Strolling Through Paradise

Hi all! So, looks like I'll be back for a little while again! :D After a grueling school term, my most difficult one yet, I took a much-needed vacation, during my spring break, on the island of Maui in Hawaii. We stayed at the gorgeous Westin Maui Resort & Spa on Kaanapali Beach. Such a beautiful, beautiful hotel. The grounds were impeccably manicured, we had an oceanfront room whose balcony overlooked five swimming pools and a perfect view of the beach, and there was even a waterfall and lagoon in the lobby, complete with live flamingos! I can't wait to tell you all about my adventures in the next post!

However, back to business. I thought, it's been awhile since we've done a style shoot, and where best to have one than in the amazing paradise that is Maui? So, early one morning before the hustle and bustle of other hotel guests, I got all gussied up and we were able to get a few good style shots that embodied the exotic and luxurious feel of my vacation experience.

This Forever 21 dress is one of my current favorites! The corset-style bustier is the prettiest blue floral print and has an open lattice design on the sides. The high-low skirt portion is a deep, navy blue chiffon and is partially lined. You may have seen my clutch from previous posts, Jason Wu for Target. And my black velveteen, open-toed pumps are from Cathy Jean.

Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed this post! I've really missed blogging and am looking forward to posting more regularly in the coming weeks! :D

Hugs,
Cat

How I wore Jason Wu for Target!

Wheeeeeee!  I finally got my Jason Wu for Target haul in a few days ago.  I've been dying to share and I finally found the time to do a quick shoot modeling the stuff that I got.  Nothing formal, just tried on everything right out of the box. (you're going to have to excuse the wrinkles, didn't have time to press some of the items)

Before I start, I just wanted to mention how pleasantly surprised I was with the fit!  As a rather petite Asian girl, my stats are as follows:

• Height: 5'0"
• Weight: 105 lbs.
• Measurements: 32"-26"-36"
• Dress Size: 2

I had anticipated that I would have to head straight to the tailor for alterations, however, it appears that I'm going to be just fine wearing everything off the rack!  Hooray!

First up is the Black Flared Dress with the nude belt and lace hem.  The fabric is a nice weight, and appears to be good quality.  The belt accents the waist with a touch of color, in this case, a pale pinky nude.  I love that it has a built in crinoline which helps retain the full shape.  The lacy hem is embellished with sparkling black sequins.  And I simply LOVE the pockets!  Those were a surprise.  Such a classic, elegant, and flattering cut!  I think I'd be able to wear this dress 20 years from now and still look timeless! (if I still have my figure, that is. lol)  I also found that my Lovelina Vintage Garden Rose Earrings were the PERFECT adornment for this dress.  Whaddya know? :D

Next is the Navy Floral Sleeveless Chiffon Dress.  It's a lightweight, billowy shape that's neatly cinched with a mustard-yellow patent skinny belt.  The fit is flowy, feminine, and effortless.  I can't wait to wear it in the spring, although I'm sure I'd be able to pull it off with some brushed fleece tights and a cardigan for our current nippy weather!  I thought my Lovelina Leafy Bow Pearl Drop Earrings were a good fit with this dress. :D

Then I have the Blush Tee with Black Tie and the Straw Clutch.  Though the tee is cute, it's extremely loose-fitting, as you can see, for an extra small.  The quality is so-so, the stitching for the tie around the neck could definitely use some improvement, but the overall look is fine.  I think I like it best with cropped leggings.  I really can't find any fault with the clutch.  The contrast top-stitching and clasp are nice details and I love the texture of the straw.  I imagine it would be easily dressed up or down.

Last, but not least, I have the Blue Floral Printed Scarf and Classic Flap Handbag.  The scarf is one of my favorite pieces because it's so versatile!  I can wear it as a headband (as shown), as a belt, as a...well...scarf, etc.  There are so many possibilities!  I just adore the cheerful combination of soft blue, white, and yellow.  The handbag is a little darker in color than I had expected, but is still super-cute.  I don't know if I have any floral printed purses, so this is a first for me.  I like how I have the choice to wear it on my shoulder or simply hand-carry it, though I did feel that the detachable strap was several inches too long even at its shortest.  I think my Lovelina Teal Floral Painted Wood Button Drop Earrings goes best with this set.

Well, that's everything!  Can you believe we shot all this in under an hour?  (those of you that are familiar with photography understand that one can spend over an hour photographing just one outfit)  Big thanks to my li'l sis for being such a fantastic photographer! XOXO  She's also a tremendously talented graphic designer and illustrator.  You can check out her artwork HERE.

