Monochroma.Chic | a Toronto based personal style blog

This Distance Never Felt Quite Right

2012-02-13T13:50:00.001-05:00

(EgoCloset dress (c/o) / Silence+Noise blazer (old) / Vintage belt / Nina Ricci purse (mom's) / Origo bracelet / Quoise ring (c/o) / Jeffrey Campbell wedges (old))

Who can resist polkadots? I know I can't :) This polkadot number from EgoCloset came in just in time after I couldn't find anything else to wear in my closet, which happens more often than not -- can anyone relate? >:D The material of this dress is quite thin, but the navy blue and purple color combination saves it from being inappropriately see-through. I did wear a black tunic tank underneath for extra coverage, though :p

Stay tuned for a sweet giveaway later this week! ;)

xx toodles.

I See Your True Colors

2012-02-09T14:50:00.000-05:00

Sometimes (actually, often times), I have no idea what to wear so I end up wearing everything I have in mind or anything I lay my eyes on. Like this outfit :)

(Forever 21 jacket / ZARA cardigan / UO skirt & purse / Gifted scarf / Derek Cardigan glasses (this style) / ALDO boots)

I would like to thank everybody who entered the Blue Vanilla giveaway. My apology for taking a week to announce the winner, so without further ado, the winner is...

Marie of Marie a la Mode

Congratulations, M! I have passed on your contact info to the Blue Vanilla team, so they should be in touch with you soon :)

I have another fashionable giveaway in the works, so stay tuned! ;)

xx toodles.

Something Old, Something New

2012-02-07T12:37:00.000-05:00

(ZARA button-up & sweater / H&M skirt / Forever 21 necklace (get it here) / Dolce Vita pumps (get them here) / UO purse)

You know that feeling when you're in the middle of scouring through messy piles of discounted clothes, then all of a sudden, you see something that you don't originally look for but it catches your attention and when you check out the price tag, it's ridiculously marked down, and when you check out the size, it's yours, so you end up buying it because a great deal like that doesn't come very often?

That's exactly how I feel about this ZARA sweater, which by the way, only set me back $10 :)
(or 9.99 to be exact!)

xx toodles.

ps. That's the longest running sentence with the most syntax errors I've ever written :p

The Heart Beats Happy When It Has A Place

2012-02-03T12:15:00.002-05:00

(American Apparel top / H&M skirt / Costa Blanca necklace / Luxury Rebel booties (get them here) / Forever 21 clutch)

Wore this to a birthday dinner date with Chris :)

I've never been a stiletto kinda gal. If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you'd notice that most of my heels are either wedges or stacked and chunky. I can't handle the skinny heel of Louboutins, Blahniks, and alike. They just look so painful to me. So I had some reservations before I purchased these booties. They're heavily discounted and they looked amazing in pictures, but I was worried about the heel shape. I made the purchase anyway and I was extremely surprised at how comfortable, sturdy, and... comfortable! they were. I can jog, skip and do a somersault in them. Ok, maybe not the last one (yet) but you get the picture ;)

Have a great weekend, peeps! (o^_^o)

xx toodles.

Honeycomb Be My Own

2012-01-31T12:23:00.000-05:00

(Anthropologie cardigan / Romwe blazer / Old Navy tee / Zara pants / Purse from Mom / H&M necklace / Luxury Rebel booties (get them here))

I scored this Anthropologie cardigan at a maaaaah-jor discount (read: 80% off!!) when I was in the States last Christmas. The price was too good to be true that I was willing to overlook the fact that: A). It's 2 sizes too big, and B). It sheds like a fluffy cat. My solution to A is to wear it unbuttoned so I won't look like a potato sack and my solution to B is to avoid wearing it with darker-colored clothes so I won't look like a giant lint roller.

Problems solved :)

2 days left to enter my Blue Vanilla giveaway! (CLICK CLICK)

xx toodles.

The Moon Is Out, The Stars Are Bright

2012-01-27T15:45:00.005-05:00

Yep! That's snow in the background. And yep! I wasn't wearing any socks. What was I thinking?!? After I finished taking some outfit photos, I ~~went~~ ran back in and switched the wedges with my trusty winter boots ;)

(ZARA cardigan / H&M top / Ardene scarf / Joe Fresh jeans / Marc by Marc Jacobs purse (get it here) / Sam Edelman wedges (get them here)

I purchased this cardigan from Zara recently (on sale for $15!). I love how it gives my outfit that color-blocking look with very minimal effort :) I also got these Joe Fresh jeans recently on promo for $19. They are called "cropped" jeans but on me, they fit perfectly as regular-length jeans. Damn you short legs! :p Anyway, have a great weekend, everybody! :)

ENTER MY CURRENT GIVEAWAY HERE!

xx toodles.

All The World's A Candy Store

2012-01-25T13:52:00.000-05:00

(ZARA cardigan / H&M stole / FCUK dress from Mom / Vintage belt / Marc by Marc Jacobs purse (get it here) / ALDO boots)

Love the prints on this dress, but hate how the fabric gets staticky, especially during winter :( I have nothing much to say, except that the gloomy sky we've been having lately has slowed down my blogging routine. Can't take pictures in the morning = no blog material. I don't mind the chilly temperature, I just want the sun back!

Fancy a new jewelry? Enter my current giveaway! ;)

xx toodles.

It's Going To Be A Good One

2012-01-20T16:30:00.006-05:00

(ZARA trench & skirt / Old Navy turtleneck (get it here - on sale!) / Luxury Rebel booties (get them here))

NOT what I wore on my birthday. I wasn't able to take pictures of my O.O.T.B. (Outfit Of The Birthday, ha!) yesterday because the snow was blowing like a hairdryer on crack! Ok, that metaphor just doesn't make any sense :p But basically, I was just wearing my thickest and chunkiest (how I wish I was describing a piece of steak!) sweater, jeans, and winter boots. I swear Michelin Man just got some serious competition. Anyway, thank you for the birthday wishes! I just passed the quarter-of-a-century mark. I hope it's going to be a good year :)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

xx toodles.

ps. Check out (and enter) my latest giveaway in the post below! :)

Birthday Giveaway with Blue Vanilla (CLOSED)

2012-01-19T12:34:00.004-05:00

In the spirit of celebrating my birthday (it's TODAY!), I have teamed up with Blue Vanilla to host another giveaway for you guys :) Remember the "Kissing Pumas" bracelet in this post? It's my favorite piece from them and you could also win your favorite Blue Vanilla jewelry by entering this giveaway!

(Some of my other favorites from the website)

Giveaway rules:

- Visit Blue Vanilla and pick a piece you'd like to win (mandatory)

- Follow Blue Vanilla on Twitter and/or Facebook (1 or 2 extra entries)

You can also increase your chance of winning by:

- Following me on Twitter (1 extra entry)

- Following me on Facebook (1 extra entry)

You could get up to 5 entries for this giveaway (let me know which one(s) you do). As always, don't forget to leave your email address. This giveaway is open internationally until Thursday, Feb 2, at 11:59PM EST. Good luck, everyone! :)

xx toodles.

ps. You can take 15% off your entire order using the code "VALENTINE" - valid until Feb 15!

It Is Only The Beginning

2012-01-16T12:50:00.000-05:00

(BB Dakota vest (get it here) / Joe Fresh sweater / ZARA pants / ALDO shoes / Blue Vanilla bracelet (c/o) / Etienne Aigner clutch)

The last time I wore these trousers was back in September and they never saw the light of day until last Wednesday. We've been having a mild winter this year and I was able to wear my Fall clothes out and about. But that wasn't the case this past weekend when all I did was hiding inside my winter parka and snow boots. My birthday is coming up in 3 days, so mother nature, please be kind! I want to dress up for my birthday ;)

xx toodles.

I Gotta Give It Away

2012-01-13T12:26:00.000-05:00

(Old Navy shirt (buy here) / H&M skirt & shoes / gifted Forever 21 clutch / Vintage chain necklace)

I had never considered flannel shirt as a closet staple until I got this one from Old Navy. Yes, my shopping obsession with Old Navy continues!

You've seen me wearing this shirt here. I also brought it to Boston and wore it twice during my trip. I've worn it the 'casual' way for a few times, so I thought why not try to incorporate it into my office wardrobe? ;) The clutch was a Christmas gift from my cousin. Gotta love her for knowing exactly what I like! :)

And drum roll please! The winner for my Shopbop $100 gift card giveaway is...

Carina of Bad Taste Toast!

Congrats Carina! Please send me an email (askmonochromachic@gmail.com) to claim your prize! :)

xx toodles.

ps. Another giveaway will be up next week! ;)

Don't Deny The Way You Feel

2012-01-09T12:41:00.001-05:00

O Hai!

I know I've been reaaaally slacking off with my outfit posts lately, so here's the first one for 2012 :)

(Uniqlo jacket / Old Navy sweater (buy here) / H&M skirt, socks, scarf, beanie / Luxury Rebel boots (buy here) / Blue Vanilla beaded bracelet (c/o) / UO purse)

Everyone in Toronto would agree with me that we've been having a very unusual winter this year. A 'plus something' degree just does not say winter to me. So there I was, wearing my (supposedly) Fall jacket unzipped and without a scarf. I wanted to keep the colors in my outfit pretty muted to let my brand spankin' new bracelet from Blue Vanilla shine through. They call it the "Kissing Pumas", I call it "kickass" ;) They offer a lot of statement accessories at affordable price points, so don't forget to check out their website :)

Got these gorgeous suede booties from Shopbop at 70% off during their Christmas sale. If you like them, enter my current Shopbop giveaway HERE! It ends tomorrow at midnight, so hurry up! :)

xx toodles.

Why Does It Hurt So Bad?

2011-12-30T13:37:00.000-05:00

(H&M blazer & blouse / Club Monaco skirt / Marc by Marc Jacobs purse / ALDO boots / Proopticals.com glasses (c/o))

I've been slacking off with the outfit posts lately, but good thing I found these photos in my draft folder :) The year is coming to an end and I honestly can't say that I've achieved something... or anything! I can only hope that 2012 would bring better things into my life. Cheers to a better and brighter year!

ENTER MY SHOPBOP GIVEAWAY HERE :)

xx toodles.

