In Her Stilettos

dots on dots

2012-01-30T22:03:00.003-06:00

Old Navy sweater (similar), Lulu's skirt , Topshop heels (similar), House of Harlow Tote, Loft chain bracelet

A quick post before heading back to my work...I've got an impossibly long list of things to do this week because I was lazy this weekend. Happy Monday!!!

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still rococo

2012-01-30T00:56:00.004-06:00

Dog and Pony one-piece as top, Asos skirt (last worn here), Casadei pumps, Forever 21 pearl necklace, Amrita Singh gold necklace, vintage fur stole, steven madden flats

I wasn't sure whether to post this or not but here it goes. I decided to wear this one piece (as in an onesie complete with snaps at the bottom) as a dress by layering a skirt under it, creating a "dress" reminiscent of Rococo gowns. Perhaps I'm still dreaming of Rococo-inspired pieces after this particular photo shoot I styled. The outfit's a bit risque but one can easily make the outfit more appropriate by putting a coat or blazer on over the top (I put this one on for when I went grocery shopping later).
I hope everyone had a good weekend! I certainly had a wonderful one.
PS. I get asked about shipping from Asos a lot. I personally have not had any problems with their shipping except for when there was the postal strike. I find their clearance section to be addicting since the discounts are pretty steep and the shipping's free. My packages arrive usually somewhere between 1-2 weeks. The only thing one might have a problem with is the different fits between the common British brands the website carries, so I would recommend going to the brand's own site for the accurate sizing charts before ordering from Asos. I rarely get things there full-priced though since it's pretty pricey for my budget without a 50% + discount.

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dot.dot.dot.

2012-01-26T10:00:00.030-06:00

Forever 21 blazer (similar), Dog and Pony vintage dress (similar), River Island heels, House of Harlow tote, Forever 21 sunglasses, Forever 21 and vintage necklaces/bracelets

I remember wearing this combination of polka dots and stripes many times (1, 2), and today's gloomy weather urged me to wear something graphic. Maybe that's why I love these dresses. I'm totally in love with this tote bag I got from Gilt's clearance...I haven't bought much clothing since the new DSLR and school-related fees were expensive but I've worn out my old black tote with carrying textbooks every day so this was justified as a replacement.
I can't believe I'm posting twice in two days. I fancied the idea of doing absolutely nothing for eight months between graduation and school restarting but I decided that doing full time research is a more economically sound decision. Adding a few styling projects I've taken on and all of a sudden I have the same amount of free time (nil) as I did before graduation...
Still looking for NYC apartment for July 2012. Email me if you know of a good place!

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feathers and chiffon

2012-01-25T09:00:00.036-06:00

Dog and Pony cape, Topshop dress (as top, too short to wear as dress), Gracia skirt, Forever 21 pearls, Bauble Bar gemstone necklace, Casadei pumps, LOFT clutch

What I wore on Chinese New Years...who else is a dragon like me? I love this cape which simultaneously makes me feel like a superhero and a 1930's movie star (not to mention goes with every piece in my closet). I bought these bracelets for the Rococo shoot and they apparently blend seamlessly into my wardrobe. I'm currently bumming until a new chapter starts with a new school (hopefully) in September. "Bumming" as in researching full time as a temp at my old research lab before heading over to intern at Marie Claire in NYC. Getting paid to do biotech research, participate in 80's Friday Pandora station sing-a-longs, and make jokes across the bench? Don't mind if I do.
PS. I'm looking for an apartment in Manhattan for July 2012. If any of you have leads please email!
PPS. Happy Chinese New Years!!

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Sneak Peek: Rococo Photoshoot

2012-01-22T20:59:00.005-06:00

Makeup: Julie Odom
Hair: Brittany Baranowski and Lorie Golden
Photography: Waytao Shing
Set Styling: Maureen Stevens
Chaise (courtesy of): The Vintage Laundry
Dresses (first set): Boudoir Queen (blog)
Stylist: Diya Liu (yours truly)
Video (below): Ed Lehmann

Not my usual post on here, but part of the reason I've been absent for many days at a time on this blog is because I've started to do styling for local fashion magazines and photo shoots. This is my first time producing/styling a shoot that will be published in a magazine. Michelle also did photography for this shoot and will be submitting her shots to magazines so I cannot post them at this time. I'll definitely share them with you when I'm allowed to!!
Aside from the dresses from Boudoir Queen and the corsets provided by Megan Summerville, most of the jewelry and shoes came from my closet, so you might recognize a few pieces here and there. I was the most proud on the jewelry layering, especially with the necklaces.
For behind the scenes or more of the photos from Waytao, hop over to my facebook page. I am much more active on there....
PS. If you haven't seen me in the February of Marie Claire...Here's the little feature on me

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update

2012-01-15T19:13:00.001-06:00

Forever 21 blazer, (old) Urban Outfitters coat (similar in gray), (old) Old Navy maxi dress, Zara heels, c/o Bodhi bag

Sorry for the unintentional LONG absence on here. I went back to research with a vengeance only to catch the flu last Saturday and have been shivering in my eighty degrees apartment ever since. Then when I got slightly better I had to catch up on a few dire deadlines before getting back to my blog. I also had to catch up in producing/styling a shoot and video editorial that is probably going on as you read this (scheduled) post.
In other news, January is Human Trafficking Awareness month and while I rarely blatantly flaunt a beauty product on this blog, I decided to deviate from that principle in helping support Radiant Cosmetics' mission in donating towards Free the Captives. You can help in two ways: either head straight over to the Free the Captives website or by purchasing this lipstick and raising awareness for this cause.
Hope everyone's New Year has started out well! Any novel New Years resolutions? Funny holiday stories with your families? Amazing vacations?

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sequins diary day 3 : new years glitter

2011-12-31T19:43:00.003-06:00

ebay coat, casadei heels, lucca couture skirt (similar), anna sui blouse, LOFT clutch

Happy New Years! I would post more except I've procrastinated in editing/posting these pictures and my friend is already here. :)

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sequins diary day 2: safari chic

2011-12-30T16:06:00.002-06:00

j crew clearance jacket (similar), charlotte russe skirt (similar, similar), forever 21 chambray shirt, garage sale necklaces (similar), zara pumps, c/o bodhi bag, old navy cardigan

Day two of wearing a sequined mini... this time it's the one worn to death here on my blog. I went a little crazy with the patterns/textures. I'm in love with pairing gold and military/safari pieces together. Currently enjoying my time between Christmas and the New Year out in the countryside. I still have to catch up on work while I'm here but it's been a nice change of pace.

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sequins diary day 1

2011-12-29T11:33:00.003-06:00

forever 21 sweater/skirt, bb dakota vest, LOFT clutch, topshop heels, jewelry c/o martine wester

In honor of the upcoming New Year's Eve I'll be posting three consequtive outfit posts with sequined minis. I feel like most people think they are too hard to pair in multiple ways when I find myself pulling out my super old gold sequined mini all the time for some daytime sparkle (Check it out: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Here's a few affordable options: 1, 2, 3, 4. A few more nicer options: 1, 2.
I finally cleaned my apartment after months of procrastinating and donated about half of my wardrobe to charity. Such a nice feeling when I can find every article of clothing I'm looking for.

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happy holidays!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.002-06:00

Just dropping by to wish you all happy holidays!
Here's a few pictures taken by me on my new camera (5D Mark II for those that have asked) while on my skiing road trip with the family.

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Austin Fashion: Star (pt. 2)

2011-12-24T05:23:00.005-06:00

Vintage dress, flea market jacket (Owner of Austin Fashion Boutique Dog and Pony)

In continuation of the guest post with Star since she doesn't have time to have her own fashion blog (but she definitely should). We also created a lookbook account for her so please go show some love! For more of Star, click HERE.

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gold spikes at Dog and Pony

2011-12-22T20:32:00.004-06:00

mink pink dress, dog and pony customized jacket, melissa shoes (everything available from Dog + Pony)

Playing dress up with Star at her boutique here in Austin shortly after a morning coffee and the perfect lamb sandwich. I ended up buying the Mink Pink dress but the jacket, along with other studded/spiked pieces, are available at the Dog and Pony boutique as well as upon request through their new Etsy.
We also made some jewelry pieces and I took a few pictures of Star's outfit as well. I will post them later when I'm home from my skiing trip!

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mixed lengths

2011-12-15T22:49:00.003-06:00

forever 21 leather jacket/ blazer/ skirt, old navy cardigan, dolce vita shoes (in nude, red, & black), c/o bodhi bag

I'm finally done with school-related stuff as a freshly graduated Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry double major. Now on to the next one...but before doing so, I'll be relaxing for a few weeks. First off, going skiing with my family and a close friend for a week. I still have an adequate backlog of photos to post from the past few days of fun though. I hope I'll have internet in the mountains!!

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playing catch-up

2011-12-10T16:32:00.005-06:00

c/o Shabby Apple tutu skirt, forever 21 denim shirt, LOFT clutch (similar), casadei pumps
Photos by: Nikki Qiao

Still catching up on outfit posts but I wore this skirt when it first came in quite a few times before the temperature dropped. I still am going to wear it everywhere with a pair of wool tights!
If you want to buy this skirt, hop over to Shabby Apple and enter inherstilettos10off for 10% off your purchase!
Sorry for being M.I.A. so long, I'm more active on my Facebook Page. Even though school's over, I'm still doing research, school applications, and interviews. :)

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chill

2011-12-01T08:00:00.010-06:00

forever 21 maxi (similar, similar), my tribe jacket via ideeli (similar for under $200), walmart flats, vintage gold necklace as belt, forever 21 scarf, asos blazer (similar)

These weren't technically going to go on the blog but I figured might as well since this has been my uniform for the past few weeks whenever the weather's 70 during the day at 40's at night. The blazer under the leather jacket provides for a little more splash of color without adding much bulkiness, and one can easily substitute a sweater, boots and tights for an even more winter-proof outfit. I wore this to meet my blog intern for the first time at Spider House. Alice will be helping me make posts more regular without me being distracted from school/work/research too much. Even though I'm graduating I still have a lot more academic-related stuff to finish, and in the crazy days before the show I finally decided I needed someone to take over the technical side of my blog. What this means for the blog should be more posts than before!
Sorry for the long lapse in outfit posts. I will post more after graduation this weekend!
Also, in case you haven't heard from my Facebook or Twitter, I was selected to be the winner for the Marie Claire Front Row Challenge out of the 4 finalists. This means I'll be interning in NYC for the summer!

