July comings and goings

What came in - 9

• 2 dresses from my mom
• Coach wallet - a surprise gift from my husband =)
• Denim shorts
• Ivory skinny belt - I LOVE this piece, easily a new wardrobe staple and favourite
• Black crop top - not super short though!
• 2 non-iron blouses
• 1 short-sleeved blouse

What went out - 8

• 1 pink collared shirt with argyle patterns - I started to feel kiddish in it
• 1 black blouse - the material just made it very hot to wear
• 1 ivory sleeveless top - I love it but this time when I wore it, it seemed like an item that needed a lot of fussing, which I didn't love. I am sad to part with it
• 1 gray hoodie - I think over time I have been shrinking it in the wash, as well as outgrowing it =S x 2 (although that is one less hoodie I own! A category I've been wanting to downsize)
• 1 olive skirt - too big now
• 1 pair of shoes - sadly, a pair of my Cole Haans
• 1 collared shirt
• 1 dress

Getting better at wearing blazers

I own three blazers - standard black, gray with pinstripes, and tan with white trim. All three are pretty standard and season appropriate to take me throughout the year. Except for at least THREE years, I had trouble wearing the last two, and to be honest, wasn't even that good at wearing the black one, which should just be easy!

This year, since I have been working so hard to curate my closet, decided to work really hard at incorporating them into my wardrobe, before making the decision of whether or not to let them go. 

Since it's summer, I started with the tan one and just really, haphazardly put it on, on the way out the door. It worked! Now, instead of a cardigan, I grab this blazer, and I've been able to wear it regularly since - without having to strain my brain on how to make it look good.

This gray pinstripe one was actually purchased before the tan one and it sat in my closet waiting to be worn. That day finally came a couple weeks ago when I, for whatever reason, I don't know, decided to throw it on. And it also worked!

I think in order for me to make blazers work, I have to actually give it NO THOUGHT whatsoever, and treat them as outerwear instead of something that is supposed to match. I mean, it should match what you're wearing but I think because the idea of a blazer having matching bottoms was so ingrained in my head, I tried TOO hard, to make it match what I was wearing on the bottom, even though I purposely didn't buy a matching bottom.  That idea was just acting like a roadblock and once I kicked it to the curb, found many occasions to wear it. 

I also don't think I'm one to wear a matching pant/skirt & jacket suit, with the exception of black (but only because of necessity).

That said, I don't recommend buying a black pant/skirt & jacket separately because the shades have to be just right. I didn't buy my black blazer with matching bottoms and now regret this. I have been searching for the perfect set. 

Something that I thought was a good suggestion - I read somewhere that you should always take you blazer and bottoms to be dry-cleaned at the same time so the black can always fade at the same time.

I'm sorry we couldn't make it work

One of the most difficult things I find about perfecting my wardrobe is letting go of an item from one of my favourite brands, that I love and had high hopes for, but is just not working out. 

One such item is my mirror-finish Cole Haan peep-toe wedge sandals. 

I purchased these several years ago to wear as my summer go-to shoes - I envisioned wonderful outfits ranging from office appropriate, to 'fun in the sun', casual cool.  I tried the shoes on in the store, and they looked fantastic and felt comfortable - being an avid fan of Cole Haan shoes, I expected no less. I brought them home with me, giddy with excitement to wear them the next day. 

Within 10 minutes of its debut, I stepped on a part of the sidewalk that was slightly unfinished and gouged a chunk of the sole's finish out. I cried. I consoled myself by telling myself that it was on the inside and that it was going to be OK. 

As I continued on my not-so merry way, I noticed that there were very obvious crease marks where my toes bent - the mirror-finish is stiffer than most finishes so the creases look very deep and just horrible. I was further crushed and very disappointed. 

At the end of the day, I put them back in their box and held on to them. Over the next several years, I took them out on a few occasions (those that required very little walking) - each time, they suffered greater and greater damage. More gouges, scratches, and creases - it got to a point where I was tip-toeing in them in hopes they wouldn't touch the ground.

This year, I said to myself: "to hell with it, I'm going to wear these babies to the ground!" Sadly, it seems they beat me to it - with each step, they got squeakier and squeakier, and the soles keep getting louder and louder against the pavement. They've made me loathe them. 

I'm sorry, but we have to part ways, and it pains me - I tried to love you but you're not making it easy for me. I would have loved to share many memories with you. I hope you find a new owner that can make it work. Good bye =(

Don't buy mirror-finish shoes, they will break your heart.

McArthurGlen Outlet, Vancouver, BC - Canada's first designer outlet mall

 

On July 9th, Vancouver and Canada opened its first designer outlet mall - the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Vancouver Airport. On its first day, it attracted so much attention that it actually caused flight delays (of course, that may be due to some poor infrastructure and planning, but that's probably for another type of blog). 