Shopbop Blog & Win $100 Shopbop Gift Card

2011-12-28T13:15:00.008-05:00

I've teamed up again with Shopbop to give one lucky reader a $100 gift card! :) This gift card could take you a looong way, especially if you like to shop at their sale section. Don't forget to check out Shopbop Blog for great fashion articles and ideas, which are always fun to read. So lets say goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012 with some new clothes and fancy shoes! ;)

Mackage Leigh Chic Wool Coat

RLX Ralph Lauren Snowflake Sweater

Marc Jacobs Coats Nikki Cropped Fur Coat

Simple rules to enter:

1. Follow Monochroma.Chic on Google Connect (+1 entry).
2. Visit Shopbop Blog and tell us what you think (+1 entry).

3. Tweet about this giveaway: "Hey @Monochroma_Chic, I want to win the $100 @Shopbop giftcard! http://bit.ly/trnDZk #ShopbopGiveaway" (+1 entry)

As usual, don't forget to leave your email address in the comment box. This giveaway will run until Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 11:59PM EST. Good luck, peeps! :)

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS EVERYONE! :)

xx toodles.

**UPDATE: Sorry I forgot to mention that this giveaway is open internationally! :)

Lead Me Out On The Moonlit Floor

2011-12-23T12:15:00.000-05:00

By the time this post is up, I'm already on my way to Boston. It has become a 'tradition' since 2007 for my mom and I to visit our extended family in Boston during the Christmas holiday. It has also become a tradition for us to hit the premium outlet while we're there and shop shop shooooop til' we drop! :)

(ZARA coat / Old Navy shirt (buy here) & gloves / AA skirt / Forever 21 vest (for sale here) / Origo bracelet / MBMJ purse (buy here) / SPRING boots)

I've been obsessing over these leopard gloves ever since they came in the mail. I first saw them on a fellow Canadian blogger, Candice, and I immediately hunted them down on the Old Navy's website. They were on sale for $8 and I used a 20% discount coupon to knock off a couple more dollars. They are my go-to gloves this winter ;)

I would like to use this opportunity to wish everybody a happy holiday. Stay warm, be merry, and have a great time with your family & friends! :)

xx toodles.

You Know You'd Better Watch Out

2011-12-19T12:09:00.000-05:00

(Joe Fresh sweater / H&M blouse, stole & shoes / UO skirt / MICHAEL Michael Kors bag / Quoise ring (c/o))

In attempt to take more outfit photos for the blog, even when it's cloudy and dark outside, I've been setting my camera at a high exposure. It allows me to capture the colors in my outfits, but unfortunately, it washes out my complexion terribly :( If you have any tips on how to work a camera under a low light condition or a cloudy day, please share them in the comment box :)

xx toodles.

ps. Who knew purple goes pretty well with red? I surely didn't and I was just being adventurous :)

If Love Was Red Then She Was Color Blind

2011-12-16T12:12:00.001-05:00

Bring out the winter parka, it's cold in here! Looking for the perfect winter jacket can be quite challenging. First, it has to have a down filling. Second, it can't make me look like a Michelin Man >:D Third, it has to be long enough to cover my freezing bum but short enough to show off my legs. And finally, it has to have an oversize hood! ;)

(Joe Fresh jacket / H&M striped top / Club Monaco skirt / Vintage belt / MICHAEL Michael Kors purse / UGG (c/o) boots (get them here) )

I recently jumped into the Revlon Lip Butter bandwagon. While I normally don't wear lipsticks, I couldn't resist the temptation to try out this new product (although it's mostly because the name has the word "butter" in it!). I started out with a couple of shades: Pink Truffle and Red Velvet. Pink Truffle is what I have on my lips in these photos. It's quite moisturizing and a great everyday color. I'm definitely a fan :)

Mommychromachic is coming to town for 2 weeks. It's going to be an interesting Christmas. I'll see if I could snap a few photos of her and post them on the blog ;)

xx toodles.

Tell Me With Your Eyes

2011-12-12T12:15:00.004-05:00

(Old Navy dress & turtleneck (get them here & here) / H&M belt & beanie / The Sak purse / ALDO boots)

My collection of Old Navy pieces has grown significantly as of late. With promo codes delivered to my inbox almost everyday, it's quite easy to fall into the "great deals" trap :p I recently got 3 turtleneck tops from ON because they were $9 a pop with an additional 20% off. I mean, CHEAP, right? ZARA is selling them at $19.90/ea and with that, you could get 2 tops at Old Navy! I love ZARA, but I think most of their basics tend to be overpriced :( So until I have more disposable income to spend, Old Navy will remain on my "favorite places to shop" list ;)

xx toodles.

I Tried To Tell Myself

2011-12-09T12:54:00.000-05:00

Cognac is one of my favorite colors for accessories. I don't think there's any color that would not look good when paired up with cognac. I think it's the rich caramel tone that can lighten up most dark colors and warm up most light/pastel colors. To me, cognac is a versatile color that is perfect for all seasons :)

(ZARA coat / Old Navy shirt (similar here) / Joe Fresh sweater (similar here) / Parasuco jeans (c/o) / Calvin Klein boots / Forever 21 necklace / Quoise bracelet (c/o) / The Sak purse)

I've been slowing down on my outfit posts lately. Gloomy sky, staying up late at the office and uninspired mind are some of my excuses. Anyway, I wish everyone a great weekend ahead. My office will be having our Christmas party tomorrow night, so that should be fun (... because my definition of FUN is buffet tables and open bar) >:D

xx toodles.

Good Girl Gone Bad

2011-12-08T12:39:00.002-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I received a bottle of Deborah Lippman nail polish from NailPolishCanada.com (thanks Nikki!). The shade is called Good Girl Gone Bad, which is one of the 6 shades from DL's 2011 Holiday Collection. While I'm not a Rihanna fan, I chose this shade because it's festive yet not as glittery as the other 5 colors. I'm turning 26 next year, so I have definitely passed the glittery nail phase :p

Worn with Revlon's "Gold Get 'Em"

Things I have noticed when applying this nail polish:

1. The consistency is quite thick, but manageable. I think it's because of the fine glitters in it.

2. I need two coats to get the true color out, which is normal.

3. The brush is short and round, but dense. I personally like a flat brush for easy and even application (see my Rimmel nail polish review here), but I don't mind this :)

4. I've worn this nail polish twice and both times, it started to chip on the third day. Keep in mind that I always put a base coat and a top coat to keep my nail polishes last longer.

5. Because it's dark and glittery, the removal process can be quite challenging. But it doesn't stain my cuticles and it doesn't leave any glitter residue, so that's a plus :)

Overall, I would give this nail polish a 7/10. I'm obviously not a beauty guru, so I scored this based on the experience I've had with other nail polishes I've tried. If you want to see more of Deborah Lippman nail polishes, head over to NailPolishCanada.com! :)

xx toodles.

Holiday Gift Ideas ~ SOREL Boots

2011-12-07T12:34:00.000-05:00

Women's Cool Canvas Wedge - $299.99

I am all about winter footwear that can withstand extreme weather conditions yet can still compliment (most) my outfits. While I am already set for winter with my snow boots arsenal (these, these, and these), some people may not be... yet.

I've picked up some favorites from SOREL Boots' newest Holiday/Winter collection. Some for the ladies and some for the gents. You can make someone very warm and dry (also fuzzy?) this Christmas ;)

Women's Tofino in Chilli Pepper - $199.99

Women's Wicked Work Boot - $279.99

(You could lace this up half-way and show off the fleece lining!)

Men's Mad Boot Lace - $229.99

(I think the boyfriend would love this!)

Men's Putnam High Boot - $219.99

xx toodles.

She Wore A Green Beret

2011-12-05T12:15:00.004-05:00

(Forever 21 parka / H&M cardigan, scarf & belt / Seven7 jeans / UO purse / Ardene beanie / Nine West boots)

Unfortunately, I don't have a raspberry beret -- the kind you find in a second hand store ;) Beanies are my go-to accessories whenever I'm having a bad bangs day. They keep my bangs in place! The last thing I want when I leave the house is to have my bangs looking like Sailor Moon's :p Nothing much else to say today, guys. Hope everybody is having a great start of the week! :)

xx toodles.

Every Single Word Could Not Express

2011-12-02T11:45:00.002-05:00

(Forever 21 parka / ZARA cardigan / Ardene scarf / The 1727 dress (c/o) / Nina Ricci purse / Jeffrey Campbell wedges)

I wish I had separate wardrobes for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter that I could just rotate every time the season changes. But I live in a modest 1-bedroom apartment with a small closet space and an IKEA chest drawer, so I have to recycle a lot of my clothes ;)

The first time I wore this dress was back in the summer with no jacket, no scarf, and definitely no tights. It was not easy to tone down the bright watercolors and make the dress look more Fall-appropriate. But when in doubt, I always go for dark colors. Black tights. Black cardigan. Dark olive jacket. Black shoes. Black purse. But why was I wearing a bright orange scarf? I had no idea :p

xx toodles.

Holiday Gift Ideas ~ PRIVÉ

2011-12-01T12:34:00.001-05:00

I like wearing a simple dress or a blouse with some statement jewelries...

(all items are currently available on PRIVÉ)

And my Christmas wish list is growing by the minute ;)

xx toodles.

Holiday Gift Ideas ~ Bunny Be Cool

2011-11-30T13:28:00.001-05:00

If you are currently shopping for holiday gifts (I know I am!), you should check out Bunny Be Cool, a neat accessories e-shop that sells hand-made contemporary bracelets and necklaces with an ethnic touch :)

In the designer's own words:

In a world where everything is moving so fast we spend most of our time putting ourselves in question. Based on the principle that life should not consist of discovering who we are but rather of finding the person we long to be, each jewel has been designed in the hope of bringing back a certain state of mind to those who will wear it, they should never stop believing in themselves whatever happens.

Here are my favorite pieces from the website (including the intro picture):

Cute, huh? :) Agnes, the designer, is a very friendly and sweet person. You would love her and her creations!

xx toodles.

What Your Heart Is For

2011-11-28T12:19:00.001-05:00

(Forever 21 necklace (similar here) / Old Navy turtleneck (get it here) / New York & Co. vest / H&M belt / Joe Fresh skirt / GUESS purse from Mom / Jeffrey Campbell wedges (similar style here))

Hello! How's your Black Friday shopping experience?:) I only got a couple of things from Club Monaco, one for my mom and the other one for myself. Tried to look for great deals on shoes, but nothing caught my attention (which came as a surprise since I thought I was a shoe-gal!) Anyway, I'm saving up for my upcoming Christmas trip to south of the border, so it was a good call not to overspend on Black Friday. Lets hope this self control holds up for Cyber Monday, which is today. Teehee! :D

xx toodles.

No Pain No Gain... Not!

2011-11-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

(BB Dakota vest (get it here) / H&M top & skirt (similar top & skirt) / Forever 21 necklace / MICHAEL Michael Kors purse / ALDO heels)

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'd know that I'm an avid fan of ALDO shoes. They're affordable, trendy, sometimes comfortable, sometimes they need a little bit of work, but overall, I'm always pleased with them...

EXCEPT WITH THESE SHOES!

