Holiday Sequins + Faux Fur

I ended up not finding the perfect holiday party dress as I hoped, but found this great ModCloth Bona Fide Beauty Coat (currently on sale) instead. I've always wanted a faux fur coat to wear with cocktail dresses, but one that is not over the top and cray looking. Every time I tried on a faux fur coat, my boyfriend would comment that I looked like a baby sasquatch (aka bigfoot), but this one finally has his approval. I love that the length is not super long where it's overwhelming on a petite frame and the fabric isn't super thick where I like a cotton ball. The faux fur is ultra soft and cozy and it feels so luxurious. I can't wait to style this coat with jeans and a cute embellished blouse for a dinner look.

ModCloth Bona Fide Beauty Coat. Size XS | Kate Spade purse. Similar | Nude Strappy heels. Similar comes in lots of color & under $60 | MAC Ladybug lipstick

This Zara sequin dress was gifted to me by my sweet friend Elle from Fast Food and Fast Fashion a couple of years ago and I never found the occasion to wear it until now. It's a lifesaver since I didn't find the perfect dress that I was hoping for. Jean also has this dress, see how she styled it. Looks like we both had a red clutch in mind for a pop of color!

Shop Sequin Dresses (under $75):

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I normally bust out my J. Crew Lady Day coat for the winter season, but the weather has been so chilly lately that it I broke it out earlier than expected. My boyfriend went home to Missouri for Thanksgiving and he said the weather was much warmer compared to SF (which is rare!). I normally don't get sick and haven't in years, but it's so cold that I had the flu for two weeks recently. It wasn't too bad since I didn't have to see anyone with my constant sneezing and sniffling!

I have the version lined with thinsulate and it's the right amount of warmth for 50 degree weather. I love the classic cut of this coat which makes it really versatile to dress up for work with dresses, skirts or trouser pants or worn casually with jeans on the weekends. I'm wearing a 00P and the size is perfect with a sweater underneath. The sleeve length is a tad short, but not enough that it's noticeable. J. Crew came out with a size 000P and I'm curious if anyone has tried it and how much smaller it fits. There's also an array of fun colors I'm loving! A lot of retailers make most of their coats in neutrals and it's unexpected to see an array of brighter and darker options. Current promo: 25% off $100+ or 30% off $150+ with code GIVEMORE. If you're interested in getting the coat, with the discount, the price comes out to be around $255 (before tax).

J. Crew Petite Double Cloth Lady Day Coat with Thinsulate. 00P. 

BP. Trolley Ankle Bootie. I've had these booties for a few years and they've always been my go to. I probably wear these at least a couple of times a week. The cost is under $100, but for shoes that are so comfortable and versatile, it's definitely worth every penny. I usually wear a size 5.5, but I purchased the size 5 and they are still pretty roomy for me. Maybe it's because I have the older version and the newer colors run smaller, but the site does advise to order a 1/2 size up. If I didn't have a budget, I'd definitely get these in the grey and black color as well. 

J. Crew Coat. 00P | Stitch Fix Aleia Sweater. XS. Similar | Levi Jeans. Similar | BP Trolley Bootie | LV Speedy (pre-owned) | H&M Mustard Scarf. Similar (on sale!)

Comfy Pants

I bought these Loft Petite Sateen Five Pocket Leggings a while ago on a really good discount and I wish that I'd have bought another pair in the other colors available. I love comfy clothes since I work from home and these pants are ultra soft and feel like stretchy yoga pants. I wear them lounging around the apartment and this outfit was something I threw on to go grab lunch.

Loft is currently running a promo for 40% off sale items (note some are final sale). Here are some items that still have XXSP or 00P available. Everything is $20-80 after discount! Check these out: Petite Modern Skinny Corduroy Pants, Petite Ribbed Shirttail Sweater (love the burgundy color), Petite Stripe Side Shirred Dress, Petite Fanfare Shirt Dress, Petite Relaxed Cardigan, Petite Gingham Henley, Petite Parka.

In terms of fit, these run pretty true to size (I'm wearing 24P). I wore these pants a few times without washing and I noticed the knee area and the waist starting to sag a bit. I think a good wash and dry will snap them back into shape. On a side note, I feel like most jackets I have bought lately have super thick shoulders pads. After looking at these pictures, I feel like MJ from Thriller! I'm definitely going remove the pads pronto before my next wear.

