Showing posts with label Accessories. Show all posts

Flowy Lacey Dressy

Flowy white LOFT tulip back tank with lacey American Rag skater dress and green TNA parka Flowy white LOFT tulip back tank with lacey American Rag skater dress and green TNA parka

If someone told me a few years ago that I would 1. wear dresses more than just occasionally and 2. have not just short but also wavy hair, I would have called that person crazy.

No fabric to cover my body fat? No hair to hide my acne and scars? My security blankets gone?
Blasphemy!

Truth be told, my insecurities are far from going away. But I have been more open to try different things and be a little out of my comfort zone. Dresses? I am getting to be more comfortable in them after discovering the one thing I needed in conjunction with them. Hair? After years and years of long hair that would get oily very easily, a chop just feels so right and much easier to manage. The waves provides oomph and lift to my flat hair.

Hey, as the saying goes don't knock it 'til you try it.

Flowy white LOFT tulip back tank with lacey American Rag skater dress, green TNA parka, and strap up Birkenstock Yara sandals

Korean brand wayfarer sunglasses
Aritizia TNA outer layer of 2-piece parka (similar)
LOFT Tulip Back Tank (discontinued)
American Rag Lace Illusion Skater Dress in Pale Mauve
Birkenstock Yara Sandals
Rebecca Minkoff MAB Backpack in Black

Now I am no fashion blogger. The clothing I own and wear on a normal basis is kind of boring. Most of my closet consists of either what I feel most comfortable in and/or what I think looks nice. Sometimes those two traits coexist in one item, sometimes it's just one or the other. In this particular outfit, it is maybe 50-50? (66-33 to be more precise.)

The parka, sunglasses, sandals, and backpack fall into the comfy AND pretty category. These are items that I have worn time and time again since buying them. If anyone is interested in the cost per wear, I would estimate these to be in the cents range by now and they're all fairly new buys (i.e. within the last 2 years).

The tulip back tank and dress are both just pretty when they are their own. The tulip back on the tank top makes it breezy and flowy, but very revealing if not careful. The lacey skater dress is very form fitting on the top section and has a sheer mid-section, which I love, but with my recent weight gain made me feel even more self-conscious. Since buying both of these items, I have probably only worn both once or twice max. So what is my solution? Pair the two together! The dress covers my back so I didn't have to worry about any risqué exposure and the tank perfectly covers my belly area. It is a win-win situation.

Wavy lob - Back view

Rebecca Minkoff MAB Backpack in Black

While, what seems like, everyone I know is starting or growing their handbag collection, I am kind of regressing back into the backpack stage. Backpacks can safely hang on both shoulders and can hold a ton of stuff. They're the best thing to keep the mind at ease and hands free. What's not to like?

I was searching for the perfect black backpack after using the Jansport backpack for a while. Just something different for a change. Maybe one where cool meets practicality. There are tons of leather and faux leather bags on the market. But of the inexpensive ones, it seems like everyone has the same one or the quality is subpar. I definitely never took the plunge to buy any designer ones because I didn't really love any particular one and of course the price.

Somehow, sometime last year, while diving into the deep corners of internet shopping, I found it: Rebecca Minkoff's M.A.B. Backpack. At the time it wasn't one of their styles that was heavily promoted. I think most shoppers are more into their satchels and little cross-body bags. I actually fell in love with the brand after getting their M.A.C. cross body. But for me, at that point in time, I felt like I found a gem with the backpack. Simple but unique, fashionable but functional.

Of course, Rebecca Minkoff is affordable compared to names like LV, Prada, etc. But it is still high-end/luxury for me. I looked through so many sites and scoured their sample sale multiple times until I found the best deal. It was a combination of an eBags holiday/anniversary discount and ebates cash back. Oh the feeling of when patience and persistence pays off.

Wavy lob - Side view

A little side note. We are finally seeing some sun in NYC after almost 2 full weeks of gloomy skies and wetness! Rainy days are just not my thing. I think it is safe to say that the sunshine was very much welcomed throughout the city, especially since it was Mother's Day yesterday. Nothing like good weather, a day of appreciation, and great eats to start the new week right.