Who would've thought that a pair of two-inch block heeled shoes could torture my feet so much?!? The first time I wore them out to work, I was limping by the end of the day. So I inserted some foot petals to try to make them work. THEY DID NOT WORK. I was still limping on my way home from the office. The third time around (where I hoped was a charm), I inserted full insoles on top of the foot petals. That totally defeated the purpose of the foot petals, but hey, I was desperate. That still DID NOT WORK.

Anyway, have a safe Black Friday, everyone! :)

xx toodles.

Mo-ving Mo-vember

2011-11-24T12:19:00.001-05:00

As much as I support the Movember movement, I don't like seeing my boyfriend with a mo'. There are guys who look great with mos' and there are guys who are better off without them. Chris belongs to the latter group. Six days left. I can't wait to hear the buzzing sound from his electric shaver at the end of the month >:D

(eBay coat / Uniqlo shirt & jeans / Oliver Spencer belt / Proopticals.com glasses (c/o))

Anyway, Chris and his co-workers formed a fundraising team for Movember and called themselves "Obviously Special Moustaches" (lol!). You can help them raise money for prostate cancer by clicking here! :)

xx toodles.

I'm Love, Love Crazy

2011-11-23T12:15:00.005-05:00

(H&M beanie / UO pullover / Mackage jacket via PRIVE / Old Navy shorts (get them here) / Cougar boots (c/o) / Proopticals.com glasses (c/o))

It was a gorgeous albeit chilly Saturday. Chris and I didn't do anything during the day except for dragging our lazy bums to the nearest noodle shop for a late lunch. After a couple of yummy bowls of wonton noodle soup, we explored the residential area near my building for some photo op (because that's what bloggers do, ha!).

the mandatory jump shot! :)

I only wear my glasses under two circumstances: A). when I have to see/read something far, such as at the theaters, meetings, events, or B). when I don't have any make up on. This was the latter case and I wore my cat-eye specs to give my flat and pale face some colors and definition (lol, did that even work? :p). Plus, a chunky beanie to hide my bedhead hair. Plus plus, a pair of tough winter boots because heels don't rhyme with l-a-z-y ;)

My apology for the delay in announcing the winner for my Boa Apparel giveaway. Congrats to Natasha from Required2BeInspired and thank you very much to those who entered :) I have more giveaways in the pipeline, so stay tuned!

xx toodles.

Double Trouble

2011-11-21T12:15:00.006-05:00

(H&M blazer and scarf / Old Navy tee / Forever 21 vest / Joe Fresh pants / Sam Edelman shoes (buy here!) / Nina Ricci purse)

Look at what we have here! A set of old photos I forgot to post on the blog (note: no derpy bangs!). I've been finding it rather challenging to style this blazer due to its "boxy" shape and funky color. And I'm pretty sure I was possessed by bad fashion spirits when I decided to wear it with lots of leopard prints and a shaggy faux fur vest. Anyway, don't let my bad fashion decision distracts you from this cute hand-me-down Nina Ricci purse from mommy dearest. I believe this purse is over 15 years old yet it's still in excellent condition. Mom really knows how to take care of her things ;)

xx toodles.

Colors Of The Season

2011-11-18T12:15:00.003-05:00

(Joe Fresh sweater / Old Navy skirt (buy here) / Vintage belt & clutch / ALDO shoes (similar here) / Quoise jewelries (c/o))

The weather was so nice last Saturday that I was able to leave the house in a skirt sans tights (gasp!). But boy oh boy, I should have known better. By 5pm, I was fuuuuuh-reezing my bum off. I love Fall, but this temperamental weather is starting to drive me crazy x-(

The lovely designers over at Quoise Jewelry (based in Toronto!) sent me these ring, bracelet, and earrings for review. I love wearing them together and I've been doing so for the past week.

The vintage-inspired studs are my most favorite pieces from the set and I was pleasantly surprised because I am usually not an earring girl. Aside from the obvious fact that they are GORGEOUS, I like them because they're very lightweight. They always feel like I'm wearing nothing on my ears! :)
The braided bracelet is my second favorite. I think blue and gold makes a very elegant color combination. I also love how they put a magnetic clasp (as opposed to the usual lobster claw clasp) to finish the bracelet.
I wasn't sure about the ring at first. By itself, it doesn't look very attractive. But once I put it on my finger, it demands attention and goes with a lot of outfits. It's also very lightweight despite its chunky appearance. Though the ban can be adjusted to fit size 6, 7, or 8, I still think the ring runs pretty big. That's why I was wore it on my index finger (aka. my fat finger) in the photos :p

All photos by Derek Hui

I never worked with a real photographer before. It's already challenging enough for me to pose in front of a tripod, let alone Chris... let alone a real photographer! So when Derek from Freshera contacted me for a small collaboration, I got ~~a little~~ so nervous. Thank God the results turned out great! Derek was a quick snapper and he's able to get so many pictures out of our quick photoshoot. And it just so happened that we took these on the day of my blog's 2nd anniversary (November 12). What a great way to celebrate! :D

xx toodles.

ps. This Old Navy skirt cost me less than $10. Go get it NOW!
pps. My apology for the lengthy post. It usually comes once in a blue moon :p

Round And Round

2011-11-16T13:23:00.002-05:00

(BB Dakota vest (get it here) / H&M blouse / Skirt from Mom / Vintage belt / MICHAEL Michael Kors tote bag / ALDO heels)

I'm the type of girl who likes to plan her outfit of the day the night before. But sometimes, I just fall asleep so quickly that I have to deal with it in the morning. That's usually one of the reasons why I'm late for work: picking out the right outfit to wear ;) I started off with this polkadot skirt because I hadn't worn it in awhile. And then I went on trying ~~a few~~ 6 tops that could go with the skirt until I spotted this polkadot blouse at the bottom of my drawer. Dots on dots? Hey, why not? :) Throw in some fluffy faux fur vest to pimp out the outfit and et voilà! I was still running 10 minutes late, though :p

3 more days to enter my Boa Apparel giveaway :)

xx toodles.

Operation Christmas Child

2011-11-15T12:30:00.000-05:00

A small shoe box can make a difference in a child's life :)

My shoe box for a boy

My shoe box for a girl

Chris' "special" shoe box because he's got too much stuff :p

Every year, I participate in the Samaritan's Purse "Operation Christmas Child" where the organization collects shoe boxes filled with Christmas gifts from all over the world and distributes them to children in needs. You can read more about it on samaritanspurse.ca :)

xx toodles.

ps. This is a non-sponsored post. I just felt like sharing it with you guys :)

Man-ochroma.Chic ~ part 2

2011-11-14T12:25:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, I let Chris take the spotlight ;)

See his previous outfit here.

And don't forget to enter my Boa Apparel giveaway HERE!

xx toodles.

Is This Feeling Love Or Just A Game?

2011-11-11T12:15:00.018-05:00

(Mackage jacket via PRIVE / H&M tank & shirt / Forever 21 necklace (get it here) / BLANK NYC jeans c/o Alainn Bella (get them here) / Michael by Michael Kors tote (get similar here) / c/o UGG boots (get them here))

I have derpy bangs. Like, MAAAAAH-JOR DERPY. When I was in Vancouver last summer, I went to this Japanese dollar store, called Daiso (God, I love this place), and bought a bunch of vanity/beauty goodies. One of them being a pair of hair trimming scissors for a buck. WHAT A STEAL.

In the past, I DIY-ed my bangs with a pair of regular scissors and it worked just fine. So, I was excited to use the trimming scissors for the first time that I got (a little) carried away. They turned out too short to be side-swept bangs, but too long to be blunt bangs. Moral of the story? Just use regular scissors or go get them trimmed at a budget hair salon ;)

Enter my giveaway for a chance to win $100 worth of clothes from Boa Apparel!

xx toodles.

It Seems So Wrong To Be Right

2011-11-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

(Joe Fresh sweater / H&M skirt / Vintage belt / ALDO shoes / UO purse / Forever 21 necklace)

My apologies that these photos are rather dark and grainy. I took them right before I left for work but the sun was still hiding behind the fat clouds. Inspired by the cloudy morning sky, I put on a grey sweater that I recently got from Joe Fresh after I saw Jess sporting the camel version on her blog. That's one of the things I like about blogging, you always get "inspired" by what other bloggers are wearing :) The downside to it is that I tend to spend money on things that I want but don't necessarily need (Hungry eyes... I feel the magic between you and I...). Aaaahh, the love-and-hate relationship with blogging >:D

xx toodles.

A Girl's Next Best Friend

2011-11-08T12:15:00.002-05:00

Like Carrie Bradshaw, I'm a self-proclaimed shoe gal. But also like Carrie, I like to entertain myself with pretty purses every now and then. One of my sponsors for November is A Girl's Next Best Friend, an online shop based in Toronto that carries a selection of trendy purses for all seasons. I especially love their collection for Fall and Winter. Think fur, warm colors, and hardware details! :)

Career Girl Satchel (inspired by PS1 satchel)

Chain Gang Clutch

Fur Your Arms Bag

London Tote (inspired by MK Hamilton tote)

Take A Bow Clutch

You can also check out their collection of affordable vintage purses on the Vintage section :)

xx toodles.

When Things Don't Go My Way

2011-11-07T12:23:00.000-05:00

(H&M jacket (super old) & sweater / GAP shirt / UO skirt & purse / ALDO flats / Forever 21 necklace)

Whenever I go to Queen Street West (the 'fashion district' in Toronto), I always make sure that I pay homage to their infamous graffiti walls (see here and here). And it's not just me. A few feet away from us, there were other people taking pictures with the walls as well.

Anyway... the night before, Cruel Intentions was playing on TV. I remember how my mom forbid me from going to the theater to see it because I wasn't old enough (I was only 13). I did end up watching it (somewhere) a few years later and I just loved Sarah Michelle Gellar in it. I guess I was a little inspired by her character's school uniform because the next day, I dressed myself up in a preppy shirt, a sweater and a rosary necklace (sans coke, don't worry!).

Don't forget to enter my Boa Apparel giveaway HERE! :)

xx toodles.

In Fur And Velvet We Trust

2011-11-04T12:15:00.003-04:00

(H&M beanie / BB Dakota vest (get it here) / ZARA sweater / AA skirt / ALDO shoes / Marc by Marc Jacobs bag (get it here))

I have a dirty little secret to share: I have not washed this fur vest ever since I got it in December of last year. I read the washing instruction and it says "don't dry clean". Ooooookay... now what am I supposed to do? I'm afraid that if I washed it myself, I wouldn't be able to recover the puffy-ness. And that's mah-jor! I've been trying to not get this vest dirty and spraying it with the Febreeze fabric freshener every now and then. Do you have any tips on how I should wash my furry friend? :)

GIVEAWAY: $100 worth of clothes from Boa Apparel.