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Behind-the-Scenes: Marie Claire x LOFT x Rimmel Front Row Challenge UT Fashion Show, Mohawk Austin Texas, Pictorial Recap

2011-11-22T08:00:00.004-06:00

Ph. Courtesy of Waytao Shing.
Runway Photos Post: HERE
Day before (Fittings, Styling Mannequins at LOFT, finding my outfit for Thursday): Behind the Scenes

Day of: Behind the Scenes (Courtesy of Michelle Louise Photography)

(Above: the talented Laura Martinez at work)

(Above: team of MUA's)

Team of MUA's plus Stylist Rose Tran and dresser Vinh Ngo

Day of: Candids (Courtesy of Waytao Shing)

(Elena above, you might recognize her from Project Runway)

(Above: Cile, who was the fitness model for Instyle)

(Seamstress Olga hard at work tailoring each article of clothing to ensure it fits like a glove)

(Cile being a bad ass)

(Rehearsal. Looks like a model-off-duty shot of PFW, Michelle Louise Photography photographer in the background)

(Rehearsal, Lydia above and Anya below strutting)

(Me practicing strutting for my final bow)

(The ready runway with goodie bags on 275 seats)
Hope you've enjoyed my recap of the show. 195 behind-the-scene pictures on my facebook albums HERE

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Runway Pictures: Marie Claire x LOFT x Rimmel Front Row Challenge UT Fashion Show, Mohawk Austin Texas

2011-11-20T07:00:00.008-06:00

(Photos Courtesy of: JEJ Commercial Photgraphy )

Me with Marie Claire Senior Fashion Editor Zanna Roberts Rassi backstage before the show

FULL runway set + more pictures on my Facebook Page...
Behind-the-scenes summary HERE

As many of you may know, the fashion show I produced finally came and passed on Thursday. I kept meaning to write this post afterwards but felt like there was so much to digest that I didn't want to just crank a post out. My Facebook's Profile Review is frozen due to the 300+ tags I got over 24 hours. I feel like my brain is mirroring that freeze right now as just too much happened in too short a period of time.
My involvement: Styling the outfits (head-to-toe for the last 4, accessorized the first 10), makeup /hair coordination with the help of Laura and Liz, model casting, venue selection, music selection, event promotion, and more. I flew out in September to style these outfits at LOFT's HQ and to start on the makeup looks at Rimmel's HQ.
There were many different facets that I wanted to point out that made this show particularly meaningful to me...
-The exposure of the Austin talents to the rest of the country. From the beginning of show production I wanted a delicate balance of using the best of the resources/talents I had on hand and yet use LOCAL people to fill those roles. This came in the form of Laura Martinez (did NYFW shows) for makeup, Liz Nevin (hair stylist of the year) for hair, Waytao Shing (did work for WWD, sold images to People's, etc) for photography, Ed Lehmann on video, and a bevy of Wilhemina Brown, The Campbell Agency, Butterfly and Kim Dawson models. The hard work paid off and Marie Claire and LOFT were both very impressed with the professionalism exhibited in the hair, makeup, models, photography and cinematography departments.
-The support of the entire Austin fashion community. From the various mentions, press and help I've gotten from University Fashion Group/Dog and Pony/Pom PR/Austin Fashion Week/Culture Map (1, 2)/The Daily Texan/The Horn (1, 2) to just the sheer amount of local fashion friends that showed up to the show OVERWHELMED me. Mohawk's rooftop was packed to the point that there were guests standing on the staircase trying to get a good view of the show. Not to mention the various fashion friends I've made over the years like J, Cathy, Brittney, Joanna, Indiana, Tiffany and Jen (who drove down from Houston to see the show!) that showed up to support me.
-The support of the UT community. From the feature on the College of Natural Science website thanks to Dr. Iverson, to my research professor Dr. Georgiou's many encouragements and congratulations, to the undergraduate ChE advisor Kelly's time spent comforting my nerves and supporting me, to Dr. Randall showing up to the show, to my research mentor Will rounding up two other engineering grad students from our biotech research lab to attend a fashion show for the first time in their lives, to my chemical engineering classmates (shout out to Erin, Ashley, and Tiffany!) attending the show. Once again, I did NOT expect this much support from my wonderful chemical engineering and biochemistry faculty. When I won this contest, I did not ever expect a single sincere congratulations from my majors' departments and yet everyone has been immensely supportive.
-The support of my family. I have never told my parents about this fashion blog as it's kind of silly to tell your parents that you post outfits to the public on a semi-daily basis. When I was going to be featured on Marie Claire and I knew the extent of the coverage of the show, I knew I had to come clean and finally tell them of my involvement in fashion. I did not expect anything outside a congratulations. Instead, I was once again overwhelmed by my family's support when they showed up with a team of our family friends and my siblings bearing flowers to give to me after the show.
-The support of all my long-time friends. One of my best friends Katie was there the entire day of the show to help me calm my nerves, do last minute styling, and also was present in the preparation dates leading up to the event. Tim was there to keep me sane throughout the entire process and tiredlessly drove me to all the destinations, not to mention take all the photos for this blog pictures that helped me won this challenge in the first place. Jimmy flew down from San Francisco to see my show and drove me back that night to Mohawk when I realized I left my jewelry box there. Liena made it to the show early, a first for her since our running joke is that whatever time she actually arrives is approximately 2 hours behind whenever she said she would. Rachel showed up with her roommate and actually cheered loudly when I took my final walk.
-The massive amount of undeserved help I got along the way from locals, Marie Claire, and LOFT. Staff at Marie Claire probably received well over 100 emails from me bearing questions and concerns from the show.

Thank you Marie Claire, LOFT, Rimmel and Austin friends/professionals for making this show a success!

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Austin Street Style: American Icon Yard Sale

2011-11-14T13:12:00.009-06:00

Star, the gorgeous owner behind Dog and Pony boutique. She sells hand-studded and spiked vintage Levi's, blazers, leather jackets as well as stocks the coolest jewelry pieces in Austin. Other brands worthy of note in her boutique: Stylestalker, Motel, Mink Pink, vintage everything, Species by the Thousand, Natalie Joy, Erica Weiner (one of my faves), and MUCH MORE.
Quick facts about her: she is not only super nice and amazingly stylish (and invites me to eat her mom's food with her at her boutique), but has worked for McQueen showroom in Milan, worked for Alexander Wang, and casted for the first Sex and the City film. No biggie, right? If you're a local, you should definitely drop by her boutique. If you're not and you ever visit Austin, bookmark Dog and Pony as a must-visit. (EVERYTHING she's wearing is from her boutique).

...I ran into Briana (one of my blog sponsors, a fellow University Fashion Group member, and one of my models for my show this Thursday. She is one half of the team behind Ms. Charlie. I am also contemplating starting a series where I document her street style because the girl knows how to rock anything and make it look good.

...a few other shots I took at the vintage sale. Aren't Donna's shoes above amazing? The seller said she got it from Aldo on clearance for $40 and I refused to believe it because it reminds me of McQueen's collections.

I am a busy bee these days but there's always very little excuse to not make it out to the American Icon Yard Sale every month with $5 60's lace tunics and $10 designer blazers. I got myself a nice edwardian lace tunic and an embroidered vest at the gigantic vintage yard sale with over 30 sellers. Drooling over 50's mint dresses, 80's blazers, bohemian jewelry pieces, vintage rock/metal shirts and good music ending with a glass of mocha expresso with an old friend made for a great Sunday. I planned on taking more pictures but got distracted by the sheer amount of amazing vintage and the flurry of familiar faces and hugs. :)
Hope you enjoyed the post! I certainly liked being BEHIND the camera for a change.

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Austin Fashion/ Street Style: Star

2011-11-13T23:42:00.006-06:00

A preview of tomorrow's post. Last time I featured Star on the blog you guys really loved her, so I'm going to start doing a new series of street style features of my favorite fashion peeps in Austin. I will be tagging all the post of her as "Star" and "Dog and Pony" (her fashion boutique here in Austin) when I post pics of her amazing outfit creations here on the blog. I'm tired of people thinking Austin as a city lacking in fashion when we've got such a deeply-ingrained vintage fashion culture here.

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prep school

2011-11-10T05:34:00.005-06:00

Forever 21 trench (similar one from Old Navy), J. Crew clearance button-up, Old Navy sweater, Forever 21 skirt, Zara heels, c/o Lodis tote (in black and red)

(If I look miserable it's because we conveniently chose to shoot somewhere where there were at least a swarm of 20 mosquitoes around my head. I'm actually surprised there aren't only pictures in which I'm nothing but a blur in my escape from getting bitten, which by the way ended up being a fruitless venture with a huge swollen bite on my face. I do love this little gate right behind the house and couldn't resist the unnaturally green grass that was revived with the solid week of rain we've had after a drought-ridden summer.)
I love these shoes! You can't tell but they've got amazing gold block heels. I even made the modern fashion faux pas for them by being old-fashioned and matching my shoes to my bag. For some reason I'm really into camel-colored accessories right now and I'm praying it's not because I'm getting older. I'm still into mini skirts and crayons so I guess that's a good sign?
I've been better about posting at least twice a week! It's hard to accomplish with everything that's going on right now but I'm sitting here at 5AM in the morning, squirreling this post away, just so this blog doesn't wither away. Yes, I'm that stubborn. Anyway, just in case you haven't heard my blabbing about the Marie Claire show I'm producing, it's coming up next Thursday so please come and hang out with me! RSVP HERE.

