Juma Silk Printed Jacket

I got a new jacket from Gilt - the Juma Silk Printed Jacket.  I am torn about this one!  It's a 100% silk outer shell, but it's lined and it's actually really comfortable on.  The weight is just about perfect for most of the year in LA.  I think it's a unique print/style, but it needs some modifications and I'm not sure if it would be worth my effort.  Here's the jacket on the Gilt model, who is apparently way taller than me:

So this jacket looks way longer on me!  Too long, in fact, especially in the front.  It makes me look disproportionate I think.

I don't mind the back though:

And I do like the looser fit in the size S that I got:

The bottom front is kind of interesting, it's got this extra black material on one side sewn onto the silk print part:

The other side is actually the same piece as the rest of the jacket.  But the pattern distribution happens to be all black there:

The side has a black panel as well:

The back has this curved hem which is another separate piece sewn onto the silk material.  As I mentioned already, I don't mind this look.  Though I would prefer to be without it if I had a choice.

So I think I would definitely need to alter the front of this jacket if I were to keep it.  I tried tucking the front into my pants to make it look a lot shorter, and a straight hem.  I think I like it like that.  I'm just not sure if the tailor could do a good enough job.

I think this length is a lot better.  But I just have to decide if I want to bother with it or save my money for something else.  Dilemmas!

Maje Contrast Pant with Zip Cuffs

My latest Gilt order turned out to be a winner!  They are contrast panel pants with zip cuffs made by Maje.  I am actually surprised by them.  I thought they looked very cute, but the size I ordered (only one available that could have worked) might have been too small.  When I first opened the package and took them out, I thought that they would end up going back.  Actually, even when I was half way putting them on, I thought no way they would work out.  But then I put them on all the way and they are actually pretty cool!

My first surprise was actually the material of these pants.  Based on the pictures, I thought they were going to be on the thick side, like some kind of faux leather material on the front.  But they feel like a stretchy satiny material.  The second surprise was that they actually fit lol.  I got them in size 34 which according to the size chart could be borderline too small for me.  I've ordered online enough to know though, that items rarely fit like their size charts state.  My last surprise is that they are quite stretchy and really really comfortable!  It feels like I'm wearing yoga pants.  But they look much more dressed up!  That's pretty much having the best of both worlds.

Oh I guess this last point is somewhat of a surprise - they are ankle pants on the model on Gilt's site, but on me, they are actually longer than full length lol.  I'm 5'5 so the model they used must be like 6 feet tall!

So they have a zipper closure with a clasp on top.  The side zipper pockets are pretty tiny.  Maybe enough for a credit card.

I like that they added the faux pocket on the back, which makes them look a lot dressier.  But seriously, they are like yoga pants lol.

Here's the difference in the two panels:

Zipper cuffs on the inner ankles:

Even on my own photos, the front looks like textured leather or faux leather to me!  

I'm very happy that these worked out!  I was totally prepared to be sending them back.  The Gilt price was $149 (down from $390, it says) which is not all that cheap, so I only wanted to keep them if I loved them.  I still think they are a bit tight fitting, but I am also kind of bloaty right now from that time of month.  So maybe they will fit perfectly next week lol.  The faux leather look does go with a lot of tops I have, and of course black goes with everything.  I am super excited to make outfits with these! 

Sunday Funday!

Why is it the end of the weekend again??  I had such a busy week at work last week, and probably will have another busy week this week.  Don't I wish this was a 3 day weekend!  I did get all my workouts in though.  I feel like my muscle building progress is so slow.  But at least I'm seeing some improvements in the mirror.  The past few months of my mini "bulking" session has definitely helped with adding a little more definition, but I've also added some fat, particularly in the stomach area.  I knew going in that this was going to be the case, but it still annoys me.  My coach says this is a very common thing when you are trying to add muscle since fat gain is inevitable, so I cannot try to lose it by eating less because that would defeat the goal.  Sigh... so I've decided that the only thing to do at this point is to push even harder at the gym!  Now my goal is to push until I'm about to cry... lol!  Ok, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration.  But I really need to maximize the time that I spend there!  I've been adding to the weights I use for my squats and deadlifts.  It has made my butt very sore this week!

Before I forgoet - fun fact this week:  I met Michael Bloomberg on Monday!  He came to my work.  Not to meet me of course.  I actually don't know why he came.  Perhaps he's interested in investing money with my firm.  But anyway, being the true politician that he is, he walked around my whole floor with our CEO and shook hands with everyone.  I think there's over 100 people on the trading desk and he literally shook hands with everyone!  The guy is worth like 37 billion.  Definitely the richest guy I've ever shaken hands with lol.  If it wasn't at work with everyone watching, I would have asked him to take a selfie with me!

I did realize another fun fact this week: I tend to wear the same color combos to the gym and to work on the same day!  I usually pack my work clothes the night before, and then the next morning I put on a gym outfit that is not pre-planned.  But somehow, I keep gravitating towards the same color schemes for both outfits!  I guess that's the unconscious mind doing its work!  Examples below.

Monday 9/29
What I did:  Weights, lower body.

