Stylish Petite | Fashion, Reviews and Petite Style: June 2012

Friday, June 29, 2012

H&M Yellow Blazer and Pleated Polka Dots

~~**Old navy is having $1 flip flops this Saturday 6/30 in-store only.***~~

Blazer: H&M {recent} - size 2 (similar HERE and HERE)

Dress: Marshalls for $15 - size small (similar HERE and HERE)

Shoes:

Belt: H&M - size XS (similar HERE and HERE and HERE)

Purse: Chanel m/l

Necklace: Chanel
Shoes: Aldo {really old} - size 35 (similar HERE and HERE)

I can't get enough of this H&M yellow blazer. I thought the ruched sleeves were going to bug me but they don't. I usually scrunch up my sleeves anyway so it's nice that it's already done. It's nice that I don't have to keep adjusting and pushing them up when it falls. I'm thinking about adding a hook and eye closure to the middle front part so I can wear the blazer closed. I didn't think I could get as much wear out of this little bright yellow blazer but I've already worn it twice! I love that you can wear it to work for a pop of color (paired with pencil skirt/sheath dress) and wear it casually.

Yet another Marshall's score! I was drawn to the chiffon pleats and of course the polka dots! I originally bought this dress to turn into a skirt but when I tried it on at home, I think I may just leave it as a dress. Since it's from the Junior's section, the fit is petite friendly. It was on clearance for $20 but I saw a navy and pink version (in a larger size) on sale for $15 so I asked them to price match it and they did. I know it's only $5 but still..any amount saved is a bonus. The lesson here is, it never hurts to ask! The worst they can say is no. I probably would have still bought it at $20 but $15 is a sweet price.

I have been wearing my new Chanel logo pendant necklace non-stop all week. I am in love with it. It's dainty yet still a statement piece at the same time. You can choose to wear it long or short so it's like two necklaces in one (love that). It's a classic piece that I know will be in my life forever.

Do you think I should keep this dress the way it is or turn it into a skirt?

Thursday, June 28, 2012

PFC #17: Candy Colorized and Shrinking a Tweed Skirt

This month's challenge is being hosted by the ever so talented and one of my favorite bloggers, SewPetiteGal!

The challege: Candy Colorized

Take a bowl full of colorful candies, close your eyes and draw 2-3 pieces. Now use those colors (+ a neutral of your choosing) to form the basis of your ensemble.

I don't have much candy in my house but luckily had a small batch of jelly belly's left to use for this challenge. I drew yellow and pink but only had hot pink to use in my ensemble...it's still in the same color family so hopefully that counts:) I went with navy blue as my neutral color and base.

Shirt: J.Crew- size 00 (similar HERE and HERE)
Sweater: Vince cashmere - size small (similar HERE and HERE)
Skirt: J.Crew {shrunken}- size 00 (similar HERE and HERE)
Blazer: H&M {recent} - size 2 (similar HERE and HERE)
Shoes: Cole Haan Slingbacks {old}- size 5 (similar HERE and HERE)
Purse: Chanel Sevruga WOC (cute HERE and cheap HERE)
Necklace: Loft pearls (similar 2 row HERE and HERE)

This is my new favorite pencil skirt and I am so relieved I was able to shrink it somewhat successfully.

**Warning- I do not recommend you do this technique because it could damage your fabric or risk ruining your skirt**

I just want to share with you how it worked for me. I scored this J.Crew navy tweed No. 2 pencil skirt last week for only $21 in a size 00. J.Crew pencil skirts have never fit me and always run big. Even the 00P's are too big so that just goes to show you how retailers love vanity sizing. Since this was 100% cotton, I knew it would shrink a little in the dryer. The tag says 'dry clean only' which means it could go one of two ways- really well or a total disaster. It was a risk I was willing to take to avoid having to pay for alterations (plus it was a final sale item) and I wanted to wear it right away (impatient). So I took the plunge and washed it on hot, delicate cycle. I fried it 2 times in the dryer on high heat, checking periodically for any damage. Here are the before and after measurements:

Before: Waist 14", Hips 16", Length 21"

After: Waist 12 3/4", Hips 15", Length 19"

I am so mad I didn't take a before picture of the fit pre-shrinking but I did however manage to take pictures with the measuring tape:) I'll try to remember next time I shrink something to take before pictures. The waist is still a tad too big and has a small waist gap but nothing a belt can't fix. The hips and length are perfect! The lining was the only part that didn't shrink and caused a bunching/ripple effect in the center back which should be fixable once I take apart the lining and hem it up. I didn't take into account the lining but thankfully it's an easy fix. The skirt fits better (hips area) than most of my skirts...who would have thought!? Again, I'm not recommending this method to anyone, just wanted to share with you my experience. I definitely wouldn't attempt this on an expensive skirt or had I paid more for this skirt.

