Two Vince Silk Tops and A Ted Baker Dress

I ordered some stuff online the day after Christmas, since a lot of brands were having pretty good discounts.  First place I went to was my favorite brand Vince of course.  Haha.  They had 25% off sales price.  So I decided to pick up two silk tops that I could always use for work.  I'm slowly converting my work wardrobe to more blouses, since they seem to be so versatile and can be paired with pants or skirts, and with or without jacket over.

First top I got is the Silk Frayed Edge Placket Cap Sleeve Top in off white.  I was kind of iffy about it at first, since I don't think it looks that good on the model and it's final sale.  But I decided to get it anyways and I think it works!  The details on this top look a lot nicer in person.  This top is now $110 with additional 25% off.  Down from $275.  Vince silk tops rarely go below $100 when they go on sale so this is maybe as low as it gets, other than their sample sale.

It looks really long on the model, and it is very long on me as well.  I got my normal Vince size which is XS.  Here it is on me and you can see how long it is:

But you can just tuck it into your skirt or pants and it would be ok.  I do wish it was slightly shorter though, so I wouldn't have to tuck in as much material.

But I think the frayed edges are well done, and the capped sleeve makes it perfect to wear alone when the weather is warm, or to wear with a jacket over it.

Clearly, it is a little sheer.  I am wearing a light pink bra and you can see it in the photo.  I'd only go with nude bra if I wear it alone without any cami under.

The mandarin collar can be buttoned up like the model has.  But I think it's nice to leave it open.  As you can see, there is another button towards the middle of the chest that you can button for more coverage.  The opening ends there though.  It's not a fully button down shirt like it looks.  

The next Vince top I got is the Silk Cap Sleeve V-Neck Top with Leather Trim.  This top went down to $118 from $295, and an additional 25% off sales price.  I thought that was a really good deal especially considering the trim is soft lamb leather.  Here's the navy one that's still available in all sizes.

I got this top in XS as well.  As usual, it fits loosely but true to size.  I've said it before, but Vince is like the most consistently sized brand I've tried.  I feel way more comfortable buying from their final sale section than any other brand.

This top is long too:

Once again, it can be tucked and looks a lot more appropriate for work:

Here's a close up.  The leather trim is really nice:

Ok, after I ordered from Vince, I also bought another Ted Baker dress from Nordstrom that's on sale - the Linn Stripe Midi Dress.  On sale for $116 now from $195.  I thought it looked pretty cute on the model.  Also, since I am so impressed by my newest Ted Baker dress, I wanted another from them.

I read some of the reviews which said this dress runs really small, and it is very long.  So I ordered one size up from the Ted Baker dress I just got recently.  I got this one in size 2.  It is actually a very comfortable fit.  But it is VERY long!  That can be hemmed, but my major issue with this dress is that the belt is really tight.  It looks nowhere like the effortless fit on the model.  So I think I'll be returning it.

The belt is pretty though.  It's a combination of blush color on the front and black on the back:

So it just has a button closure.  It is adjustable but it is at the longest.  They should have put on multiple buttons as well lol.

Here's the side which shows the black:

Anyway, the material is really nice though.  I could wear it without the belt, but I think the belt was one of the cool features about this dress.  Too bad!

Hope you all have a happy New Year's Eve!  See you in 2016!

New Shoes and Belt =)

I feel like I've been collecting shoes lately!  I've bought like 7 pairs in the past couple months lol.  But hey... it was time to rotate out some of my existing shoes anyway.  And they were all either on sale, or from sites like Tradesy/Poshmark/eBay.  If you are patient and spend some time looking on these sites, you could find either brand new or barely used high end shoes for a lot less than retail.  It happens quite often that people would buy expensive shoes and then let them sit in their closet for years without ever wearing them, and then decide to purge.  Although it would still set you back a few hundred bucks if you are buying high end brands.  I do have to admit that I splurged on some more Louboutins.  I know I said no more, but I'm weak lol.  I actually got 2 pairs, but one of them is at the shoe shop right now getting the grippy sole installed.  So I only have pictures of one pair.

I actually already posted some outfits with these shoes on last week.  But here they are up close!  They are the "Lady Peep Sling" style, in patent specchio red, size 36 as usual.  I've been wanting to get some red shoes for a while but couldn't commit.  When I saw these, I knew the shade of red was perfect!  I also love the combination of the red patent with gold platform and this cool digital print on the heels.  They are 150mm which is super high, but since they have a big platform, they are actually not uncomfortable.  Just have to be careful not to twist an ankle LOL!

Sadly, the print on the heel is super fragile!  It's like an uber thin piece of paper wrapped around the heel.  Some of it got scratched off towards the bottom of the right heel, after just wearing them a couple times.  It's not all that obvious, but I have to be suuuuuper careful in the future.  How sad.