What I wore:  Lululemon cool racerback in wee are from space cadet blue, with Lorna Jane Sunrise bra under.  Lululemon Wunder Under crop in black camo, and Nike Free 5.0 TR Fit 4 shoes in hyper cobalt/bright mango.

Lorna Jane Willow mesh pullover as to and from:

This work outfit is not really an example of same color combo as gym outfit, but I'm glad I wore my Theory outfit to meet Bloomberg lol - Theory Brindan PC Amola blouse and Theory Golda 2 skirt in charcoal with Vince Camuto Dacoma pump in hurricane gray pearl.

I love the print of this blouse, I think it's so soft and pretty!  Too bad silk wrinkles so easily.  I took these pictures after sitting around in this outfit all day at work.  As you can see, the area where my arm bends is super wrinkly.

Tuesday 9/30

What I did:  Shoulder & Tri, then 30 minutes on the gauntlet.

What I wore:  Heidi Klum for New Balance Vision tank with Lorna Jane Pammy bra under.  Lululemon Ebb & Flow crop in black and Adidas Adizero Adios 2 shoes.  Haven't worn these shoes in a long time!

Splits59 Dismount Viper pullover as to and from:

Ok, so this is an example of the work outfit being almost identical to the gym outfit!  I didn't realize it until I was getting dressed after my shower.  I wore my new Gabrielle Rossi buckle front cross over cashmere sweater, with Express Wide Waistband editor pant and Donald J Pliner Pausha pumps.  This sweater is super comfy and cute!  I loved it.

Wednesday 10/1 - Rest day

Thursday 10/2

What I did:  Glute/Back/Bi workout.

What I wore:  I took the Beyond Yoga racerback tank I got from their latest sample sale to the tailor to put in an elastic on the hem.  It was too long and flowy on the bottom for my liking.  Now I like it much better!  So I wore it with my Lululemon Inspire Crop in savasana camo fatigue green, and Nike Free 3.0s in gray/crimson.

Nike Epic Dri Fit Crew in deep night as to and from:

I wore olive green to work too!  Craig Taylor It's All About Olive shirt, with Ann Taylor icicle tweed pencil skirt and army green Donald J Pliner Pausha pumps again.

Friday 10/3
What I did:  Lower body day again.

What I wore:  Lorna Jane Inspire tank with Lorna Jane Somersault bra under.  Lululemon Power Vinyasa crop and Nike Free 5.0 TR Fit 4 in hyper cobalt/bright mango.

I wore my Gabrielle Rossi One Button Cashmere blazer as to and from because I also wore it to work.

I wore the sweater blazer with Express chiffon overlay ruffle cami and Express High Waist Pintucked pencil skirt in heather gray, and Ivanka Trump Pinkish pump.

Saturday 10/4 - Rest day

Sunday 10/5

What I did:  Upper body supersets, then 60 minute spin class.

What I wore:  Splits59 Sabrina Razor in navy/teal/fire with Lululemon free to be bra in power purple under.  Lululemon Run Passion crop in power purple and Nike Free 3.0s in gray/crimson.

And that's the end of my week!  Off to do some Sunday night grocery shopping now.  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Lululemon Inspire Crop in Bumble Berry!

It's been so long since I bought anything from Lululemon.  Nothing has been grabbing my attention lately, I guess.  I don't like this casual wear stuff they are doing.  I very rarely wear Lululemon outside of the gym, so I think they should just stick to more activewear designs!  And less of the same stuff in different colors, but more new and exciting designs!  Hehe.  Well, I bought the Inspire Crop in bumble berry/hyper stripe bordeaux drama bumble berry this week when they got uploaded.  I like bumble berry, and I almost bought the wunder under crops when they came out in this color.  But I passed because the color is so similar to my Rogiani crops in berry.  However, I've since then decided that I don't like the fit of Rogiani crops (too low rise) that much, so I was happy to see bumble berry out in the Inspire crop!  I like the Inspires better anyways since they are great for lower body weight days, and I do that 3x a week.

I thought at first that I would prefer these to be completely solid, but the hyper stripe is rather subtle and very neutral.  I do like that they make the crops just a little bit more interesting.

As usual, I got size 4.  They fit great, just like the other Inspire crops I have.  I'm really stoked that bumble berry goes with my Nike Free 5.0 TR Fit 4 shoes in fusion pink/atomic mango.  I swear these shoes go with every single shade of pink!  Check it out... the color towards the back of the shoe is pretty much bumble berry!

That's great because I was afraid I wouldn't be able to wear any of my existing shoes with these crops lol.  No worries at all now.

These have mesh on the back of the knee.  I like the Inspire crops with mesh better than without.  The mesh is cooler and thinner/softer than luxtreme, so it's more comfortable when you bend your legs.  I do a lot of lower body exercises which require leg bending, so I like the mesh version of these crops better.

Not that this will ever be seen by anyone other than me, but the waistband has the hyper stripes too:

As my first Lululemon purchase in months, I am definitely keeping these!  I hope I will be able to find some surprising color combos in my closet to match them.  It's always so fun when I discover unexpected color pairings!