I also tried shrinking my white Banana Republic cotton pencil skirt but the hips are still really wide. I may do it a 2nd time and if all else fails, take the sides in. This goes to prove that not all skirts will shrink the same amount so please be careful should you decide to try this method.

FYI- This J.Crew polka dot pop over blouse (see on Tiffany and Kelly has it too) is very baggy and the arms are super long. If you are my size or smaller, you will have to get the sleeves taken up and sides slimmed. Here are my other outfit combos that didn't make the cut:

This has been petite fashion challenge #17:

And don't forget to enter to win a Loft pearl ribbon necklace giveaway! There will be 5 winners chosen!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Giveaway: LOFT Pearl and Ribbon Necklace

Just a small giveaway to show my appreciation to all my readers for their support:) There will be 5 winners! Each winner will receive one Loft pearl with black ribbon necklace. You can wear it long or double it :)

♥Guidelines♥

1. Open to U.S and International Readers!

2. Giveaway ends on 7/8/12 at Midnight (PST).

3. Winners will have 48 hours to contact me with their info or I will re-draw.

♥How to Enter♥

1. Like me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. (+1 mandatory entry)

♥Bonus Entry♥
1. Like me both on Facebook and follow me on Twitter (+1 bonus entry)

2. For Facebook fans: if you previously liked my old Facebook page {ReallyPetite} and now have "liked" my new Stylish Petite Facebook, as a way of saying thanks, you will get (+1 bonus entry)

Disclaimer: This giveaway is NOT sponsored by LOFT and all necklaces were purchased by me.

To be fair, all entries will be verified. Winners will be chosen by a random number generator. Good luck! : )

Monday, June 25, 2012

Sheer Navy Striped Blouse and Green Ponte Skirt

Blouse: Korean fashion store - size small (similar HERE and HERE and HERE)

Skirt: Ann Taylor - size 00P (similar HERE and HERE)

Necklace/Earrings: Chanel logo pendant necklace/earrings (gifted from hubby)

Shoes: Christian Louboutin - size 34.5 (buy HERE)
Purse: Chanel Sevruga (gifted from hubby)

I've always loved the idea of a flow-y blouse but have never been able to find one that looks right on me. I found this last week at a Korean fashion store called Fashion Q (similar to Forever 21) and have been obsessed with it ever since. Shockingly the small fits perfectly and gives me the right amount of blous-y/flow-y feel without it being too overwhelming. I love that I can wear this with shorts, jeans and skirts. As I mentioned in my last post, there are ties at the bottom and it looks great when worn casually but I prefer it tucked in for a dressier outfit.

The quality of items from Fashion Q is nothing to write home about. It's comparable to Forever 21 quality and most of the clothes are very trendy. I was so torn between this color (navy/cream) and orange/cream. I was almost about to get both but refrained since I have way too many duplicates in my closet already. I figured I would get much more wear out of the navy.

This past weekend, hubby and I celebrated my birthday (officially) and had an amazing time in Orange County. I went to my favorite mall - South Coast Plaza. It's always a treat because I live extremely far away and I get super excited any chance I get to go.