Light Teal & Black

It is really bad of me to be typing this right now. (I have two papers due tomorrow night...) But after trying on an AE dress that arrived in the mail today and not liking it, I got distracted with ideas on how I could pair the skirt that I bought recently from Forever 21. I was so excited that I ended up taking some photos instead. Plus if I don't type this now, it will probably stay in Draft mode until next month/year, yikes!

Being productive for the blog & procrastinating school work. What great time management I have huh?
Fear not! Those assignments shall be done overnight; that is just how I operate...crunch time!!

------------------------------------------------------------

I haven't worn skirts or dresses much since I was in the single digits. But I have been more willing to try them lately. I think the last time I wore a skirt was for my middle school graduation ceremony. The last time I dressed up was for high school prom and graduation. Time is really flying, as cliche as that is, my first semester as a college Junior is already close to an end!

I really liked the fit and style of this particular skirt but only found it in black at the store.
I only have this one pair of tights, that are also black.
& I got the black booties a while back for when(ever) I decided to wear dresses/skirts.
Since everything on the bottom half is such a dark color, pairing a lighter top makes a lot of sense.

The sweater top makes this outfit a bit more casual & probably would be even more so if sans the tights. But it is getting colder here in NYC. Plus, I am self-conscious of wearing skirts in general and this skirt looks better when worn waist-high versus hip-high.

AEO Factory Slouchy Crew Sweater - Ocean View
Forever 21 Love 21 Skirt
Uniqlo Tights
Steve Madden Remingtn Bootie - Black Nubuck

Left           Right
All F21 bracelets & bangles           Bulova watch
          Handmade bracelet
Even though this is a more casual look, it still seems more like a special occasions type of outfit. (Occasions that don't exist for me yet anytime soon.)

Are there ways that I could dress this skirt down even more? Or skirts in general...
Unless I am not being open enough to the possibilities? What do you think?

Spikes



This bracelet is different from others that I made. Those had a pulling closure whereas this time around I added a toggle clasp. I think I much prefer this because I can easily put the bracelet on with one hand. But it also looks a lot less like a bracelet for a child, right? Or maybe that's just me...

I am very surprised at myself for still being interested in making bracelets after taking a semester long break. In fact, I was constantly itching to visit the bead store even when I was very preoccupied with school work. Maybe this means something? Who knows, but I do know that it has become the hobby that I'm most interested in recently. With my personality, I am probably going to be a little obsessed with this hobby for a while. (Hopefully it isn't one of my "three-minute hotness" interests.) However, since I make them only for myself right now, it is becoming a rather expensive hobby to continue with. I think I need either find a job or to start selling what I make. What do you think?

My Unofficial Christmas Present

Perhaps this is an Asian or Chinese thing, especially for non-religious families, but mine was never big on the whole buying presents specifically for the holidays, wrapping them up, and gifting it to others deal. In fact, we don't gift for birthdays, mothers' day, fathers' day or any other celebratory day that involves presents. However, this doesn't mean I wasn't bought things either. They were just never officially called a present. (I hope that made some sense...) My family always just buys things for each other randomly and casually implies that it's a present. Usually, it is because there is a sale.

It's really amusing when I shop with mom. I like to think I am (for the most part) a wise spender. Usually, I like to think things through, look at the prices, see if there are sales, try and retry clothes a billion times before I finally make a decision. Sometimes I do make impulsive decisions here and there. But I think I know where I get that trait from. Mom would say one thing and then do another. For instance, I mentioned once or twice a few months ago that I'd like to buy a watch. She told me I didn't need one and that they're too expensive. Fast forward, day after Christmas, she not only doesn't pull me away from looking at what I can't afford but encourages me to try them even if I don't buy it. She said, "who cares...you're just trying it on!" In the end, she even bought me the watch that I was eyeing. Hence the title. She never said "this will be your Christmas present," but I feel that because of how special and expensive it is, it might as well be considered one. During the whole time by the Watches department, I felt like a mom the whole time trying to dissuade her from buying things we didn't really need (she was also contemplating a watch for herself). Would anyone believe me if I say this is how most of our shopping trips go, especially for costlier items like jackets, electronics, and such? But that's what makes shopping with mom interesting. I actually learned a lot about my mom's tastes and shopping habits these last few years than I ever have.



