All posts in: Aritzia

09 Jan 2021

Taffeta Dress

The concept of a house dress was a trend that excited me during quarantine. Typically, we buy clothes with every intention of wearing them out. What do you do when going out is no longer an option? It would have been so easy to toss on sweats every day and trust me – we did every once in awhile. However, getting dressed up and having a purpose to put on real clothes every day makes a difference. I purchased this taffeta dress from Aritzia in the spring and I loved the way it looked online from the photos. Wearing it, it’s a little bit pouffier than I expected, but the color is fun and it’s the perfect modern day girly girl dress if you’re looking for one. This dress also came in a stunning olive color, but having not tried it on in person myself, I was a bit weary.

26 Dec 2020

A 2021 New Year’s Eve

[& Other Stories Ribbed Sweetheart Neck Bustier Midi Dress] – $129

You may feel uncomfortable dressing up for New Year’s Eve this year without any plans. Power through. I’m a huge believer that you get what you put out into this world. If dressing up and making yourself look and feel good for one evening makes the difference, then you should do it. Every year, I kind of dread New Year’s Eve personally all while still writing this post annually. Just because I don’t have big plans doesn’t mean I don’t want you all to look great. And because this year has just been A LOT, I’m planning on treating myself in the best way possible.

[Mango Asymmetric Velvet Dress] – $79.99 – $49.99

Read more “A 2021 New Year’s Eve”
13 Nov 2020

This Weekend:

What We’re Watching: Dash & Lily

The holiday season just feels so different this year, doesn’t it? Normally, I would make my list of series and completely veg out on my parents couch spending all of my holiday break watching all of my shows. Naturally, my family would also be dragged along for the ride against their wishes. This year though, it’s just me! Dash & Lily has just come out on Netflix and I’ve seen it pop up from a few people that I follow on Instagram who are raving about the series. We’re suckers for holiday themes, but also hello! An Asian American female lead!

What We’re Listening To: DJ Wegun, Jay Park – Everybody Sucks

Okay, technically this came out about two weeks ago, but we’re behind! I stumbled upon the Jay Park trend hard this summer and have since gone down a pretty deep rabbit hole alongside BTS and other K-Pop artists. Each track seems to be in collaboration with another artist. With only six tracks, getting through this album is going to be quick, but let’s hope it’s a good one!

What We’re Wearing: [Aritzia Auxiliary Ribbed Cuff Beanie] – $35

It’s officially beanie weather! I don’t know about you, but I have been freezing in my home since before the start of the week and at all times indoors, I’m always wearing wool socks. When I threw on my beanie just a week ago to go outside, I felt like my head was reuniting with an old friend. How did we get here? Wasn’t it just summer? So the above isn’t the exact same black beanie I have from Aritiza, but it’s similar and still available!

What We’re Eating: Hog Island Oyster Co. Clam Chowder

This is wishful thinking! I actually don’t know what I’ll be planning to have this weekend, but if it’s nice weather (unlike today’s rain) I’d like to stop by the Ferry Building. I’ve been thinking a lot about cozy meals that just make sense around this time and Hog Island Oyster Co’s Clam Chowder is one of my absolute favorites.

28 Aug 2020

The Closet: August 2020

[Society6 Whimsical Sky Face Mask] – $16.99 – $13.59

This is quite possibly the bulkiest Closet post we’ve created in awhile! The good thing though is the pieces are all at the intersection of summer and fall. I’m also convinced that there’s something in here for everyone and at varying price points. Even a lot of the summer-y pieces can be transformed for fall wear. For example, the jumpsuit below? Pop a chunky sweater over it and you’ve got a look. We’ve been doing a lot of shopping lately ourselves so even though I’ve shared all of these here with you, I personally need to refrain from buying these myself. Enjoy!

[Abercrombie & Fitch Tie-Front Jumpsuit] – $79 – $47.40

Read more “The Closet: August 2020”
27 Jun 2020

This Weekend:

San Francisco summer has arrived! The fog has rolled in and the skies are a deep gray. I got out this morning for a little bit to pick up flowers, coffee and pastries, but I’ve basically been sitting on my couch for the past few hours with the candle burning. How is it that San Francisco’s spring season is so much more forgiving to us than summer? I’ll never understand it.

