Back to Schoolgirl

Pitaya/Ezra bunny print peter pan collar top (S) //
Faded Glory pleated plaid mini skirt (S?) (old from high school) (buy midi version) //
H&M polka dot socks // Xhilaration oxford flats in Cognac (5.5) ($20) //
Aldo snake coil ring (5) ($2, $8) //

Photography: JJ + Thomas Roach (wingtips photo)

MY LAST FIRST DAY OF CLASS. Well, until med school. Yesterday's (8/30) outfit combines old and new pieces, taking full advantage of the exploding suitcase I lugged back from home in preparation for fall and my blog sale. This bunny print peter pan collar shirt was one of the Pitaya sale finds from Missouri Tax Free Weekend - I love that it's cute, opaque with a sheer lightness, and my favourite colour. Can't beat $9 for a boutique find either. The skirt is definitely from high school haha-dressup-days when my friends and I all got schoolgirl skirts for transforming into Catholic schoolgirls (of course we covered up more than this). It was odd because I've been a public schooler all my life and we had some of the weirdest strict rules and dress codes (unfun). This is what I love about college. Socks and shoes recycled from last fall. Aldo's rings are so small my finger was stuck for a few minutes trying them on! Size 5 fits great on my middle finger, taking into account my huge joints.

Nostalgia! The first leaves are starting to fall in St. Louis!!! Riding uphill-ish to class is a struggle for my atrophied leg muscles after an exercise-less summer but it gets me to class in 5 minutes from my off-campus house. Meanwhile, allergies are kicking in :( Senior year, here we are so soon. In addition to eating healthy and trying to have a regular schedule of sleep, library study, and exercise, I vow to have more fun and go out more. Yesterday, I hit the library for about 7 hours between classes (ugly gap to be filled with research and meetings later). Clean slate, pretty caught up. How long can I keep this up? xD

My blog resolutions are to:

- Catch up with all my reviews

- Morning photoshoots in 5 minutes before class, every day

- Post every day

- Set up that blog shop!

- Reply to comments

P.S. Shoutout to my friends Jane and Francis for following :) You guys made my day! 

Readers - what did you wear for back-to-school?

White Out | Point Blanc

Ann Taylor white blazer (00P) (buy $35) // Unionbay white shorts (Juniors 3) (from junior high) //
Soyfashion white crochet back detail tank top (S) (c/o Soyfashion.com) //

Predictions by Payless white low heel pumps (5) // Claires white ruffle handbag //

Photography: JJ

FASHION POLICE, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. *Bad Boys theme song reels through my head* After an entire summer of seeing all-white outfits and admiring their clean and crispness, I finally donned all the white pieces I could find in my wardrobe for a Sunday coffeeshop meeting for community service (8/28). Getting all this out of my system before Labor Day, but I'm surely going to continue wearing white afterwards xD Left the jacket at home because it was blazing outside (and consequently, more tanlines) and yes I know my shorts are too tight - explanation: got them in junior high ... Florida and San Diego did some good to the melatonin in me. Hit the mall after and nabbed an H&M fall coat for $15 (after return and 20% off coupon) and some longer shorts/replacement tights at Forever 21. Finished off the night with 100 wings (with friends of course) and beating Castle Crashers. Productive Sunday.

Today, I ran a lot of errands on campus - it's so interesting to see how all the construction has been hidden away, things look pretty and completely renovated yet again (like the bookstore) and happy happy for the increased number of bike racks. Living off campus now means a 5 minute bike ride up and down hill in either direction and boy-o I'm out of shape. Started off picking up my passport to transportation around St. Louis (aka Metropass), discovering a free-stuff field day for the grand re-opening of said over-priced bookstore (I greatly appreciate that they've caught onto the moustache trend), a relaxing read in one of my favourite architectural places at WashU: Holmes Lounge, then off to the East Asian Library. I feel like I'm giving an online tour of campus xD

It's sooo weird being a senior. There are so many fresh faces I don't recognize, a few familiar "Hey! how are you doing?! I haven't seen you in forever!"s in the crowd, and the general feeling of holy-crap-I'm-old. This is going to be the craziest year yet, and the best one yet. Life just keeps on keepin' on and it does get better. In other news, I finally finished the renewed-8-times The Mind's Eye by Oliver Sacks. This old man is so inspirational - the fact that he's a doctor but he's still human, humble, and not immune to disease just because he cures it. My goal this school year is to read more for pleasure and finish his collection of case studies and personal anecdotes.

Love life, love yourself. Have a great back-to-school everyone!

Readers - have you worn all white before?

Pastel Ice Cream

United Colors of Benetton Paris lilac tshirt (Euro M) //
Threadsence/Lush mint scallop hem shorts (S) (worn in paperbag style) //
Pitaya yellow patent skinny belt (S) // Predictions by Payless low heel white pumps (5) //
Forever 21 pastel hearts necklace // Claire's ruffle white handbag //

MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP AND LILAC BLOSSOMS. My coworker described my outfit as a "pastel ice cream cone" when I walked into the lab (7/1). There's something about pastels that transcends seasonal boundaries - heck, I will mix lilacs and mint greens with my earthen tone chunky knits in the winter, and start layering burgundies, mustard, forest green and taupe over these fresh spring/summer shades. Psst - you can get my mint green scallop shorts also styled with pastels here in my shopping guide. Since Lush's smalls are too loose to sit on my natural waist, I cinched it up with my favourite skinny belt for a paperbag shorts look.