I was completely surprised by her decision because of the price tag. My original brand choice for a watch was Michael Kors since everyone seemed to be getting it. Whenever I went to the store, I just never got the I LOVE IT feeling for any particular style. Plus, from what I've seen Michael Kors watches never goes on sale. Even though I had many chances to order from Bloomies with a discount, I of course always talked myself out of it. While mom was by the Citizen counter, I saw this Bulova watch that I just couldn't walk away from. I think a big reason for mom's easy decision was because the watch was actually on sale. It was originally $375, Macy's had a 20% off sale that day for the brand, and then we ended up having an extra 10% since my mom used her Macy's card. The watch came out to be $270 (before tax).




It's difficult to see from the photos (sorry!) but the two-toned colors are actually silver & rose-gold, not silver & gold. I tried both this and the all rose-gold version but ultimately decided on this one. The main reason was because rose-gold is difficult to match bracelets with. The second reason being rose-gold is a trendy color that I'm afraid would go out of style. Since this is a pretty big 'present' and investment, I definitely want to be able to wear this for a long long long time.


Before trying this watch, I also tried on a few Fossil watches. I ended up liking this more because of the smaller clasp and more links. I think gives a bit more flexibility.


I didn't even notice this small detail until I took photos. It's a great touch! Although, I hope it doesn't fall out easily. That would be a nightmare.




The watch was definitely way too big for me. I thought they only took off 3 links total but it seems like it was actually 4. Now it fits around my wrist just right with a little bit of wiggle room.


Now I'll be able to tell the time without having to bust out my phone all the time. Onward with the task of adjusting to reading a watch quickly! Safe to say, this will be the only watch I will need for a good many years to come. Are there any tips on how to care for a watch? How long do the batteries usually last? On a nosier note, how are your shopping experiences with your parents (or friends)?

Handmade Bracelets

I am the type of person who gets intrigued by things very easily. Sometimes it'll amount to something. Other times it just becomes another one of those "I wish I knew how to do that" moments and then it gets thrown into the back burner. Even when I do pick something up, there's not a guarantee that I will stay interested in it for a long time. As terrible as that sounds, I'm sure I'm not the only one who experienced this from time to time...right?

Recently, I have had such an itch to make my own bracelets. But with school and all, I rarely had the time to sit and even enjoy dramas and TV like I used to...let alone make bracelets. However, I was able to find a little time every now and again in these last couple of months to make a few bracelets to give away to you guys! There's still plenty of time to enter if you haven't already. Click HERE!! *I think my hands are bigger than average, so I used them as a guide. I hope these will fit whoever the winner is!!*

Here are some of the trendier and more unique designs that I put together.

At first, this cross bracelet wasn't going to be made with a leather cord or a pre-made closure. But I found that regular cotton cord knotting technique I had in mind would make the bracelet too flimsy. Hence another trip to the bead store was needed. But I actually like the final result a lot more than I originally imagined. This is the first time I'm experimenting with magnetic clasps. I haven't bought any bracelets which used such a contraption. I think that the idea is quite genius. Sometimes it's just very difficult to try and handle putting on bracelets by yourself, no? (At least I have that problem every now and again.) I cannot say how well the magnet will be in the long run though...


I used the same macrame knotting technique for the next two bracelets. It's great how many [sort of] different designs you can get with just one technique.

I actually ruined this fish bracelet. It originally had two beads to make it easier to loosen and tighten the bracelet. But...I bought beads that were cubes and copper in color. I ended up not liking the finished results at all. So I chose to remove them altogether. Now the bracelet fits very snug at its maximum length and it isn't the easiest to adjust the bracelet closure. I'm so sorry!

My most proud design. To be honest, I'm not very much into skulls anything. But it has been trending a lot in the fashion world so I thought you guys wouldn't mind as much as I did. After I put everything together, my mind completely changed. I LOVE this one the most. Usually, I end up making my bracelets just a little too small or a little too big. But surprisingly, this one is the perfect size and the closure is the perfect length. I am considering making one for myself. (Let's hope when that happens, it'll be just as good as this one was!)