What We’re Watching: Sorry to Bother You

Ok, we’re cheating a little bit because technically we watched this last night. “Sorry to Bother You” has been on my list for some time and I decided I wanted to make time for it last night and take a break from K-dramas. The film is smart, witty, and overly quirky. While it leans more on the humorous side, there’s a bigger message in here to grasp. We’re also huge fans of Lakeith Stanfield. You can watch the film currently on Hulu.

What We’re Listening To: Teyana Taylor – The Album

This came out just last week, but I’m excited to dive into this. We’ve been long time fans of Teyana and seeing all of the collaborators on this album – Kehlani, Big Sean, Eryka Badu gives us promise.

What We’re Wearing – [TNA Atmosphere Legging] – $68

I ordered this pair and another last month, but this was the first time I’d ever purchased this kind. My normal leggings from Aritzia are usually less than $30 so for the longest time I would ask myself why I needed to shell out over double for a pair that was likely going to be the same. Turns out, the jokes on me because they are very different! The fabric is so light and smooth. For a day of errands or even just wearing them around the house, I’ve felt comfortable all day. In fact, I like these so much that I don’t even want to change out of them for bed.

What We’re Eating: The Pasta Shop’s Ravioli

We’ve done our fair share of cooking this week so when it came time to head into the weekend, I really wanted to make things easy for myself. I picked up a package of [The Pasta Shop’s] ravioli at Bi-Rite along with a Bi-Rite Romesco sauce to pair it with. The Pasta Shop is based out of Oakland and while this was my first time trying this brand, I was impressed. For being a packaged product, it’s quite fresh and comes in so many varieties. There’s really something for everyone.

13 May 2020

Aritzia Summer ’20 Collection

[Wilfred Only Maxi Slip Dress] – $128

After months of not shopping, I nearly caved when I laid eyes on Aritzia’s latest Summer ’20 Collection. Maybe it’s the fact that we’re living in leggings and needing something more. Or we just need a season to look forward to. There’s no telling at this point when restrictions will be lifted and where we’ll even be wearing our new clothes. Whatever the case, pandemic period is making us a little weak with our wallets. I’ve fallen in love with so many of these pieces and if I can’t have them, hopefully they’ll land with one of you.

[Wilfred Satire Dress] – $178

Read more “Aritzia Summer ’20 Collection”
29 Apr 2020

The Closet: April 2020

[Lirika Matoshi Hearty Corset Midi Dress] – $449

It’s interesting to look back and see how much shopping was incorporated into my life. On a lazy, but nice weathered weekend, I would easily find myself in Hayes Valley or Lower Pac Heights just to browse. Extra time after work before a happy hour? You can find me at the mall most likely picking up something that I likely didn’t need at the time. In the last year while doing a deep dive into my finances with a friend of mine, I learned that I shop to find joy. Now you’ll notice that sentence looks different than “I find joy in shopping.” On some of my worst days, for reasons I couldn’t explain, spending money seemed like the solution to solving my problems.

Since I was able to detect that in myself months back, shopping during quarantine hasn’t been an issue for me. In a way, it’s almost refreshing to a) save money and b) discover the clothes that I actually like to wear

Can you tell that we’re excited when shelter-in-place gets lifted and we’ll have a chance to donate some things? I do have to admit though, while I haven’t done my “usual” shopping, I did just purchase a set of 3 cloth masks from Etsy. I felt that was a necessary purchase.

[Little Moon Rarity Blouse] – $88

Read more “The Closet: April 2020”
12 Apr 2020

Is It Punk

Turtleneck – Aritzia / Belt – Mom’s / Skirt – Rag & Bone / Heels – Something Navy x Nordstrom

One of my favorite parts about writing these posts is that I can always go back and remember the story of the piece. There’s an adorable shopping area near me in Lower Pacific Heights – home to Reformation, Rag & Bone, Alice and Olivia, Frame – many stores that I would consider to be a bit high end and out of my price range. Though I can’t explain it, I recently discovered through looking into my own finances that I tend to be someone that feels joy through purchases. I wouldn’t consider this to be the most responsible habit, but the first step is admitting it.

On a recent trip, I stepped into Rag & Bone to peruse, but found myself going back to this red plaid skirt. Would I wear this beyond winter time? Will plaid still be in next season or even next year? I couldn’t get over the slit. The fabric was so soft and even though plaid isn’t something I own a lot of, I figured I could make this work. There was a part of me that day that wanted to tap into an edgier side; one might say my more scene-y teenage years.