The next pair of shoes I got is this Casadei black lace peep toe pump.  Despite the lacey look, the material is actually not fragile at all.  I love the look of these shoes.  But they have a pretty high heel, and a smaller platform than the above Louboutin shoes.  So they are actually not very comfy.  They are more like the type of shoes you wear to dinner and then sit all night.  =)

And then I got another pair of Casadei shoes simply because they were such a good deal and they are different looking!  They are purple suede!  They are called Pellame Camoscio or something.  I'm still working on an outfit to pair with them though lol.  But I have faith it will happen.  They are VERY comfortable!  Like way more comfortable than you would ever imagine, being so high.  I think the platform probably makes them comparable to a 3 inch heel.

It's a cool design to have the purple python cover the entire back of the sole.

Ok, the 4th pair I got lately is the Vince Camuto Faran Cork Platform in rosewood patent.  I am super in love with these shoes.  I got them because they reminded me of my favorite Sam Edelman Mallory pumps.  The slingback is kind of tearing a little on those so I've been afraid that I'd be left without my favorite nude patent platforms!  Even though these Vince Camuto shoes are not exactly nude, I could use a pair of shoes in this pretty rosewood color.  It's different, but goes with everything just like nude.  I can't tell you how comfortable these are.  I got them in my regular size 6.

Ok, last item I got recently is the Burberry Check Belt in black.  I already have the tan one which I use allllll the time.... until I got the black one!  I've been using the black one almost everyday since I got it.  It's just the perfect belt.  It's an inch wide and it's made very well and I can tell it will last a long time.  I love the subtle embossed check print too.  The tan one I have is size 80 (UK), but the black one was only available in size 85.  So it's a bit long.  But it still works.  So pretty!

Ok, I think I'm all set with shoes and belts for a while.  Time to stop shopping now!  

Sunday Funday!

Wow this year is almost over!  It sort of just hit me that there are only a few days left in 2015, and I didn't even make any NYE plans yet (but I did tonight!).  I was looking at my passport yesterday and I'm kind of upset that I didn't go on any international trips this year (Canada doesn't really count since I didn't get a passport stamp lol).  I had planned on going to Europe in November or December.  But then I got a new job.  Next year I'm definitely going big!  

Sadly, I've also realized that I've been eating like crap the past couple months and am definitely feeling the toll of that as a result.  I haven't really gone crazy at any single meal, it's rather just a prolonged period of not being very good.  I can feel that I am now retaining more water and my clothes don't fit as well lol.  Though I do enjoy food, I definitely need to tighten it up.  The struggle is real.

I started month 14 of Get Glutes this week.  I think it may be a little misleading if you are considering signing up for this program, since it's advertised as a Bret Contreras (the glutes guy) program.  But for the most part during the past year+ that I've been doing it, the program is actually being led by 2 women.  I think Bret provided only 1 set of workout per month for the first 3 months or so.  Then he disappeared completely so it was run by the 2 women for the next 6 months.  Then it became just 1 woman for another few months.  But in month 14, Bret is back solo in full force.  I actually really enjoyed the women's workouts.  I'd say Bret's workouts are more "standard" type of workouts that you'd find.  Not very exciting or creative exercises (i.e. standard squats, deadlifts, pull-ups, etc.).  But after completing the first week, I definitely have been feeling it more in my bum than from other workouts.  No wonder he is the glutes guy!  For some reason the combination and order of his exercises just really work your glutes.  I hope he sticks around more for the upcoming months.

Monday 12/21 - Rest

Tuesday 12/22 - Rest again

Wednesday 12/23

What I did:  Strength #1, followed by 20 minutes on the gauntlet.

What I wore:  

Top:  Titika Born Tank

Bra:  Lululemon Free To Be Wild in dottie dash

Bottom:  Lululemon Pace Rival Lights Out (decided to keep these after all)

Shoes:  Onitsuka Tiger Tokidoki Serrano Sneakers

To and From:  Lululemon Outward Bound Jacket

Thursday 12/24

What I did:  Strength #2.

What I wore:
Top:  Nike Elastika Graphic Tank

Bra:  Titika Milton Bra

Bottom:  Lululemon High Times Pant in jewelled magenta

Shoes:  Nike Free 3.0

To and From:  Lululemon Karmacollected Jacket

Friday 12/25

What I did:  Strength #3, followed by 30 minutes on the treadmill.

What I wore:
Top:  Splits59 Tone Racerback

Bra:  Lorna Jane Beyonce Bra

Bottom:  Lululemon Pace Crop

Shoes:  Onitsuka Tiger Serrano Sneakers in monaco blue

To and From:  Splits59 Olivia Matrix LS

Saturday 12/26 - Rest

Sunday 12/27

What I did:  Strength #4, followed by 30 minutes on the gauntlet.

What I wore:
Top:  Lululemon Cool Racerback in majestic purple (my very first one!)

Bra:  Lorna Jane Lustre Bra in sparkle fluro orange

Bottom:  Lululemon High Times Pant in cyber stripe

Shoes:  Nike Free 3.0 in gray/crimson

To and From:  Lululemon Snug Sprinter Jacket

This week was so nice at the gym because nobody was there, hopefully next week will be the same! After that it will be January and I'm scared what will happen to it.  But I'll enjoy my bliss while I can!  Have a great week everyone!