Since I only buy enough material to make one bracelet each time I visit the bead store, things really started to add up. Maybe I'll invest in a whole roll of cord so it is more cost efficient? If that happens, are there any colors you guys would suggest I get? (Of course, this is assuming my interest in DIY bracelet making lasts for a long while.)

Recent (Justifiable) Splurges

Before anyone moves forward with reading the rest of this post, I am fully aware of how much I spent on just these two items alone. But as the title says...I can justify them! Let me share...

I received an e-mail from Racked NY's report on the Rebecca Minkoff Sample Sale on Monday and thought nothing of it. I always wanted a cute designer bag that I could call my own, but I never actually looked into it any further because of their prices. You know, those "ah I wish I had that, but can't afford it" moments!

Out of curiosity I asked Bestie C (who is a huge coupon user and recently bought a Mini MAC on sale from Bloomies) how much she was able to get her bag for and also told her I wanted to go Friday (the second to last sale day) to just "see" for myself. But after she made a pitstop at the sale Tuesday and told me her report, I had a sudden urge to go ASAP. Which is exactly what I did.

I literally spent 2 hours (more or less) there Wednesday, pacing around the MAC area/samples area/one particular mirror trying to make up my mind. (Luckily I didn't have to wait on a line to get inside.) Right when I walked in, I was overwhelmed by all the colorful and different textured MAC's/MAC Daddy's/Mini MAC's. Yet nothing really caught my eye. There were a few purples that looked nice but nothing that I was really attached to. Nothing 'calling my name'. For now, my logic toward expensive bags is I'd prefer a safe colored (black, brown, tan, navy, etc.) bag that I can continue to use for a long time as opposed to a louder color and/or bolder design bag that can fall in/out of trends.


Maybe half an hour or so after I went inside, I held onto a magenta/purple MAC and dug around the samples table. (This was really one huge mess; at least the other tables were regularly reorganized.) I finally found a brown MAC! I was thrilled. I LOVED the studded look. But then I noticed the strap was a completely different color than the bag, it was missing a dust bag, and the strap's hardware was a shiny silver versus the bag's hardware which was more of a darker matte silver. EEKK! After some inquiring, I was told it's still being sold as is for $175 since it didn't have a pink sample tag on it. I didn't know what to do...If I was to spend $175 for a bag (even if it is heavily discounted), I should really love it. Plus, if I did get it and others do notice the discrepancies they would probably think I'm carry around a fake...no?

So I spent the next one and a half hours deciding. Pretending to look at things at the tables. Then walked back to the mirror to try to make a decision. I overheard one of the staff say he was going downstairs to check if there were more MACs, so I stuck around for a while longer. Every now and again, I saw a new color on the tables. I spotted and liked a mint colored M.A.C. that they put out (I only saw 1 of this) but again not the color I really wanted.

Rebecca Minkoff M.A.C. Clutch in brown with gold hardware

Then toward my second hour inside, I saw this! I don't think I could have been any happier...It was just sitting there, still with it's straps and hardware wrapped up. I immediately speed-walked (sped-walked?) to it and grabbed it. Being indecisive actually paid off for once...! That's a first and probably the last hah. I was still pretty conflicted though. But after bombarding Bestie C with texts and e-mails, her input steered me toward this one. I cannot thank her enough because secretly I thought this was the better choice...even if I did really like the studded detailing of the other.





This is the only flaw I found on it. I'm not even sure what it is. Perhaps a glue residue of some sort? Nothing too heartbreaking, of course.
Justification for the bag?
  • Retail Price: $295
  • Sample Sale Price: $175
--------------------

I ordered this lens from Best Buy the Wednesday (11/7) before the Big Bang concert with intentions of using it during the concert. I love that Best Buy has a pick-up option, which saves on shipping fees and time. But I was very disappointed by their service. I picked a store very close to where I live thinking I could pick the lens up the next day because that is what they had estimated on their website. However, I never received the "You can pick up your order now" e-mail the next day; only to later find out by myself through Google and Facebook that the location I chose was "closed indefinitely" due to Hurricane Sandy. I completely understand why they were closed and I guess I should have known better. But BestBuy.com could have at least said something on their website or stopped me from picking the store to begin with. Don't you think so?

