laurent wallet on chain

Kate Spade watch, Ray-Ban sunglasses in gold/brown (nose pads self-adjusted)

I saw this dress pop up months ago on asos.com and kept coming back to it. The shorter length and lower neckline are undoubtedly a little �young� compared to what I typically wear. Also, I find it very hard to gauge materials when online shopping, and thought the floral print material of this dress in-person could either be stunning or be like grandma's curtains. Nevertheless I ended up ordering it, and am happy to report it�s a gorgeous, textured material (wish it came through more clearly in photos!). It feels and looks high quality in my opinion, and the construction is also well thought out with a built-in tulle layer to keep the skirt�s shape. Not to mention, the silhouette is very fun and feminine. Just while taking these photos, I were stopped three times by strangers asking where they could get this dress, so it�s definitely a conversation piece!

Fit & sizing: I�m wearing a 0 petite (no alterations) which I would say runs 1 to 2 sizes smaller than American petite brands...

For reference, I typically buy 00P in LOFT/AT dresses and alter the torso, however this dress was a snug fit without much give. As you can see, the neckline is on the lower side, however not as low as this Asos dress I reviewed here. I feel a benefit of having a smaller chest is that lower necklines such as this don�t look as scandalous. I wouldn�t recommend this dress for those who are curvier at the bust. The chest area is cut snug and the material doesn�t stretch � a 0P had no room to give on my 30a bust. The waistline of this dress is also on the higher side. It hit around my natural waist, but may be too high on someone a few inches taller. The sizing for ASOS� brands is tough to nail down, but they at least offer free shipping & easy free returns which is pretty awesome for an overseas retailer.

Measurements of a 0 petite: 14.5" across the armpits, 12.5" across the waist, 31" length.

Material: Non-stretch, linen-like poly textured fabric that doesn't wrinkle much. I had this dress pretty much crushed in a small carry-on suitcase, and it popped back to life with the tulle petticoat and was pretty much wrinkle-free. It's fully lined in 100% cotton.

^ tulle half "petticoat"

I also thought the pieced construction was a sign of quality. This gives the dress nice curvature and helps it taper more closely against your body before flaring out. Back when I took sewing lessons, I was always much too lazy to make a dress involving cutting out and sewing together so many pieced panels!

PS - I recently made my Snapchat stories public to share some fashion snippets (like a behind-the-scenes clip from this photoshoot) and also Nick & my daily shenanigans. Feel free to find me there @extrapetite ! For those who aren't familiar with Snapchat stories yet, each snap or video expires in 24 hours so I check in to view my favorites at least once a day!

Ann Taylor dotted shirt + swingy striped skirt

Ann Taylor embroidered shirt, Chicwish skirt sz XS (shortened - pls read review)

Steve Madden sandals, Saint Laurent wallet on chain (in light rose/pink), Hermes belt

I love my share of drapey blouses, but sometimes nothing feels more classic than a crisp white button-up. There's so many options on the market today in slim fits and with feminine details - a far cry from the masculine, boxy shirts that haunted me when I first started working.

I went into Ann Taylor recently looking for a tipped shirt, but ended up finding this cute dotted one instead. You can't tell in the photos, but all of the dots are embroidered rather than printed, which is a nice touch of quality. The fabric is 97% cotton, 3% spandex which is also a pleasant surprise in today's world of synthetic materials.

These Steve Madden "Stecy" heels are my new favorite sandals, but are not for prolonged standing/walking given the heel height and strappy-ness. I have a detailed review in the works about how these compare to a few other similar styles I tried, but wanted to share before small sizes were gone. I'm wearing the blush patent in size 5.5, and would say they run true to size with a pretty narrow footbed. A close contender for me was the Vince Camuto "Court" sandal in beige which was more walkable/comfortable, but alas I wanted something higher with thinner straps.

I also have a review coming up about this Saint Laurent wallet on chain (so many color options!) - a new buddy for my beloved Chanel one. Some of you may have seen a slightly different version of this bag on my Instagram - long story short, that one was in calfskin and upon closer inspection, was shipped to me with several scratches on it already. I sadly realized the material would be too high-maintenance for my lifestyle, so I exchanged it for a version in durable caviar leather which I'm now in love with.

View from the back:

FYI, I took this shirt in size 00 petite with no alterations needed. Ann Taylor has an entire line of button-ups titled "perfect shirts" that come in petites, which should fit consistently. This one also looks cute with ripped jeans for the weekend, or a basic pencil skirt pairing for more conservative offices: