This comfy sweater poncho has gotten its fair share of wear from me this season! I know a few of you have it as well, so I'd love to hear how you've been styling it. I usually do my basic striped tee underneath, but have been liking chambray too with the sleeves exposed and cuffed. My only complaint is I can't wear anything over this other than my cape coat (not pictured) due to the connected sleeves...but that's a poncho for ya, I guess! Just a quick post today on this short but hectic week. We're excited to relax a bit tomorrow at a "post-holiday" holiday party (really the best kind of holiday party). Hope you all have a great weekend, and DC-area friends, hope you're getting ready to hunker down with lots of wine stocked up!
This is the first year we've had a tree up in our condo - Nick would only allow me a short and skinny one, but it sure beats nothing! Since our space is so small, I went with a light, metallic color scheme to keep it feeling open. One of my favorite memories growing up was unwrapping our family's ornaments each December and reminiscing where each one came from (usually the day-after-xmas clearance sale at our local mall, but they were fond memories nonetheless ; ). We have just a handful of meaningful ornaments on our own tree this year, but I look forward to slowly growing this collection, and trying my hand at some of these neat DIYs!
Pendleton plaid mug, Reiko Kaneko gold lip mug
These marshmallow snowmen are so easy to make (with kids too) to spruce up your hot cocoa. I flattened one piece a little for a larger body and then used two toothpicks, one to connect the segments and one for the arms.
We hosted a small gag gift exchange with friends so I pushed our large coffee table aside and lined our living room space with cozy cushions and throw blankets. My affordable Threshold cable throw & BNF pom pom throw are so soft and comfortable! I'm a bit of a blanket hoarder so also splurged on this Hotel Collection pom pomone (would make a great gift as well) which is super substantial and plush, and about a foot bigger than my other ones. I love switching up pillow covers as an easy way to transition the couch from season to season. They are easy to make as well, if you can find the right materials. I wish more stores would offer just the outer covers instead of full pillows, for those who don't have much storage space!
Hello hello ~ ending the week here with this easy pairing of a long tunic over slim jeans. This soft top with handkerchief hem is a loose casual fit on me in xs, great for lounging comfortably in at home (or on long plane rides) over leggings. My Cole Haan Marina boots are all sold out, but I wanted to mention the below-the-knee "Barnard" version again, currently on sale for 40% off. I haven't tried this on personally, but reading through the reviews it sounds very petite-friendly! The lower shaft & heel height makes them potentially work appropriate, unlike OTK boots. One shopper who gave a rave review mentioned she is 5 feet tall with narrow 12" calves, and the boot in size 5.5 hit about 1 inch below the back of her knees.
Unrelated restock alert, the bow-back dress I posted about previously is now back up in a new pink color, available in all sizes! You can read my post here including the measurements of an XS, which I found to be pretty petite-friendly off the rack. Nordstrom is also having a sunglasses sale, with markdowns or price-matching on several designer styles! In addition to my 51mm Clubmasters worn above and my 58mm aviators, here's a few other options currently on sale:
If you're unfamiliar with sunglasses measurements, the three dimensions represent "lens width - nose bridge width - temple length." My biggest sunglasses fit issue is my flatter nose bridge, so personally prefer either styles with a narrower bridge width (usually 20mm or below), or, styles with adjustable nose pads like most Ray-Bans where I can manually bend the nose pads closer. I used to have several pairs of sunglasses that sat lower on my nose and rested on my cheeks - I thought this was normal until a friend told me that cheek resting was a clear sign of improper fit! Width wise, I don't mind my lenses a little over-sized, so have shades ranging in lens widths of 51 to 58mm. Hope you guys have a great weekend ~ Nick and I will be scrambling to get our holiday shopping done, and attending a few last festivities before heading out to warmth on the West coast! Thank you to Nordstrom sunglasses for partnering on this post.
