All posts in: Forever21

29 Sep 2018

Test Drive

Leather Jacket – Madewell / Top – Forever21 / Denim – Gap / Sneakers – adidas / Sunglasses – Marc Jacobs

For most of my life, I never thought I could pull off a leather jacket. I didn’t think that I had the toughness to own this kind of look. However, as time went on and the more I walked past AllSaints, I started to convince myself otherwise. There are so many instances where a leather jacket is more convenient than any other jacket that I have. Rather than bite the bullet, I decided to take Elisa’s Madewell one for a test drive! It’s a little roomy, but gave me a pretty good idea of how it would feel on me. Readers, what are your thoughts and what are your favorite brands for one? Since it’s such an expensive purchase, I want to make sure I’m doing my research thoroughly.

Style

16 Sep 2018

Back Home By The Water

Sweater – Zara / Purse – Forever21 / Pants – Aritzia / Sneakers – Adidas

You guys, how good are these photos taken by my Instagram Dad?! I returned home this past March and we did brunch in Edmonds. It’s not quite Seattle, but it’s a cute and quiet neighborhood that feels homey to me. We’re also not upset about this backdrop. I love this mini shoot because we were having a big family brunch, but before going in my dad was game to shoot and I happened to be borrowing a chic Zara sweater from my mother. One of the best parts about returning home? Never needing to pack a full suitcase because Mom and I share the same size. That means I can leave my jackets behind since they take up the most space in my suitcase and pull from her closet instead. Not seen in this shoot, my dad shouting at me to “smile” and me giving him these looks instead. I’ll cut him some slack; it was the first time after all!

Style

05 May 2018

Up and Up

Top – Margaret O’Leary / Skirt – Brandy Melville / Purse – Forever21

As we all know, my closet for the most part is a home for neutral colors. When I received this sweater from [Margaret O’Leary] I was so excited to have what I considered a bit of a statement piece. My eyes were so glued to the beautiful blue hue and having stripes in a very non-traditional way. I was up to the challenge of trying to style this alongside the pieces I already had. The result? A little bit of retro and we kind of love it! What you can’t see in the photo is that actually closer to the hem line of the sweater there is a bright and bold red stripe. This blue was so fun though and when it came to picking bottoms, I went for my classic corduroy skirt from Brandy Melville which has a history of going with just about anything!

Style

28 Dec 2017

Little Jumper

Top – Forever21 / Romper – Oak + Fort / Shoes – Vince Camuto / Sunglasses – Marc Jacobs

Quick! Put on display your least attractive body part. I don’t know what compelled me to throw this pose up highlighting my elbows, but that’s what we got. If I had to look back on 2017, this outfit is definitely what I would call “a risk.” As some of you may know, rompers haven’t always been a hit with me. I was very skeptical for a couple of years and especially when they were a “peak” trend, but I gave it a shot. In fact, I gave it two shots because I own a couple of them now. For some reason, I woke up this morning and though “hmm, maybe I’ll layer it over a tee.” This actually didn’t turn out that bad, but when photographed incorrectly or at the wrong angle, it can become the least flattering outfit that I own. It’s a fun outfit to run around in the city in, but maybe not the best choice for work or on a scorching hot day like this day happened to be.

Style

29 Nov 2017

Holiday Party Wear 2017

Free People Cabbage Rose Velvet Jumpsuit – $98

It’s so hard to know when exactly to start writing this post to give everyone ample time to start their holiday party shopping. I’m also not the best example of this because I have purchased my dress just one week before and then also five months before the party – as in I didn’t even know the date yet, but I knew I wanted that dress! This year, for the first time ever – I have two holiday parties, but both being very different. My own company’s holiday party will actually be in January and will be somewhat non-traditional in that it’s not how most tech companies celebrate the holidays and I won’t be dressing up, but it will still be very special in its own way. The second holiday party will be with Google at the MOMA this coming Saturday! It’s the first time I’ve also gone to one this early, but I’m very excited to accompany one of my favorite couples – Mandi and Eric for what is considered more traditional – an evening of eating, drinking, museum-ing, and dancing!

It’s funny how every year I go into holiday party mode thinking that I want one kind of dress and actually end up purchasing one completely different. This year, I wanted to throw in a not so holiday party dress color – millennial pink! I know it would’ve been a challenge trying to find the perfect one (likely Topshop) but before I even got to searching, I ended up finding a long-sleeved, mock-neck, lace mini from Aritzia. Stick with what you know, right?

Well, in the brief shopping moments that I’ve had, I’ve been noticing a lot of beautiful pieces for this holiday season. I’m taking a break from work this evening to share with you some of my favorite looks!