I managed to check it out last Friday after work, and this was my experience - 

I left downtown Vancouver at approximately 7:30 p.m. via the Canada Line from Waterfront Station, and it took me about 25 minutes. The outlet is advertised as being 'across the street' from Templeton Station but that is sort of mis-leading (at least for me) - as you're riding the SkyTrain in anticipation to see this new outlet at the train's destination, you see the outlet AS you're riding the train, and then watch as is slowly gets smaller in the distance as the train keeps moving. When  you finally stop, you think "OK, I see what they mean by across the street..." BUT, it's actually the parking lot of the outlet that you're across the street from. From a marketing standpoint (and I know marketing and real estate quite well), I can see how they're spinning it. Now you're set to walk across the parking lot, which is about 5-7 minutes away. (Don't me wrong, it's not a big deal but just not what I expected)

Across the street from Templeton Station

Distance to outlet from 'across the street' of Templeton Station

Your guide to the outlet

The design of the outlet is really, really nice. Compared to everything in Vancouver it's unique and the outdoor feel is really refreshing. I was SO pleased to see that there is a Cole Haan shop as those are my favourite shoes, and of course, as expected, a massive line outside of Coach. You will hear the planes and they fly quite low, making it super loud, but you know, I don't mind it so much, I think it's kind of neat =)

This is just the opening of Phase I so there are still more stores to come, including a Gucci outlet! Hurray! Currently though, I am a bit disappointed by their 'deals'. I only had time to visit 5 stores - Banana Republic, GAP, Ecco, Cole Haan, and Coach (yes, I stood in that line) and nothing impressed me that much in terms of style or pricing. In Cole Haan, their deals were 50% off regular price, but their regular prices started at $300-$350 - this is vastly different from the deals I see in the States. In Banana Republic and GAP, there were deals ranging from 40%-70% off regular price and no clearance section (maybe it's too new to have one yet). Ecco was relatively reasonable but I didn't like any of their styles. Coach, similar to what I see now in the States only had made for factory items, no section for boutique items, and the quality was poor.

I'm willing to give the outlet another shot and look forward to the opening of more stores, and also taking more time to see the ones I missed, but I don't think I'll be back any time soon. It definitely is a great alternative to having to drive to the States, but if their variety and 'deal's continue to be like this, I rather make the trip because even with the poor exchange rate, gas money, and time, I still feel like I'm getting a better deal, if not a better range in variety.  

Ever feel judged for your purchases?

As I mentioned before, I am part of a wonderful online community that celebrates fashion and loves to indulge in the fanciest of items. Not only that, the threads that I am part of are full of wonderful women who not only support each other's purchases and fashion choices, but also share in the ups and downs of life. Why does it seem like that is so hard to find in real life? 

Sometimes when I'm in the real world, or happen to stumble across a less than friendly thread, I go back to my group of 'close forum friends' and I thank them for being the wonderful people that they are. I find that it's hard to find that in real life. I LOVE fashion. I LOVE designer items. Some people may find these things superficial, but nonetheless, these are my hobbies. These aren't my only hobbies, but they're definitely on the top of the list. I get sad when I can't share any of this with my real life friends. I don't even say anything, but I can feel their eyes scrutinizing my clothes (and trust me, as most of you on here know, despite these hobbies, it's very hard for me to put together outfits that I love to be in) so it just makes me feel even more judged for my items. I have a friend who literally looks my bags up and down for a good 10 seconds and doesn't say a word. I can't share - they don't get excited, and if they do, it's feigned excitement. I have a few friends who do get excited but I worry about dragging on the conversation for too long because I can get very enthused and long-winded about some of my finds, beloved items, and my current wants. 

My co-worker N is one of the few people who I can talk fashion with, but I only see her momentarily at work (sometimes not at all, for weeks) =( She doesn't judge and provides honest opinions. She's my real life fashion buddy! xoxo to you, N!

I keep everything low-key and just go shopping by myself. It seems easier that way, but it does make me very sad. 

Wallet comparison - Michael Kors and Coach

I rarely receive wallets or bags as gifts, so when I do, they hold a very, very special place in my heart. It just so happens that I was gifted 2 wallets in less than a year, by 2 very special people in my life - my baby cousin and my husband. 

Michael Kors Jet Set travel wallet & Coach double-zip wallet

They each chose great wallets and I wanted to do a review and comparison because they are quite similar in size and function. These opinions are based on how I organize and use my wallets. 

