Tag Archives: OOTD

Caped Crusader

Have you seen the latest issue of Net-A-Porter’s magazine called The Edit? It’s all about 60’s Chic, and number 10 on their list of 12 modern throwback’s is also one of my favorites: The Cape. I own around seven capes, and I just can’t seem to get enough! I love how versatile they are, and they bring an unexpected chicness to any outfit. My most recent sweater cape was purchased from the Etsy shop of the lovely Bella of The Citizen Rosebud. I’m currently putting together an outfit to feature the cute little number. In the meantime, in honor of Comic Con and the many superheroes that will be flocking here to San Diego this week, below are some past outfits where I’ve donned the timeless classic.

March 27, 2013

January 23, 2013

November 16, 2011

May 27, 2011

(Top image courtesy of the Net-A-Porter website.)

Wedding Outfit Remixed

I wore this outfit to a wedding last October (post here), but remixed it and wore it to work before I wore it to CJ’s wedding (original post here). I really played up the burgundy of my dress by doing the “matchy-matchy” thing with my shoes, purse and glasses. But it really worked well together because they were slightly different shades of burgundy, and I was sure to break everything up with black.

Outfit – Kirna Zabete for Target dress; Nordstrom cardigan (old); Express belt; Talbots shoes; Michael Kors watch; Wendy Brandes genie necklace; Vintage purse from Bad Madge & Company; iSee glasses from GlassesUSA; Rings by Suki Bijoux; Earrings by Momotique and bracelet made by Amy Butzen, both gifts from my best friend Janice; Maybelline Color Show Fashion Prints Nail Stickers in Sapphire Jewels; Haircut by Jazzie at Deb-N-Hair

Isn’t my boy handsome? *proud Mama*

And The Tape Is Your Voice

I think it was love at first sight when I saw this skirt on ModCloth. It’s called the “Music In Me in Mix Tape” skirt, and I literally said, “I must have that!” I fell in love with the pattern, and the fact that is has pockets (skirts and dresses with pockets are the best things ever). I’m glad I bought it when I did because not only was it on sale, it’s now sold out. Hopefully ModCloth will bring it back somehow because it has quickly become my favorite skirt in my wardrobe, and I know so many would love this skirt. When I wore it to work, one of my co-workers said, “You definitely should have been born in a different era!” I admit I styled the skirt for this outfit to be retro, but I can also see this skirt in a more edgier outfit. But maybe he was talking about the fact that the pattern is cassette tapes, and everyone knows how much I love the 80’s.

Outfit – Burberry sweater (old); Bitten t-shirt (old); Retrolicious skirt from ModCloth (sold out); Rebecca Minkoff purse; Nine West shoes (old); Zekes Zipper Bangle from MimiBoutique (sold out); Michael Kors watch; Suki Bijoux and Wendy Brandes rings; iSee glasses from GlassesUSA; Unknown brand pan collar necklace and belt; Tambourine earrings made by my sister, Rholnna

(The title of this post is a line from the Depeche Mode song Photographic.)

(Photos by Rholnna Jiao)

In Chains

In addition to spikes and studs, I’m very partial to metallics and chains. I make sure to include plenty of hardware in my outfits, no matter how dressy or casual. My husband saw me attaching all of my accessories one morning when we were going out for a family breakfast. He just shook his head and said, “We’re just going out to eat…do you really need all of that on?” Honey, surely you know me by now, right?

Outfit – MNG by Mango Grey Shimmer Blazer and Bisou Bisou printed pants from JCPenney; Topshop peplum top (from London); Rebecca Minkoff purse; Shamballa bracelet c/o Cutey; Juicy Couture & Linea Pelle bracelets; Michael Kors watch; Suki Bijoux rings; Betesy Johnson disco ball pendant necklace (old); Honeybadger glasses by BonLook; Nine West booties

This is a picture that I posted on Instagram. Each piece (including the jacket and pants featured in this outfit post): $10!

(Outfit photos by Rholnna Jiao)

The Wind in My Hair, Makes Me So Aware

I’m always reluctant to wear shorts because I don’t know where the cut off is between too short, and not short enough. In my forties, I’ve become more self-conscious and aware of this fact, despite how much I know I believe it shouldn’t matter. I know I wore cut-offs at the Rewind Festival last year (post here), but can I wear those anywhere else other than maybe the beach? I think I have finally found the a line of shorts that are just perfect for me. These shorts are by Joe Fresh at JCPenney, and they hit me at just the right place on my thigh where I feel comfortable (not to mention they are adorable). They have a whole line of shorts, which will be perfect for those hot summer days that I know are coming so very soon here in San Diego.

Outfit – MNG by Mango fitted one-button jacket and Joe Fresh Piped Jacquard shorts, both from JCPenney; Topshop peplum top (from London); Rebecca Minkoff shoes and purse; London Underground cuff c/o Designhype; Necklace and rings by Suki Bijoux; Michael Kors watch; Coach sunnies; Earrings made by CC of the blog Pink Candles at Ridgemont High

(The title of this post is a line from the Depeche Mode song But Not Tonight; I thought it was appropriate since the wind made my hair go a bit wild while taking these pictures at Mission Bay.)