Loft Sateen Leggings. 24P | Fate Jacket. XS. Similar here & here | Look by M scarf. Similar | Kate Spade Crossbody. Similar | Louise et Cie Booties. Similar

Photo credit: Jen from Life Unrefined

Anthropologie Petites: Holiday Dress Reviews

I've been on a hunt for a special dress for my work's holiday party and for my best friend's civil ceremony that is coming up in a couple of weeks. I went shopping over the weekend and there were so many sales. I have a hard time focusing and decided to go to Anthropologie because I love that  there is designated section for petites and I know where to look without feeling overwhelmed.

Minette Dress. 00P.

I fell in love with this dress the moment I saw it. The vibrant red color is perfect for the holidays and off the shoulder look gives it that fun and flirty vibe. I have broad shoulders and normally avoid the "off the shoulder" cut, but to my surprise, I thought this was pretty flattering. I liked the fitted bodice that shows off the waist and the length of the skirt is short enough (but not too short) so that it's appropriate for a work party. I have a long torso for a petite and the waist seam sat above my natural waist, therefore making the flare of the skirt start a little too high and knocking everything out of proportion. The dress is fully lined, with a side zipper opening and the back is smocked (stretchy) which accommodates a bigger bust or wide back. Due the high waist, I sadly had to pass. 

Cross Front Sheath Dress. 00P.

I have a lot of black in my closet, but its always hard to resist a LBD. It's a color that I know I can always wear and it's versatile enough for many occasions. The little things that make this dress unique are the cross front neckline with the waist band and side slant pockets. The details give it that whimsical factor and it's fun enough to wear outside of a business casual setting. Unfortunately this dress ran a size too big for me. The bust, waist and hips area were pretty roomy. If you're interested in this dress, I'd definitely size down from your normal size. 

Lace Pencil Garden Dress. Size 00P.

The lace fabric of this dress is absolutely so gorgeous and I love the colors as well. I like the idea of this dress, but the fit was a bit off for me. The hips ran really big and the waist could be more fitted as well. I also prefer the skirt length to be a couple of inches shorter, the neckline to be more open (to elongate my torso) and overall dress to be fitted so I don't look like a tube. Does that make sense? This dress would work for someone taller and I'd definitely try getting a size smaller size for a more body con look. 

Piper Dress. XXSP.

This is not a holiday party dress, but I'm a sucker for dresses with sleeves that I can wear with boots. For a casual dress, I was pleasantly surprised that it's nicely lined. The fabric is pretty thick so it'd be great for the cooler weather with tights. I have a long torso so I appreciate that the dress had no waist seam. It does have a relaxed fit and kind of hangs on your body so it's really comfortable. I'd definitely purchase on a discount. Right now, it's too expensive of a dress to wear casually around the house or to run errands in. 

Windowpane Car Coat. Size 0P.

As someone who sews, I'm always impressed when all the lines match up! I know it's especially hard when you're going into mass production and how precise you need to be when cutting a bulk of fabric at once. Even though it is oversized, I totally love this coat! It's super cute and I know it will go with so many items in my closet like dresses and casual jean outfits. The original price is a tad spendy for me, but hopefully it goes on sale for me to snatch up! 

Getting Back Into the Routine

Hi Everyone! I know it's been such a long while since I've posted! I really have no good reason besides being unmotivated to blog. Blogging is like going to the gym, once you start going and get into a routine, then it's really not a problem. It's the initial push to get yourself to start doing it. Speaking of the gym, I signed up a few months ago and started running a couple of miles 2-3 times a week during my lunch break. I should run more and do strength training to make an impact, but at the moment I think a light work out will do the trick in helping me mentally feel healthier. I tried running 3 miles, but that seriously tires me out for the rest of the day and I just want to take a nap afterwards. I know a lot of people feel more energized after working out, but it does the opposite for me. Like the gym, hopefully I can get myself to start a routine and blog more consistently. I've met so many wonderful people and built so many great friendships on this platform, I'd love to continue doing the same and connect with more awesome bloggers and readers. 

Here's an outfit that has been on repeat! If you hung out with me recently, you've probably seen me in this outfit. I love shift style dresses since it's so easy to wear and I can throw it on without having to think. It is a looser fit and has gathers around the hip area which give it more volume and movement. This one gets bonus points since it has sleeves (which aren't too long for my short arms) and can be paired with boots and tights for the cooler fall and winter weather. The drapey sweater vest is so cozy and I love that the faux fur collar gives it that glam factor, but it's also removable so you can pair it with more casual outfits.