Later that evening, my friends and I went to see Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon (copyright fight for the title with Pink Floyd, anyone?) and surprisingly I was appeased with the flashy action scenes and obligatory hot-girl-running-in-5-inch-heels scenes laced with explosions. Sorry about the blurriness - mall lighting isn't that great at night for last-minute photos. Fast forward about 2 months and we're here, sitting with me way past bedtime (CST) home in St. Louis, ready for an action-packed Sunday after some shut-eye. JJ and I just watched Source Code and it was all sorts of crazy (splosions, ya ken?) and somewhat confusing (but nowhere near the level of Primer). Good to be back, and super excited for senior year to start!

Readers - do you dare to wear pastels in fall/winter?

Fire, Hot, Mild

Faded Glory red tshirt (XS) // H&M orange pleated midi skirt (S) // Pitaya patent yellow belt (S) //

Forever 21 red patent peep toe pumps (6) (buy 1, 2, 3, 4) //

Photography: JJ

HI MY NAME IS EDNA MODE. This outfit could be inspired by the first three colours of the rainbow, or the degree of hotness on those beloved Taco Bell sauce packets (6/27). Chugging my way through this backlog of outfits, I see how this summer my H&M orange pleated midi skirt has been a fave for work and going out. It hits just above the knee and makes my legs look thinner, concealing my thighs that would make Marion Jones proud. [Update 8/25/11: Featured on the Ruby-Eyed Okapi for modesty in fashion. I'm so flattered! Thanks Victoria!]

This was right after I dyed my hair black too. Ended up with an awesome mod asymmetrical bob that works great with red lipstick and retro-flaved pieces. Does this remind anyone of Edna from the Incredibles? The golden hour is pretty - I should try for more shots then. I used to think that photographers photoshopped in all the perfect lens flare and excess of light. Yes I notice the gunk on my shoes. That's what you get when you climb into dirt trying to get a perfect shot in 4-inch stilettos.

Why can't it be both fall and summer at the same time? Alternate days to make it exciting. I can't wait to wear chunky knits, long and drapey pieces, loose sweaters, knee high boots with super high socks, scarves, scarves, scarves! I'll also miss the romanticism of tearing down the streets in a red-hot convertible (okay, maybe only in Florida with Cassandra) but oh the lovely sun and warm summer nights ...

For now, it's 3 days away from St. Louis and 6 from the start of senior year. Last time I checked, it was only senior year in high school. It's both an exhilarating and scary time, but mostly I am ready to shop for some cutesy school supplies (for once in my life - I know where to save so I can dole out the green  for the closet mmhmm) and install a basket on my bike. Spent a few hours scouring the web for deals on textbooks, but even with a bunch of rentals we've rung up quite a bill. Curse textbook companies and their "new cover, new edition" crap. Until robots have feelings and I can fly a hovercraft to work, I'm not buying that much has changed since the last issue.

Readers - who is your doppelganger?

Photo credit of Edna Mode: virginmedia.com

Snow White

AS RED AS THE POISON APPLE. It's been a while since I did a FOTD or beauty-related post on its own. So basically, when I was in Florida, Cassandra and I went crazy at ULTA. I did some severe damage (mostly on the Urban Decay Naked Palette) and played make-over for about 90 minutes. When I picked up this NYX lipstick in Snow White, I thought, whooaaaa Bessy way too dark. When I put it on, Cassandra was surprised in a good way. So it's coming home with me ($3.99). This led to a hunt for Snow White-like clothes for Disney World the next day, but in the end it wasn't worth it and I proudly sported these deep red princessy lips to the happiest place on Earth.

Also discovered: Dolce & Gabbana light blue perfume and DKNY's Golden Delicious. I like more citrusy and not-flowery, not-candy perfumes (so basically I can't stand perfume). But these scents are nice! If only a tiny bottle of liquid weren't so expensive ... The Coach Poppy is Cassandra's - isn't it so tiny and cute? Benefit's They're Real! Mascara is so mind-boggling. I have non-existent lashes - Asian, stubby, point straight, fine and light. This mascara separates, elongates, does it all without clumping. Never ever, had I had this happen before.

I can't quite figure out how to take pictures for makeup looks with my DSLR yet. In normal lighting outside the colours are washed out, but with flash I look too white. Any help from fellow Canon Rebel T2i users?

Wearing (half of ULTA):

NYX Round Lipstick in Snow White

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner *

Some silver eyeshadows (UD and maybe Nars?)

Urban Decay Naked Palette Buck (dark blue on outer corners)

Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer in Light Golden *

ELF Studio Brow Kit in Dark *

Rock & Republic Contrived Blush in Tease *

* denotes daily routine products

P.S. This post reminds me of how JJ says white as "wuh-hai-t", pronouncing the "h." I give him crap for it all the time but honestly I love it because it's one of the many unique little things about him. End mushy guys segment!

Image credit: Jorymon.com