For today's post I wanted to share an updated hair curling tutorial, and also answer some of your questions on eyelash extensions (scroll down below)! After experimenting quite a bit with hair curling over the years, this video shows my current routine for my everyday hair. And for special occasions, I've been too lazy for updos lately so usually just secure curled hair off to the side and add some "poof" up top. What I forgot to mention in the video is that as an alternative look after bobby-pinning the top poof, you can twist all the curled hair into a low side bun and secure with spin pins to get the simple look I wore here - I like that one to show off garments with special back detailing. I'm using a clamp-less ceramic curling wand (I have the bigger 1 to 1.5" one) because I can't seem to work clamps without leaving crimps in my hair. However, it's a little easier to burn yourself with clamp-less since one hand gets close to the hot barrel (beginners, please be careful and take your time!). Amongst the sea of iron choices, I find that ceramic barrels make a difference and leave my hair visibly shinier than when using metal barrels. I got my very affordable one after reading tons of positive reviews, and have been pretty happy with it thus far! I use a 400 degree heat setting for my thick hair, but definitely recommend starting out lower, especially if you have fine hair. I usually use drugstore shampoo + conditioner but do splurge on repair / conditioning treatments like this Shu Uemura one, because I feel like I put my hair through so much with regular high heat styling. Onto the fun topic of lash extensions...after seeing them so often on others (usually identified by gorgeous lashes that look a little too natural too be falsies but a little too striking to be natural), I finally decided to try them out earlier this year. The biggest factor holding me back over the past few years was the fear that they'd damage my real lashes. They also cost a pretty penny - most places I researched in Boston started at $200 to 250+ for an initial full set, with refills at $80-100 every 2-3 weeks. However, I value every minute of sleep in the mornings and it takes me ages to do my lashes, so the convenience and effort saved for me is worth it. It could also be a good option scheduled strategically before a slew of special events, parties, or for a wedding. I've gotten several questions about my "falsies" lately, so figured I'd share some more thoughts on the process!
Before (top) & After (bottom) lash extensions
Some of my lessons learned in the process: - The state of your natural lashes will largely dictate how full your extensions can look, since extensions can only be attached to existing lashes. They don't have the same drama as falsies on me, but achieve a look that regular curling and mascara could never get to on my natural lashes. It feels amazing being able to roll out of bed and apply minimal makeup before leaving the house.
- I found this article to be very helpful about the different curvatures, lengths, and widths of lash extensions. My first visit, I didn't know what to ask for so requested shorter extensions (pictured above) but I started getting them a tad longer on the outer half. The biggest difference for me is in the profile view, which I unfortunately don't have a comparison pic of. My natural lashes are stick-straight, short and downward pointing, whereas the extensions are perpetually in an upward curl which look nice from the side.
- Most of the cost is for your technician's time and likely not the lashes themselves. The process is pretty painstaking with 1 extension being adhered to each individual lash. If you get the newer "volume" or Russian-style lashes (lighter and fluffier), they can supposedly apply three or more to 1 lash which will look fuller but take more time & cost. My first full set took about 2 hours and refills are about an hour.
- They're probably not worth getting if you like to regularly take steamy hot showers (may loosen the adhesive) or sleep with your face buried in a pillow. Many a days I've woken up face-down and mourned some smooshed lashes.
- As your natural lashes grow, the extensions will grow with them and get a little longer in the weeks after being applied. When applied right, they should feel just like your natural lashes and not be painful or heavy.
- Lash appointments are the perfect excuse to unwind in the middle of a busy day because your eyes have to stay shut ; ) I used to doze off, jerky leg twitch and all, and embarassingly pretend like I was "stretching." Now I just give in, bid my technician goodnight and enjoy the powernap!
For Boston-area ladies, I've been going to Lash L'Amour on Newbury & in Newton after doing lots of research and Yelp reading. I've been very happy with their service and clean facilities so far. Their prices -albeit not low- are on the lower end of several places I looked into nearby, and a little bonus is they have a free touchup service 1 week after any full set if you want adjustments to be made. They also have a refer-a-friend program, so you can tell them I referred you to get 25% off a first set (I'll get a discount as well on my next appt).
To be honest, I'm still not certain about whether extensions are damaging to natural lashes. I agree with the article above that it likely depends a lot on the care and finesse with which extensions are applied and glued on, not to mention your own maintenance of them. I personally love how they look and the convenience, but am currently taking a break from more refills just to let my natural lashes rest a while before starting up again.