I really wish I could have gotten my hands on the Navy Blue Poplin Dress and the Navy Trench Coat among many other things, but I really didn't have deep enough pockets for more than I purchased and I feel pretty fortunate that I got anything at all!

Hope you all enjoyed my mini fashion show and have a great weekend!

Hugs,

Cat

Greedy Couple Buys Entire Jason Wu Stock!

OMG!  Just saw this story on The Huffington Post.  A greedy couple from Miami run into their local Target and purchase nearly the ENTIRE Jason Wu inventory, leaving other customers irate and frustrated.

The so-called "vultures" are the man in the hat and the woman in the center.  Image property of ElectricBlogarella.

Apparently, they bought everything and then attempted to re-sell the items to customers in the parking lot afterward.  Good luck with that!  There's also a lot of Jason Wu for Target items listed on eBay that are ending without bids.  I hope these shameless people get stuck with a lot of unsold inventory!

For more details regarding this scandalous story, please check out ElectricBlogarella, who has a firsthand account of this unfortunate event.  (she was there)

Just thought I'd share this because it makes me really angry how some people can be so greedy, selfish, and discourteous of others for just a little money.  Target designer collaborations are supposed to make high fashion fun and accessible for those of us who aren't rich and people like this just ruin the experience for the rest of us.  The worst part is, even though the local Target tried to stop this, corporate Target chose not intervene and allowed them to get away without consequence.  In the end, it's only the $$$$ that matters to them.  I guess this makes the company no better than these "thieves", willing to trade their integrity for a dollar.

Peace,
Cat

Jason Wu Target Collection Haul

I was sooooooooo planning on waking up at 6am tomorrow morning in order to battle the crowds for the launch of the Jason Wu Collection for Target, but, as it turns out, the sale started a few hours ago online, so I was able to snare a few items at the last minute.  Sadly, I didn't get everything that I wanted, but didn't log off empty-handed.  Here's what I got:

I had originally wanted the top and skirt set in this print, but they were long-gone by the time I got wind of the online sale.  I went for this sleeveless chiffon dress with a skinny yellow belt instead.  I'm actually liking it quite a bit!  I hope it looks just as nice in person and fits well!

I'm a sucker for cute floral prints, so I couldn't let this one escape me!  Also, blue is one of my favorite colors!  I just adore this whimsical design!

This dress also came in white, but I figured black would be easier to wear (as well as easier to maintain a clean appearance).  I love the nude skinny belt, but wish the lace was also the same shade of nude instead of black for more pop.

I'm not a big fan of clutches because I prefer having my bags hang off the shoulder as opposed to holding them (Cat = lazy).  However, this clutch is too cute to resist!  I like the idea of the dressiness of a clutch juxtaposed with the low-keyness of the straw texture.

I love this knit top!  You get the comfort of a tee while the black trim and bow add a touch of chic.  I can pair this with a pair of skinny jeans or tuck it into a skirt.  So easy to dress up or down! 

I love this scarf for the same reason I love the above blue floral shoulder bag.  Aren't the colors and prints to die?!  I can't wait to wear it headband-style, so gorgeous!

Well, that's all I was able to get.  Everything else was sold out and I don't even want to know what it's going to be like in stores tomorrow.  Hopefully they'll re-release the collection in a few months so that I can snag all the goodies that I missed.  In the meantime, I can't wait to get my stuff in the mail!  Of course, I'll have practical expectations as far as quality and fit.  One must keep in mind that this IS Jason Wu for Target, not RTW.  But hey, beggars can't be picky!

Hope some of you were able to make away with some good finds.  Have a great night!

Hugs,

Cat

Jason Wu for Target

OMG!  I just found out that designer Jason Wu is collaborating with Target to create a capsule collection that will be released Sunday, February 5th. (I'm sure this has been news for ages, you're probably wondering what cave I just crawled out of.)  But anyways, yippee!  I'm super-excited!  I'll definitely be lining up at the door at 8am, though I bet there will be some hardcore frugal fashionistas that have camped overnight for first dibs.  Anywho, here is a sneak peak at some of my favorites:

The prices are very nice as well:

Scarves: $20
Skirts, Tops, Sweaters, and Handbags: $30 and up
Dresses: $40 and up

There will be no items over $60.  Sounds like a bunch of chic steals to me!  I can't wait!

Hugs,
Cat