Enter here!

xx toodles.

Giveaway: Boa Apparel

2011-11-03T12:41:00.001-04:00

Lets start Movember with a fabulous giveaway, shall we? :) Boa Apparel, a Toronto-based fashion company, is offering $100 worth of clothing from their store to one of my lucky readers. YES. ONE. HUNDRED. DOLLAR. WORTH. OF. CLOTHING... of your choice! :) They offer free Canadian shipping for orders over $50, but they also ship internationally. Here are some of my picks from their current collections:

Warm-colored tops for Fall and Winter :)

Pretty dresses for the upcoming holiday season!

Mandatory entries:

1. Follow Boa Apparel on Twitter (click here)

or...

2. Like Boa Apparel on Facebook (click here)

Bonus entries:

1. Follow Monochroma.Chic via Google Connect (+1 entry)

2. Follow Monochroma.Chic on Twitter (+1 entry)

Easy peasy and you could get up to 4 entries! :) This giveaway is open internationally and it will run until Friday, Nov 18 at 11:59PM EST. As always, make sure you leave your valid email address where I could contact you if you won :) Thank you Boa Apparel for sponsoring this giveaway. Good luck, peeps! :)

xx toodles.

We've Known Each Other For So Long

2011-11-02T12:12:00.003-04:00

(Mackage jacket via PRIVE / UO dress & purse / c/o UGG boots (get them here) / c/o MyNameNecklace necklace)

Yea yea, I've been wearing this jacket a lot. I figured that by the end of the year, the cost-per-use for this jacket could go as low as $4. Not a bad investment, I say ;)

Can't believe that is already November. BAH. Where did all the time go? Soon enough, we would have to come up with new New Year's resolutions. Double BAH. Anyway, putting all the negative thoughts aside, how pretty is this necklace from MyNameNecklace.com? :) I don't own dainty necklaces like this, so it serves as a breath of fresh air in my accessories collection. What's not so fresh about it was when a random guy with a ciggie breath tried to make a conversation with me on the subway train. His first (and last) line was, "Kristy... that's the clown from The Simpsons, right?"

I got off at the next stop.

xx toodles.

Stomp In The Name Of Love

2011-10-29T12:06:00.011-04:00

(BB Dakota vest (get it here) / H&M blouse / Uniqlo skirt / Vintage belt / Michael by Michael Kors bag / c/o UGG boots (get them here))

We had a small Halloween party at the office last Friday. Since we would like to maintain our "professional" image (ha!), all female employees were prohibited from dressing up in ~~slutty~~ sexy costumes. And male employees weren't allowed to wear any superhero costumes that promote underwear as outerwear, lol :p Now you would think that based on my outfit above, I would just add a witch hat, a broomstick, and I'd be good to go. Well, think again because my costume was far from being ugly or creepy...

......

I was a green crayon! :D

It may not be the most original costume idea but we looked pretty damn cute for some 20, 30, and 40 year olds ;) Happy Halloween, everyone!

xx toodles.

If I Told You That

2011-10-28T13:20:00.003-04:00

Last week, I received a pair of skinny jeans to review from the lovely people over at Parasuco Jeans (thanks Amanda!). Jeans are important winter staples in my closet. I usually prefer skinny jeans over other styles because I can wear them tucked in to tall boots or out with a pair of flats or heels.

(Winners blouse / Parasuco jeans (c/o) / Forever 21 necklace / MANGO purse / Jeffrey Campbell shoes)

To me, this particular pair feels more like jeggings than jeans. The fabric is lightweight and stretchy that it just clings to my legs. They are comfortable to wear, though I personally like the "heavier" feel for my denim. You know me, I despise wearing leggings as pants ;) The inseam is definitely too long for my short legs. Since my favorite tailor is currently on vacation, I would just have to survive with the hem tucked under. I also like the coated wash that gives the jeans that leather-ish effect (or as Chris called it "SHINY").

Now you'll have the chance to win $3,000 worth of Parasuco apparel. WUT WUT WUUUUT?!? Parasuco is having a huge contest, called "Win 4 Seasons of Free Fashion". FREE?!? You read that right. All you gotta do is LIKE Parasuco Jeans on Facebook and fill in the contest form with your basic info so they could contact you if you're the lucky winner. The contest will end on November 4, so chop chop everybody! :)

Have a guuuuuuhreat weekend! :D

xx toodles.

Ugg... Really?

2011-10-27T12:54:00.001-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited by Lotus Leaf Communications to attend the opening party of the first UGG store in Toronto. I debated whether or not I should go since I have never been a 'fan' of UGG and going to its launch party would make me look like a hypocrite. Right? ;) I was prompted by their PR team to check out the UGG website and I was surprised by how different their new designs are from the infamous sheepskin ugg-ly boots we all know of (never own one, never will). I guess I should have just mock the shoe style and not the brand :) Anyway... off I went to da' partay!

The brand-spanking-new store
(photo courtesy of UGG Australia)

Not as bad as the sheepskin ones, me thinks ;)

I wouldn't mind wearing these...

... or these!

It was a full-house evening
(photo courtesy of UGG Australia)

Look who I bumped into at the party :)

The leather collection

The shearling trend is still going strong

Mod about you

I'm actually quite liking these ones

One last snap before parting ways with Jess

Don't worry, the ugg-ly ones still exist :p

Nelia and I doing the "blogger pose" :)

Thanks UGG for having us!

(photo courtesy of UGG Australia)

xx toodles.

ps. To more photos of the outfit I was wearing, click here! :)

I've Got To Let You Know

2011-10-26T12:27:00.000-04:00

(H&M dress & belt / Mackage jacket via PRIVE / Marc by Marc Jacobs purse (get it here)/ ALDO heels / Amrita Singh necklace via PRIVE)

Celebrated Chris' 26th birthday last Friday with a bunch of his close friends. I still can't believe that he finally passed that quarter-of-a-century mark and soon it'll be my turn. We first met when we're just a couple of sixth graders in Indonesia. We weren't even friends, just classmates. I hated his arrogance, but he couldn't care less, which made me despised him even more. Then he went abroad to continue his studies and I stayed in Indonesia. Fast forward 8 years later, we both moved to Canada but we were still unaware of each other's existence. Until one day, he found me on Friendster (lol, the good ol' days!) and we started talking. Turns out, we went to the same university. So we started hanging out... more... and more. It's been 5 years :)

(gosh, I'm old)

xx toodles.

Who Am I To Disagree

2011-10-24T12:15:00.003-04:00

(H&M jacket / Ardene scarf / Old Navy dress (get it here!) / Longchamp Le Pliage tote / Jeffrey Campbell shoes)

I've been obsessing over Old Navy collections lately. I know Old Navy doesn't rhyme with "high-street fashion", but to give them some credit, I think they've really stepped up their game. Sure, they still sell those logo tees and rubber flip flops in all colors of the rainbow, but they've also produced some sweet pieces, like this floral dress I'm wearing. Too bad you can't see the entire dress (next time, I promise!) but it's one of those dresses that you can see yourself wearing it all year round and is appropriate for almost all occasions (just don't wear it to a funeral!) And say hello to my Jeffrey Campbell Ameakes. They've been collecting dust all summer long! >:D

xx toodles.

Hit Me Baby One More Time

2011-10-21T12:42:00.000-04:00

(ZARA blazer / AA chiffon blouse / Uniqlo skirt / Forever 21 necklace / MBMJ purse (get it here) / SPRING boots)

Whenever I see a girl ties a knot with her shirt, I am instantly reminded by the song that started it all, "Hit Me Baby One More Time". Of course the lack of six-pack abs 'forced' me to wear this look with a high-waisted skirt instead of a pair of low-waisted training pants. Anywho, it's been quite windy outside and taking photos on the 24th floor multiplies the wind gust by 10 times. Out of the 20 photos I took (uh huh, I took that many), half of them consisted of me trying to get my hair off my face or pulling my skirt down. Now those would make great blooper pics, wouldn't they? ;)

Wishing everybody a great weekend ahead!

xx toodles.

The Capitol ~ Day 2

2011-10-20T12:15:00.004-04:00

Another gorgeous day in Ottawa. We were damn lucky! Our plans for the second day were to walk along the Rideau Canal, visit the Museum of Civilization, and have a nice Thanksgiving dinner for 2 at a nearby restaurant. We did them all, except I didn't get to take a lot of pictures in the evening because my camera ran out of battery. Oh well... at least I got all the good pictures during the day. We went back to Toronto the next day, so this is the last set of pics from Ottawa. Enjoy! :)

Gotta love the viewfinder on this camera :)

This is Chris

Outfit Of The Day: H&M, Joe Fresh, MBMJ, and ALDO

A quick lunch from La Bottega

Yet another obligatory jump shot!

Next stop: Museum of Civilization

Now those are some moccasins!

Who said you couldn't have steak for Thanksgiving? ;)

Good night, Ottawa

(and this is when my camera died...)

xx toodles.

An Orange A Day...

2011-10-19T12:15:00.001-04:00

(H&M blazer / La Quaintrelle dress / GUESS purse / Nine West boots)

Whenever I hear about H&M is having a huge sale, I ~~run~~ sprint to my nearest H&M store and immediately scour over their racks and racks of discounted clothing. That's just how I roll. I usually go bananaz (read: spend too much!) when I'm in such a situation, but this time, I managed to exercise some self-control and left the store with just this orange cropped blazer. Good girl, Kristy!

And the winner of my La Quaintrelle $25 gift card giveaway is........... Jess from Lack of Creativity! She's such a sweet heart and one of my great blogger-friends :) Thanks to everyone who entered. I hope to host another giveaway soon!

xx toodles.

The Capitol ~ Day 1

2011-10-18T12:11:00.000-04:00

The weather over the Thanksgiving long weekend was amazing (definitely something to be thankful for!) The sky was clear and the air was breezy. On our first day in Ottawa, we stopped by a cute 1950s diner to load up on carbs and protein before we explored the city, from the Parliament Hill to the Byward Market :)

Outfit Of The Day: Forever 21, H&M, Marc By Marc Jacobs, ALDO

We're starving!

Loading up on carbs and protein

Cute huh? I wish I could take some home.

Purely decorative or actually edible?

Cute boutique at the market

Rideau Canal

Made it to the Parliament Hill!

Obligatory jump shot

Umm... the Queen?

Traveling with my trustworthy Marc by Marc Jacobs purse

Stay tuned for Day 2! :)

xx toodles.

