Halloween 2011

Every year, my co-workers and I dress up for Halloween. We aim to win the Best Team category. Last year, one of the ladies was kind enough to lend us her old saris. This year, we were…

Pirates!

Happy Halloween everybody!

Off to plunder check my little one's loot. Arrr!

Camel coat - which is which

As promised, here are the details on my previous camel coat post.

From H&M for $30! They may have made a mistake. Last week, I saw a new red tag on it as 30%. When I returned it, the clerk kept saying "really??"

This was from Aritzia. (Ping: you definitely have an eye for high quality items!) The Talullah Babaton Bromley Military Coat (buy here). After Canadian taxes, it came to $400 but I still have to add in alterations - yikes! The wool and cashmere blend made it so luxurious but I was not too happy with the high funnel neck. I knew if I kept it, I would regret not being able to close up the collar properly. Return!

H&M for $50. Very classic so I kept this and will make alterations to fit me. This will do for now until I can find a better coat. With the camel trend, I thought I'd find one easily but I was so wrong. It looks like a few petite ladies are on the lookout for a camel coat as well so I will be watching. (I'm exhausted just from these three!)


Thank you to Cee, marialinh, Ping, Elaine and Melissa who commented on my previous post and helped me make a decision.

Which coat gets your vote?

For years, I've dreamed of a camel coat but could not easily find them. If I do find one, I could not bring myself to pay the high price tag.

This year, I decided I've waited long enough so the hunt is on. I need a coat that I can wear with dresses or skirts and with jeans.

This is where I need your help. I need to hear your voice and vote for the one you prefer. I will not post the price nor the brand so neither will sway your decision (although some may have already spotted them in stores so shhhh). In a week, I will post both the price and brand for those who may be interested.

Here is the first coat. It leans more greyish-taupe than camel.

The flap could be tucked into the pockets which is how I was planning to wear it to minimize bulk.

The sleeves will have to be shortened and the belt loops moved up higher to match my waistline.




The second one is double-breasted.

Again the sleeves must be shortened.

The belt loops are sitting in line with my hips so alteration is a must to move it towards my waist.

The back flap will keep me warm during the winter months.

The third is doubled-breasted too but with a funnel-neck.

The first picture is closer to the true color.

The funnel neck covers the tip of my chin. The stock photos on the company's website show part of the model's chin being covered up too. I won't bother wearing it up as the fabric would show dirt within a month.

My photographer was having a bad day so none of the pics showing the back were clear enough to include here. It is just plain like the second coat above but without the double flap.

Readers: which one do you think suits me better?


Thank you in advance for taking the time to comment. Enjoy the weekend!

No nylons -- yet!

Fall is here in Vancouver. That means wet and more wet.

I've been holding off wearing nylons or pantyhose (lingo depending where you live). Luckily, my legs have some colour to them.

Cardigan: Jessica XS (old), skirt: Mexx (thrifted for $6), dress worn as top: no name $10, shoes: Jessica $12.50

Had to break up the black with a yellow belt. I tucked a sheer summer dress under a skirt. Wore nude shoes instead of the predictable black.

Top: Cleo XS (last year), skirt: Jessica Petites (old and hemmed), shoes: Moda (old-sample sale $30)

I love these shoes. When I started working fulltime, I bought shoes in different colours. I was only doing what I saw while growing up. My mom used to have shoes in the colours of the rainbow...and then some. One wall of their garage - a car length plus about 5 feet more - had chest high wooden cubbies where she stored her shoes. In this regard, like mother, like daughter.

Luckily, when we get home, the rain seems to let up and there is still some fair lighting for snapping pictures. Pretty soon, I will be back to indoor pictures which are uninspiring. Hmmm…we'll see.

Have you opened a package of nylons yet?

H&M gloves

I always buy black gloves. Gifted gloves tend to be in black too. Except for a dark wine one that my sister gave me one Christmas. I still haven't worn it as I tend to find stains no matter how careful I am. This fall, I promised to get gloves in another colour other than black. At H&M, I found a camel one.

H&M butterscotch gloves $29.95

Yup, I told you in my Jacob dress post that I have a thing for camel shades this season.

I tried to capture the true colour. IRL, it is a rich butterscotch shade. The leather is soft.

Just to show you how long the gloves are.


As I went to change into another outfit, here's my daughter showing appreciation for these gloves.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Jacob camel dress

I wanted to post this dress while it was in stores. I love the simplicity of the design.

Jacob camel dress XS $89


Earlier this year, Jacob brought this dress in black. It was a tad long in the torso so even if it would have made a good LBD, I had to pass. A month ago, I spied it again in the stores but this time, it is in camel. Since camel shades has been catching my eye lately, I had to try it on. It fit much better than the black one! I mentioned this to the SA and she brought a black one from the storeroom. I tried the black on and sure enough, it was cut longer in the torso than the camel. Weird.

The only thing that bugs me a bit is the little bump at the bottom of the zipper. It will probably straighten out after a few more wears.

I'm debating on whether to take up the hem or not. Hubby said to leave it but I don't know if he is just trying to save money. What do you think?

Here is a closeup of the Amrita Singh that I bought off Annie from Really Petite. Love!

Thank you for stopping by my blog and for my fellow Canadians -- Happy Thanksgiving!

Banana Republic Mad Men in lace

Lately, Banana Republic has not been offering items that has caught my eye. It was a brilliant idea when they jumped on a Mad Men collection. Unfortunately, the only piece that I wanted was the cream sleeveless lace top. I held off buying because I already have an Aritzia version with sleeves. When BR put the collection on sale, I knew I had to place my order before they were all gone.

(Yes, those are bags under my eyes. I've been trying to finish the sixth book in the Clan of the Cave Bear series.) $43 after discount

XS were all gone so I went with next best - small - and hoped that my tailor can fix it. I also bought it in XS in black just to compare the fit. I showed my tailor the black one and she agreed that she can work with the cream to make it fit well.

The shoulders were pulled up about a half inch and the back neckline was reshaped. She also took it in along the sides. Cost $18.


I kept it in the closet before taking it to my tailor. The return date was looming near so I finally had to decide whether or not to keep. She was also deluged with back-to-school alterations so it took a while for me to get the top back.

I'm glad I kept this top even if I had to spend a little more for alterations. I know I will get much use out of it for years to come.

I've seen what other bloggers previewed from the Mad Men collection. It was a lovely collection but either the fit was off or the material was not likeable.

What did you think of the collection?