OOTM: August 2013

Hello! It's the last day of August :(
I hope you all are having a great Labor Day Weekend. Mine is turning out to be quite lame :/ so instead I decided to turn it around and upload a post!

BOSS Crop Top: Forever 21
HIgh-Waisted Dark Wash Shorts: GUESS
Necklaces: Forever 21, Macy's

Distressed Floral Knit: sheinside.com
Distressed Pants: UNIQLO
Crop Tank: Topshop

Bart Simpson Crop Top: sheinside.com
High-Waisted Dark Wash Shorts: GUESS
Bracelet: Cotton On

Floral Crop and Petal Pants: Topshop

Pugwich Tee: Riot Society (Pacsun)
Denim: GUESS
Necklace: Macy's

Tribal Fringe Top: Tiare Hawaii (from Fighting Eel sample sale)
Sunflower Denim Pants: GUESS
Necklace: Liz Lisa

Thanks for reading!
-LAUREN

The Shopping Diaries: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, GUESS

Hey lovelies! My birthday is in 2 days ><. I dread aging one year older, but no matter what, I still wish to continue being my fashionable self! I would've posted this much earlier but I was waiting for this white jacket from Topshop that I thought would look super adorable with this coordinate, but it took forever for the system to confirm my order since I ordered it at the cash register. Then what ended up happening was that I saw the size that I wanted online and ordered it myself, which arrived like 5 days after. So Nordy's kind of fails me when I have them order things for me at the store. Anyways, the smallest size was still too big for me and I returned it yesterday :(. I was super bummed because I went through all the trouble trying to get it. *sigh* Everything can't go my way ay? So enough rambling and let me get into the haul!

Neon Floral Crop Top: This was already on the sale rack during Nordy's Anniversary sale. I think it was regularly $56 but it was on sale for $29.99. I wasn't sure if this would look good on me because I'm naturally suspicious since it's not my usual color palette and it was a size 4. When I tried it on, I was pleased with how it looked. It has a slightly airy look to it because it is one size up from my usual size 2, but I think it'll look great with one of my Brandy bralettes. Also, I ended up loving the print on me!

Black Shimmery Petal Shorts: I absolutely love the hem on these shorts because they cover the most unflattering part of the thigh so it gives the illusion of slim pins hehe! It is high-waisted as well, but it falls slightly under my belly button because it is a tad bit loose. I saw a size 0 online and went to order it, but they had to cancel my order because they were out :(. I'm still able to deal with the size 2 and the crop top above covers the waist so you don't see the slight bagginess! I'm not the biggest fan of shimmery threads, but it's so subtle in this that it makes it look really nice. The only thing that is going to drive me insane is how easy the threads will snag >< so I must be really careful when I wear this!

Jeffrey Campbell Faded Black Litas: I was literally ecstatic to see these JC Litas on display! I've been dying to get my hands on one because they're so bloody fabulous. The platform is 1 1/2 inches and the height of the heel in general is 4 1/2 inches, so it's comparable to a 3 inch heel. It's quite comfortable but maybe not for all day walking lol. Perhaps I should insert a comfortable pad for the balls of my feet? Anyways, I'm usually a size 6 when it comes to shoes, but I got a 6 1/2 for comfort. I think it depends on the material used which determines whether you go up or down a size. For the price ($159.95), I think it's a really good buy for the quality and the design.

High-Waisted Dark Wash Denim Shorts: In the picture below, you can see these cute high-waisted dip-dye American flag shorts, but as much as I love Topshop, their shorts are waaaaaaay too cheeky. So I was incredibly happy that I saw these at Guess. They were $29.99 and I think they were on extra sale or something like that. Anyways, my favorite denim has to come from Guess. These shorts cover the bum really nicely and the distressed details are also nicely done. Guess is #1 in my book when it comes to denim!

Here's a picture of me with both Topshop pieces on! And that white jacket in the back is the one that I ended up ordering and returning later on. I thought this would be a nice birthday dinner outfit this Wednesday! I have a more fitted cream-colored jacket from H&M that I think would suit this coordinate better, so I'm not terribly sad about not fitting the Topshop one.