Continuing the what to wear series, today I'm answering the popular question of what to wear to a vineyard wedding or event. Napa must be quite the spot, and no wonder, it's so scenic there! Since vineyard events are usually at least partially outdoors against lush greenery or gardens, I would start by choosing something flowy and romantic vs structured or tight. A maxi or knee-length dress in soft printed fabric, silk or chiffon should work perfectly. As temps may drop quite a bit in the evenings there, bring a cropped jacket or a wrap to drape around your shoulders. Also, if any part of the event will be on grass, I'd recommend wedges instead of heels unless you enjoy aerating the lawn! I was just visiting for the weekend so had my large tote bag with me, and would definitely suggest a clutch bag instead for a special event. This Hei Hei faux leather jacket was recommended by a petite friend of mine, and seems to be rather popular based on the customer reviews. The fit is slightly cropped and narrow, a snug fit on me in my usual size. I wore it for the Anthropologie event in San Francisco where I had an amazing time meeting and getting to know some of you! I only wish there was more time to chat with everyone who kindly took the time to come. Speaking of Anthro, I just saw they are having a rare 25% off all dresses and free shipping over $150 for a limited time w/ code HURRAH. The Byron Lars Carissima dress I picked out for the event is very petite-friendly and romantic in design. It comes in 3 colors and is of beautiful quality (scroll down for detailed photos). For dressier occasions, ,y other pick is this stunning embellished long dress by Moulinette Soeurs which starts in size 00p. I have a frock by this brand that is also great quality which I wear repeatedly...would've gotten this if I didn't already have a too similar blue & white maxi. The Carissimadress is one of Anthro's perennial favorites which they have in stock year after year. I liked reading through the online reviews and seeing how it fits on different body types / sizes. I'm wearing a 00p with no alterations needed! It's hard to tell just looking at it, but there is a tan camisole dress slip lining the entire dress except at the neckline and sleeves. The base material is stretchy, sturdy and of a thicker weight. There's lots of mixed textures in the design including lace, crochet, ribbon, and a twill-like fabric. Everything was finished with care, such as with reinforcements at the hem and zipper. Tip: I did have an issue with the front hook-and-eye closures coming undone (quite a surprise the first time I wore it!), but it was an easy fix. Simply use jewelry pliers or tweezers to compress the hooks tighter (after hooking into the eye) for the ones that you want to be securely closed. There is a back zipper entry so you don't actually need the hooks for functionality! I did this for the hooks from the chest down to about mid thigh, since I liked a little leg slit opening.
And here's a few other flowy options that'd be beautiful for attending a vineyard wedding! (tho I would do neutral sandals instead of stark black booties with the third dress...what odd styling!)
I'm a big fan of the fit and quality of Stuart Weitzman OTK boots, but wanted to share some lower-priced alternatives as well. Ivanka Trump makes several styles each year similar to the popular SW Highland boot, with a stretch suede-y upper, almond toe and tapered block heel. I have a few pairs of shoes from this brand and find them to be pretty fair quality for the prices (these suede lace up flats are my new favorite as seen on me here - they were comfortable for me out of the box and high quality for the price).
Please note that some of the boots from this brand are real suede and some are a faux-suede fabric. Both are sold at similar price points so be sure to read the descriptions to avoid disappointment. The "Saffri" boot I'm reviewing today comes in 3 colors and is faux suede. Fit: I'm a 5-5.5 in most brands, and have a few styles of Ivanka Trump shoes where I'm a solid 5.5. The 5.5 in these were a good fit in the foot area, however the leg area was a little loose. With OTK boots I like the material to be pretty snug otherwise it can be prone to sliding down as you walk. However it's a challenge to find for narrow legs, and these are admittedly better than most brands I've tried. When worn over high socks (mine are these from ASOS) these did fit slightly more snug but still felt prone to sliding down. When worn over medium-weight jeans they fit better than the socks, but I'd want to be able to wear with skirts and dresses without slippage. I would expect shaft width to vary based on shoe size, so a size 5 should fit a little more snug throughout. Measurements of a 5.5: 4.5" across the ankle, 6.25" across the calf, 7" across the widest point at the thigh opening, heel is slanted ranging from 3.25-3.75" high, and the shaft height is also slanted ranging from 18.5 to 20.5" high (excluding heel).