We went to the Chanel Boutique in SCP and was surprised at my extra birthday gifts. I got a this amazing Chanel pendant necklace with matching earrings. The earrings are bigger than normal studs but I really like the size. I love getting Chanel pieces from the actual boutique because you get the beautiful packaging, signature camellia flowers, bag and ribbons. I don't know about you but I love pretty packaging : )

We ate at a restaurant called Big Fish. It's not a typical restaurant I would choose for my birthday only because it's very loud and more of a bar type of atmosphere. I usually like to dine on the water in a more romantic scenery. I had soft shell sliders last year and have not been able to stop thinking about them so we went back to fulfill my seafood cravings. There's always a long wait but it's definitely worth it. We waited for well over an hour but got a great seat with a nice view. I almost died from hunger but it was well worth it:)

We had lobster mac and cheese, crab cake BLT on sweet hawaiian roll, lobster rolls and s'mores with vanilla ice-cream for dessert. The prices are so affordable given they are in a very touristy area and across from the beach. Thank you hubby for a wonderful birthday (and all my gifts)!

Hope everyone had a great weekend! :)

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Shopping Haul & Marshalls Feature

***I am so thrilled to be featured on Marshalls Facebook page. Check out the album HERE and show me some love : ) ***

H&M Yellow Collarless Blazer {style #981950 - $49.95} - Purchased (similar HERE and HERE)

Remember this post from earlier this year? I wanted the orange version of this blazer but could never find it in my size. The cut is so similar to my gray collarless blazer (seen here and here) except for the ruched sleeves. I am in love with the bright yellow/chartreuse color and have nothing like it in my wardrobe. This also comes in a light aqua blue but the color didn't do anything for me.

Banana Republic White Textured Cotton Pencil Skirt- size 00P {purhcased and on sale in-store's}

I already have a white Ann Taylor linen pencil skirt but this one was too cute to pass up. I was able to score it at an additional 30% off plus I had a $15 off coupon for a grand total of $22. Since it's 100% cotton, I am going to try to shrink it. It's a bit big on me but I think it'll fit nicely after frying in the dryer - I'll keep you posted. I compared it to the AT skirt and it's much whiter in color and has no pockets.

I wandered into F21 looking for this polka dot dress but couldn't find it. I definitely don't need another polka dot dress but wanted to try it on. I love the ruched side details and the fact that it has sleeves. I just realized that they ruined this nice dress with an open twist back...grrr.....

Left: Forever 21 Striped sheath dress - size small
Right: Wavering Stripes Skirt - size small
I passed on both items but scored some super cute belts instead. The only one that doesn't run extra small is the pink skinny belt (will have to punch 4-5 extra holes). Everything else is super tiny for those ladies with a small waist.

1. Woven laces belt- size XS (a great dupe to the J.Crew version)
2. Pink Leatherette Skinny Belt- size XS
3. Woven belt {can't find online} - size XS (runs super tiny)
4. Patent Cream Skinny Belt - size XS (comes in 2 colors)

I couldn't find either of these J.Crew items online but I wanted to share with you the incredible deal I got on the navy tweed no. 2 pencil skirt! J.Crew is having an additional 30% off sale items in-store as well as online with code: SHOPNOW (not sure how long this will last). I scored this navy tweed skirt (size 00) for only $21. It's huge but it's so pretty and for the price, it'll be worth alterations. The color looks black in the picture but it's a very nice navy. The polka dot pull over blouse is sold out online but is still available in-store. I had a gift card so brought it home to think about.

I found these Bruno Magli bow kitten heel pumps at Nordstrom Rack in a size 4.5! They fit so nicely and the leather is amazing. I love the color and it'll give my feet a nice rest from the higher heels I wear to work.

This was my favorite score yesterday. It's a sheer navy/cream striped blouse with ties on the bottom (picture cut off). The button tab sleeves are adorable and the fit is blousy w/out being overwhelming on my petite frame. I found this at a random Korean fashion store and ended up having to go to several different locations just to find a size small. It was totally worth the hassle because it's refreshing to find something that isn't from your typical retailer.

I had a craving for Vietnamese Banh Mi and some fried Spring Rolls....it was so delicious!

{Shrimp Chow Fun}

I took the day off yesterday and did some power shopping and eating with hubby:) It's not often I take a work day off but decided to treat myself {sort of for my birthday}.

Hope you enjoyed this post:)

Monday, June 18, 2012

Banana Republic Floral Pencil Skirt

Top: H&M {old} - size 2 (similar HERE and HERE)

Skirt: Banana Republic - size 00P (buy HERE or similar HERE)

Shoes: Ann Taylor - size 5 (buy HERE)

Belt: Ann Taylor - XS (similar HERE)
Necklace/Earrings: Pearls (similar set HERE)

I can usually tell if I will have a good photo shoot or because if I start out not feeling confident about my outfit, chances are that I won't like any of my photos. I wasn't even going to post this outfit because the pictures were so bad. Since I didn't have anything planned for today, I figured what the heck.