(Photos by Deon Chen)

Ice Machine

I finally got my Val Tex ankle boots by Miista. Free People had them on super sale, so I just had to grab them. They named it the “Glacier Ankle Boot”, probably because the pattern looks like it could be from the aurora borealis. I fell in love with them when Miista introduced their Electromancer line, and I used it in a Polyvore collage (post here). I kept my outfit very simple, allowing these lovelies to steal the show. These booties are even prettier up-close and personal, and many co-workers stopped me to ask me where I got them. This is my fourth pair of Miistas, and I can safely say that I’m hooked.

Outfit – H&M cardigan; Old Navy shirt and jeans; Val Tex ankle boots by Miista in topaz/mauve ($69.95 on Free People); Rebecca Minkoff MAC; Michael Kors watch; Wendy Brandes and Suki Bijoux rings; Honeybadger glasses by BonLook; bracelet, necklace and earrings were birthday gifts from my niece and sister

(‘Ice Machine’ is a song by Depeche Mode, the B-side to ‘Dreaming of Me’)

$Val Tex Collage$

(Check out the cute bonus pictures of my beautiful niece wearing my Miistas. She loves all of my shoes, purses and clothes, so I thought it would be fitting to get her in this outfit post. I’m telling you, she’s a natural, no?)

(Photos by Rholnna Jiao)

Flower Power

Floral prints always look and feel fresh. It’s been awhile since I’ve worn this much pink in one outfit. But because it’s so wonderfully bright and sunny these days, I felt like I wanted to infuse a little of that into my work outfit. I paired my floral pants and bubblegum pink blouse with some floral pieces: a necklace with a vintage pin as the pendant, and my favorite Spanish gold earrings that I bought back in the 80’s in Old Town San Diego.

Outfit – MNG blazer from JC Penney; Unknown brand blouse and floral pants from M’s Clothing ($9.99 each piece); GUNAS Camel Sweetheart purse from Modavanti (on sale for $70); Prabal Gurung for Target shoes; necklace, vintage typewriter & Recoil rings by Suki Bijoux; Wendy Brandes @ ring; Spot On glasses by Nicole Miller from GlassesUSA (on sale for $52); vintage Spanish gold earrings

Made Well

I’m not sure how it happened, but I have accumulated quite a collection of printed pants in the last few months. I like what the printed pants add to my wardrobe, making it very dynamic. It’s always easy to pair printed shirts with jeans or dress pants, but I find it more challenging to build an outfit around printed pants. These wonderful printed pants are my first purchase from Madewell. I also don’t really pick a color theme for my outfits, but I ran with the blue in this one (you may recognize the blue purse, as I wore it during my many days and nights out in London last year, orignal post here). Believe it or not, the blues were not all the same shade, but they appear that way in these pictures.

Outfit – Madewell pants (on super sale at the location in South Coast Plaza, only $17!); Old Navy shirt; H&M sweater; Rebecca Minkoff purse; Betsey Johnson shoes; iSee glasses from GlassesUSA; Necklace from Southwark Cathedral (London); Mimi Boutique zipper bangle; Wendy Brandes ring; Suki Bijoux rings; Michael Kors watch

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Although this is a sponsored post, the opinions, pictures & content of this post are strictly my own.

Mixed Bag

I’ve worn this dress in a previous outfit post (here), and it’s one of my favorites. There’s quite a bit of subtle mixing going on here: the dress is made of a sweatshirt material, the shirt is sheer (I love the layered pan collar), the tights have a textured pattern and the boots are suede. It was only fitting that the bag had some opposing patterns to it as well. This is my first Bodhi purse, and I got it for such a great deal at DSW (it retails for $298, but I got it for only $41). I think the total cost for the outfit is about $150, including the shoes and bag. Someone asked me once how I shop, if I do it by outfit or by bits and pieces. I pick a lot of great standout pieces that I want to showcase, but I also shop for great basics that will integrate well with everything else in my wardrobe, making the cost stretch even more. My wardrobe is definitely a mixed bag, but I think that’s my style.

Outfit – Juicy Couture dress; Bisou Bisou shirt from JCPenney; Hanes argyle textured tights; Bodhi New Layfayette purse; Nine West booties; Lucky Brand glasses; Kelly Evans Designs vintage button ring; Suki Bijoux vintage typewriter ring

FTC Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. Although this is a sponsored post, the opinions, pictures & content of this post are strictly my own.

You May Be Blue

When trying to figure out titles to my posts, especially outfit posts, I’m usually inspired by song titles and lyrics. Typically, I can come up with a title or lyric from one of my favorite bands. If something doesn’t instantly come to me, then I do a search for a few key words to spark my memory. In the case of the title to this particular post, I just couldn’t find anything using the words “may” and “blue” from my staples like Depeche Mode, Joy Division, Duran Duran, or OMD. So into the search engine I typed “lyrics, may, blue” (the color of the amazing skirt I bought from Bella of The Citizen Rosebud’s Etsy store, and name of the Miista boots). Lo and behold, out came a song by a group called Vetiver called “You May Be Blue” on Subpop Records. I’m so glad I did that because I discovered an amazing band that I had not heard before. There are great live versions on You Tube (such as this one recorded in London back in 2007), but I dig the album version. In fact, I liked the song so much that I included the video below and bought the album To Find Me Gone (Vetiver’s second album). Oh the places you’ll go when fashion blogging, no?

(Note: I wore the outfit with thick black sweater tights and a black jacket. My new job is keeping me busy with long hours, so I haven’t been able to take outfit pictures like I should. I hope to include myself wearing the outfit in a future post.)