Let Me Be The One

2011-10-14T12:16:00.000-04:00

(ZARA trench coat (similar here) / H&M top & necklace / Forever 21 skirt & belt / Cole Haan purse / ALDO heels)

Urgh, somehow life has taken its toll on me :( I haven't been able to write a proper blog post (or leave comments on other blogs) because my mind has been preoccupied by something else for the past few days. Until I find out about the result, I am going to take a hiatus from blogging. SORRY :( But anyway, have a great weekend, everyone! :)

My current giveaway with La Quaintrelle ends tonight.

ENTER HERE!

xx toodles.

Sing It Back To Me

2011-10-10T19:36:00.000-04:00

(H&M cropped jacket, sweater & skirt / Cole Haan purse / ALDO pumps (similar here))

Just got back from our Ottawa trip. How's your Thanksgiving weekend, Canadians? :) The weather over the weekend was perfect. I packed 3 pairs of tights for the trip and I didn't get the chance to wear any of them. I even got tan lines on my feet from wearing flats! Who knew you could still get a tan in October? ;) Anyway, I will share some of the pictures I took in the capital city soon. Hang tight! :)

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY HERE HERE HERE!

xx toodles.

She Was Dressed To Thrill

2011-10-07T14:04:00.000-04:00

(Forever 21 anorak (similar here) / Old Navy cardigan (similar here) / H&M blouse (similar here) / Costa Blanca shorts / Cole Haan purse / ALDO flats & sunnies (similar here))

Canadian Thanksgiving weekend is here and Chris and I are heading to Ottawa for the long weekend. Still looking for suggestions on places to eat and visit, so keep 'em coming :) And don't forget to enter my giveaway from some free shopping money! Now who doesn't like that? ;)

Have a safe Thanksgiving weekend, Canadians!

xx toodles.

Giveaway: La Quaintrelle $25 Gift Card

2011-10-06T12:14:00.001-04:00

Woohoo, another giveaway is up for grabs!

This time, a randomly chosen winner will get a $25 gift card for La Quaintrelle, an online shop with loads of pretty and elegant dresses :)

Flapper Dress (left) - Tangerine Sky Dress (right)

Emma Dress (left) - Confetti Dress (right)

Remember the pretty lace number I wore in this post? Yup, it's the Emma Dress right there! ;) To enter this giveaway, you must:

- Follow La Quaintrelle on Facebook or Twitter (mandatory)
- Visit La Quaintrelle and choose an item you'd like to get with the gift card.
- For a bonus entry: follow my Twitter

Make sure you do one of the mandatory entries in order to qualify for the giveaway :) This giveaway will be open until October 14, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. Don't forget to leave your email address in the comment box! Good luck, everyone! :)

xx toodles.

Dressed Up For The Part

2011-10-05T12:15:00.002-04:00

(H&M cropped jacket / Forever 21 dress (similar here) & necklace / UO purse / ALDO heels (similar here or here))

Wore this outfit to see Cirque du Soleil performance for the first time EVER! It was an amazing experience and Chris and I made a promise to each other that we would see it every year from now on. It also made me want to go to Las Vegas to see their other shows there *sigh... day dreaming*. Anyway, as a Cirque du Soleil virgin, I wasn't aware that their signature color scheme was yellow and blue...

... EXACTLY LIKE MY OUTFIT!

xx toodles.

ps. I apologize for the dark & grainy photos. It was cloudy outside and I used the wrong camera setting :(

PRIVE Picks: Motel Rocks

2011-10-04T12:55:00.000-04:00

I mentioned in this blog before that I liked browsing through designers sales websites. PRIVE is one of my favorite websites because I feel that their items are more affordable than, let say... Gilt Groupe? Anyway, today's sale is for Motel Rocks and while the British street style is not really my thing, I was still able to find some pieces that caught my attention :)

Bess Cardi - $52

Fransesca Dress - $42

Beth Dress Cotton - $42

Shirley Shirt - $50

The Bess Cardi and Fransesca Dress are my favorites. There are more dresses, tops, and bottoms listed for 50% off or more. Go check them out now! :)

xx toodles.

Can't Get You Off My Mind

2011-10-03T12:07:00.010-04:00

(Old Navy shirt (get it here) / H&M skirt / Forever 21 accessories / GUESS purse from Mom / ALDO heels)

Wearing a maxi skirt to work because all of my black tights were in the laundry. I never realized that I didn't have enough black tights for a week supply. Anyway... look what I found at the very bottom of my purse storage container! (yes, I keep my purses in this) This GUESS purse is half my age and I remember the first time my mom got it like it was yesterday. I was only 13 y.o. back then and I made her swore that she would pass the purse down to me when I became "old enough". As a woman of her words, she did just that... 7 years later :)

By the way, I'll be spending the upcoming Thanksgiving long weekend in Ottawa. Any suggestions on things to do, places to eat (I love brunch!), and places to shop? Write 'em down in the comment box, please! :D

xx toodles.

Guest Blogging At TGWTMH!

2011-10-01T23:00:00.001-04:00

Hello peeps!

I was invited to guest-blog over at The Girl With The Messy Hair (cute blog name, huh?)

Like my leopard cardigan? Check out the post for more photos of the outfit! :)

xx toodles.

Walking Up And Down My Spine

2011-09-30T12:34:00.001-04:00

(Mackage jacket via PRIVE / Joe Fresh dress / Vintage belt / UO purse / Jeffrey Campbell shoes)

I was fiiiiiiinally able to wear my Mackage leather jacket out. F-I-N-A-L-L-Y :) It's been hanging inside my closet since June. The temperature that day was only in the mid teens but I insisted on taking this jacket out for a spin. Well, it worked out well in the morning but by the afternoon, I was sweating. That's the thing with leather jackets. In my humble opinion, they're too thick for Fall but too thin for Winter. Sometimes I wish I lived in the west coast so I could wear leather jackets all Fall and Winter long. Anybody living in the west coast has a room to spare for this east coast girl? I'm a neat person AND I'll let you borrow my shoes ;)

Have a great weekend, everyone!

xx toodles.

Wild Nights Should Be Our Luxury

2011-09-28T12:15:00.002-04:00

(Tommy Hilfiger shirt / ZARA skirt / Forever 21 necklace / ALDO pumps (similar style here))

Oh boy, I think this could be the last set of photos you'll see me without tights. Fall is here and I am finally able to wear my black opaque tights again. WOOP WOOP! I forgot how obsessed I was with this skirt when I first got it. High-waisted? Pleated? Color-block pattern? POCKETS?? All boxes are checked! I (almost) never purchase anything from ZARA at the regular price, but I bit the bullet for this skirt. No regrets. Though I rarely wear this out (or on the blog, for that matter), it's definitely one of my Top 5 skirts :)

xx toodles.

All Long To Be Forgotten

2011-09-26T12:15:00.007-04:00

(Thrifted blouse (very similar style here) / Seven7 jeans / Urban Outfitters purse / Forever 21 necklace / ALDO flats)

It was just a few weeks ago when I complained about the scorching hot weather in Toronto. Since then, the temperature has plummeted into the single digits with cool Fall breeze and early sunsets. My kind of weather :) We took these pictures in a narrow alleyway of the house where Chris lives. I had been wanting to take my outfit pictures here, but Chris was always reluctant to do so because it made him feel claustrophobic. Well, I can tell you that we only spent 5 minutes in 'entrapment'. Snap snap snap! Things I do (and Chris "sacrifices") for my blog :p

xx toodles.

Addition Elle & Matchstick ~ Styling Event

2011-09-22T13:45:00.002-04:00

(All participating bloggers with Addition Elle VP of Marketing, Roslyn Griner)

About a month ago, I joined a group of Toronto and Montreal bloggers to participate in a styling event hosted by Addition Elle and Matchstick. Addition Elle is a one-stop shopping for plus-size shoppers who are looking for affordable yet trendy casual and career pieces. It was such an honor to be a part of this humble yet amazing event. Each blogger had a unique aesthetic and it was very refreshing to see different outfits put together and modeled for AE's Fall Lookbook. Ok, enough babbling from me. Enjoy the photos! :)

The "Career" section at Addition Elle store

The "Casual" section

Some pretty footwear & accessories that we got to play with :3

Can I take them all home?

Every blogger was assigned to a fitting room

Some pieces I picked up for my potential outfits (look at that red leopard blazer. YUM.)

My gorgeous model, Zara, modeling my first outfit (I would totally wear this!)

Second outfit -- Who says you can't wear black and brown together?

The photoshoot behind-the-scene

Why, hello there :)

These yummy little things fed us from the beginning 'til the end

The bloggers + models + stylists + MUAs.

If you reside in Canada, you could have a chance of winning one of three $150 gift cards c/o Addition Elle, redeemable at any AE's Canadian locations. Trust me, you don't have to have a plus-size figure to be able to shop at Addition Elle. I saw a lot of great pieces that can easily be worn by straight-size women :) Now all you need to do is go to Addition Elle's Facebook page and vote for one of the looks from the styling event. You can vote once/day until October 11. Every time you vote, you'll be automatically entered for the $150 gift card contest. So vote often to increase your chance of winning! Be greedy, it's okay! >:D Hahaha.. just kidding. And if you would be so kind, please (pretty please?) vote for my looks ;)

That's a wrap, everybody!

xx toodles.

Without You There's No Me

2011-09-21T12:15:00.005-04:00

(c/o Proopticals.com "Lynn" frame)

I like to think of eyeglasses as an accessory piece, something that I can add to complete an outfit. Since I don't like wearing contacts, I always look for stylish yet practical specs. Proopticals.com was kind enough to let me choose a pair of eyeglasses from their website and this cat-eye pair was a love at first sight. At $19.95, I say it's a pretty good bang for your buck! ;)

(c/o La Quaintrelle "Emma Dress" / Forever 21 jacket / Longchamp tote bag / ALDO shoes)

And just how gaaawwwwjuuusss is this lace dress? It was described as a "buyer's choice" and I simply couldn't resist! I love the Victorian feel to it. The delicate lace overlay top and the scallop-hemmed bottom make an irresistible combination. I wore it with a black moto jacket and black lace-up wedge booties to make the outfit look more Fall-appropriate ;) It was too cold outside for me to take a picture of the dress without the jacket, but you can see a full picture of it on the website. Thank you Meghan from La Quaintrelle for this wonderful little white dress :)

xx toodles.

You Say Leave, I Say Goodbye

2011-09-19T12:15:00.001-04:00

(H&M blouse, skirt, belt / Marc by Marc Jacobs purse (buy here!) / Dolce Vita pumps (buy here!) / Amrita Singh ring via PRIVE)

Happy Monday, lovely peeps! This skinny belt was a recent "necessary" purchase. The other day, I was looking for a black belt in my closet, but I could only spot one black belt out of a bunch of belts I had. Fashion crisis, lol! :p I mean, I love the versatility of a brown belt, but sometimes, you just need a black belt to complete a certain outfit. So I headed over to my usual H&M store and grabbed this belt for $7. Gotta love H&M for their affordable fashion pick-me ups :)

And without further delay, the winner of my Alainn Bella + BLANKNYC giveaway is... Shea from Bon Chic Bon Gastronomique. Congrats! Thanks to everyone who entered and I hope to have another giveaway soon :)

xx toodles.