Friday night (after the concert), I saw their 'Order Canceled' e-mail citing a system error. Since I was afraid that I would miss the sale and that I might lose the Rewards dollars my mom let me use toward this lens, I reordered it right away. (I was still at Penn Station!) Luckily, the price was the same, I still had the Rewards money, and I was able to get free expedited shipping (thanks to my parents and their big purchases at Best Buy). *Funny thing, the following Saturday night I checked the Facebook of the store and they said they were opening Sunday! I think the term 'trolled' seems appropriate here...*

Fast forward Wednesday evening (same day I went to the Minkoff sale), I had a huge panic/mental breakdown when I thought my package was lost or shipped to the wrong address. That would have been a huge disaster! Especially since UPS didn't require a signature for such a small package. Thankfully, I happened to run into the UPS delivery man for my neighborhood and he assured me it was where he (literally) dropped it off.

Canon EF40mm f2.8 STM Pancake Lens


It looked quite a bit of researching before I decided to buy this. The price just made the decision that much easier. The only thing I was afraid of was that this newly released lens wouldn't fit my 'old' DSLR (T1i). Luckily, it fits just fine. Unlike my basic beginner lenses, that came with the package I bought my camera with, I had to give this lens a good turn for it to click into place. It looks so delicate, I was almost afraid to do it. Have a fixed focal length is very new to me and the (relatively) quiet autofocusing blew my mind! I can't wait to play with this as soon as I have the chance to. It also makes it so much more compact and light. I think it would definitely be a great family vacation lens, especially since I don't use a point and shoot camera anymore.
Justification for the lens?
  • Retail Price: $199.99
  • Sale Price: $149.99
  • After Additional Rewards Money: $119.99
Numbers speak for themselves, yeah?
Plus, I'm definitely going to get good usage out of both of these. I'll make sure of it! In the end it'll all be worth it. Needless to say, this is the last of my designer and big camera purchases for now. Must stop myself now before I really develop a problem and find myself in too much debt...heh :)

**I'm curious, do you guys mind reading these lengthy/wordy posts? and Does anyone find all these details unnecessary?**
***I'm still working on the Big Bang concert post! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about it.***

Cute things make the day better

These weather conditions have been all over the place lately. Last week the east coast had Hurricane Sandy to deal with and before even fully recovering from that, there another storm...snow this time. But still, cheers for the first snowfall we are having! (It's been too long. I won't be this cheerful about snow in a few days hah!) Ahh, the sudden changes in weather and temperature just make me feel uncomfortable. I wish the change this year was more gradual. Just before Sandy came I was still wearing my Toms look-a-likes around. Now even thick socks and sneakers aren't warm enough for my toes, maybe I need to wear UGG boots already... Cold weather + rain/snow/mush = not a very happy Mandy.

Since I don't feel like being outside much in this kind of weather, I couldn't do any eye-oogling/window shopping after I took my two (very hard stressful) midterms today. I was completely pooped from pulling an all-nighter trying to cram info for 2 classes into my brain and in addition, I sat in an exam rooms for 3+ hours all together...back to back... My mind was in all sorts of knots by the time I came home. After a quick nap, I remembered I forgot to share some cute yet functional items I bought from eBay recently. At least I can look at photos of things that'll make me happier :]

Before I get to the highlight of my eBay frenzy, here was the dud of the loot.




Faux Leather DSLR Digital Camera Bag Satchel Shoulder Bag M from vivi_leather on eBay

I'm not sure if this bag is still available for sale but I wouldn't recommend getting this bag anyway. At first, I came across photos of this bag from a Korea based shop and thought "I must get that! It looks too cute and would be great for non-pro/hobby photographers like me." But sadly the item wasn't listed there anymore (I don't know why it came up when I searched through). So I did some more browsing and found some China-based sellers and one HK seller (vivi_leather) with the same exact photos as the Korean seller's. I couldn't believe it! And of course...it was too good to be true. I picked the Hong Kong shop to hopefully avoid chances of getting an imitation product. I just didn't think that there were imitations of such little things like this too. Don't get me wrong, the seller is very nice and shipping was ridiculously quick considering it's coming from HK. I can't speak for all their other bags, but I just wasn't all too crazy with this particular one I that got.