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stripes on stripes

2011-11-06T10:00:00.006-06:00

forever 21 military jacket, forever 21 striped skirt, old navy striped top (similar), c/o Lauren Joan necklaces, River Island pumps via Asos, c/o Lodis tote (in black and red)

Fall weather has finally arrived in Texas after ~~cursing~~ blessing us with weather of straight 70-80 degrees until early this month! I know 50 degrees is a joke compared to the snow some of you have but I promise it's been a surprise to my body after so many months of 100+ weather...

I've been carrying this massive tote bag around school to hold everything from 12 hours' worth of food to electronics to textbooks. Lifesaver. I decided to get the bag in a camel color to supplement my overly-abused black tote and have deemed to to match with everything out of necessity.
Some times I get so uninspired to post, even contemplating to stop blogging altogether because I'm starting to feel like in the rise of pro-bloggers, blogging has become increasingly like a job. Now it feels more like more work than a hobby which is not where I intended to go with this website. Then I get such sweet reader emails, outfit posts inspired by me (like this one from the extremely gorgeous Cheyser) and nods of approval from Rebecca Minkoff and I just can't put this blog to sleep. So I guess what I'm saying is...a huge thank you to each and every reader that bears with me.
PS. The giveaway winners of the Buydefinition giveaway are Yasmeen and Sammy!

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making color-blocking fresh for fall

2011-11-01T13:19:00.001-05:00

Add graphic patterns and a tiny bit of texture.

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warmer days

2011-10-29T08:00:00.007-05:00

Asos skirt, Forever 21 blazer (similar), Forever 21 chambray shirt (similar), thrifted bakers pumps, Asos portfolio clutch

Quick post with an outfit I had on a while back...it's late so I won't talk much :)

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mermaid

2011-10-28T06:00:00.010-05:00

Asos blazer ,GoJane dress (similar: 1, 2, 3), Dolce Vita sandals, Rebecca Minkoff MAC purse (out of teal but otherwise available in a rainbow of colors...red, python, black, gold, & cheetah), garage sale/etsy jewelry pieces (brooch worn with wrapped necklace as bracelet)

Going for an aquatic-themed look here and it's as close as I'll get to dressing up for Halloween unless I do end up wearing an all-out engineer look to my 7-9PM engineering exam on Monday/Halloween night for an added dose of irony. Think suspenders, glasses, hard hat, pocket protector, graphing calculator, slide rule, and maybe even drawn-in unibrow. What kind of professor gives an evening exam on Halloween?!? End of rant.
I know I should be deviating into other color ranges by now but I can't help myself. There's just something about a teal dress that makes one feel so glamorous. I've been staring at expensive graduation dresses and keep going back to teal (lusting after this one and this one) paired with turquoise/coral accessories Then I start looking at necklaces (eek), then shoes. If you give a mouse a cookie...I finally decided I've got enough dresses in the wardrobe to justify another one.
In other news, I've finally posted an outfit post on this blog after a long hiatus! I was more prompted to do so because after the Northern winds blew in today, this past weekend's summery dress paired with a light blazer will start looking a bit irrelevant. Texas has been giving us 80 degree weather up until today and I've been more than happy to not walk in the blistering cold. Somehow all of the world's winds are concentrated down the street with all of the engineering buildings on campus and every winter day equals a dreaded walk to class/research. It's still a bit away from the December liberation and I'm already rethinking taking those 8 months between school completely off. I feel like vacationing or focusing on hobbies instead of working seem irresponsible in light of the economy. On the other hand, I've spent the past few years' worth of Thursday nights and even Saturdays in research or the chemical engineering computer lab instead of living it up and will never have this chance to just be a stupid "kid" again. Advice would be appreciated!
I finally noticed two posts from 4 months back on my Facebook forums asking about engineering as a major and Austin fashion/eating/culture/etc recommendations and answered them HERE. The short answer for engineering is that I would not recommend it for someone that is not serious about it as the attrition rate (from my graduation year statistics) seems to be above 50% (entering class was over 200, less than 50 graduated this spring and about 30-40 more will graduate in December). For comparison, I finished my biochemistry degree in my first 4 semesters (could have been 3 semesters if not for intro engineering courses) with little trouble and am still finishing up my chemical engineering one with my 9th semester. I love both of my degrees but I definitely feel like my engineering one took 10x more effort and defines me more. For more personalized advice you can always email me! I usually respond to emails much more quickly than other modes of reader communication.
Hope every has a great Halloween! I'll be in the countryside pretending that it's not gorgeous out and finishing up some applications/projects.
PS. Chictopia has a great article on the "Does Skinny Rule the Fashion World?" debate...

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BuyDefinition Giveaway: Erin Wasson LowLuv Earrings

2011-10-23T22:53:00.009-05:00

BuyDefinition.com, a fashion online boutique, is having a HUGE sale right now (use FALL50 for 50% off!!) and was kind enough to give two In Her Stiletto readers a pair of Erin Wasson's LowLuv earrings!

One entry per method:
1. Comment on this post. (Must be blogger or Bloglovin follower).
2. Comment on the Facebook page posting for this giveaway entry. (Must be Facebook fan).
Giveaway ends Monday, October 31st. Two readers (please leave email address) will be chosen at random to win either the Triangle Drop earrings or the Thunderbird earrings.
GOOD LUCK and a HUGE thanks to those that supported my blog by reading, frequenting, and emailing me over the past year plus! :)
Other pieces of note: Low Luv Evil Eye ring, Mara Hoffman army jacket, Stylestalker runaway dress (looove). Too bad their Stylestalker leather jacket is sold out because it's my favorite piece from the collection

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I'm in the closet...the Marie Claire Closet.

2011-10-15T10:00:00.026-05:00

Ph. courtesy of MarieClaire.com. Full article HERE (slide 4)*.

Outfit: Semi-repeat of THIS ONE minus the jacket.

So...that awkward smile, that unflattering pose...here it is guys.
I have an excuse for this picture... I was told to pick an item from the closet to hold and/or try on for the photo shoot but the paranoid part of me didn't want to go down in infamy as the girl that destroyed the Oscar de la Renta sample (but what a marvelous sample that was! Worn by Sarah Jessica Parker on the cover). So in my hurry I grabbed something that I can actually afford to pay back if I broke, for some reason such as the universe had it out for me, and therefore recover some of my dignity. In the meantime I was on the lookout for my streetstyle blog crushes like Taylor Tomasi Hill only to learn the entire editorial team was taking a week-long break (right before fashion month). All in all, everyone at Marie Claire was extremely nice and I did more than a few double takes when people at the magazine knew my name and told me they checked out my blog at a conference deciding on the winners. I also loved working with LOFT's Style Director Alia and Rimmel's PR gal Christine to create the final runway looks. The whole time I was feeling a little like a fish out of the water since I was A. not a fashion/merchandising major like the others and B. I was a freaking ENGINEERING major! Seriously, who let the geek onto the Marie Claire floor? Also, Hearst Tower is really amazing and intimidating to go up (random fact: Confessions of a Shopaholic's opening scene was shot in Hearst Tower's lobby).
Anyway, I know it's not exactly a typical post but I felt like I needed to update everyone on my whereabouts for the past 2+ months (or does anyone care?). I've been not only studying for entrance exams for continuing my education and for my exhaustive senior chemical engineering courses, but also preparing for this grand fashion show featuring the LOFT holiday collection and speeches from the Marie Claire editor. I've also been trying to tie up research to hopefully publish the results in a biotech paper and also to finish my school applications. Somewhere along that timeline, I have to eat at least one adequately-prepared meal per day and sleep at least 6-8 hours per night (basically 10/night on weekends and much less on weekdays). Do I ever have time to look cute? No, but my vanity forces me to at least put on a dress everyday...or maybe it's my wardrobe's lack of jeans and t-shirts. Accessories? Forget about it. That's the real reason behind my dwindling blog posts. Even if I managed to look cute for a rare dinner out or the supermarket (...yes I dress up to go to the supermarket...), it's already past 10pm and I hate taking photos with artificial lighting. So, you see my dilemma. Once the Marie Claire show is over (if you're in Austin, please attend!! Info HERE) and I graduate in December, you'll see more of me on this blog. Until then, I will try to post at least once per week. I do have a giveaway coming up next week that's awesome if you love jewelry!
So. There you have my long-winded excuse post for why I haven't been posting as much. I still love you guys!
*(Please don't read my interview as it's quite painful. I was in research at the time I answered these questions so my mind was definitely not on fashion).
**Once again, Marie Claire x LOFT x Rimmel fashion show November 17th at Mohawk, 6:45PM. RSVP)**

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Marie Claire x LOFT Fashion Show Model Casting Call, LOFT Austin Texas

2011-10-11T00:41:00.004-05:00

More pictures of this event on Facebook HERE. These are some of the model finalists I will be choosing for the 14 runway looks.
Sorry for the lack of posting. I've been doing school applications, publishing a research paper for biotech journals, finishing homework for engineering classes....AND...preparing for the Marie Claire x LOFT fashion show! So exciting right? Also if you know Kendi from Kendi Everyday, there's a 99% chance she'll be there to host the show. These pictures are from the model casting and fittings I did at The Domain location of LOFT. I calculated how many hours I worked per week and it's over 80 hours. That's why you haven't seen my face on the blog for so long!! I was trying to maintain the blog and everything else but it just wasn't working out, especially with the show nearing.
So, save the date: November 17th, 6:45pm (7pm show) at Mohawk. (Facebook event page HERE) If you're on UT campus, there will be a UT shuttle taking you to the event departing from somewhere on Dean Keeton. Details to come.
PS. I can't believe the LOFT, Rimmel, and Marie Claire team will be flying down to Austin Texas for this show!!!! SO excited. Who knew starting a blog could lead to a fashion show with Marie Claire and LOFT?

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checkmate

2011-09-22T08:00:00.005-05:00

old navy shirts (1, 2), vintage belt, forever 21 skirt (you can buy similar at AA), river island pumps (similar: 1, 2), rebecca minkoff bag

Quick post before I'm back to the computer lab to do Aspen... my hair was a mess so this was the only thing I could come up with. I'm kind of obsessed with shades of green and blue if it wasn't obvious...