A Black & White Affair

2011-09-16T12:22:00.000-04:00

(H&M blazer / Forever 21 top / Uniqlo skirt / Vintage clutch / ALDO pumps)

A black and white combination is the easiest outfit you can put together for a professional environment aka. the office. However, it can also look dead-boring if you: A). Love fashion and B). Have a style blog to update. So I stuck with the color palette but played with different textures and patterns to come up with a more modern version of the classic black-and-white outfit. Well, I cheated a little with the charcoal grey skirt. It looks almost like black though, no? ;)

Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway. I will announce the winner this weekend or early next week!:)

xx toodles.

Color Me Bad

2011-09-15T12:15:00.001-04:00

I like good deals when it comes to beauty products, so I mostly shop for my make up at the drug stores. The same goes for nail varnishes. I love Essie and OPI, but at $10 a pop, I needed to find a more affordable option. Cue in Rimmel's Lasting Finish PRO nail polishes. I am a HUGE FAN of this line. They have a good range of colors, they last for at least 7 days with very minimal chipping, and they go on smoothly when applied.

These nail polishes usually retail at $4.99 to $5.99 a piece, but they often go on sale for $2.99. My first purchase was the middle bottle, Steel Grey, which I thought was a great dupe for Chanel's Particulière. Since then, I never looked back and I've been buying nail polishes from this line every time a new color trend kicks in :)

I love the thin yet dense brush applicator. Two coats are all you need to get the true color :)

I am not sponsored by Rimmel or anything to do this post. I simply wanted to share my positive experience with these nail polishes. I've tried Revlon, Sally Hansen, and Maybelline, but Rimmel is by far my favorite! What's your favorite drugstore-brand nail polish? :)

xx toodles.

Meet The Pillows

2011-09-14T12:22:00.000-04:00

Last winter, I would never be able to survive the snowstorm, frost bites, and slippery streets if I didn't have my Cougar boots c/o Matchstick. This year, they were kind enough (again!) to send me a pair of the limited edition "Pillow" boots by Cougar.

(Old Navy shirt (get it here) & cardigan (get it here) / H&M belt / BLANKNYC jeans c/o Alainn Bella / Cougar "Pillow" boots c/o Matchstick)

The first words that came to mind when I saw these boots were:

1. Lumberjack

2. Michelin Man (get it? :p)

3. A Winter staple

4. Hurray!

5. LOVE :)

The boots look and feel sturdy. The interior lining (in red!) and insole are cushioned to perfection, which make these boots very comfortable to wear... or should I say, pillowy? ;) The Italian leather has been gently broken in, so I'm not worried about getting any blisters. Not only that, I also love the threaded rubber soles because they really grip the ground I walk on. The only downside that I can think of is their bulky appearance. They're actually pretty light, so don't let the 'bulkiness' deceives you! I can't wait to wear these out more often once the temperature has cooled down. I am creating outfits in mind as we speak :)

And these boots are definitely jump-approved! ;)

Don't forget to check out The Pillow Boot Lookbook here.
To get your own pair, find your nearest retailer here.

Thank you Cougar Boots and Matchstick for sending me the Pillow boots! :)

(I might sleep with them tonight, ha!)

xx toodles.

Swallowed By The Waves

2011-09-12T12:15:00.004-04:00

(H&M top & belt / ZARA pants / Forever 21 necklace / Longchamp tote / Sam Edelman pumps)

The easiest way to "mix prints" in an outfit without looking like a train wreck is to keep them as far away from each other as possible. At least that's how I did it in this look: stripes as top, leopard as footwear. But now that I think about it, leopard print might look good layered with stripes. I am going to try that out in my future pairings. Yay for outfit ideas! :)

Have you entered my giveaway yet? TWO DAYS LEFT! :)

xx toodles.

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

2011-09-09T12:34:00.000-04:00

(American Apparel lawn tee / Urban Outfitters skirt & purse / Forever 21 necklace / ALDO flats)

I just noticed that I've been wearing repetitive outfits lately. A simple top tucked into a skirt, cinched the waist with some kind of belt and polish everything off with a statement necklace. And flats... for comfort. I don't want to call it my 'signature' look because other bloggers (and stylish people alike) do it 100x better than I do. What I don't understand is how girls can wear boots in the summer. Or over-the-knee socks with heels in a 35°C weather. I can't imagine my feet sweating inside a pair of boots. Umm... hello smelly toes!

Want a free pair of jeans? YES? Enter my giveaway! :)

xx toodles.

ps. I passed my driving test... with flying colors ;)

BB Dakota & Jack ~ Fall 2011 Collection

2011-09-08T17:19:00.002-04:00

Living in a 4-season country 'forces' me to maintain 4 separate sections in my wardrobe. Well... I could have gotten away with 2 sections, but 4 is more fun! :p One of my favorite things about the colder seasons is shopping for outerwear. For some reasons, I always end up buying a new coat or thin jacket every Fall. I recently flipped through BB Dakota's Fall 2011 lookbook and I was floored by their collection of coats and jackets. Some of my favorites are:

Josie Coat in Camel Brown (a Fall must-have!) - $173

Ephriam Coat in Chestnut Brown - $173

Calhoun Cape in Cocoa Brown - $173

Sloan Coat in Black (so badass!) - $218

Diedre Parka Jacket (great for Fall & Winter!) - $100

*Wiping off drool*

I already bought a leather jacket for Fall, but looking at these coats makes me want to buy another one! :p

(hint: the Josie Coat)

So... have you done any coat/jacket shopping recently? ;)

xx toodles.

Deeper Than The Sea

2011-09-07T12:30:00.000-04:00

(Old Navy tee / H&M belt & skirt / ALDO flats / Urban Outfitters purse)

Just a few quick snaps of what I wore last Saturday, a day when the temperature in Toronto reached 35°C and felt like 40°C (104°F). I had never felt stickier in my life. EVER. It was three days into September, yet Fall still seemed to be out of reach. Perhaps in a couple weeks. *fingers crossed*

Thanks to everyone who've entered my GIVEAWAY. Less than a week to go, so hurry up and enter! :)

xx toodles.

There's No Need To Visualize

2011-09-05T12:15:00.003-04:00

How's everybody in North America enjoying the Labor Day weekend? We've been having gloomy skies for the past 3 days and the temperature is either super humid or too cold for September. It's going to be a busy week ahead at work since the week is cut short. I will also have (finally!) my driving test on Thursday, so I need a lot of well wishes from you guys because I tend to get nervous during any exams (including eye exams, ha!) :)

(The1727 dress c/o Chictopia / Urban Outfitters purse & belt / ALDO sandals & sunnies)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, everyone! :)
Don't forget to enter MY GIVEAWAY for a chance to win an amazing pair of BLANKNYC jeans ;)

xx toodles.

G-G-G-Giveaway Time!

2011-09-02T12:15:00.002-04:00

This is my second time partnering up with Alainn Bella to do an awesome giveaway for my readers :) Up for grabs is a pair of Bubble Butt Cord jeans from BLANKNYC.

I recently received the same jeans for myself and I can confidently say that they are very comfortable, flattering, and soft to the touch. They hug your hips, thighs, and calves in all the right places :) I like wearing jeans but some jeans feel so rough on my skin, even worse during winter. These jeans ain't nothing like them. The corduroy fabric feels light and doesn't scratch my skin. I would suggest you to order a size up, especially if you're more on the curvy side (like myself!) :)

I know everybody loves an easy giveaway, so I'll make this one pretty easy:

- LIKE Alainn Bella on Facebook by clicking here (mandatory entry)

For bonus entries:

- Follow Monochroma.Chic via Google Connect (+1)

- Follow Monochroma.Chic on Twitter (+1)

Don't forget to leave your valid email address in the comment box.

This giveaway will remain open until Wednesday, September 14 at 11:59PM EST. I will announce the winner soon after. Oh, and anybody (I repeat, ANYBODY) can enter this giveaway. That is all, folks! Good luck :)

xx toodles.

Lets Leave It Undefined

2011-08-31T12:15:00.003-04:00

(H&M cardigan & necklace / ZARA pants / Joe Fresh top / Purse from Mom / ALDO shoes)

Wearing cardigan = a sign of Fall. YIPPIE! Seriously, I don't know why people are sad that summer is almost over. Summer is hot and humid. A lot of people are wearing next to nothing and they become such eye sores on the streets. And some people just sweat... excessively. I call it the summer stench. So when the temperature dropped a little last week, I busted out my trousers and cardigan for work. So happy.

I can't wait for Fall.

CAN'T. WAIT.

xx toodles.

My Poker Face

2011-08-29T12:15:00.001-04:00

(Forever 21 tee / H&M shorts / ALDO sunnies & sandals / Michael by Michael Kors tote (same model in beige here!))

I have finally gotten a hold of the new camera. I'm so used to taking my photos with the AUTO setting that having multiple settings in this new one is throwing me off guard. God bless the manual book (and Flickr forum, ha!). Now lets talk about graphic tees. I used to be a fan of them. A very big fan. Whenever American Eagle, Aeropostale, or Bluenotes was having a "Buy 2 for $15" tee event (they used to be so cheap!), I was all over it. But people change and so do I. I've replaced graphic tees with more feminine and classic tops. I call that a sign of aging, hahahahaha... :D I bought this "CIAO" tee 2 years ago before I went for my European vacation. Ironically, I didn't visit Italy, where this tee would have been more relevant :p

xx toodles.

ps. Check out my guest blogger post on Bestie's blog! :)

Guest-Blogging at Thereafterish.

2011-08-26T11:23:00.002-04:00

(Jacob shirt / H&M tank, skirt, necklace / Michael by Michael Kors tote (same style in beige) / Sam Edelman shoes)

I am guest-blogging over at Mae's blog today.

To learn more about the pieces in this outfit, check out my full post here! :)

xx toodles.

And I Keep Hitting Re-pe-pe-pe-peat

2011-08-24T12:15:00.001-04:00

(Romwe top / H&M pants / Forever 21 necklace / Dolce Vita pumps / Michael by Michael Kors tote)

Wearing my hair up in a ponytail for 4 days in a row is a sign that I can't stand the length anymore. Or is it? I've always liked long hair. I've dabbed into the bob cut, mid-length cut, shaggy cut, and this cut (no kidding!), but I've always felt more confident when the length goes beyond my shoulder. Yes, my hair is my security blanket. Besides, whoever says that short hair is low maintenance is totally delusional. I spent more time styling my bob hairstyle than my current 'I-haven't-had-a-haircut-since-last year' hairstyle. So I guess just a trim, then? :p

xx toodles.

