Beat the Winter Blues

Winter is coming soon, but if you're by the beach like me then you may never need to bust out a winter coat. When the occasion strikes, you can refer to my recommendations.



This snazzy wool coat on the left is from Banana Republic. You can rely on their tailored cuts and high quality fabric. And this pretty houndstooth on the right is from J. Crew. Oh why does J.Crew have to tempt me?



I really admire J.Crew's attention to detail especially on their cardigans. One time, I was inspired to make a cardigan with little rosettes. It turned out well, but I feel like a gust of wind will blow them away. So delicate. Like life (sorry I'm learning about life and death in my Asian civilizations class).



These are interesting coats from Anthropologie. I usually steer away from this store because they usually don't carry petites. Why bother trying to fit into clothes that just hover over your body? But I admire the cuts on these outerwear. Not too girly (which I am trying to avoid) and just a hint of elegant fashion.



Below are some more coats from Anthropologie. I like the cropped jacket on the left because it's versatile for almost any occasion. The jacket on the right is actually a cardigan. How wonderful! Oh, my mind is thinking about how many different ways I could wear this.



Alas, if you're feeling chilly, you can spot a timeless piece from just about anywhere. But I suggest you wait until the next big sale. Oh wait, it's coming up after Thanksgiving!

Happy Holidays.

PS: A friend asked where I find out about fashion news. I get them from everywhere... the newspaper, blogs, magazines (Teen Vogue and Elle), and from random shopping visits. "Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening" - Coco Chanel. I love this quote. You are fashionable. Don't worry about wearing the latest trends. Just wear what you like and what flatters your body type. The rest will come into play without putting any effort.

Photo credits: www.bananarepublic.com,
www.jcrew.com,
www.anthropologie.com,
www.style.com

Be your best self, be your true self

Happy Halloween! I stumbled upon Lauren Conrad's line at Kohl's, and it's definitely an improvement from her previous line of cotton jersey dresses (a few years back). Although her designs are simple, I like that the apparel is definitely something that she would wear. The comfy sweaters, girly frocks, and staple jeans represent Lauren Conrad, and that's why I approve. Plus, the whole line was on sale for an affordable price. So it doesn't feel like another mass produced designer line trying to get maximum profit.

Here are some picks:


I tried on the cardigan, which was flattering even for my petite figure. Normally long outerwear don't look good on me. The jeans felt very comfortable as well.

Photo credits: www.kohls.com,
www.people.com

Make up the breakdown

Models have such great style and swagger on the runway, and they are able to maintain a sense of laid-back beauty off the runway. How do they do it? They're not called super models for just any reason. Here are a few photos of some pretty models:

Hye Park


Hyoni Kang



Liu Wen



Emma Pei



I don't know what they use to maintain their flawless skin, but I can tell you what I use. ;D

I like Clinique products because most of them are fragrance-free and gentle for sensitive skin.


Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion is so good that every 4 seconds a bottle is sold.

Kiehl's also has a good one: Ultra Facial Cream. It has been tested on six explorers while they completed a first ascent of Greenland's ice covered peaks.

Estee Lauder's So Polished is a nice little treat once a week. It smells like an ocean breeze and gently exfoliates.

Origin's Clear Improvement is a great mask for oily skin; it really gets the dirt out of the pores.

And... because we can't break the bank, Aveeno's Daily Moisturizing Lotion always succeeds in keeping my skin moisturized.

Origins has a line of products by Dr. Weil, the famed botanist. I've always wanted to try the serum, but at $66 I've been hesitant to buy it.

Shu Uemura has a line of cleansing oils that seem to work wonders. They're featured in magazines and have gotten rave reviews for many years. Alas, the $72 price tag keeps me at bay. Bobbi Brown recently introduced a cleansing oil that starts a more friendly price ($40).

Although I may never have perfect skin like Amanda Seyfield, there is no harm in trying by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and sticking to a normal hygienic routine. And so can you.


Photo credits: www.style.com,
www.instyle.com,
www.beauty.com