Stitch Fix Etha Dress. Size XS. Similar | Stitch Fix Kendy Vest. Size XS. Similar | Kate Spade Mini Brantley bag. Similar | MAC Ladybug lipstick | Stuart Weitzman Boots. Similar

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Blank NYC Faux Leather Jacket

I'm normally not a pink girl, but fell in love with this jacket once I put it on. I love the edgy silhouette mixed with the feminine blush color and the fit is near perfect! I tried on both the black and pink (see below) and was literally torn between the two since black is versatile and can be worn all year round. At the same time, I already have a couple of similar black moto jackets and thought I could use one in a different color and it was fun to go out of my comfort zone. To my surprise, I have been wearing this jacket a lot to dinners and out during the weekends since it matches a lot of my lighter color tops and jeans. 

The jacket does have shoulder pads and I normally avoid anything with that because I have broad shoulders. But I don't mind it in this instance since the jacket is nicely fitted and kind of gives the illusion of a smaller waist and an hourglass figure. There is bunching in the elbow area so the sleeves could be a half inch to an inch shorter for me. This jacket is definitely a great value (under $100!) since it's fully lined, with zipper details and lots of top stitching. All those little details take a lot of work so I'm really impressed by the quality! See Jean of Extrapetite's review in the black version & this post on how she styled it with a maxi dress. 

Blank NYC Jacket. Size XS. Only black available. | BR Lace Tank. Size XXSP. Similar | 7 for All Mankind Gwenevere jeans. Size 23 | F21 Necklace. Similar | Stitch Fix Elle Woven Clutch |  Halogen Camden Bootie. Sold Out. Size 5.5. Similar

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Lush Tulip Hem Maxi Dress. Size XS

On another note, this was a dress I purchased for my cousin's graduation in San Diego, but I ended up not wearing it because it was so cold and rainy. I'm wearing 3" heels with the dress and it's still dragging on the floor. It probably needed to be shortened 2-3", but I really didn't feel like doing the alterations since it's a chiffon fabric and the hem is at a bias and I can see that fabric stretching out and the hem bubbling and causing me issues. Even though I loved this dress and so did my bf, I ended up returning this since I don't see any future occasions to wear this to. 

Floral Lace Romper

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco" said Mark Twain, and it's all true! I've been leaving SF during the weekends to find warmer weather. It's amazing to see the neighboring cities be 20-30 degrees warmer and it's so foggy in the city lately. I went to Napa this weekend and just relished in the heat, warm breeze and gorgeous scenic views. I might have to go there more often for the wine tasting, beautiful weather, great food and the outlet mall! 

I bought this floral lace romper from F21 a few weeks ago and was so excited to wear it. I love the brighter colors, floral print and the lace details. It was only $24 and also fully lined. I see reviews on that site complaining about the quality, but the stuff is so cheap. If you're looking for quality, F21 is probably not the place where you should be shopping. But for $24, fully lined and hidden zipper is pretty #amazeballs! It does run big and normally I don't like to do alterations on something fully lined, but I liked the romper so much that I decided to take on the project. I slimmed the torso on my machine and put back the lining by hand...so maybe an hour at most which is not too bad.

I've been looking for neutral color sandals that are versatile enough to go with all my outfits and I found these from Asos mid heels sandals and they are seriously so comfortable. According to the site, the heel height is 3" but I'd say it feels more like 2.5". I have been wearing them non stop with all my outfit because they're so easy to slip and off. It is a wide fit so it's a little loose in the toe area which I don't mind and I normally wear a size 5.5 and sized down to a 5 which fits great. The best part is that these only cost $32!! Can't beat that! It also comes in a white color and I'm considering getting that as well.

I haven't blogged in so long, I feel like I have so much to talk about! So this Gorjana necklace is from Rockbox (use code allaboutfashionxoxo for 1 month free subscription) and its another piece that I have been wearing non stop. I love delicate jewelry and feel like it's a classic piece that I can wear for a long time. As a Rockbox subscriber, I have the option to buy pieces I love and what's great is the prices are often less expensive than what it retails for. This necklace retails for $70, but I can buy it for $56 and I also have a $10 monthly spending credit, so it ends up being only $46 which is pretty awesome! So I think I might buy this piece!! 

F21 Romper. Size S. (similar) | Asos sandals. Size 5 (normally wear a 5.5) | Gorjana necklace via Rockbox (use code allaboutfashionxoxo for 1 month free subscription) | Stitch Fix Elle Woven Clutch

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