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style tip: summer to fall transitioning (maxi slip dress)

2011-09-19T15:41:00.008-05:00

summer: forever 21 slip dress, gojane blazer , jessica simpson shoes (similar: 1, 2), amrita singh necklace via hautelook clearance (they have amrita singh blowout sales about biannually, but similar ones by same designer here: 1, 2, 3 ), rebecca minkoff bag (same mac bag in leather instead of suede, similar rebecca minkoff bag in teal, I want another one snakeprint, black, or red if budget permits...), c/o Bakers cuff (obsessed)!

fall: forever 21 slip dress, old navy sweater, old navy vest, vintage necklace as belt (similar), vintage layered necklaces found at garage sale and etsy (get similar effect by layering these together: 1, 2, 3, 4,), vicini heels via buffalo exchange clearance (similar: 1, 2, 3)
Have you flipped to a fashion magazine editorial on an investment piece and ways to style it or how to transition a $1000 shirt from summer to fall and sigh because no matter how good the "investment" is on that article of clothing, it's still more than your monthly rent? If not, then I envy you. If yes, read on.
This dress is $15.50, found at Forever 21 in three different colors (rust, cobalt, mustard...some colors might be sold out online so check the stores) and can be worn a million different ways:

with chandelier earrings and gold flat sandals for a summer evening,
with a beaded shawl or top and heels for a fancier outing,
under a button up shirt or cardigan for movie with friends,
as a skirt under a striped shirt and ballerina flats for classes,
under a band shirt (Slayer dedicated to Tim) and leather jacket for an edgier outfit,
with a blazer, scarf and flat boots for fall,
under multiple layers, a coat and a few pairs of wool tights for winter...

...the list goes on. I would have bought all three colors if it wasn't for Tim questioning my sanity (the comment "mustard yellow?? Looks more like putrid yellow..." also made the mustard option a bit off-putting). I will be mixing this dress with bright colors and minimal accessories for summer and layering with multiple textures for fall. I will also be throwing this on in lieu of my pajamas when grabbing snacks at the grocery store (personal rule: never wear PJ's or exercise-wear for any trips outside the house or gym). There, I might have just talked myself into getting the rust one too. When I'm employed in a high-paying job I will be able to justify spending $1000 on a single piece. Until then, I'll consider inexpensive colorful basics as my investment pieces. The cost per wear of this dress will be under a penny.
Note: the length is quite long for Forever 21. I'm curvy and between 5'9" and 5'10" and the length fits me perfectly, so if you're shorter and/or have a leaner frame you might need to tailor it or only wear with heels. The straps are adjustable so there is some leeway.
PS. I am going to start doing more of these "style tip" posts, especially after my major school commitments in October. If you've got a general style question, let me know via email or comment!
PPS. Some of you might have already read this on my facebook page but I've received the official approval for graduation this December in both of my degrees! It's been nice knowing you, UT, but maybe I'll be back soon...

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neo orange

2011-09-16T00:46:00.007-05:00

asos skirt (here, similar: 1, 2 ), c/o rowme shirt , vintage belt (similar), river island leopard loafers (similar: 1, 2, 3. 4), vintage gold bracelet (similar: 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5), asos portfolio clutch (similar: 1, 2, 3, identical one in cherry red)

I love this skirt!!! The cut is so my signature style. Expect another outfit remixing it soon. I'm currently in love with constructing an outfit around a single color family ...mint with turquoise, tangerine with neon orange, pink with scarlet, camel with brown. A recent closet clean-out and many trips to the Goodwill donation box later, I've realized my purchases should focus more on basics in different colors rather than wear-once-then-stash pieces. I'm also starting to shop for fall and can't stop myself from staring at pretty objects way out of my price range (exhibit A)...feel free to suggest a cheaper alternative to that last example by the way since apparently I'm going through a sequin obsession phase. I definitely appreciated the suggestions on my facebook status for basic black ballet flats; I'm probably going to try to find the discounted Ralph Lauren ones somewhere.
I'm curious to know, what are some of you guys' shopping strategies? What would your perfect closet consist of? My perfect closet would be about a third vintage, a lot of quality basics, and the rest crazy fun pieces.

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the peacock blues

2011-09-13T07:05:00.008-05:00

Photography Credit: Waytao Shing
Asos teal skirt (I'm contemplating on getting the mustard yellow version too), vintage belt (similar: 1, 2, 3 ), forever 21 jacket (similar: 1, 2, 3 ), striped UO shirt , jessica simpson platforms (similar ), amrita singh earrings, c/o Bakers jeweled cuff

I love wearing different shades of the same hue. I actually wore this a few days back, when the weather gods gifted us with 2-3 rare days of 60-70 degrees. I immediately pulled out this light jacket that I've been dying to wear more but haven't really gotten many chances due to the unbearable heat wave we've been experiencing (previously worn here). I paired it with my new skirt purchased in my favorite color since middle school. While we're on the topic of teal, I need your opinion on these teal glitter platforms...are they a bit too much? They also have it in red glitter if you're going as Dorthy for Halloween. I joke. Asos has really been stepping it up in the shoes department lately.
My bangs are so long that they bothered me to the point to which I pinned them up, which is quite a feat. I hate my forehead (long story, involves a Chinese childhood rhyme that chants "big head, big head, no worries when the rain comes, they have umbrellas, you have a big head"). Then I did a photoshoot and I actually liked how I looked with my hair up. Now looking back on these photos I wish fervently my hair was worn down so it must have been Liz's hair-styling prowess and not actually me looking good with my hair up. Random hair-related rant over...
I stayed up late all weekend not because I was out partying, but because I was doing school-related work. I've been freaking out over the future for the past year now and it's weird to think I'm almost out of college. This last semester has been definitely a test for willpower; I've already had so many nights where I come home at 10 pm from research after staying at school since 8 am. I would say more but I feel like I've complained enough and it's currently 3am when I'm writing this. I just know I'll be super glad when this semester is all over!

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highlighter pink

2011-09-10T01:10:00.004-05:00

forever 21 jacket (similar floral trench here and here), f21 tank (similar), lucca couture skirt, bakers pumps (been asked about these a lot, similar magenta pumps here and here), c/o lulu's bag (loving red bags right now, liking this and this one for strapped options and this envelope clutch)

This is an outfit from a while back as I'm currently behind on outfit posts. Looking back, I would have chosen a different pair of shoes but I was more focused on experimenting with matching the inside lining of the jacket with my tank that day...random detail huh? As you can see, I've been loving bright colors and 1950's silhouettes for the approaching fall (even though it's still exasperatingly hot at 90 degrees here). I purchased a few skirts in rainbow hues from the asos clearance sale this past week after a long shopping ban due to textbooks expenses and the NYC trip.
I hope everyone's having a good Friday night! I'm watching Dane Cook reruns and going bed relatively early after writing a nine-page research report on amine strippers last minute. This semester is kicking my procrastinating butt to the curb and I've been successfully forcing myself to carry around an agenda thus far.
PS. Forgive my hair's appearance...I've been trying to grow my bangs out until my friend Liz, who is currently in NYC right now for fashion week, can come back and fix it.

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leopard and red

2011-09-04T13:40:00.003-05:00

romwe dress (they are sold out but here's a cute one), c/o lulu's bag, thrifted pumps, vintage belt

Who's still obsessed with leopard for fall? I am! (Contemplating shoe choices: flats vs platforms). The other I wore this dress with minimal accessories (for me anyway) since I was running out the door for some much-need food and groceries and didn't want to stack on a million rings and bracelets. Rings have become somewhat annoying for me to wear on school days since I wear gloves at research.
Sorry for the long week gone from this blog. First I was in NYC for Marie Claire, LOFT and Rimmel, then Hurricane Irene complicated my itinerary, then school swung back full-force along with research. To say it's been crazy around here would be an understatement. On the bright side, everyone knows that Zara will be launching their US online store on September 7th right? I know I'm pretty excited since I can never make it to their location nearest to me and basically rely on online and thrift shopping (if any) to get me by these days.
I hope everyone's having a good long weekend here in the States! I actually have a four-day weekend thanks to a course schedule with classes only on MWF. I can't believe it's going to be my last semester as an undergraduate... still contemplating if it's worth it to attend the graduation ceremony since UT's list of graduates is so huge.

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painterly neon

2011-08-23T13:39:00.003-05:00

c/o Crystal Hearts Vintage skirt, forever 21 tanks (similar), asos clutch (similar, similar), river island pumps, vintage belt

I love this skirt! I was going to pair it with black to keep everything else neutral but then I decided...why not keep the whole look bright and colorful? So I wore two layered silk tanks and my neon teal clutch for a brighter-than-your-highlighter outfit. Anyway T-minus one day until my NYC trip and I have not packed anything yet. I've been so busy buying textbooks, conversing with my professor that I am going to be the course tutor/grader for, and decorating my new apartment that I forgot to pack. So now I'm probably going to just shove a few pieces in my luggage bag like I always do...oops.

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Austin Fashion Week 2011: Kick-Off Party Summary

2011-08-22T06:01:00.007-05:00

above: me and Joanna. below: me and Tim's view of the stage from our seats.

Team Adored Austin should need no introduction to the blogosphere...Indiana and Rachel.

The dress on the presenter is like cotton candy and I love it.

The set up of the runway. The entire runway was black studded leather since the kickoff show was a rocker/biker theme. I forgot to take pics of my seats (thanks Kristen!) but they were right where the lady in black and white in the front of the stage was standing.

my heart swooned when these kids came on stage... SO ADORABLE

and then Betsey Johnson's collection was shown in the first half of the show while the local collections were still being prepped. I want that teal poufy skirt! Also, watching a Betsey Johnson collection from the front row was surreal.

After a short intermission with a band playing, the first mash-up looks (a randomly paired team of accessories/clothing/shoes/makeup/jewelry/hair people putting together 1 cohesive look) came on the runway...

I was so proud of my friend Anslee when this teal number came down the runway. She designs an amazing plus-sized line and has repeated insisted on using a true plus sized model. I also LOVE that peacock feathered tote.

this dress is one of my favorites from the mashup teams...

Wouldn't be my blog without a few pictures of shoes. I'm digging this feathered concoction...

a "fabulous" toolbox. love.