This skirt doesn't fit perfectly therefore I don't feel great in it. It's hard to tell from the pictures but it does have some issues. The sides are about 1-1.5" too wide making the front middle part pouf out. I compared it to some of my other skirts that fit and it's a pretty big difference. The waist is slightly too loose but when belted, I can get away with it. I've noticed that when something fits perfectly, I feel so much more better about my outfit. Since I got this skirt at such a bargain, I will be definitely tailoring it. I know that if I don't, I will never reach for it and it'll just end up collecting dust.

What are your thoughts on this floral pencil skirt?

Friday, June 15, 2012

Recent Purchases at Banana Republic, LOFT and Thrift Store

I have been wanting a floral pencil skirt but haven't found one that I like. I was doing a quick return this morning at the Mall and decided to pop in Banana Republic and found this skirt for only $21! Right now they are having an additional 30% off sale items in-store. The waist fits decent but the hips are a bit wide. I really like the floral pattern and it's fully lined. I think it'll be perfect for Summer plus it's a skirt I can wear to work.

Linda Floral Pencil Skirt - size 00P ($21 in-store)

Linda Floral Sheath Dress - size 00P ($30 in-store)

Casey Striped Silk Dress - size 00P ($40 in-store)

I have been having great luck with Banana Republic items lately. I hardly ever go into my local store am so glad I wandered in there recently! If you have a BR store near you, I would definitely go check out the clearance racks. The prices are substantially cheaper than online.

I didn't realize until now that the floral skirt and the floral dress are the same print, not sure if I will keep both or not. I swear they look different but have the same name...weird! The dress has more black and the skirt has a taupe background. The fit on both dresses are generous and neckline hangs lower than usual. I'll be debating over them over the weekend.

I loved my other Lena dress (still full price online) so much that I tracked down the tweed version for only $30! They had to ship it from a store in the Midwest but if you have the Luxe card, you get free shipping. They are both the same dress but the tweed one fits a bit bigger in the chest, waist and hips. It's not as fitted as my textured beige one but still really nice.

Tweed Lena Dress (see textured beige version here) - size 00P

I recently bought this Loft necklace (50% off in-store) for only $12 but used my birthday coupon so it ended up being free. This is so similar to my Bauble Bar sunglow necklace but at a fraction of the price.

I found this last week at a thrift store and completely forgot about it until earlier this week. Isn't it adorable? It's super wide so I'm going to slim the slides so I can wear it tucked in with a pencil skirt.

What deals have you scored lately? Please share!

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

French Connection Confetti Floral Dress

Dress: French Connection - size 0 (Cute HERE and HERE)
Jacket: H&M - size 2 (similar HERE and HERE)
Belt: H&M taken from dress (similar HERE and HERE)
Shoes: Ann Taylor - size 5 (Cheap HERE and similar HERE)
Clutch: Vintage Coach
Bracelets: H&M girls bangles (similar HERE)
Nail Polish: Revlon Minted (buy HERE)

This dress was a recent score at Marshall's. I instantly fell in love with the feminine details (ruffled neckline/crinkled pleats) and quality of the dress (fully lined). My eyes bulged out when I saw the original French Connection price tag of $178 and then Marshall's price tag marked down to $44. I knew the length would be too long but that's an easy fix. I'll be taking it up right to my knees.

At first glance, this seems to fit fairly nicely besides the length right? I wish! This dress was made for someone much taller because the elasticized waist sits much lower. When I tried wearing the dress where it's supposed to be, the top portion looks really baggy and strange. I had to pull down the waist and belt it to hold in place. It's hard to describe what I am talking about but I will have to figure out how to bring the elastic waist up and hope that fixes the baggy top portion. The arm holes are slightly too big so from the side view, it's not very attractive. I will be seeing my mom soon so she will help me fix this dress. I think post-alterations, this dress will be so perfect. I love the crinkled pleats and color. I'm really glad that the dress doesn't pouf out and the cut is very slimming.