size it up: FCUK for Sears blazer

   I honestly can't remember the last time I bought clothes from Sear's (sorry, does that sound snobby?) But I stopped by the other day and this blazer caught my eye.

     NOTE: I wasn't quite sure how to review the fit of a blazer, so I turned to the queen of blazers -- Kelly of Alterations Needed. I read through a bunch of her blazer reviews to get an idea of what I should be looking at, fit-wise. 
     SIZE: 2. There were a few random petite sizes mixed in with the regular sizes, but I didn't get a chance to try on a petite version.
     FIT: I like the longer front and higher-cut back of this blazer -- it makes it look a little different. It has a bit of an extended shoulder (I don't know what it's really called, but when you feel the edge of the shoulder, there's a bit of padding). For my size, I have fairly broad shoulders, so I'm usually leery of anything that adds to this area. However,  this doesn't make me look like I play football, so it's OK. :)
      As this is a regular size, the sleeves are long. Getting the sleeves altered would just about eliminate the 4 (fake) cuff buttons. I could also cuff the sleeves.
      I'm always looking for items that define my waist, and this blazer does a pretty good job -- particularly when buttoned, it falls right at my natural waist.

     QUALITY: I'm the first to admit that I'm not familiar with the higher-end, much-touted brands for suiting, such as Theory, J. Crew, or Ann Taylor, so my judgments in this area are not based on extensive (or, any) knowledge. However, I think the jacket has a nice weight, and the fabric seems substantial.

Look at how it nips in at the waist!

      WARDROBE VALUE? I purchased this Mom generously picked this up for me for $27.99 (original price: $88).  I can see myself wearing this blazer over dresses,  my favorite graphic tees, or dressier blouses. It would replace my thrifted Laura Ashley blazer, which has served me well but doesn't measure up in the fit department. (I wear it out of desperation for a warm layer when I go to class, but I tried taking photos of it once and they was so horrendous that I never posted them).

Cuffing = more room for bracelets! :)

     POSSIBLE ALTERATIONS: I might get the sleeves hemmed, but for now I'll leave them as is and wear it cuffed. It might also be nice to replace the plastic button with something just a little fancier.
What do you think of the fit, and this blazer in general? I'd love to hear your honest opinion.

a simple Saturday night

     As much as I love my couch time, it's nice to get out once in a while on a Saturday night.

    We drove around Waikiki for a bit in hopes of snagging free parking so we could check out some of the bars, but no luck. We ended up playing pool and darts elsewhere. We learned that we've been drinking too much "naturally flavored" boxed wine when we tasted the Newcastle beer and it seemed surprisingly bitter!

My Saturday night face :)

     I picked up my new glasses on Friday, and debuted them for the Mr. on Saturday.  I don't usually post photos of my face here, but, well ... it seemed really weird, if not impossible, to show off my new glasses without one.  :)
   At first, these glasses looked so different compared to my old ones, but the shape and color are growing on me. I also love the subtle pattern on the frame (which I didn't even notice when I picked them out. Now you know why I need glasses in the first place).

Nicole Miller "Abstract" in black cherry

     Glasses are a bit of a splurge on my budget, but since I wear them daily, I figured it's a worthwhile investment. :)

Try-it-out Wednesday: my new clutch, or, superpowers I don't possess

     For Christmas, my friend R gave me this clutch. Which is kind of amazing considering that we had discussed my lack of such a bag months and months ago. The fact that she remembered this, and hunted down one for me as a present, proves she possesses that female gifting superpower. Sadly, this is a superpower that I do not possess.

   
One of my blog goals for this year is to post one outfit a month that incorporates a bag. The right bag and right pair of shoes can elevate a look from ho-hum nice to unforgettable. This bag and shoe combining is another superpower I don't possess (yet!)

     Old Navy's clearance rack is irresistible. I liked the colors of this shirt's floral print, but wasn't sure if the very exaggerated ruffle (front and back) was going to work.  However, it is surprisingly feminine and flattering. I couldn't find this in XS, so I settled for a small, which means the bottom is rather long. A partial tuck took care of the excess fabric.

   While my closet is overflowing with certain items, it is oddly devoid of some classics. This year, I'm on the hunt for classic items, such as a little black dress and a good blazer. I think I found the latter (sneak peek in the photo above), and at a place I don't usually shop! :) I'll be posting a review soon.
    Getting back to superpowers, what's yours? For me, it's a toss-up between my amazing appetite for chocolate (the Mr. finds it appalling that I can drink a cup of cocoa and eat chocolate at the same time), or my ability to read quickly (a skill honed by my former career).