I want her beehive hair!

once again, balloons + kids = win.

full body shot available on the facebook album, but I love how this model actually walked en pointe in ballet shoes the entire time on the runway. I love details like that...

the boots!!

Professional shots by my friend Waytao Shing. More of his shots are uploaded on to a facebook album HERE. Waytao does a lot of amazing concert photography from Slash to Taylor Swift and was kind enough to show me how to shoot in manual settings and give me other little photography helpful tidbits during the show intermission. Check his website out!

(Excuse my poor excuse for a fashion show outfit but even 1 hour before the show we were still driving back from the countryside so I had 20 minutes to get ready...and then I also decided what's the point since the models are still going to look 10x as amazing as I would ever look so I put on this Asos clearance dress I got from a while back and my favorite pair of pumps)
I'm writing this blog post at 5:30 in the morning because it ended up taking me 4-5 hours to edit/upload the photos so excuse my incoherence. I figured since I'm leaving for NYC this week I better edit the photos now or they will be extremely backlogged. I'll be brief about the show:

The good: I liked the venue and how it was set up, the fact that the models came in all shapes, ethnicity, gender, and age groups. I liked that the show was indoors instead of outdoors like last year. I liked the hair/makeup/clothes. I also liked the use of accessories and random details that made the outfits. Also if you guys want to see all of the photoshoots with the mashup teams, want more information on the individual designers or want to vote for your favorite look, HERE's the link. Austin Fashion Week is definitely heading in the right direction without losing the quirky Austin flavor. There's been so much improvement and growth in the fashion scene from year to year (this is the third year for AFW) that it's amazing how professional and well-executed this event was.
The "bad": there's not much to complain about so I'm being extremely knit-picky. Some of the models could use a need to practice their walk a bit more...a lot of them look mortified to be walking in such high heels. The individual designers' instead of just the team's name could be listed on the slideshow screen so there's no confusion about whose design each look was. Finally, I think next time the aisle and media platform should be checked for random people trying to get a better view because there were people sitting in front of the front row seats and people with camera phones on the media riser.
I'm sad to only attend one event from AFW this year due to my trip to NY since it looks like the shows are going to be pretty kick-ass. To all my Austin friends reading this...break a leg!
PS. For a funnier (and more thorough) recap of the show, head over to Joanna's blog post about the event!

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polka dots and floral

2011-08-21T11:33:00.003-05:00

forever 21 shorts (similar HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, asos shirt (similar HERE , HERE, HERE, HERE), dolce vita shoes (similar HERE, HERE, HERE), american leather bag (similar HERE, HERE, HERE)

Short post today after the Austin Fashion Kickoff party last night. I wore this a while back as a casual outfit to run errands in and yet still feel put together...I'm kind of obsessed with polka dots for the past few months as you can see. I'm so dead tired and cant wait to dig into a nice brunch so I'll see you guys later!! :)

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minty fresh

2011-08-18T14:42:00.004-05:00

forever 21 cardigan/blouse/skirt, river island shoes, asos bag
Nothing like a palette of minty greens to counter a hot summer day. I love the splash of graphic prints this cardigan lends and can’t believe I found it at forever 21. I think the key to shopping there is to stay away from the tees with huge fonts and dig for classic pieces you can wear season after season.
I wore this to get some groceries while at Tim’s house in the countryside. I almost wore a neon pink blazer with this skirt but realized that I’m in a small town in Texas, not the 80’s or NYC where I can pull it off (my facebook status concerning this actually sparked an interesting debate HERE). This is still considered over the top here though…anything other than jeans and a shirt is considered over the top... ;)

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photoshoot with jenny fu pt 2

2011-08-18T11:58:00.004-05:00

Photography: Jenny Fu
Stylist: Rose Tran
Make Up: Laura Martinez
Hair: Liz Nevin
Clothes:self-designed dress (inspired by betsey johnson's designs and 1950's prom dresses), vintage fur stole from garage sale, forever 21 shoes, forever 21 pearls

Part 2 of the photoshoot from THIS post. This was actually my 21st birthday dress a few years back when I decided to have the princess tea party of my childhood dreams as a last hurrah before I am supposed to be a mature adult. Most people might have chosen a night out drinking but I couldn't think of a better way to spend my last day as an adult than eating pink rosette cupcakes, drinking tea and milk out of vintage painted china we found at an estate sale, and dressed in 1950's gear to go to cheesecake factory (my restaurant of choice for every birthday celebration since my 19th).
The making of this dress was quite the story since I conversed with a dressmaker (found via etsy) located in Greece over the period of 2 months, trading sketches and photos of the dress, choosing swatches of lace and satin...so fun. I truly felt like a princess thanks to her!! Imagine trying to ship this dress and the petticoat all the way across from the ocean...
PS. An outfit post will be coming later today so watch out for that! ;)

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tangerine

2011-08-17T02:54:00.003-05:00

blouse: c/o Romwe, skirt: charlotte russe, slip: thrifted, necklace: yochi designs via ideeli, shoes: colin stuart pumps, belt: forever 21, bag: c/o Lulus

Sorry for the lonnnng absence! I'm finally unpacked in my apartment and summer courses are over (yay 4.0 semester)! Now it's a week of recuperation...erm I meant studying for an upcoming standardized exam...before I hit NYC to meet with the Marie Claire team. Austin Fashion Week also starts this coming weekend so I would get to attend the kickoff party before flying to New York. I'm so excited about the trip even though I will be missing the first few days of class of my final semester. There's so much going on at once that I really don't know what to think or do except stumble from one to-do list to the next. Hopefully I get to update this blog a bit more frequently now that I've re-gathered my wardrobe and marbles. :)

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photoshoot with Jenny Fu

2011-08-08T12:17:00.002-05:00

Photography: Jenny Fu
Stylist: Rose Tran
Make Up: Laura Martinez
Hair: Liz Nevin

In lieu of a regular post here's a fun photoshoot I did with my favorite team a month back. It's weird to see myself styled so differently...I've got lips! I looooove the outfit Rose pulled from my closet too. Here's the outfit details: Topshop dress and blouse, vintage belt, american apparel skirt, forever 21 shoes and necklace. I now wish I had more free time to do more photoshoots! Fun fact: during the shoot I actually brought my textbooks in hopes of getting some studying done but of course never got to study it so ended up pulling a late-nighter. I absolutely love my hair here too...I can never get it to curl so Liz pulled some wonders. Wait until you guys see another photoshoot where I've got pink eyeshadow on...

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the summer dress

2011-08-06T17:20:00.004-05:00

gojane dress/sunglasses, dolce vita shoes via ideeli (you can get them HERE though), garage sale necklace, vintage belt

An abbreviated post from my new apartment! The long and painful move along with an essay on the Cold War worth 30% of my grade due this past Friday are my excuses for the long absence away from blogging. At least it means I'm about 7 credit hours from graduating! I love this new blue dress although the seams are already starting to unravel (grr) so I'll be pulling my sewing machine out (I wish I had a serger). To me it's the quintessential summer dress so I got it in both this blue color and in orange. I also replenished my supply of cheap cateye sunnies (I seem to leave them everywhere and mysterious scratches often appear) since these were $3-something a pop.
Tim and I are currently catching up on sleep and painting the abandoned furniture pieces we found by the roadside to furnish the new place(40,000 UT students all moving out on one weekend = lots of abandoned 8-ft solid wood bookshelves, desks, etc...so wasteful). I guess I'll be the first one to admit that we've got no shame in digging around the dumpster for the sake of saving the environment and the pocketbook in one stroke. Anyway, we found some amazing oak and maple vintage pieces that if we were to hold a garage sale right now we would easily make $700-1000. The things people left were astonishing...we actually found one dude carrying out to the dumpster a brand new desk that he didn't need instead of donating it or listing it on craigslist. Wasteful, wasteful, wasteful...
I should unpack and rediscover all my clothes and whatnot by this weekend so expect more posts to come....

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Mix and Match

2011-07-30T11:47:00.009-05:00

forever 21 jacket and silk tank, DIY brocade skirt, vintage belt, garage sale+yochi designs necklaces, colin stuart pumps, asos envelope clutch
I gave up on finding a picture of me with non wind-mussed hair but gave up since it was just way too windy when we took these on the rooftop. We've been moving from one apartment to another for the past 2 weeks so excuse the lack of outfit posts. The temperature difference between outside (105F) and inside (60-70F) also has made me lazy in getting dressed. I finally got this little forever 21 jacket to layer on top of everything in order to make the temperature transition easier. How cool is this belt? Some of you might have seen it presented in a very different manner on my facebook (LINK) when my belt got in the hands of my fellow researchers. I also found the sea creatures necklace for $10 at a garage sale and am currently obsessed with how detailed each trinket is. I've also been asked several times on a tutorial to make this skirt. I made a diagram for the pattern HERE. As you can see, it's just a regular circle skirt and the two measurements can be varied to your liking. Then just add a "pocket" for the elastic, thread the elastic through, and hem. Simple and if you're a skilled seamstress you might finish in an hour (it took me 6 hours though since it was the first piece of garment I've ever made). Anyway, I've been packing all night and I need a quick nap! Hope everyone's having a great weekend.
PS. I stopped using flickr so now you can use the clipper from polyvore!!

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pattern overload

2011-07-24T11:24:00.013-05:00

Forever 21 everything (except Asos clearance striped top)
I obviously went a bit pattern-crazy on this outfit. The summer heat and the need to mix things up does strange things to me. I also didn't realize how almost everything I'm wearing is from various seasons of forever21 until I started writing this post. Oops. All the more reason for me to stay away from that store and do more thrifting. I've been moving, studying, research, and had an exam on my birthday (first time I've had to go to school on my birthday, much less exam, since it's always summertime) so I haven't posted as often as I'd like but I've taken the facebook page votes on what type of posts you'll like to see more into consideration and will try to bring my DSLR with me more.
Oh, I wish I knew more about this but I won THIS Marie Claire contest and thus a trip to NYC to meet with the Marie Claire team as well as get to host a fashion show at UT. Any recommendations on where I should visit in NYC? I've loved St Mark's Place, Soho & Chinatown but I feel like there's a few more places I should be visiting....