Vacation - Day 3 Recap

2011-08-22T12:18:00.003-04:00

On the third day of my trip, we took the BC ferry to get to the Saltspring Island. Not much to say here, so please enjoy the photos :) Keep checking the blog for my Day 4 Recap pictures. I went kayaking and wet my shorts, lol! :p

Such a beautiful day - RVs were lining up to get on to the ferry

My travel companions on the car

I swear I didn't do it!

While on the ferry...

Local market

Gotta love the smell of Lavender :)

Creepy? Cute? Your call.

Hello Saltspring!

The view was just breathtaking

Our dwelling for the night

The view from our deck. Can you say... aaahhhmazing? :)

xx toodles.

These Aren't Chapters, They Are Seasons

2011-08-18T12:12:00.001-04:00

(Forever 21 top (similar here) / Skirt & necklace from Mom / Michael by Michael Kors tote (similar here) / Dolce Vita pumps (buy here))

You know those days when you just have nothing interesting to share?

I'm having one of those days.

Urgh, I hate the writer's block :(

xx toodles.

Vacation - Day 2 Recap

2011-08-17T12:13:00.000-04:00

On the second day, we went on a day trip to Seattle. Our first stop was the Premium Outlet and I had high hopes in the morning that I would end up with a new purse and a new watch at the end of the day. However, it was not the case as I left the city empty-handed. VERY DISAPPOINTING. But anyway, what's a trip without indulging in some local food, right? We had our lunch at The Crab Pot and boy, we were in a food coma for the next few hours! We took a stroll in downtown Seattle and checked out the Nordstrom Rack nearby. Again, I didn't get lucky but Chris manage to score some deals. For dinner, we drove to Northgate and found this little Indonesian restaurant that served the best chicken noodle I've ever had since I left Indonesia. I would go back to Seattle just to have a bowl of that noodle again. Mmmm...

Welcome to Seattle!

When in Seattle, go to Crab Pot :)

Seafood can't get any better than this

I missed the fish throwing extravaganza :(

Chris didn't have enough crab, so he's off chasing for some more :p

Pretty alley... with some random dude :(

Indonesian food #1

Indonesian food #2

Indonesian food #3 (well...Indo style)

Indonesian ice dessert

Til' next time!

I already have Day 3, 4, 5, 6 recaps all lined up, so keep checking the blog! :)

xx toodles.

Vacation - Day 1 Recap

2011-08-16T11:39:00.000-04:00

My first day in Vancouver started off great. I love the 3-hour time difference that allowed me to sleep in for 3 extra hours (very important on my first night!) In the afternoon, Chris and I made our way to downtown Vancouver and we immediately got lost, ha! Such tourists! :p Good thing we got lost because we saw Japadog and both of us immediately knew that we had to have it. The highlight of the day was meeting my Vancouverite blogger-friends: Jess, Jen, and Nicole :) I wish I could have stayed longer in Vancouver or my schedule wasn't as packed. I would love to sit down with them again and just spend hours chatting about everything. With good food, of course :p

Downtown Vancouver

Japanese BBQ pork sandwich with seaweed

Chris copied my outfit... as always! :p

Japadog!!
(Note the girl in the Juicy Couture flip flop wedges. Seriously?!?!)

Okonomi Japadog with wasabi mayo

Finally found the Robson St.

Jess and Nicole

Blogger love :)
(Jen's so tiny!)

Jen and Nicole

While Jen and Jess were in action...

...Nic and I took the mandatory self-portrait photo ;)

Tell me: is this girl cute or... cute? :D

Our charming and gorgeous PR girl :)

I covet everything this girl wears. EVERYTHING! :D

Good food. GREAT company.

Gooey grilled cheese + Lobster bisque + SRIRACHA!!

Photo taken by Jen. Thank you, J! :)

On our way home, we bumped into this little buddy.

GOTTA LOVE PUGS! :D

Stay tuned for Day 2 Recap! :)

xx toodles.

Don't Rain On My Parade

2011-08-15T11:11:00.002-04:00

(H&M blouse, skirt, necklace, belt / Purse from Mom / ALDO shoes)

Done up in H&M from neck to knee. And yes, it's the exact same skirt from my previous outfit post. I wore it two days in a row because I had one of those "I've got nothing to wear!" days. Besides, I always wear my bottoms 2-3 times before I wash them. That's how I preserve their true colors... sort of. I'm certainly not a germaphobe in this particular case ;) Some might think that wearing the turquoise necklace in this outfit is unnecessary. TOO. MUCH. COLORS, right? But with such a low-neckline blouse, I had to add something on my neck to make me look (and feel) less 'bare'. After all, I had to make this outfit work-appropriate :)

xx toodles.

Spot The Dots On The Feline

2011-08-12T12:15:00.000-04:00

(Silence&Noise blouse via UO / H&M skirt / Topshop belt / Sam Edelman 'Randall' shoes / Purse from Mom)

I recently got a new camera but as you can see from the grainy photos, I still haven't figured out the proper setting :( Aside from the sad camera story, I finally purchased my first Sam Edelman shoes when a bunch of them went on a massive sale on the Peacock Parade (just ask me if you need an invite!) I've always wanted a pair of leopard shoes but most of the ones I've seen out there look cheap or too cougar-ish. My heart skipped a beat when I saw these ones. Almond toes, wedge espadrille heels, leather toe caps, and just their classic silhouette were so hard to resist. So I succumbed to the temptation and I couldn't be happier when I put them on for the first time. Dear friends and readers, meet my new boyfriend(s)! :)

On a different note, I'm having another dinner date with Jess and Aney tonight. WOOHOO! :D

xx toodles.

Vacation ~ OOTDs

2011-08-10T12:43:00.000-04:00

Since this is a personal style blog, I figured I should do a separate post on what I wore during my vacation. I packed quite light for my trip (a cabin-size suitcase) because: A). it's summer and B). I was hoping I could score some deals while I was away. I brought 6 tops, a pair of jeans, a pair of shorts, a skirt, and 2 pairs of shoes. Believe me, Chris brought more clothes than I did. SO VAIN :p Anyway, I had to recycle my bottoms, so please excuse the repetition :) Will do separate posts on how I spent each day in British Columbia. I miss it already :(

- Day 1 -

(Forever 21 lace top (very similar style!) / H&M skirt & necklace / MBMJ purse / ALDO sandals (very similar style!) & sunnies / Amrita Singh ring via PRIVE)

Bought this skirt from H&M a week before my trip and I didn't regret it at all. I love how vibrant the red color looks against my pasty white complexion. It's a great piece that will work in all 4 seasons. Be prepared to see it more on the blog :)

- Day 2 -

(Joe Fresh striped dress (very similar style!) / H&M belt / Longchamp tote bag / ALDO flats (similar style!) & sunnies)

Remember when I told you that I bought quite a few striped pieces from Joe Fresh? This dress was one of them. You can't see it in the pictures but it's got bow details on the shoulders. SO CUTE. It's made of super soft and breathable cotton, which is perfect for breezy summer days :)

- Day 3 -

(H&M jacket & top / Forever 21 necklace / Joe Fresh shorts / Longchamp tote bag / ALDO flats & sunnies)

Before I left for my trip, I asked my Vancourite bloggers what to pack. All of them told me to bring some sort of light jacket. Thank God I obliged. It got pretty cool in the evening and it's always windy and chilly on the ferries. My side braid was a mess :p

- Day 4 -

(H&M sweater top / Longchamp tote bag / Belt from Indonesia / Seven7 jeans / ALDO sunnies)

Unfortunately, this is the only photo I have that documents Day 4's outfit. And it's not even a full-size shot, lol. But nothing special here. Just a sweater top and a pair of skinny jeans with the same tote bag and (unseen) red flats. This was taken with Chris' iPhone. The quality is not bad, huh? :D

- Day 5 -

(Joe Fresh top (similar style!) / Forever 21 necklace / Seven7 jeans / Longchamp tote bag / ALDO flats)

The weather tricked me. It was nice and cool in the morning, so I decided to go out in a sleeved top and jeans. By the afternoon, I was sweating underneath my clothes. It was nasty. I should have worn a sleeveless dress or a tank top so I could get some tan (and some breeze!). OH WELL.

- Day 6 -

(Joe Fresh blouse / H&M necklace (similar style!) & skirt / MBMJ purse / ALDO sandals & sunnies)

By the end of Day 5, I had no tops left (had a spilling accident, wasted 1 top). We got back to Vancouver from Victoria at 10pm, so we went to the nearest Loblaw Superstore, which was open til' 11pm, and headed straight towards their Joe Fresh section. Hahahaha :D I ended up buying 4 tops and this watercolor silk blouse was my favorite purchase of the night. I literally swiped my debit card at 10:52pm!

Stay tuned for more pictures from my trip :)

xx toodles.

If The Smile's Not Meant To Be

2011-08-08T12:43:00.000-04:00

(Forever 21 lace top (similar style) & romper / MBMJ purse / Jeffrey Campbell wedges (in suede) / Amrita Singh necklace via PRIVE)

Still in the process of going through and editing the photos from my Vancouver trip. The first post should be up in a couple of days :) Here's the outfit I quickly changed to when I went for dinner with Jess and Aney last month (yes, I'm so behind with blog posts!) Check out the original post here. I just swapped the pants for a romper for a more casual look :)

xx toodles.

You Play Through My Mind

2011-08-05T12:15:00.000-04:00

(H&M blouse & skirt / Longchamp tote bag / Nine West shoes)

I'm back to reality (aka. WORK!) from a week-long vacation. Lots of catching up to do at the office, at home, and of course, with blogging. So for now, I'll leave you with some outfit photos taken before I went on vacation. Mostly wearing old pieces because the good ones were already packed in the suitcase. Have a great weekend and stay tuned for lots of photos from my trip :)

xx toodles.

Satisfy My Appetite With Something Spectacular

2011-08-03T14:52:00.002-04:00

(AA tee / Skirt from Mom / H&M belt / Amrita Singh necklace via PRIVE / MBMJ purse / ALDO heels)

Dear Mom sent me a care package a few weeks ago and it's not your typical school supplies, toiletries, and snacks in a box. She sent me a bunch of clothes and accessories (lol, she surely knows what I like!), which included the clutch you've seen before and this polkadot skirt. How could I not wear this skirt without a red belt and channel my inner Minnie Mouse ... sort of? ;) I added another splash of red with this gorgeous Amrita Singh necklace that I got from PRIVE for 70% off. Nothing dresses up a plain tee better than a statement necklace :)

xx toodles.

