Reviews...H&M

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and holiday! Mine was so relaxing - I went home to Long Island for the weekend and got to hang out with the entire extended family (not to mention, I think I gained about ten pounds). I also managed to squeeze in a quick trip to H&M - and I literally mean squeeze, because oh my god, the store was so crowded. It was, in all honesty, even worse than Black Friday.

The photos are, again, terrible quality, because Blackberries have awful cameras. But I just wanted to quickly share my reviews about a couple new items (and one old) with you.

I specifically went to H&M looking for a kelly green dress that I'd seen on both Elle of Fast Food & Fashion and Jean of Extra Petite. I was in love with the color and silhouette, and heard it fit fairly small. Unfortunately, the kelly green was sold out in everything smaller than 6, but I was able to find the same dress in black to try on in a size 2: 

Lusting after...ASOS 50% off sale!

I have a bit of down-time at work today - hurrah for the holiday lull! - enough for me to have thoroughly browsed through ASOS' 50% off sale which just started today. There are so many terrific items that have been reduced and which are still available in a whole range of sizes! I wanted to share my favorites with you all.

First is this cableknit sweater in navy that I've been eyeing since it first appeared on the site. I like both how cozy it looks, and how petite-friendly the length appears to be - this sweater appears to truly be cut short. It is currently retailing for $29.09, down from $63.63, and is still available in all sizes excluding size 1.

Reviews...Petite-Friendly Finds in the Zara Fitting Room

Yesterday, I took advantage of my downtime at work to head over to Zara and see what I could find. Their items, including those from their TRF "juniors" line, tend to run pretty big on me (as I've mentioned before) but I can occasionally get lucky and find an item or two that has a more petite-friendly fit.

I didn't end up purchasing anything, but I did find some really great items that I wanted to share with you all! Apologies in advance for the grainy quality of the photographs, however - these were all taken on my Blackberry, since my point-and-shoot was unfortunately out of battery at this point. I tried editing as much as I could to save detail, but...a Blackberry camera is no iPhone camera! I know what I'm putting on my wishlist for Christmas.

There were some amazing blazers on the racks - a few of which were actually on sale. This one in particular, the "Blazer with Zips" on sale now for 69.99, caught my eye. The one I tried on was an XS, and it actually fit pretty well:

Reviews...Ann Taylor

So excited today! Yesterday, I finally received my Ann Taylor shipment from when they had their $25 off $50 sale - which was at the same time they were having 50% off sale items and free shipping. Basically, I spent about $15 per item - such insane bargains! 

I wanted to share with you all what I bought and how everything fits! But before I do, I want you all to preemptively excuse both my horrendously monotonous expressions and my terrible hair in these photos...unfortunately, I a) don't know how to pose for self-timed photos and b) my hair just doesn't like to cooperate with my hairbrush after a day at work/running errands. So you'll have to excuse me for looking like Le Petite Swamp Monster, thanks in advance, all!

First up was the Striped Tiered 3/4 Sleeve Top in XXS Vanilla Creme (not petite, which was unfortunately sold out). Originally for $68, I purchased this for $13.64.

Cozy knits and glitter leggings.

I have been hunting for absolute ages for an affordable pair of black boots (in fact, they're at the top of my Wardrobe Goals list). It's been a surprisingly difficult search, but I'm so excited to say that I finally found the perfect ones, and on sale, no less!

These Studio Paolo over-the-knee boots from JCPenney's originally retailed at $120 but right now, they're only $29.99!! They fit as well as can be expected, which is to say that although they're slightly baggy, I can make do both with jeans and with tights. There's not much more I can ask for that isn't a pair of Stuart Weitzmans (which one day, one day, I will buy). 

I measured them, just in case any of you petite ladies are on a similar hunt. The calf length is 14.5'' and the shaft circumference is 14'' (although it's approximately 13'' around the actual calf area). They're made of a synthetic material, but they don't look cheap. I've worn them way too much already! I also tried on this pair from the same company which fit even better around the calf, but I personally wasn't a fan of the wedge heel since I was going for a more classic look.

I feel as though this entire outfit is made of "bargain" pieces. This knit sweater has to be one of the favorite items in my closet...it's perfect for when I just want to snuggle inside and watch television, or when it's a cool fall day and I just want to be comfortable when shopping. Best of all? It's a bargain because it's a hand-me-down...from my dad!  I used to borrow this sweater from him all the time when I was younger, and once I went away to college, I decided to just "borrow" it permanently. It's definitely my go-to clothing when I'm seeking comfort. 

Do any of you have clothes that evoke a similar feeling? Something that makes you feel comfortable and safe, or even just calm? I guess it's almost like an adult version of a safety blanket - as silly as that sounds!

Sweater, old (similar here); Leggings, Walmart (similar here); Boots, Studio Paolo Sz 6;
 Bag, vintage (similar here); Jewelry, thrifted; Watch, MK Mini-Runway Gold

I am also in love with these glitter leggings that I found, yes, at Walmart and, yes, in the girls' section. But I have an excellent excuse: they were only five dollars, and they were adorable. I don't think these photos properly showcase their subtle glimmer, but they're so versatile. I can wear them during the day like this for a casual yet interesting look, or dress them up more for a night out. 

Lastly, I want to share this bag with you all! It's a vintage piece that my mother found in our house - she's had it for ages, but it's just been gathering dust up in the attic. I'm so obsessed with it - the color is such a lovely mahogany, and the shape is a classic satchel silhouette that's very popular right now. It's a perfect carry-all for when I'm going shopping or running errands.