Posts to look forward to will be, of course, more hauls and a long awaited Nature in Bloom post for my garden section :)

Thanks for reading!
-LAUREN

TAG: Colors of the Rainbow

Hello lovelies! I wanted to blog about something different before bombarding you with end of the month posts. Actually, it's basically the end of July but I'll stick this post in anyway! I wanted to do a fun tag and so I decided to try out the Colors of the Rainbow tag. Basically, you take each color in the rainbow and pick out some of your favorite beauty and fashion items that correlate with the color. I'm not that major when it comes to makeup. I tend to go for a very natural look with most of the emphasis going to my eyes, which is just eyeliner and mascara. So, I stuck with fashion goods! Some colors were tricky, but I think I got my picks down. Here it is:

1. Red

Miss Sixty Booties: I got these around 2008-2009 when MS was still at Ala Moana. I believe Jason gave these to me as a Christmas gift. I was absolutely in love with the color and I like the texture of the leather. The only downside is that your feet do hurt after walking in these. I need to insert some sole support. Also, I tend to ding the heels hehe. To be honest, because these aren't the most comfortable shoes to wear, I haven't worn them in a long time. That being said, I'm going to try wearing them again!

2. Orange

Orange Tone Salopette: I'm not sure how to describe this pattern. It's kind of damaskish or it reminds me of something Mediterranean. Anyways, I got this from Spiral Girl in 2011. When I was studying abroad in Japan earlier that year, I saw this exact piece at a store and I wanted to get it but I didn't. Then a couple months after I came back, my dad took me shopping and I saw this at SG on sale, which was cheaper than in Japan. This has great shape because you don't need a belt to emphasize your figure. A belt will go nicely with it, but I usually don't wear one :).

3. Yellow

Funky Geometric: This is one of my absolute favorite pieces from MS. I bought this around 2008 or 2009 and when I first saw this, it was love at first site. I was attracted to the vibrant color and it just oozed happiness and sunshine. Also, this was around the time when I was digging billowy sleeves, so when I wore this, I felt like a total hipster hehe! I still get good vibes whenever I wear this.

4. Green

Bon Lapin: This is a purchase from Forever 21 after I came back from Vegas last year in October. I'm a bunny lover, so anything bunny-themed I'm there. I immediately grabbed this when I saw it and I was lucky that I snagged the last size small. I probably would've gotten it in a size medium if they didn't have my original size. In theme with the color, I love this shade of light olive. Olive tones are some of my favorite shades of green.

5. Blue

Blue Plaid Shirt: This is a more recent purchase from Guess at Ala Moana. I had such a hard time deciding which blue item in my wardrobe I wanted to post since blue is my favorite color at the moment. I was surprised that I ended up picking this because while I do admire plaid, I don't think it particularly looks good on me, but I definitely love this piece. I like the studs and the fact that I can wear it as a cover up or an accessory around my waist.

6. Indigo

Billowy Tie Top: Indigo was probably the hardest to find in my closet. I'm not even sure if this really counts as indigo but whatever. It's closer to blue on the violet-blue spectrum. This is another top from Forever 21 that I instantly fell in love with because of 1) the color, 2) the tie, and 3) the buttons bordering the top asymmetrically. Also, I love how the buttons trails down the back!

7. Violet

Lace Floral Plaid Tote: This is definitely an older item of mine that I still love. This was when Betsey Johnson was still under Betsey Johnson and not being overtaken by Steve Madden. I had gotten this a little after Black Friday for only $34. I absolutely love the pattern. I still have this bag but I haven't used it since I graduated from college. I must say it held up for a very long time. It's sad that the quality of Betsey Johnson goods have really gone down the hole, especially with their bags.

8. Pink

Light Pink Ribbed Peplum: I know this color almost borders on nude, but honestly it is my favorite top in a pink shade. The trend for peplums have somewhat subsided but I'd still rock one any day, especially from Topshop. The darts and the basic shape of this top is super flattering and makes you feel like a rockstar any day!

9. Multicolored

Summer Lightweight Stole: When it comes to multicolored items, I tend to gravitate to colorful stoles. This stole came in a set from Ingni when I was in Japan two years ago. Lightweight stoles are still a staple for me during the summer, although to be honest, I haven't been wearing them as much this year. But because the weather is somewhat straightforward in Hawaii, this can be worn throughout the year. The way I like to incorporate stoles into my outfit is to wear something basic and simple so that the stole is my center piece :).

I hope you all enjoyed reading this post. I had a lot of fun picking out items for this tag and you should do one too if you have a blog or a Youtube. Pretty soon I'll be uploading my monthly posts which will be including a shopping, instagram, and outfit of the day!