My cousin gifted me the Michael Kors Jet Set travel wallet in navy for my birthday last year - I was so blown away! Below are some of its quick stats: 

• Saffiano leather
• 6.5" X 3.75" X 1"
• Handle drop: 7"

NOTE: I  believe the new versions now have a zip coin pocket next to the cell phone pocket. 

My husband <3 recently gifted me the Coach double-zip wallet in ocelot as a surprise! These are some of its quick stats: 

• Cross-grain leather
• 6" X 3.75" X 1.25"

Both wallets are considered to be classic pieces, so they can be found in classic colors, as well as in seasonal colors and designs. Currently, both styles are on sale, for similar price points. 

Exterior - the Coach has an exterior pocket, great for those who carry a card that needs to be frequently accessible. For me, I carry my transit pass.

Size - I've cropped this picture low so you can get a better idea of the height difference, if they were both lined up properly. The MK is half an inch taller than the Coach - you can really see the difference in the picture; and of course, being a double-zip, the Coach is wider than the MK, but surprisingly, only by a quarter of an inch. (Per their respective websites).

Interior - the MK opens up into one main compartment that has (from left to right) an almost hidden interior pocket, a large compartment, cell phone pocket, large compartment, then 3 credit card slots along the side. The Coach has 2 separate compartments - the left one has 4 credit card slots and an ID pocket, a back pocket behind the cards you can slip bills into, and the opposite side has the cell phone pocket; the right compartment has an almost hidden interior pocket, a large compartment, and a zip coin pocket. I believe the newer MK wallets now have a zip coin pocket next to the cell phone pocket.

Cell phone pocket - probably the biggest feature of both wallets is that it can hold a cell phone, for iPhone, Samsung and Blackberry. I own a BlackBerry Q10 and can confirm that it does fit in both wallets as long as  it is without a phone case. I choose not to use this feature because for work, I have to always be near my phone. This leaves me with an extra large compartment where I put my receipts and other miscellaneous items.

Extra details - the MK has beautiful gold tone hardware and there are little MK details throughout the wallet, such as the name etched on the clasp of the wrist strap and zipper, and also embossed on the interior wall. The hidden interior compartment is also lined in its monogram. The Coach also has gold tone hardware and like the MK, has Coach details throughout the wallet, including 'Coach' etched ever so tiny, onto the clasp. The zipper of the coin pocket snaps tight against the zipper when closed so it doesn't catch onto the zipper of the wallet when it is being opened or closed (I really appreciate this detail because there are a lot of wallets where the tab always gets in the way). Of course, it also includes their hang-tag, synonymous with their brand. 

Durability - When I first received the MK wallet, I used it non-stop for over 3 months. I recently took her out again and except for a few scratches on the plate, she looks brand new. Saffiano leather is known to be super durable so I have no worries about her getting scratched. I have only started using the Coach (about a week now) but can tell that it will be another one that will hold up well for many years. The cross-grain leather makes it very sturdy and almost feels bullet proof. 

Open and close - the zipper on the Coach was a bit iffy when zipping around the corners when I first got her but after some use, it's now starting to get smoother. The zipper on the MK was smooth from the start.

I am someone that carries a lot of cards with them and as much as I try to downsize, it's difficult - both these wallets have a lot of space for cards, despite both having very little designated slots. I also need to keep my receipts for work and sometimes it may take months before I remove them from my wallet - I like the open compartments for this a lot. I rarely carry cash, and therefore do not have a lot of change so my MK version not having one does not affect me greatly, although I appreciate it in the Coach. 

Both of these wallet fit my lifestyle really well - I could never carry a mini wallet regularly, but sometimes like to carry something smaller than a full-length wallet; these medium sized wallets are great because they fit into a majority of my smaller bags with ease. I like that both have the detachable wrist strap which lets me use it as a small clutch of some sort, or hang it from my arms if I need to be hands-free while running an errand.

While I use both as an every day wallet, I prefer the MK on a regular basis because I can access all my things by opening one compartment. The Coach is great but because I can't squeeze all my loyalty cards into the same section as my credit/debit card, I sometimes end up having to open both compartments, which takes more time and maneuvering. That said, when I go on vacation, I carry as little as possible. This is where the Coach has more points  - when I'm on vacation, I carry cash so I can keep my bills, receipts, and coins in the right compartment, and use that side regularly; this allows me to store my cell phone (which I don't need as much), along with important cards I don't use often (including my credit/debit cards), in the left compartment, secured and on my person at all times. 

The Coach does have one thing I wish the MK had, and that is the exterior pocket. 

I hope these pictures, and thoughts on how these wallets work for me, can help someone out! Feel free to ask me any questions or ask for more pictures!

The sentimental box

Lately I've been reading a number of organizing articles and of course, hooked on youtube videos discussing the KonMari method. I don't recall where I heard this from, but someone had shared that they keep a box separately for sentimental wardrobe items. 