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austin texas random fashion & etc snaps

2011-07-18T19:52:00.008-05:00

A bunch of pictures that never made it to the blog until now...
1. Star, owner of Dog & Pony boutique at the American Icon x BleachOnline yard sale. I love her entire outfit and also the detail of her wearing her keys as a necklace.
2-12. Other random snaps at yard sale. I wanted everything but walked away with this floral skirt, an amazing vintage rock shirt to add to Tim's massive tee collection, a velvet floral blazer that could either spell disaster or fabulosity (I declare that a word), and two vintage belts (I've got quite a collection of them, many cheap high street pieces such as ones from f21 are ill-fitting on hourglass types and so I buy XL/L and cinch it at the waist).
13. Tiffany, writer for Nylon Daily Austin & Austin is Burning (writer for Bleach, model, amongst many other amazing trades), with her supersized feather earring...
14-18. Behind-the-scene snaps of a photoshoot I did with friends. Love Rose's stack of watches. More on the shoot later. As you can see, a lot of my personal wardrobe clothes/jewelry and pieces from Zara were pulled for this shoot. Wait until you see me with curly hair and no dark eye makeup!
19-20. New shoe chairs found at a garage sale this weekend. Instant love. Sorry for the shitty picture of me but it's mainly to show you guys how happy I am. :) I love all things cheesy and outrageous.
21. A short feature on me found on Austin Monthly. Funny how I get more features from my hobby (fashion) than my real life career path (engineering/science).
22-23. Carb overloading indulgences. No words necessary.

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sunbeam (what I wear to research lab)

2011-07-17T13:07:00.005-05:00

asos clearance dress, asos clearance shirt, forever 21 sleeveless trench, thrifted belt, gifted convertible twisty "bracelet", $1 garage sale brooch, walmart flats

I had to demonstrate how cool this convertible gold rope (for lack of a better name) is. My research mentor got it for me while on his summer vacation in Greece (jealous) partially as a thank-you for gifting him a disposable camera for the trip. A trip to CVS to buy a Kodak for him was necessitated when he told me he doesn't have a functional camera or a camera phone. I can just see two chemical engineering guys wandering around in a Greek gift shop wondering what to get for who they consider "a fashion-type girl." Anyway, so far I've worn it as multiple types of bracelets, a necklace, and a gold hair tie for an updo. In other words: it's the coolest thing ever since these new shoe chairs I got at the garage sale yesterday. I will post pictures of the chair soon.
Many of you guys have asked if I really wear all my documented outfits to lab and the answer is both yes and no. Today's outfit, minus the rings and clunky bracelets, would be a typical lab outfit. A jacket (I work in the 4C cold room a lot), cotton pieces ( washable), and flats instead of heels (a lot of heavy lifting and a LOT of walking around). These $8 flats from Wal-Mart has surprisingly served me well this summer. Finally, I wear a lot less jewelry in the lab because I'm wearing gloves and I don't want the metal in the jewelry to react with the bleach or whatever other chemicals I'm working with. Thankfully my lab is a biotech one and thus does not require wearing long pants and sleeves since all we work with is harmless strains of E. Coli and bacteriophages.
PS. I thrifted the most amazing things this weekend! I can't wait to share.
Update: No I don't have to wear labcoat to research....

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"office casual"

2011-07-14T09:02:00.005-05:00

c/o romwe blouse, vintage skirt, thrifted necklace, thrifted belt, thrifted steve madden pumps, c/o lulu's purse

(Sorry for the wrinkly shirt! I wore this all day already when these were taken...) I found this (50's?) skirt for $15 and planned on hemming it but realized that I actually liked the knee length. I decided to go with what I would imagine office casual would be like...since here at research anything goes as long as you're wearing clothes. This for people outside of the engineering/business/legal offices to wear to work since I doubt my industry's workplace would allow such vibrant colors and prints. Anyway, I would talk more but once again I'll give you the old excuse: school/research.

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aquamarine

2011-07-10T10:30:00.004-05:00

american apparel plreated maxi skirt, forever 21 tank, jessica simpson pumps, thrifted belt, garage sale necklace, bag via overstock.com

(Oh my gosh I hate the new blogger layout! Also annoyed with how flickr drastically reduces the image quality when uploading. Any suggestions for good image hosting websites?)
My attempt at color blocking. I almost caved to purchase a pair of gorgeous blue and green color block heels on asos but decided against such a trendy shoe and to attempt the color scheme with clothes already in my wardrobe. I also refrained from getting the JS shoes that everyone else has and opted for these beautiful bow platforms that were banished to the 65% sale section. I fell in love with the thicker heel, the pleated bows, the slight platform, the sturdy ankle strap, the suede (I'm a sucker for suede)...everything. The necklace was only $1! I found it while looking for chains to reuse for jewelry projects. In case you're wondering, the last picture was an odd combination of dust from a car leaving Tim's driveway while we were taking pictures and the setting sun.
I was really bad about keeping up with my to-do list this past week (a 9 hour photoshoot with my friends didn't help the situation...more on that later) so this coming week I'll be cooped up in my room doing catch-up on studying when I'm not at research! I gave up the concept of going out until I graduate in December so I am totally planning a long road trip and/or vacation for next spring! I can't wait to have a break, but knowing me I'll probably sign up for 5 more classes (dancing, cooking, sewing, jewelry-making, the like) because I'm so easily bored with free time...

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a belated patriotic outfit post

2011-07-06T09:23:00.006-05:00

nasty gal top, urban outfitters shirt, urban outfitters pants, river island block heels, bag via overstock.com

Version 2 of wearing the top out of 5 that'll be coming over the next month or two (not sure how long it'll take to actually get 5 outfits in). I decided to wear PANTS for the first time in what seems like months because I've wanted to take a break from all the super frilly dresses/skirts for a while. I know I'm a few days late in posting my somewhat patriotic-colored outfit but this week has been hellish. I actually somewhat forgot research was closed down on the 4th and went to only find the lab doors locked...I'm THAT out of it. I've been working nonstop this weekend instead of relaxing as well. Hopefully in the next few years all these hours will pay off. I edited pictures and got this post ready at 3am in the morning last night and got up at 7am this morning to start the culture for the experiment so now I'm headed back to bed...

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neon pink

2011-07-01T12:37:00.005-05:00

nasty gal shirt, forever 21 tank, forever 21 skirt, bakers pumps, c/o lulu's bag, thrifted belt

I saw an article on Lucky with four amazingly ways to wear this top (except they sourced this identical top from Bebe) and decided instead of getting a number of trendy pieces with my budget this month, I would just get one blouse and remix it over the seasons. I can wear this top as a layer underneath slip dresses (or 50's strapless prom dresses) or wear it with jean shorts and a tank underneath to research. I think the phrase "wardrobe basic" differs from wardrobe to wardrobe...since I would categorize this blouse as part of mine basics. Over the next month or two you'll see this top pop up a few more times as I experiment with it.
Hope everyone has a good Friday!

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midsummer romance

2011-06-29T13:06:00.007-05:00

American Apparel 3D floral mesh jumper, Topshop lace dress, C/O Lulu's handbag

(I swear I'm wearing a slip underneath!! ) I like to wear my most over-the-top girly outfits on the weekends so I get it out of my system by the time I return to research on the weekdays. Floral? Check. Lace? Check. Rose lipstick? Check. Plus, there's no better pick-me-up than to wear a fancy dress to grab late afternoon lunches in. I've had this dress for a while now and it remains one of my most versatile lace pieces. I've experimented with wearing this dress with different colored slips underneath for various results...I want to wear something neon underneath for kicks, but I don't own anything in neon and probably shouldn't start.
Anyway, the course I'm taking is winding down so expect a few more posts per week. I'm also thinking of starting a new feature...but I'm not sure if I'll have the time commitment to keep it up. We shall see!
My birthday's coming up...even though I'm not doing anything huge this year I am still excited to see my friends! I am such a bad friend because I'm constantly working until 9-10pm and then have to go workout/eat/prep for exams so I never have time to catch up with anyone. Then on the weekends I'm usually out of town so I've been such a recluse for the past few months. I've got a really amazing friend dating back to high school and I have not seen her in two years; that's kind of ridiculous since we both live in Austin. Today we're about to change that fact as we've decided to have a potluck at my apartment, even if it's messy (I'm moving) and I have to study/workout/pack/whatever. Surely those things can wait one more day for an old friend, right?
PS. Currently listening to Vivaldi's Winter on repeat. Anyone else thinks that his Spring is overrated (overplayed on commercials and at weddings) and the other seasons deserve more credit? I usually listen to rap/pop/metal/rock now but once in a while I still like to flip through the songs that I used to love to play on my violin...

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the classics

2011-06-27T13:07:00.004-05:00

forever 21 shirt/bag, lucca couture skirt, river island shoes

This is dangerously close to an outfit repeat but I figured since I wear this as an "uniform" of sorts in real life, I should post this again online. I was excited to finally obtain a striped shirt that's as close to perfect as I'm probably going to get without breaking down and buying the $50+ version. In searching for certain basics over the past three years, I've realized how difficult it is to find the perfect, non-trendy basic within budget. I can always find striped shirts with sequined shoulders, in a cropped silhouette, or in the short sleeve or skirt form. However, the perfect long-sleeved, black/navy and white, thin striped shirt has eluded me for so many years. I can always get an APC shirt but it's hard to invest in cotton basics that I wash often when I have to deal with industrial strength washing machines at the moment. I've also been looking for chunky cable-knit cardigans in cotton (as opposed to acrylic), perfect leather ballet flats in black (I might eventually invest in a pair of Repettos), and button-downs in wrinkle-free cotton (is there such a thing? In any case I'm usually in too much of a hurry to iron). If anyone have suggestions, please share.
Well, I must leave for research again. My mentor is gone for the next two weeks and it just so happens that I'm at the most critical step of my experiment. I'm a bit scared to continue without him but two weeks is precious time if we want to publish our results before I leave UT...
PS. I'm thinking of cutting my hair back short. I had short hair for the last 2 years of high school and Freshman year in college and I'm craving the extra 10 minutes saved every day from shampoo/conditioner time and not having to brush my hair every few hours.