The weather's finally been getting colder, too - I've found myself snuggling in with this sweater and a cup of hot chocolate more and more often (and on that note, try this amazingly easy cocoa recipe from Megan at the Frugalista Diaries!). How about you? What good bargains have you found lately - or are you, like me, becoming an increasingly winter-induced homebody?

Shopping for the impossible: the office holiday party.

It's that time of year! Christmas lights blinking, carolers singing, store sales tempting, and its all leading to...the office holiday party! And lately, I've been hearing a lot of concern from my friends about what to wear (and maybe more importantly, what not to wear) to these events.

Work social events are inevitably awkward, something I've learned quickly since starting my first job. Not only are you trying to make small talk with the higher-ups for extended periods of time, but you're doing so while imbibing alcohol. Now, I don't know about you, but alcohol + me can make for awkward situations at the best of times, so the idea of that formula  working its magic in a professional environment is all kinds of terrifying.

From discussing work parties with friends, I know that finding dresses for such events is difficult for mostly everyone - so finding something that's conservative and cocktail-appropriate and also petite-friendly is almost nigh impossible. And, since I recently got my own invitation to our firm's annual holiday party, hunting down the perfect work-appropriate cocktail dress has been weighing heavily on my mind. A few other bloggers have posted about similar topics (namely, Jean from Extra Petite here and here, and Khatu here) but I thought I'd go ahead and share my own finds with you! I've ordered a few of these, and will hopefully be able to do a more comprehensive review soon.

Eggplant purple and mustard yellow.

The weather lately has been completely inexplicable...not that I'm complaining! I love layering clothes, but I definitely don't like -5 degree weather when not even ten layers are enough to keep you warm. And at that point, it's just impossible to look stylish if you don't want to freeze to death, too. 

I know that the temperature isn't going to stay this warm forever - 68 degrees at the end of November is just too good to be true, after all - but I'm taking advantage of it while I can! This weekend, I didn't even need a jacket when I was traipsing around outside, which made me very happy, because I really wanted the colors I was wearing to show!

Cobalt blue and H&M coat review!

Happy Cyber Monday and belated Thanksgiving, everyone! Did you buy anything during this sale-heavy weekend? I definitely did - maybe a few too many things, but that's when a good return policy comes in handy, right? 

Please forgive me for the crazy range in my photo quality! My mother just "gifted" me with her old Nikon Coolpix DSLR, and I'm still not quite comfortable with all the options...in other words, I have no clue what I'm doing yet! But nevertheless, I'm very excited to have such a quality camera - I can't stop playing around with it. Does anyone have any tips or websites they can direct me to on how to take and edit pictures with a DSLR? I'd be forever grateful!

One of my favorite colors of the season is the cobalt blue that's been everywhere. Unfortunately, I think it's a little too bright for my workplace - or maybe I'm just personally not daring enough to try it! The only piece I think I would even chance at the office is this lovely Ann Taylor ponte skirt (see on Extra Petite, Really Petite and Petite Little Girl), but unfortunately I wasn't able to snag it in my size when it went on sale. 

Reviews...Ann Taylor and LOFT.

Since my birthday is fast approaching (Monday, to be exact!), I've been the happy recipient of more than a few gift coupons in the mail - one of which is for $15 off any in-store item at Ann Taylor/LOFT. So what's a girl to do except spend said coupon as soon as she can? I'm lucky enough to work within walking distance of both AT and Loft - oh, the perks of working in Midtown. 

On my last visit to both, I found a couple of items which I really liked. Since I'm on the hunt for the perfect work-appropriate skirt (the ones I currently own are either too loose, too tight, too short - in other words, I'm just too picky), I thought this might be the perfect opportunity to try a few on.

I apologize for the grainy, blurry, and all around horrendous quality of these photos - Blackberries definitely do not take editorial-quality pictures!

Lusting after...the ideal LBD.

Entering the quote-unquote real world means that acquiring the perfect little black (business) dress for my closet is definitely more necessary than ever before. And while I have tons of LBDs, none of them are the LBD. You know what I mean, right? I'm talking the ideal little black dress, the one that can transition from a day at work to a dinner with family to a night out with friends. Of course, I've seen a ton that could work in theory, but as soon as I put them on, it's more like I'm wearing a three year old playing dress up in mom's closet than a 22 year old gearing up for a day in New York. Sigh.

But that's why I'm currently lusting after this dress (shown below in red, but which also comes in black) from the ASOS Petite line. Although my experience with ASOS has taught me that the quality may not necessarily be worth the price - this dress, for example, is a cool $73 and change - I've also learned that finding a dress that fits you off-the-rack is priceless. And ASOS Petite is one of the only lines I've found where "Petite" actually means petite; it fits me well, both at the hem and at the waist. Shocking!

I love the neckline and sleeveless cut - it's not so low that it would be unprofessional for the office, but the detailing definitely keeps it interesting enough for nights out, too. I want to buy this so badly, but since I'm currently trying to save up for an apartment (I'm moving into the city at long last) I think I'll have to wait for a sale. Fingers crossed that they're still a US Size 2 when one rolls around...

For those of you that can afford to splurge a little, there's also some more good news: ASOS has a 20% off sale on all items in their new collection - but it ends today! So go, go now!