Topshop Velvet Lace Mix Midi Dress – $90

Outside the City / Inside Oakland

Top – Forever 21 / Leggings – Aritzia / Boots – J. Crew

I say this all the time, but I’m so fortunate to live in a city where it’s so easy to get to and from other places. Come September, I’ll have lived in the Bay Area for four years now! One area that I haven’t spent too much in is actually Oakland, which is very very close to me. While Ashley was visiting back in April, she happened to me over there for a conference and we took full advantage of being in the city. It started with a hotel date. It ended with 4 meals in less than a full day and an exploration of every part of the neighborhood. We felt like we had seen a lot of it, but I’m pretty sure we haven’t seen it all so I’m looking forward to the next time I can return and with a list of the restaurants we still have to hit up.

Style

22 Jul 2017

West Hollywood Transformation

Dress – Free People / Bag – Forever21 / Heels – Vince Camuto

Recognize this dress?! It’s the same one that I wore to my company’s holiday party back in 2015 and today – I’m still loving it and just excited that I was able to get a second use out of it. I was informed a week before I started my new job that three days into my first week, I’d be heading to LA with my new team and to bring something that was either business casual or a little bit more formal. I think I packed three options for this event even though it was just a one-night thing because I wasn’t really sure and needed to compare with my new colleagues. This emerald lace number will forever be a prized possession for me! I still remember stumbling upon it randomly when I was in desperate need of a holiday party dress and almost didn’t buy it because it was labeled as a “slip.” Don’t be fooled though because it is in fact just a dress (rather a more fitted one) but still just as classy.

Also forgive me because I’m still trying to learn how to curl my hair and I’m definitely not a pro.

Style

25 May 2017

Turtlenecks 4eva

Choker – Urban Outfitters / Turtleneck + Jacket – Aritzia / Denim – Forever21

If you would have told a younger me that in my late 20’s I’d be wearing a turtleneck, I would have probably laughed in your face. As cozy as they are, I never felt like I belonged in them. That was until… I met the one that I would fall in love with. So I’m pretty fortunate that since I’ve been living in California, I’ve gotten to know these girls at the Aritzia in Valley Fair quite well. Every few months or so when I need to revamp my wardrobe or shop for a special occasion, they are there for me. In fact, they’ve gotten to know my style so well these days that when I come in, they bring me pieces that they already know I’m going to like into the dressing room and more often then not, they end up being right! For example, this very sleek and chic turtleneck. It’s not your standard because it’s thin and sheer – two words you don’t normally use to describe turtlenecks. I also loved how this photographed. The sunlight makes it look so shiny! To elevate the classic look a little bit with the turtleneck tucked into denim, I added the choker and threw my hair back into a ponytail.

Style

07 Mar 2017

Boston Bundled

Sweater – Madewell / Denim – Forever21 / Scarf – Aritzia

I could never be the girl that could be content in a t-shirt and jeans. Believe me, I’ve tried. I would probably be able to cut my daily routine by 65% if I could just throw on that kind of an outfit every day. However, just when I think it’s possible, I look in the mirror and always find that something is missing. In personality, I’m not a very girly girl, but in terms of style and what my closet looks like, I am very much a girly girl. So yes, I could have paired this sweater and jeans with a pair of sneakers or flats, but then I wouldn’t have felt like myself. Instead, if I’m going to wear a pretty basic outfit, there needs to be a bit of a statement piece with it. Instead of one, I chose two. I wanted these boots that you’ve all seen me wear a lot, but are a little bit pointy and suede, which adds more texture to this look. Secondly, I added in my Aritzia diamond blanket scarf – functional, chic, still in the same color family as the sweater, and adding just enough warmth for a fall day in Cambridge. I didn’t need to go on a shopping trip while I was on a work trip in Cambridge, but the opportunity presented itself and that’s where I picked up this adorable sweater. I actually don’t have very many pieces in pink and I was worried that this wouldn’t work with the rest of my closet, but it’s a piece that I get quite a few compliments on. Apparently, it works really well with my skin tone? Additionally, it’s also just very cozy and great for layering. This sweater was already on sale and I was able to get a “student” discount on it. Wins all around!

Style

31 Dec 2016

Our Favorite Looks of 2016

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Tank top – Abercrombie & Fitch / Chambray shirt – Madewell / Skirt – Brandy Melville

It’s way more fun to share your 12 favorite outfits from the year instead of the ones that just flopped, right?! We don’t always get it right, but luckily the shame of an outfit gone wrong usually only lasts a day. #blessed that my coworkers are always there to give me that immediate feedback. On the upside, I love the outfits that I’ve selected as my favorites for the year. We love that some of these outfits are ones that we’ve worn more than once and have recycled with other items from our closet to make them more versatile. And if there’s one thing that we appreciate more this year in these outfits than the ones we ended up hating – it’s that “less really is more.” Thanks Ma.

Read more “Our Favorite Looks of 2016”