Send Me Your Ray Of Sunshine

2011-08-01T12:15:00.007-04:00

(Winners dress / Vintage belt / MEXX clutch / H&M bracelets / ALDO sunnies)

Still in Vancouver and enjoying the breezy weather!
I'm guest-blogging at a fellow Torontonian, Danni's blog today.
Have a great long weekend, Canadians! :)

xx toodles.

It's Like Peanut Butter and Jelly

2011-07-29T12:15:00.006-04:00

Miss Mae Lu came to town last weekend, so we arranged a quick get-together over lunch. Sporting her new exotic Asian-Afro hairdo, she surely looked a lot different from the last time we met. I just couldn't get enough of her cool vibe. I would never thought of wearing a sexy dress with a pair of Chucks. Well, SHE DID and it looked great! Maybe I should try the Afro 'do, too. Ha! :D

Her plate

My plate

The obligatory bloggers' jump shot!

With a not-so-pretty landing :p

When an Asian makes fun of the Asian eye-shape, it's ok! :p

Apparently, someone didn't get the "peace sign only" memo ;)

xx toodles.

Girl, You Better Know The Game

2011-07-27T12:15:00.005-04:00

(ROMWE blouse / Forever 21 skirt & necklace / MBMJ purse / Dolce Vita heels)

In less than 12 hours, I'll be landing in Vancouver. Can't seem to concentrate at work because all I can think of is vacay, vacay, and VACAY! And I can't seem to come up with anything to write for this post because all I have in my mind is vacay, vacay, and VACAY! :p I'll be going on a road trip to Seattle as well and making a stop at the Premium Outlet. I only have a couple of items on my shopping list: this and this. I hope they're going to be on sale when I get there :) I've scheduled a few blog posts during my absence, so keep checking the blog for updates and new outfits ;)

xx toodles.

ps. CAN'T WAIT to meet you, you, and you! :)

Your Voice Is My Favorite Sound

2011-07-25T12:15:00.004-04:00

(Forever 21 top & necklace / ZARA pants / Marc by Marc Jacobs purse / ALDO heels)

I was obsessed with my Forever 21 lace top (as seen here, here, here and here) for the longest time. So when this little lace number popped up on the Forever 21 website, I didn't have to think twice to decide that I had to get it. The less-than-$20 price tag also encouraged the purchase :p It's similar to the old one but it's got shorter sleeves, a wider neckline, and a cropped hem. In other words, it's perfect for the summer ;) I wore this outfit to work but later in the evening, I swapped the pants for a black romper and went for a dinner date with the lovely Jess and Aney. Food porn on Aney's blog! :)

xx toodles.

Poetry Inside My Head

2011-07-22T12:16:00.000-04:00

(Club Monaco top (super old!) / ZARA skirt / Forever 21 necklace / MEXX clutch / Jeffrey Campbell wedges)

It all started with the skirt. I remembered having an old green blouse, so I threw that on to match the green on my skirt. It turned out that they were two different shades of green. Oh well. Then I thought of my recent jewelry find from Forever 21 that I thought would match the blue on the skirt. It turned out that the stone was turquoise, not royal blue. Oh well. My final attempt was to wear my new gray clutch that my mom got me recently. I was so sure that it would match the gray on my skirt. It turned out that the gray clutch was slightly darker than the skirt. Oh well. At least the shoes looked nice, hahahaha... :D

Have a guuuuuhreat weekend, everyone!

xx toodles.

Everybody Just Have A Good Time

2011-07-20T12:15:00.005-04:00

(Top from Indonesia / Joe Fresh shorts / ZARA belt / Marc by Marc Jacobs purse / Jeffrey Campbell shoes)

This is what I wore last Saturday to see the final Harry Potter movie. It was sooooo hot (the weather, not the movie) and I made a mistake by wearing these wedges. Leather sandals are definitely NOT hot weather friendly :( I was on the search for a pair of simple khaki shorts for the summer and I found these at Joe Fresh a few weeks ago. The price is right, cut is right, the fabric is right, and the fit is right... right? ;) Chris usually hates seeing me in shorts, but he hasn't complained about these ones yet. Mission accomplished :)

xx toodles.

Taking A Day At A Time

2011-07-18T12:15:00.000-04:00

(Forever21 blouse / Urban Outfitters skirt / Costa Blanca belt / Marc by Marc Jacobs purse / Jeffrey Campbell wedges)

I swear this skirt was 2-inch longer when I first got it. Damn you, dryer! I guess I better read the washing instruction next time (nope, I never paid attention to it before!) Anyway... I went to see Harry Potter on Saturday and while it wasn't as 'brilliant' as I had hoped, I couldn't help but feeling a little sad that the series has finally come to an end. No more Harry Potter movies. No more magic. No more wild imaginations. It's a bittersweet ending to my childhood :')

HP fans out there, share your thoughts! :)

xx toodles.

Set The Music Nice And Slow

2011-07-15T12:15:00.003-04:00

(H&M top & necklace / Urban Outfitters pants / ALDO heels)

YEEEEEEEAAH... I don't know why I did a Dita Von Teese-inspired pose there :p I guess I was just running out of ideas on how to pose without looking like I was trying too hard. IT'S HARD, ya know? ;) And my apology for the recurrence of these particular ALDO heels. You know how your mom always suggests you to get a pair of black shoes because they will go with everything? Well, stop listening to your mom (just this once) and get a pair of nude/beige/tan/cream shoes instead! ;)

RANDOM: Just noticed that my current # of readers is 888, which is a lucky number in the Chinese culture. I don't really believe in superstitious, but if that's going to bring good luck to my little blog, then I BELIEVE! :D

Happy weekend, everyone!!

xx toodles.

Review: Misikko - Hana Professional 1.5" Flat Iron

2011-07-14T12:15:00.000-04:00

Misikko, a website that sells the best flat irons in the business, contacted me a few weeks ago if I would like to try and review one of their popular tourmaline flat iron products. Hell to the yeah I would! ;) The box came in with a lot of other small goodies, but the star of the show was the Hana Professional 1.5" flat iron. I'm a big flat iron user. I use it every night after I blow dry my hair. It's important for me to use a good-quality flat iron that won't do as much damage to my hair as the less expensive ones you could get at Walmart (I know I sound like a snob, but the pricier ones do a better job!)

Is this Hana flat iron the answer to all my prayers to the hair tools gods?
We'll soon see :)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I decided to do a comparison between my current Fahrenheit flat iron and the Hana flat iron from Misikko.
I parted my hair and used Fahrenheit on my left side and Hana on my right side.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I like my current 1" flat iron. My only problem with it is that my hair doesn't always glide smoothly through the plates. I also notice that it often makes that "ssshhhh" sound, which basically means it's roasting my hair :(
Despite its drawbacks, I'm always happy with the result.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I liked how Hana's 1.5" plates made straightening my hair a much faster process. I was also able to use a lower temp setting (370F vs. 450F with the Fahrenheit) to achieve the same result. And... it was barely making that "ssshhhh" toasty sound, so I assumed it's less damaging ;)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

See how frizzy my natural hair is? I call myself a frizzy bear (instead of grizzly, got it?:p) In the end, both flat irons produced similar results. I liked Hana's result a bit better because it felt smoother compared to the Fahrenheit side. But other than that, I couldn't really tell the difference.

My only reservation with the Hana flat iron is its hefty price tag! I was lucky enough to try out the product at no cost, but if I had to pay for it, I would have to think long and hard about making a purchase. However, if you reeeeeeally want to take a good care of your hair, I'd suggest you invest on a higher-end flat iron and check out Misikko for more options.

Thank you, Misikko! :)

xx toodles.

ps. Did you like my pixelated face? I look like a criminal (or a sex victim? LOL!) on the newspaper :p

You Won't Know Unless You Give It A Try

2011-07-13T12:15:00.000-04:00

(H&M top & skirt / The Sak purse / ALDO sandals)

I only have two maxi skirts in my closet and I've been wearing them alternately for the past week. They're great to cover up my legs, which are currently full of bruises, because I bump into everything that's on my way and I bruise like a peach and banana combined :p Summer days in TO have been getting hotter and hotter. I hate summer. There, I've said it. I can't wear sleeveless tops to stay cool because my arms are as big as a baseball bat. I wish I was kidding. I've been looking for some workout regimes that focus on arms and the upper body. I need to get rid of these chunky arms pronto :(

xx toodles.

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

2011-07-11T12:16:00.000-04:00

As soon as I received these blouse and skirt from Romwe, I knew that I wanted to wear them together. Chiffon is easily one of the best fabrics to wear during the summer months. It might not be as soft as silk, but it's just as breezy. And I look like I only have 1 leg in the first photo. Rest assured that I still have both of my legs intact and functional ;)

(ROMWE blouse & skirt (c/o) / Forever 21 necklace & ring / ALDO sandals / The Sak purse)

RANDOM: I was walking behind this older gentleman and I was quite amazed by his personal style. Normally, tropical-inspired shirts a la Tommy Bahama make me want to throw up in my mouth. But, this man was able to style it very well (ok, it could have been better with a different pair of shoes), that I couldn't help but taking a snapshot of his outfit. My favorite part of this look? The yellow belt that ties everything in together :)

xx toodles.

Standing Tall Like A Tree

2011-07-08T12:15:00.001-04:00

(H&M blouse / Joe Fresh skirt / Costa Blanca belt / UO purse / Dolce Vita heels)

LOL. I couldn't think of a better title. The brown and green combo reminded me of a tree, so there goes that :p I got this skirt from the clearance rack at Joe Fresh for $12! I squealed with delight when I first stepped into the store. I loved the white walls, minimalist layout and how organized the clothes were. Another thing I love about Joe Fresh is their affordable price point. I had a gift card to spend at Vaughan Mills, c/o Anthea of Clothes Line Finds, so I spent it all on Joe Fresh pieces! I will debut the other goodies on the blog. Be prepared to see some stripes ;)

Have a great weekend, everyone! :) #summerishere

xx toodles.

Blushing In Chiffon And Pink

2011-07-06T12:22:00.000-04:00

(ZARA blouse / H&M skirt / Vintage Etienne Aigner clutch / ALDO shoes)

I wasn't planning on taking blog photos with this outfit because it was one of those days where I dress up conservatively (read: boring) for work. Most of the people in my office wear polo shirts with khaki pants or ill-fitting jeans from the 90s. They top that off with a pair of white tennis shoes. HOW FANCY. Speaking of work, I just booked a short summer vacation for the Civic Holiday long weekend. Guess where I'm going?

VANCOUVER! :D

Can't wait to see my west coast BFs (you know who you are). Mark your calendar, ladies! :)

xx toodles.