Clutches by Jessica Simpson

coffee, my dear friend

   I have never been a morning person. It still amazes me that for several years I dragged myself out of bed before 6 a.m. to make the 45-minute drive to the school where I taught. I overslept a time or two, and got stuck in traffic jams a few other times, but overall I was prompt.

Classiques Entier silk blouse (Nordstrom Rack)

BR Factory petite trousers

       The funny thing is, now that I'm away from the classroom for a year, I've committed myself to waking up at 5 a.m. twice a week to get to the university for 6 a.m. aikido class. I was studying there once a week last year, and not consistently, but I want to make sure I'm prepared for my February test. However, saying goodbye to my pillow on Thursday morning was harder than it was on Tuesday.
      An hour of practice is a great way to start the day. I feel a glow of accomplishment at 7 a.m. as I'm driving home to shower, enjoy a cup of coffee and eat breakfast. That glow of accomplishment slowly morphs into ... exhaustion. I found my eyes sliding shut at about noon as I read my textbook about teaching kids to solve information problems.

Friends necklace: gift from CN

Pearl necklace: previously loved by Mom

     To finish off Thursdays, I have a class from 5 to 7:40 p.m. I'm hoping the mandatory discussion component will keep me awake (and hopefully, learning) on those days that I'm ready for a nap.
     Yesterday's weather was delightful -- sunny with bright blue skies, yet not blazing hot --  what I call long-sleeve weather! To celebrate I wore my long-sleeve silk blouse that just doesn't get enough outfit love. I figured that I could at least look put-together while I dozed --  er, I mean participated -- in yesterday's class.

   

Silver bangles: Amrita Singh via HauteLook

Gray pearl and circle bracelet: gift from TM

tan bead bracelet: old, gifted

rhodium filigree bracelet

glam Asian lumberjack

       I put together this outfit on Monday, and this phrase immediately popped into my head: glam Asian lumberjack. I wonder whether that's a bad sign when you're getting dressed that the outfit is too way-out and quirky ... but here it is.
       I started with this shirt, which pre-blog me would have meekly paired with a black jacket/cardigan.

      However, purple is one of my favorite colors, so I decided to increase the purple love in this outfit by adding a plaid shirt. Purple plaid is the new neutral, right? ; )

      I deliberately scrunched the sleeves up a bit so the gray could peek out. I love when layers peek out! And it's not something I get to do often, given our tropical weather.
     The finishing touch was my new tassel necklace and silver bangles. I understand that, in theory, this necklace does not match everything in my closet. However, I'm planning to pretend that it does for at least a few more days ...

Inspired by: Mae of thereafter-ish

   A big thank you to Mae of thereafter-ish, whose travel outfits inspired this one. I like that she puts her own stylish stamp on a comfortable, practical outfit through the mixing of patterns and the inclusion of playful accessories. Click here to see her latest outfit that mixes an interestingly cut top, animal print and stripes.
   I started with some old favorites: a loose-fitting linen buttondown and jeans.  Then I added a camisole and left the shirt partially open to highlight my drapey necklace. The finishing touch was an arm party to add some intricacy, color and sparkle.

  
     Long gone are the days of wearing one bracelet at a time! I am an official arm-party addict. Even my students noticed one day and admired the pile-up. :)

'Iolani Palace door hinge bracelet (rhodium plated)

     One of my favorite landmarks is 'Iolani Palace. I still remember our fourth-grade field trip -- we had to put covers on our shoes to protect the gorgeous wooden floors and our admission tickets looked like old-fashioned dance cards. Definitely a place to check out if you are ever in beautiful Honolulu! :)

double florals & next time, I'll just stand

    Next week's rule-breaking challenge over at Clothed Much is double florals. I pondered my options quite a bit before settling on this combination. I don't own many florals, and what I do own is more on the abstract side.

   I tweaked something on my camera settings, and while I like the effect, it's not very good for showing the outfit's actual details (see second photo). I didn't have time to figure out how to untweak the settings, so here I am using the unsophisticated stretch-your-arm-out photographic method.
   Speaking of unsophisticated, I was such a klutzoid when I met my adviser to plan my spring class schedule.  First, I accidentally banged the metal chair into the metal desk, which made a sound so loud that people on the fifth floor probably heard it. Then at the end of the meeting, I put the chair back very awkwardly as I juggled my notebook and backpack. I felt like I was doing a comedy routine, except that implies planning and an intention to entertain. Me? I was just trying to deal with a chair. Oh well. At least I looked good.