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lightness

2011-06-22T12:52:00.004-05:00

asos blouse (old), forever 21 shorts, forever 21 vest, colin stuart pumps (old), c/o lulu's bag

The awkward smile in the second picture should be understandable when I'm taking pictures in a rooftop garage on a windy day with lots of passing traffic. Also, what's that...layers?!? I finally found a way to wear something more than a shirt and a skirt/pair of shorts in the summer heat by wearing light vests and sheer fabrics. I've been whining about the lack of polka dots in clothing three weeks back and the week after, everything at Forever 21 was covered in polka dots. I've also been wanting a red bag and this one is the perfect size. A major bonus is that the bag has three expandable major compartments inside plus places to hold cellphones/keys, allowing me to pretend that I'm an organized person. The strap is also removable so I'll be looking forward to carrying it as a clutch as well.
Anyway, hope everyone's having a decent hump day. My day just started since I just turned in the last lab report I will ever write (!!!) yesterday evening and now I've got a freer schedule with just research until my next summer course starts up.

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outtakes

2011-06-18T23:39:00.001-05:00

outfit 1: american apparel skirt, vintage blouse, thrifted bakers pumps, asos bag
outfit 2: american apparel skirt, thrifted lace blouse, vintage silk jacket, forever 21 wedges
outfit 3: asos maxi skirt, vintage tweed blazer, vintage leather bag

Just some random pictures of outtake outfits and of my favorite daily activities. The adorable pictured puppy is Tim's parents' Billy Blue and is completely enamored with two things in life: swimming in the creek near the front yard and sitting on my lap despite his growing size. The dessert picture is from The Melting Pot which I suggest going if you fervently believe that melted chocolate makes everything better...

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d.i.y. 50's sundress

2011-06-14T20:21:00.007-05:00

d.i.y. 50's sundress (similar), forever 21 straw hat (similar), bakers pumps

I used a Butterick's reprint of a vintage 50's evening dress; the original pattern had a shift dress with a sheer detachable overlay poufy skirt. I did quite a bit of modification to the pattern and still ended up making the shoulders too wide and the waist too big (even under the watchful eyes of the best sewing instructor ever). This will probably be the first and also last time I attempt something complicated unless my sewing skills magically improve. Speaking of D.I.Y.'s, I have about six different projects that I need to finish up.
Anyway, I'm currently blogging while waiting for a step to finish at research. My current weekday schedule is so predictable: class, research, gym, research, computer lab, bed. Every semester I think "this is my busiest semester ever" until the next semester rolls along. I'm dreading this coming fall since one of my friends (heading to UC Berkeley for PhD in Chemical Engineering...overachiever!) informed me that she didn't get home from the computer lab until 4 am every Thursday when she took plant design. If my genius friend went home at four, you can bet I'll be there all night! Also, why is everyone in my life moving to California? Stanford, Cal Tech, Berkeley... even my best guy friend moved to San Francisco. Wait for me!

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bookworm

2011-06-12T10:28:00.010-05:00

topshop blouse, charlotte russe skirt (similar), river island pumps, overstock bag, etsy ring

Ack, sorry about the hideous mosquito bites...apparently there is something about me that mosquitoes just can't get enough of since I'm the only one that ever gets bitten. I wasn't sure about posting this outfit as it's quite bland...but whatever. I wore this to get some quick Japanese food after a long day of research so I just put on my favorite flashy skirt with my favorite flashy blouse. I currently have no money to buy new clothes as it's all being spent on apartment deposits, textbooks and study aids. Rent and books?!? Who needs higher education or a place to live anyway? Speaking of "old" clothes, I often get a lot of emails asking me about if I could find the links to Asos or Topshop items I get. I have only shopped at Topshop during the clearance sales and this applies to Asos in most instances as well. So, if you can't find it on the site, chances are it's sold out a few seasons back. As much as I would love to buy in-season clothes every season, I can't afford to. Thus the investment on higher education instead of clothes, I suppose. ;)
I've been so annoyed with everything about life lately, including a particular incident where a lab teammate refused to respond to my emails asking if he finished the rest of the prelab (he said he was doing it) so I had to drop my research experiment to do so last minute right before the deadline. A simple "no I haven't" response would have meant I could have done it the night before. I must be turning into a crotchety old lady or something. Other things that annoy me are slightly more personal so I'll refrain from venting online ...I'll just amuse myself with funny snippets of South Park and THIS video on youtube for now...

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whimsical

2011-06-09T01:12:00.007-05:00

topshop watercolor blouse, forever 21 crochet top, charlotte russe crochet shorts, forever 21 floral wedges

Just a quick post to show everyone I'm alive and well! My laziness to do outfit posts mainly stems from my busy schedule, but also have to do with me moving from one apartment to another soon. So much has to be packed up that the move has motivated me to go through another clothes and books purging frenzy. While cleaning up the piles of clothes and scrolling through some fascinating minimalist fashion blogs, I've started to rethink my clothes-shopping strategy. Although this blog will still have new pieces from Forever 21/Asos/Lulu's/American Apparel/Topshop, I will be focusing slightly more on thrifting clothes in order to save money for a few nice higher end pieces...
In other news, summer courses has gotten me going back-to-back from writing technical reports to research and back to the computer lab...but enough whining from me! Back to the report I've procrastinated on in order to bring you guys this short update!

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tinkerbell

2011-06-03T14:25:00.004-05:00

topshop dress, bellydance shop necklace, dolce vita shoes, rebecca minkoff bag

(Sorry for the cheesy expressions...)We were running around Austin trying to get everything done yesterday and shot these pictures in a hurry in some random alleyway. I tend to gravitate towards breezy pieces and statement jewelry when the temperature rises above 100F. In other news, summer courses started yesterday and I'm taking my senior engineering lab...which means 2 technical reports due per week for the next month. This weekend is going to be mostly studying and writing reports so I hope everyone else is having a more fabulous weekend than I am!

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mixed

2011-05-30T17:14:00.012-05:00

vintage blazer, c/o simply audrey dress, asos clutch, river island shoes, forever 21 necklace

I still can't believe how some people can still layer this deep into summer...I'm so jealous! I wore this light linen blazer out the other day around Tim's place and it was so ridiculously hot (it got up to 104 F this week) that I had to take it off! I just foolishly wanted to believe I could possibly wear anything other than a breezy dress and a coat of sweat. Speaking of breezy dresses, this polka dot number fits right into my summer wardrobe. I was hoping polka dots would be more readily available this summer at local stores but alas, it is not (instead it is tribal/70's everything right now...) so I was extremely glad for this dress. Some of you asked about the nature backgrounds in some of the pictures (and how I managed to get there for outfit photos)...I swear I didn't trek a long way just to take the outfit pictures! For example, the creek pictured above is literally 30-40 footsteps away from Tim's front porch and about 3 steps away from his dirt driveway. In other news, life currently includes watching lots of movies at the Alamo Drafthouse, researching/studying, napping in the countryside on the weekends, and partaking in midnight idyllic grocery store trips to the frozen desserts aisle. I've had people recognize me from the blog at HEB before but thankfully not while I was singing/dancing along to Backstreet Boys/Cher/something else equally embarrassing blasting on the intercom...

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color play

2011-05-29T10:43:00.007-05:00

asos dress, asos clutch, vintage belt, bakers pumps, amrita singh necklace
photos by Tim and Brittney

I'm already running late so excuse me for the short post...this dress is my favorite summer dress from two years back and I still wear it the most out of all my summer wardrobe (save for my new crochet shorts). Hope everyone in the US is having a great long weekend!

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raspberry cream

2011-05-24T02:43:00.011-05:00

american apparel mesh top, american apparel skirt, bakers shoes, asos clutch

Took a few shots as we were leaving San Saba for a little movie date at the Alamo Drafthouse to watch Pirates in 3D. Around 10 minutes into the movie, my 3D glasses were so scratched from previous users I literally thought I've been wearing 3D glasses to a regular movie...I felt like quite the idiot for about 30 seconds before I realized that the movie was indeed 3D. Not my brightest moment.
I think prior to this year I only had one piece of AA garment, but thanks to the flea market sale and the $35 for $100 gift card deal a while back I now have way more AA pieces than I've ever imagined I'll own. Aren't these Bakers pumps the best? I love the little subtle cutouts around the edges and the vibrant magenta color.

Anyway, I decided I wanted bigger blog pictures and thus rearranged certain elements of the blog. Hope you guys like the change. I will be making the blog more steamlined and the layout simple as I want the blog to be more focused around the outfit photos.

As some of you asked about summer plans, I'm doing research, working, applying to schools and taking summer courses this summer. Nothing glamorous about it but it keeps the bills paid with a little cash left over for fashion-related items. :) It also means just like the past spring semester, the blog will be put on the back burner. Don't worry though, I plan on posting but hopefully just emphasizing quality over quantity!
Update: No I didn't get a new camera; I did get photoshop cs5 and started shooting in RAW (instead of JPEG) and am finally getting the hang of using photoshop (I previously used picnik).

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50's

2011-05-21T16:05:00.004-05:00

forever 21 sweater, lucca couture skirt, forever 21 necklace

I've been lounging in PJ's and watching TV for most of this long weekend but yesterday we went into town for dinner and I decided to wear something a little reminiscent of the 1950's, which ties with the 1920's as my favorite eras in fashion...
Some of you guys have asked about my plans after graduation. I just figured that out myself very recently and after I solidify my plans I'll let you guys know. Graduating in Decemeber instead of May means I probably will have one free semester to either work in industry or relax before resuming school.
PS. 4.0 semester! Yessss.

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snapshot

2011-05-19T14:53:00.001-05:00

asos jacket, american apparel shirt, lucca couture skirt via ideeli, dolce vita heels, amrita singh necklace

What I wore some time last week...a very "Diya" look. On my way to a long weekend in the countryside with Tim since finals are over, making a pit stop at Barnes and Nobles for some reading material and study guide for an upcoming standardized exam. I actually went into research approximately 2 hours after finals ended and my mentor was surprised that I was there. Not that this summer will be a breeze as we're racing against time before I graduate to publish a paper with my results in a science journal...