This is a photo from the seller's listing. Just in this image alone shows discrepancies. The left photo is the same I saw in the Korean store (I'll dub this "original" for easier reference). The bottom right photo looks like it is VERY similar to the left. But the bag I got looks more like the top right photo. Call me picky but I really care about these things. Especially because this wasn't particularly a cheap bag price-wise (~$35). I did thoroughly inspect and compare all the photos both sellers posted before I decided to hit the Order button. But I must have missed the little details...
  • The overall structure of the bag I received is similar to the "official" photos. I was a little surprised by the size of the bag, but that is my fault for not pulling out a ruler to double-check. Definitely only big enough for a DSLR + standard basic beginner lens and maybe an extra battery or other small things. There's barely enough extra room for even a wallet. If I plan to go out and about I can't really go with just this bag. At least the camera is snug in there!...I guess?
  • The bag is closed by 2 magnetic clasps. Nothing too fancy. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Magnetic closures seem to be pretty popular for satchels with a flap. The problem was one of the clasps wasn't very strong at all. Just a slight tap and it would detach itself. Imagine what would happen if I was outside and it just came undone so easily?!
  • There was this separator included...that was made of literally just a piece of cloth with velcro attached on the edges. However, I'm not sure if it can even be called a separator. When it came, it was stuck to one side to look like a money/memory card slot (which doesn't work because there is no actual pocket created). Definitely not sturdy to be used as either the former or the latter...So I just took it out completely. Nice thought! (Not really...) To the fair, the "official" photos had a separator that looked more padded and seemed like it could actually be used as a true separator. Perhaps the people who made this were trying to copy all the details down to the last T.
  • If they were...then they missed one feature. The two latches are missing the metal tips. It would have been a nice touch. Plus, it would keep the edges from fraying.
I hate it when impulse buys don't live up to my expectations. I'm still going to make good use of it. It would be too expensive to send back to HK so that wasn't really an option. I just hope that it'll last longer than I think it will. For now, at least I have a smaller camera bag dedicated just for my beloved DSLR.

****************

Anyway! Enough with my rant...Onward with the cute things!



lovely items actually from Korea this time from lonedaisy77 on eBay




I'm pretty sure this is an original product. Would imitators go as far as to copy a holographic sticker? A very detailed sticker at that too!


Shinzi Katoh Lock Up Earphone Winder in Mint

I love this earphone winder. I wonder now why I never got one before. (Ahh, that's right because I couldn't order for eBay myself.) It helps to store my headphones in my jacket pocket or bag much easier. Things are less tangled and messy. The cables wouldn't accidentally drag other things out of my pocket. It just makes life a little easier!




Ribbon Earphone Winder in Lavender

Another earphone winder. I got suckered in by the bow...heh. I found that this winder doesn't keep the headphone cables as contained as I liked so I repurposed it to organize my iPhone/iPad charger instead.






Shinzi Katoh Zip Around Clutch Long Wallet in Purple

This was the biggest surprise. I had no idea the wallet would come all nicely packaged like this. Makes it feels so luxurious. Is this how bigger companies also package their wallets? It is very nicely made and has lots of card slots and pockets for receipts, cash, and a zipped section for coins. LOVE! I haven't used this yet. I don't want to cause any unnecessary damage to it yet because I tend to carry a lot of heavy things in my bag for school.

There are quite a few Korean sellers who have Shinzi Katoh and similar styled items. I chose to buy from this particular seller because Bestie C bought from here before and recommended it. There are times where I'd rather pay a little extra and be assured that things will go smoothly. I've checked the prices on a Korean website that sold these same items and the prices are relatively similar. I guess Shinzi Katoh is a pretty popular accessories (wallets, cell phone cases, passport holders, etc.) brand? I've come to really like his items! I have my eye on a Diary/Wallet style iPhone case but...it is much pricier than what I'm comfortable with paying for a phone case. I shall wait and see if the prices will drop since the iPhone 5 is out! Hehe.