Thanks for reading!
-LAUREN

OOTW: May 13-19

Monday, Tuesday

(left) Hoodie: Brandy Melville
Denim: H&M

(right) T-Shirt: Lucky Brand
Shorts: Cotton-On
Necklace: Express
Ring: H&M
Cuff: Adore (local store in Hawaii at Kahala Mall)

Wednesday, Thursday

(left) Skull top: H&M
Lace Shorts: H&M
Necklace: axes femme (Japanese brand)

(right) Tank: Ecote (UO)
Shorts: Aeropostale
Necklace: Express
Ring: H&M
Cuff: Cotton-On
Skull Bracelets: Brandy Melville

Friday OOTD and OOTN

(left) Top: Pineapple County
Skater Skirt: Topshop
Necklace: Charlotte Russe

(right) Crop Tank: Topshop
Gold Ring: H&M

Saturday, Sunday

(left) Muscle Tee: Truly Madly Deeply (UO)
Pants: Pacsun
Necklace: Vanity Fair (Japanese brand)
Cuff: Cotton-On

(right) Long Sleeve: Free People
Shorts: Aeropostale
Ring: H&M
Necklace: JAYRO (Japanese brand)

Thanks for reading!

-LAUREN

TSD Vegas Edition: TOPSHOP

All right lovelies! Get ready for my first clothing haul from my Vegas trip! The first place that I went to was, of course, Topshop at the Fashion Show Mall. It is basically the Motherland for me when it comes to fashion. I love the how British fashion is so quirky and funky and I feel like I don't see that a lot in American fashion. Topshop was having another major sale like last year when I first visited them. Amazingly, except for one item, I got everything on sale! I felt so proud of myself because last year, I think I only got one thing on sale and everything else was regular price yikes! I think my total spent at Topshop was under $200 so I give myself a pat on the back :P. Anyways, to the fashion!

LOVE Monogram Gray Jumper: This was the first thing that I picked up when I entered the store. I suppose a lot of their "winter" stuff was on sale and this jumper caught my eye. It's simple yet funky, giving me a 90's feel. Even though I live in Hawaii, this will come in handy for those cool nights. Also, I'm jetting off to San Fran at the end of this month, so I'll bring this along!

Sheer Floral Lace Crop Top: I love that Topshop has petite sizes since I'm only 5' 1" and that their smallest size starts at US 0 (regular sizing starts at US 2, which is fine in most cases). The size 0 was a great fit, but I wanted a little more length and size 2 did the trick! I need to find a black faux leather high-waist skater skirt with this to complete the look hehe.

Monochromatic Checkered Shirt: This was one of the tops that I picked off the rack and thought that it may or may not look good. My opinion totally changed when I tried it on. I thought it was super chic and cool. It's sheer so you need a black bralette. Another thing that I love about the print are the vines weaving along the front buttons and the sleeves. It's subtle and slightly camouflaged, which I really like. I wore this out this past Saturday with a pair of black leggings from H&M.

Checkered Floral Singlet: Here is another top that I wasn't sure how it would look on me, but once again, when I tried it on, I thought it looked adorable. Plus it helped that I was wearing a black bralette, which completed the look. I love the mix of geometrics and floral. Also, this will be fantastic for those muggy days when you still want to look cute without too much effort ;)

Striped Polka Dot Floral Shirt: That was a mouthful wasn't it! I was a bit apprehensive just because it seemed so busy, but I knew that it would look totally awesome because the mix of prints was just too cool and they really gel together. This was another petite top and this time I got it in a size 0. I've never had a long sleeve top where the length of the sleeve was perfect. I plan on wearing it this weekend! Also, I'll be starting OOTW posts soon so you all will be able to see it on a human form lol.

Blue & Red Mini Check: I had tried this on during my first visit to Topshop, but I returned the next day and decided to try it on again with the intention of getting it this time. It's a long sweater, which covers your bum, so it would look cute with a pair of tights. I think I was a bit intimidated by the print, which is why I didn't get it at first, but when I tried it on again, I thought it would make for a cute geek chic outfit. Also, it was $12 on sale (regular $56) so I just had to get it, even if I really wasn't into it!

White Floral Lace Bralette: This was the only thing that I didn't get on sale, but it was $24 so it wasn't too bad. All my bralettes were black, so I was searching for a white one. Luckily I came across this. I was also happy that I could fit a bra underneath comfortably since it didn't have any shape or support. I'm not busty by any means, but it's good to have shape hehe.

I hope you enjoyed my first post-Vegas haul! Next up will be from Zara!

Thanks for reading!

-LAUREN