         The Mr. does not understand this sweater -- he thinks it looks weird. My cousin, however, complimented me on it. Given that my cousin has possessed distinct opinions and preferences regarding her clothing since the age of 3, I'm more inclined to trust her opinion.
     What item of clothing do you love that baffles the men in your life?

Try-it-out Tuesday: Pinterest-inspired

     During the summer, Pinterest and I were likethis. I was enthralled with the possibilities - no more ripping things out of magazines and losing them or having no neat way to collect them! Everything in one place! I can write little captions to remind me of why I ripped it out in the first place!
     I pinned recipes, possible DIY projects, 2 million cupcake recipes ... anything that caught my eye. And then to balance out the cupcakes I dutifully started a board for other foods (i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner).
     Alas, Pinterest and I have cooled down to a long-distance relationship. I stop by once a week, and only for a minute or two at that. We're still fond of each other but it's not the same. This blog has become my new time-suck project, and Pinterest knows it.

Source: weardrobe.com via Carrie on Pinterest

     I seem to excel at pinning outfits that prominently feature things I DON'T own (i.e. colorful things). But I've seen so many bloggers wearing cool outfits inspired by pins that I decided to browse my board one more time for Try-it-out Tuesday. And the one shown above looked perfect.

     According to the tag, the dress print is "Fresh Zebra." Looks like I was on an animal-print kick when I was shopping a few months ago.
     Things I like about this dress: the fuller skirt, the colors, and that it's lined.
     Things I wish I had noticed before: the dreaded chest-button gap. Very odd, as I'm not busty and the dress fits well everywhere else. Now I know to try a size up in this brand.
     Luckily, I'm not teaching this year, so I don't need to go into my "power stance" (hands on the hips) on a daily basis and risk giving someone an accidental eyeful. I first heard of the power stance from a teacher in my education program. He said he used it regularly when teaching middle school and that it was helpful for projecting physical presence when you're on the short side. When I first saw the power stance, I thought, "Nah, I can't see myself doing that." Fast-forward a year or two to my stint as a classroom teacher and I found myself using it ... everyday.

Fossil "Mystic" necklace

      I played around with buttoning the top button and adding a necklace, but it seemed like a little too much.
       Happy Tuesday!

show what you (don't) know

   Do you ever have one of those weeks? You know, those weeks in which you realize several days after the due date that you needed to post your assignment online; in which you feverishly prep for an in-class exercise, only to figure out that it's really scheduled for next week and you have a little more time. And let's not forget this morning ... I showed up a bit late to aikido class and it turned out I had to take the instructor's place. Which is interesting to do when it's 6 a.m., I haven't had my coffee, went to sleep later than I should have the night before, and didn't sleep well in the first place.
     I wish I could say that midterms are eating my brain, but I haven't really had my midterms yet.
     I picked out this outfit thinking I needed to be in front of the class today. Wearing some jewelry always gives me confidence, so I added a colorful necklace and a pared-down arm party.

I broke the pearl bracelet during class, while I was putting on my blazer. :( More proof that this blazer is a size too small for me!

Fossil "Mystic" necklace (Macy's)

    Hope you are having a more organized week than I am!

Try-it-out Tuesday: starting points

     Pre-blog days, my clothing choices were often dictated by two key criteria: 1) is it ironed? 2) Does it match something that is also ironed?
      This Tuesday, I decided to challenge myself. These shoes and necklace are recent purchases, and I wanted to experiment with building an outfit based on these key pieces.

     I loved the colors and drape of this necklace when I spotted it while browsing the Macy's clearance section. It's very different from my other necklaces, which tend to be on the dainty, understated side. Since I'm still searching for my style, I'm not sure whether this necklace is really "me." But it looked fun and different.

     I couldn't really figure out what colors/style of top to wear with this necklace, so I wimped out with a basic black T and pencil skirt.
    On a whim I added the fuschia belt, another recent purchase. No, I don't believe in wearing all of my new purchases at once, but I wanted to see how it looked with the other colors.

    I'm excited about finding these shoes! I literally own one black pair of comfortable sandals for work, so these will be a great alternative. I think the pewter color is just a little different and pretty.

  

     I kind of like the light in this last photo, and this is the best sitting-on-the-ground photo I've taken yet. Just don't ask what I'm doing with my hands, or whose mess that is in the background ...