Comfort: I didn't keep these so can't speak to comfort while walking, but they didn't pinch anywhere and blocked heel felt stable. I liked the inner zipper by the ankles because it makes getting the boots on easy, plus you can reach in and tug down at the ankle of pants to fix any bunching. However, as you can see in the upper right photo, the zipper can cause some bunching at that area if the fabric isn't stretched taut against your legs. Quality: I personally prefer a thicker, genuine suede to "suede-feel" fabric for something like boots which I expect to wear for years to come. For a fraction of the SW Highland price, the overall look and the outer side of the faux suede isn't bad but please note it is thin (about half the weight of the Highlands for reference). If you like the black option, check out the similar Surlia boot that's listed as genuine suede. UPDATE: A reader below mentioned that the Surlia is mis-listed and is actually fabric and not real suede like the website inidicates.
Happy Friday! I'm so excited to share I'll be hosting a style party at Anthropologie in San Francisco, on Thursday, November 12th from 6-8PM! There will be snacks, bubbly and of course shopping (the Union Square store has a sizable petites selection). I would absolutely love to meet some of you who live in the area. We were shooting in the park when this sweet pup ran out of nowhere and sat herself at my feet, posing for the camera. Nick took a few shots then stopped to check the photos, and she ran over and sat with him craning her neck. It was the funniest thing! Her owner finally caught up and said she loved to be in photos : ) This is my first time trying on Paige petite jeans - I don't see their jeans in petite sizing very often! This particular color and cut is a dark blue legging jeans with a higher-waisted top for "control," and the length was just right on someone my height for wearing with flats or heels (I cuffed the bottom up once with higher-top booties). The size 24P has a 26" inseam and my guess is the length will vary a bit with size. I wore my BP booties with this outfit but packed Hunters for the walk as it was so wet outside. A looser knit top and skinny bottoms has become my casualwear uniform as of late, as I'm sure you guys can tell. I thought this poncho sweater was adorable while in store and see that it's also available online in petites (although small sizes mostly gone). I had thought an XS regular was a good fit for a poncho, and even the sleeves hit right above the wrist on my short arms. The sweater is longer in the back than the front, and I envision the petites sizing to be a shrunken version overall for it to fit more like a regular sweater than a poncho/cape. I love the swingy shape of ponchos, but a downside that I learned is you can only wear a looser-sleeved or cape coat over it due to the connected underarm area.
Really looking forward to meeting some of you in San Fran! Would also love some food & to-do recommendations from SF locals!
Whenever we travel, scouting out and trying the best local eats is one of my top priorities. I'm constantly bookmarking / screenshotting yummy-looking places and badgering Nick to go a little out of our way sometimes for a bite. I wanted to share some of our favorite spots along the route of San Diego to Los Angeles from our trip last month, for anyone planning a visit. I would also LOVE some recommendations around those areas for our future visits!