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seafoam

2011-05-15T08:11:00.005-05:00

asos skirt, forever 21 crochet top, forever floral wedges, vintage leather clutch, forever 21 bangles, amrita singh necklace
I've been really loving monochromatic palettes and playing around with an outfit's textures/lengths instead. I love this little turtle and the hare ring as the story is one of my favorite fables growing up. One final down and a few more to go. We're back to the countryside after the exam since the quiet here is much more conducive to studying and relaxing.

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delicate layers

2011-05-10T12:30:00.003-05:00

topshop chiffon top, forever 21 lace top, asos slip dress, bag via overstock, charlotte russe pumps, forever 21 necklace, manifest manifest bangle

I'm still studying but since I'm a bit ill, I'm at Tim's place. I love the concept of layering a slip dress under a sheer lace top as light layering is quite necessary for the Texan heat this summer...

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that hat again

2011-05-08T15:40:00.004-05:00

forever 21 top, lucca couture skirt, forever 21 hat/purse (hat last seen HERE), river island shoes

Sorry for the lack of posting lately but it's finals week... ugh. I wore this out even though all we did was eat at our favorite 24 hour diner and get groceries on Friday night. When you just wrote a 5000 word research thesis on antibody engineering in 48 hours and have to study for finals while everyone else in your engineering class is graduating and officially done with college (I'm graduating in December, one semester late due to the double major between biochemistry and chemical engineering and also the time spent on research), you need something dramatic, girly and completely over-the- top to distract you. No?

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ease

2011-05-04T13:34:00.003-05:00

forever 21 dress, bagatelle jacket, dolce vita shoes, rebecca minkoff bag

Very brief post merely proving I'm not dead. These photos were taken well over a month ago but I just rediscovered them now...not an incredibly interesting outfit but I loved the combination for some reason.
I'm incredibly busy for the next week and a half due to two thesis papers due on my research, finals, and finalizing my summer plans.

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cotton candy

2011-05-02T00:05:00.008-05:00

vintage blazer, thrifted blouse, american apparel tutu skirt, forever 21 necklace/bangles, asos clutch, river island shoes

Sorry for the long absence! These were actually taken last Thursday but I never got around to editing and posting them. I've been researching, jewelry-making, going to garage sales (yay for $1 jewelry piles that have signed gold pieces!) and taking a few days off away from technology in general (which is highly unusual since I usually have a laptop and cell with me at all times). I bought these amazing shoes a while back in both gold and solid black. Totally worth it! I'm loving all block heeled shoes right now since they're much easier to walk around in than skinny little heels.
This skirt is like wearing cotton candy... and yes I have it in both white (worn here) and peach... excessive? Yes.
I wore this out on a little dinner date with Tim at our favorite thai place and then went on a grocery trip. Perhaps that makes us boring people, to be going to HEB instead of the fashion show and party I got invited to on Thursday night...but I've been kind of taking a break from all the local fashion events in order to regain some of sanity. Trust me, I'm going to need the break for the upcoming hailstorm of thesis due dates, research and final exams. Eek...
PS. In case you're wondering, I am indeed wearing a full pair of shorts under this skirt. It is THIS pair.
PPS. Finally I made a formspring account. I will try to answer all of the questions if you wish...

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Innovation: UT Austin Fashion Show 2011

2011-04-27T17:52:00.006-05:00

MORE pictures at my Facebook Album HERE

On Thursday April 21, 2011, around 5000 people convened in the Frank Erwin Center to watch the UT Senior Fashion Show. Aptly named "Innovation," the show featured new ways of interpreting fashion. Interesting details included glow-in-the-dark strips on clothing, origami pleats, eco-friendly dyes, neon lights on evening gowns, transformable sleeves/skirts, and so much more. Also notable was the diversity of the models and the collections; not only beautiful girls of all shades walked the runway, but there were also a surprisingly large number of menswear collections and thus male models. All senior design students were asked to design a three-piece capsule collection, an eveningwear outfit, and a bridal piece. In addition, a few UT-colored pieces kickstarted the fashion show which are now available for purchase at the UT Co-op.
Although I usually hate bridalwear, my favorite part was definitely the wedding gowns! My two favorites have to be the Marchesa-esque origami gown and the champagne-colored tulle gown (modeled by my gorgeous friend Briana!). What I love the most about the UT show is that it's pretty much a "family affair"; Austin has a very small fashion community and I knew a lot of the models, organizers, photographers and showgoers. I go to many many fashion shows in Austin (and have modeled for a few as well) but it's safe to say my favorite show in Austin will always be the UT one.
These pictures are just the tip of the iceberg for the UT fashion show! Head over to my Facebook page for LOADS more...
UPDATE: Yes UT has a wonderful Textiles and Apparel program, in fact it's where Kelly of The Glamourai actually graduated from!

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layers of brown

2011-04-26T16:46:00.003-05:00

urban outfitters skirt, lulu's crochet top, random tank underneath, asos envelope leather clutch, forever 21 bangles, thrifted bakers pumps

Quick outfit post before I hit the textbooks for an upcoming electrical engineering exam. This was what I wore this past weekend while running errands. Tim informed me "you know your shirt is completely see through right?" so I guess the beige tank looked like a bra but whatever. I felt like layering hues of the same color together lately and brown was the perfect candidate. "See through shirts" are also helpful in layering as we already are experiencing 90 degree temperatures in Austin. I swear we only have two seasons: winter and summer...

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easter pastels

2011-04-25T18:08:00.003-05:00

american apparel 3d floral mesh jumper, charlotte russe crochet shorts, colin stuart pumps, overstock.com bag
I wanted to wear my 1950's dress in dusty rose and champagne for Easter but since I didn't do anything fancy, there was relatively no point in doing so. Therefore this newly-purchased jumper with my gift certificate was the perfect choice. I tried on the jumper at least four times in the dressing room after stalking it online for months, trying to convince myself that so much money spent on something so impractical is ridiculous. I ended up walking out with it since merely putting it on makes me happy. Tim hates my "granny sweater" but he knew I was going to end up with it even before he watched me put it on the cashier counter, whispering to him "...don't judge."

As my very last semester as an undergraduate nears (more school ahead!), it seems so very frightening to tie up loose ends. I am glad that some things will stay the same for just a little while longer; I will be paid to continue research at my lab for at least this summer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that in addition to the university salary, I will get the $5,000 funding for 10 weeks of research as well!

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silent movies

2011-04-24T13:29:00.002-05:00

vintage thrifted ralph lauren blazer, amrita singh necklace, urban outfitters dress, forever 21 sequin pumps, forever 21 bow chain bag

(Looks like I have gapped teeth in the first picture...)
The outfit from yesterday was nothing overly fussy since I planned on shopping, eating and napping the entire day. As you can see Forever 21 tapped into my mind and had wayyyy too much cute accessories for me to resist. Not pictured: some stuff from Papaya, a store I rarely go into but currently is stocking everything crochet, lace, nude, chiffon and kissed with polka dots (which frequent readers know I have a weakness for). I've been good about staying away from shopping online at f21 but yesterday was Tim's bi-monthly haircut appointment at the mall and as always I spent that hour or so at the large forever 21 store in the same mall.
Tim made his own Reese's yesterday by dipping frozen gobs of JIF with toothpicks into melted Tollhouse chocolate. They are the end of me....
PS. Since some of you asked, the nail polish I'm wearing is Minted by Revlon, but I'm pretty sure Essie and Opi both have jade-colored nail polish shades ever since the nail color hit the Chanel runways.

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midsummer night's dream

2011-04-23T09:00:00.022-05:00

modcloth dress/bag, vintage belt, amrita singh necklace, free people bracelet, forever 21 shoes

Some times the rules of "no more matchy-matchy" gets a little stale and I go back to square one and match all my accessories in one contrasting color to the main palette of the clothes. I'm really glad turquoise/teal is the color of the season since it is my absolute favorite color (thus my username on many fashion social platforms as "turquoisepassion"). I hope I get to stock up on it...teal is surprisingly hard to find in clothes when the color is not in vogue...
I must be the worst person at doing manicures in the world. Yesterday, instead of being productive like I rightly should, I wasted two hours attempting to paint my nails in light jade green and my toenails in teal. There must have been at least a couple dozen cuss words uttered as I managed to mess up every nail in just the most perfect way. Tim tried to cheer me up by saying that I probably just need practice but what 22-year-old that likes nail polish still can't paint her own nails? Grrr...
In more general news, I've finally registered for class and finished a crucial step in my research. As I mentioned on the previous posts, currently I've placed school/research/work over the blog and even though I feel like a bad blogger I think it's fun to view the blog as it once was: a hobby and not one more thing to check off my to-do list. For instance, I was supposed to go backstage before the UT Fashion show on Thursday to shoot models getting ready, but when 6pm came I found myself scraping bacteria off of agar plates (part of my antibody engineering project at research). Needless to say, that was not my most fabulous moment in my life; I ended up scrambling home, shoveled Chinese takeout in my mouth, and put on this dress to look semi-presentable. I secretly feared I smelled like agar and E. coli the entire show but since everyone came up and complimented me on the dress my fingers are crossed that they didn't notice. I also had a "awwww" moment when what appears to be a 10-year-old girl approached me to "take a photo of me for her blog." So adorable. Highlight of the night? Getting to giggle like an idiot for a few minutes before and after the show with friends that I haven't seen in months. Pictures to come.
PS. To those inquiring over twitter/email/comments: yes I've been exercising every single day for about an hour (strength, stretching, yoga, aerobics, etc.), but thus far I haven't really lost weight as the scale hasn't moved much (maybe 2 lbs at most). I think I've been replacing body fat with muscle though. I've been keeping it up since February and it's been my attempt to get bikini ready by June. I don't believe in crash dieting so I'm doing this the hard way...exercising a lot and still eating 2000 calories a day.
"The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve;
Lovers, to bed; 'tis almost fairy time."

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