As many have suggested, keeping seasonal items completely separate and packed up when it's not the right season is a great way to keep focused on what you need instead of getting distracted by your gazillion winter scarves in the middle of summer, no matter how unlikely you will reach for them. It's just one more less thing to process and dismiss. 

Similarly, I had a few items in my wardrobe that I no longer wear but hold great sentimental value - my dad's vintage hoodies (still in amazing condition, and I was wearing them well into my young adult years), my university logo-ed sweatpants, or the shirt I was wearing when I first met my husband (the Batman Tshirt really caught his eye haha).  When they were mixed in with my regular wardrobe, I would sometimes think about wearing them and then debate over it (despite knowing I won't), thus wasting my time and brain power - now, they are tucked away in the top shelf of my closet in a cute box and it makes me smile to know they are there, but also keeps me from even thinking twice about them when putting together an outfit. Less is more. 

Make sure to keep the box small and manageable, or there really is no point. And here, is where I found the KonMari folding methods to be excellent to fit all the items. 

Do any of you have a sentimental box? What's in it? 

We're halfway through 2015 - let's re-cap!

We're starting the third quarter now, and halfway through the year! How am I doing with this year's goals? Let's take a look!

My goals for 2015 are to:

• continue to downsize the number of shoes I have - I purged a lot this year but there are still some that I can let go of. Also, I won't be replacing a number of them when they wear through. Since my purchases in the first quarter I added my first pair of Converse to my collection. 
  
• continue to work on using the things I love and not worry about them getting ruined. This is still going well, especially in the shoes department!
• build a capsule wardrobe for each month - unlike some capsule wardrobe challenges, I'm not limiting the number of items I will use but I will make sure the amount is reasonable. In the second quarter, I attempted a color capsule instead and it's a lot easier! The hot weather did put a minor wrench in it as I wasn't prepared for such heat, so I did have to ditch my designated monthly color a bit and mix it up so I could wear lighter material items.
• continue to shop out of my bag and wallet collection and implement a one-in, one-out rule.  I still have not bought a single bag or wallet so far =) To-date, I've let go of 1 card case.
• rotate through all my wallets throughout the year. Through my wallet rotations, I'm on my 5th wallet this year; second key holder (using a Coach skinny now); and have used 35 different bags at least once.
• use jewelry more to accessorize my daily outfits. Getting better at this =) I've been pretty consistent since the first quarter and even purchased 2 new bracelets to add to the mix. 
• continue to purge, re-fine, and down-size my wardrobe. Continuing!
• budget $1,000 for wardrobe purchases (not including investment pieces that may replace current wardrobe staples). After 2 quarters, I am currently only $5 over my yearly budget.
• downsize the number of jackets and coats. Surprisingly, by time we finished the second quarter, I had managed to let go of 3 jackets/coats in total. I'm still at 15 jackets/coats, but pleased to see I'm getting closer to my goal of owning only 10.
• use the bags I weren't able to use in 2014 - if I don't use them again in 2015, consider letting them go. So far I've used 2 that I didn't use last year and have 30 left to go; fun fact: of that, there are 6 bags I didn't use in 2014 either.  
• have some purchase-free months. So far only March has been purchase-free.

June color capsule summary and showcase!

So, early into June, N and I decided that we had to stray from our color capsule plan - we had originally thrown in different shades of blue into the mix. The reasons being (1) since neither of us planned to do capsule wardrobes this year, we didn't account for materials in the hot season - what we owned in our chosen colors were just too hot for us; and (2) summer is for COLOR!

Here are my outfits - 

I've highlighted my favourite outfits

Here are N's oufits - 

Love her red and blue blazers! so sharp looking! A brighter blazer for spring and summer is on my radar as a future purchase, or a cream/ivory vest.

So far through my capsule experiences, and in general, I have learned that:

• I need more blouses - I am always at a loss for what to wear on top when I'm not wearing a dress and it's maddening in the mornings. I just need a few more in some basic colors and make sure they are lightweight so they can serve dual purpose in the warmer weather, and also as layering pieces when it gets colder.
• I may need to re-organize my closet, or considering storing my seasonal items completely away - people were right when they said even though you know you won't use an item, just having it in view, is distracting.
• I like longer blazers - the ones I have now are fine, but I will be on the look-out for longer ones when my current ones need replacing, or exercise the one-in-one-out rule.
• The mint green blouse I bought this month from Banana has become a fast favourite! And the light colored blazer I was having difficulties wearing in previous years is now easier to wear and getting lots of use. (Just have to figure out the gray pinstripe blazer now... any ideas? =S)