Starting in San Deigo, we landed and made our way to Hammond's Gourmet Ice Cream. Move over, beer flights...this place has the cutest mini ice cream flights with your choice of sugar or house-made waffle cones. You can get singles or flights of 3, 4, 5...up to 32 for enthusiasts who want to try every flavor! I called up a local hungry friend who eagerly ditched work to help us polish this off. If you're having trouble narrowing down options, the Banana brownie storm, POG (pineapple orange guava) sorbet and thai iced tea were a few of our favorites. One thing Nick always misses from home are the tacos, so we make sure to get our fix whenever there. TJ Oyster Bar is a small chain outside of San Diego with delish seafood tacos and ceviche. I'm not even a big taco person but I loove the tasty octopus and garlic shrimp tacos (so many shrimp for the price!) here, and the fish or shrimp cevice - be sure to ask for extra tostadas for scooping it up. Kawamata Seafood - in Dana Point, CA right off the 5 freeway. I can't believe this was our first time trying poke bowls, a Hawaiian specialty. As an avid sushi and chirashi lover who usually spends a good 5 minutes at dinner cutting everything into bite-sized pieces, I felt like this dish was made for me. You get to choose from ahi tuna, salmon, octopus (or a mix) with a variety of sauces and add-on toppings, and white or brown rice. Soo good and felt light but filling. Boiling Point - Irvine, CA (also right off the 5 freeway) and multiple other locations around the US. We read there's usually long wait times but we went during a non-peak time and were seated right away. I'm the biggest hot pot enthusiast but this was the first time we tried it Taiwanese-style! I've never ordered hot pot with all of the ingredients coming out already stewing in the pot. For adventurous eaters, there are interesting, authentic items to choose from like stinky tofu (very palatable name, I know). I can't wait to try to Seattle location when visiting my brother. Brodard - almost 4,000 reviews on yelp say it all for their famed pork & shrimp spring rolls or nem nuong cuon. My friend Wendy first took me here for these (I had never seen her so enthusiastic about food!), which are apparently high in the ranks of Vietnamese comfort food. I can see a platter of these being the perfect late-night drinking food. Cafe Maji - two locations in Artesia or Arcadia, CA. Within a few moments of posting this on FB and IG several of you guys asked if this was a pregnancy announcement...rest assured no baby bear on the way, it was just the barista's choice that day : ) Everything looked amazing but the green tea latte and green tea/strawberry/red bean waffle were a little too sweet for us. We did however love the regular cappuccino and the tasty little cream puff it comes with. Looking forward to trying their other drinks and quesadillas next time. Mikawaya mochi - in Little Tokyo, LA. Home of the boxes of mochi sold at Trader Joe's. My mind was blown to see "mochilatos" on the menu...little glutinous rice balls stuffed with creamy gelato instead of regular ice cream. At $1 to $1.50 a pop, these are perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth after a ramen meal in the area.
Photos are all from my Instagram. As mentioned above, we visit every so often so I'd absolutely love more recommendations in the SD to LA areas!
Kate Spade licorice heels (similar for less in "gold"), DIY sequin clutch and sash
I hope those who celebrate had a very merry Christmas! I wore this out to Christmas Eve dinner in sunny San Diego (tried to dress it down beforehand with my denim jacket + navy Ferragamo flats) and it's been nothing but flannel PJs ever since. This is one of my favorite finds all year, and I only wish I got to try it on & post about it before sizes were gone in petites (might still be in a few stores). If you are taller, it's still left in regular sizing online plus I saw a few at local Anthro stores. I already did a quick review in a previous post, but the quality of this dress is beautiful in-person (thought it was good for the retail price, but especially great for the current sale price). The material of this dress is a heavier, substantial fabric with a slight sheen to the finish but is not shiny. It's fully lined with metal back zipper, and I loved the attention to detail on the interior too. If this is indicative of typical quality from Moulinette Soeurs (my first time trying the brand) then I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for their other styles in the future.
small details: scallop trim on the lining hem and the ribbon on the inside of the outer hem
I'm wearing my usual size (00 petite) which fit decently off the rack and was just a little long for my liking (hit me upper-calf). I know it's intended to be a midi-length style, but I got it hemmed to the knees and found it to be more proportionate on my shorter frame for balancing out the full bottom. The cut of the entire dress is very flattering with a swirly, multi-pieced bodice and skirt that follows body movement fluidly. Please note, tailors usually charge differently to hem regular straight skirts vs circle or fuller skirts, due to more material and/or more difficult curved seams to work with. My tailor charged $25, and I know he's on the low end as far as typical pricing goes. For styling, as mentioned in an earlier post I thought something at the waistline to break up the large pattern is key. I added my DIY sash to cinch that area (you can also try any sash that came with clothes, neckties, or gifts or use a large ribbon), and grabbed a sparkly sequin clutch made from an old shirt. I'll be posting a few easy DIY accessory projects before the new year, in case you need a little something to jazz up your NYE ensemble!
Thank you to Nordstrom sunglasses for partnering on this post.