For this experiment, I paired it with my favorite snug black turtleneck from Aritzia, my mother’s old belt and the white heels. If I were to re-do this outfit again (which I will after quarantine) I might want to swap out the heels for something else. Ultimately, we’re extremely happy we went with the skirt. It ended up being on a sale rack and discounted even further when we went to make the purchase. I call that “meant to be.”

07 Apr 2020

Camel + Cut

Sweater – Aritzia / Denim – Frame / Purse – Marc Jacobs / Sneakers – adidas

I always feel some sort of pressure taking an OOTD right after the New Year. Like it’s supposed to be this grand event because you’re kicking off the new you. As you can see, I put a little bit more effort into my hair this day, but the rest out of the outfit might be considered out of character for me. During this quarantine, I have been living in my leggings rather than my dresses and it feels abnormal for others, but also myself! I generally consider “camel” to be a neutral, minimalist color. In 2020, I am loving it more than ever having both a camel colored trench and trousers on my wish list.

At first sight, this Aritzia sweater wasn’t my first pick. It was actually my mom’s! After trying it on with a pair of pants, I knew I needed another casual sweater. I like how it’s also in between a crew neck and a turtleneck.

04 Apr 2020

This Weekend:

As I’m catching up with my friends this week, I’m noticing that we’re all asking each other similar questions. “What are you watching?” “Any good books lately?” “What are people cooking these days?” There’s a lot of time to spend on things that we might not normally prioritize. More than ever, I’m noticing that I’m seeking recommendations from those in my network for things I might not gravitate towards. This could change week-by-week and we may not be able to post one of these every weekend, but I thought it would be nice to capture what I’m doing now.

What we’re watching: Crash Landing on You (Netflix)

OK, so this is another excuse to post a picture of these two! Korean dramas aren’t normally in my wheelhouse, but when I was suggested to give Crash Landing on You a try from two close friends, I figured I couldn’t make up an excuse. After all, what could I say? I don’t have the time? What I love about this series is that there’s something for everyone. There’s a little comedy, romance, action, thrill, and mystery. It’s actually the 2nd highest rated drama in Korean TV history, which means it’s more than worth checking out. I’ve been watching the show for about a week now and even caught myself going through three episodes in a day. Each episode is about 90 minutes a way. Part way through, I decided to savor the series taking my time because I don’t want it to end!

What we’re wearing: [TNA Leggings]

You would think that since I dress up for work every day normally that I’d do the same at home. In fact, it has been quite the opposite! Getting showered and dressed every morning is still part of the routine, but I also want to be at my most comfortable. I have six pairs of these leggings that I just rotate through and am still probably looking to add more to my collection. Since they are affordable, it’s easy not to feel bad about making a purchase.

What I’m Reading: Chanel Miller’s “Know My Name”

I’ve had this book since December and I’m taking my time with it. As many of you know, this hasn’t been an easy read. I also don’t normally read books these days on a regular basis often opting for shorter pieces online. However, I continue to just be in awe of Chanel – her writing, her presence, and her strength throughout this entire ordeal. Despite how challenging of a read it is for me, I know we’ll all be better for it on the other side and I’m hoping to finish before shelter-in-place ends.

What we’re supporting: local restaurants

There’s no shortage of organizations that we all could be donating to right now. I live near a neighborhood that I spend much of my time in when not shelter-in-place. Many restaurants here are greatly being impacted and one that stands out in giving back to the community right now is [Che Fico.] They are currently selling family-style meals at $50 that include bread, salad, an entree, and dessert which can feed 2-3 people. For those that can’t afford this, students, those impacted by shelter-in-place, you can sign up for a free meal. The restaurant already is contributing 250 meals a night through this program. And for those that can help, you can also donate to this program to help keep it going. As much as possible, I’m spending more time preparing my meals at home, but to have some sort of normalcy, we are getting takeout 1-2 times a week.

What we’re eating: Garlic Noodles

My excuse for never cooking at home is always time. I’m at work late or I have social activities afterwards that prevent me from doing so. Without this excuse, I was able to use my extra time to make a delicious meal for myself. I’ve actually never made garlic noodles before, but Jean Wang of [Extra Petite] had a fairly simple recipe to follow with most of the ingredients already being in my pantry. We tried to capture me in the process of cooking this for my Instagram, but it was harder than it looks! Whatever the case, it was a recipe that we could continue perfecting, but I’ll keep this in my back pocket for now.