Lei Ann...Off Duty

*black & blue*

as a kung fu instructor, i typically have bruises *somewhere* on my body at any given time…either from training with the students or admittedly self-inflicted with weapons work.  wearing black & blue today then would probably be a more *accurate* representation of my true personal style…bwahaha!

wearing: zac posen for target snaps dress || vintage brocade jacket via oona’s $5 bag sale || isabel toledo x payless mesh heels

on a final note about the past few days, those of us in boston have all been feeling a bit bruised.  the physical scars are evident for the bombing victims, but in some way or another, we all have the mental, psychological and emotional scars.  it still feels a bit frivolous to me to post my daily outfits & be happy about new shoes, but we also just have to get back to our normal routines, back to our regular way of life to see ourselves past these tragedies.  let the healing begin…  

*the neiman marcus spring trends 2013 fashion presentation*

my good photographer friend, smita, invited me to the neiman marcus boston presentation of spring fashion trends yesterday morning, hosted by anamaria pImental, nm accessories fashion director.  i was only there for a brief time, but got the whole spring story targeting the following upcoming trends :)

1. BLUE - one of the hit colors for the spring is blue…not just cobalt, but turquoise, navy…every hue :)  whether an entire outfit or a pop of the bright color, there are many ways to incorporate blue into your closet.  featured items…cobalt blue saint laurent purse, prada handbag & judith leiber prince william frog minauderie. 

2.  SHOES - pretty much anything goes here…platforms, pumps, flats, stilettos….studs, colorblocking…it’s all still relevant.  there’s also definitely a resurgent in the “gladiator” sandals from years past.  i think strappy shoes are always in style, so no need to call them gladiators specifically.  featured item…charlotte olympia kitty flats.

3.  ORANGE - another popular color for the spring…whether bold & citrusy or subtle & peachy.  orange is a hard color for me.  i can’t tell if it’s unflattering for my coloring or not.  however i’ll definitely have to try with it being so popular!  featured item…alexander mcqueen dress (similar)

4.  BAGS - bigger handbags seem to be making a comeback, also more multifunctional.  bags with both short handles & convertible longer straps to transition into shoulder or crossbody ease.  as a bonus, get one matching one of the color stories above & voilá…2 trends at once :) featured item…stella mccartney fringe tote bag.

5.  RELAXED CHIC - this i can actually get down with.  clothes that are more comfortable, but you don’t have to resort to yoga pants & hooded zipups.  flowy silk pants, a simple cardigan or vest over fit & flare dresses, unstructured jackets.  i’ve always been down for flared skirts, so glad the trend is catching up to me…hahaha!  also, i’m planning a DIY involving more the “sporty” side of relaxed chic…wait for it…wait for it ^_^

6.  PRINT ON PRINT - *very* glad to see this is still popular.  i’ve been a fan of print mixing from the start.  it can be challenging, but it’s fun!  if it seems too intimidating, think like the photo above, mix a print with texture instead & stick to a simple color scheme.

it was a really fun presentation & i was glad to see what’s hot & upcoming for spring. as a final note, how *CUTE* is my buddy, smita?  i like her photographer stance with heel down & toes up!  talk about having signature style!

*more summer stripes*

hahaha…wasn’t i just talking in my last post about starting in with the pre-fall fashion?  now, i’m back into full on nautical-like stripes & looking waaaaay too summery.  ah well, gotta use up all the warm weather clothes while i still can right?    plus, i had been wearing this very easy & very comfy t-shirt dress all season & only now have photographed it…it needs camera love :)

wearing: jason wu x target striped dress || michael kors men’s watch || ebay skeletal cameo pendant || isabel toledo for payless wedges

*the dark knight rises*

i am married to a comic book geek.  hence, purely by osmosis, that makes *me* a comic book geek.  yup, i know more about x-men characters & hellboy stories (which are amazing & have an eerie, soul-invading creepiness that will never be conveyed in the movies) than you would ever think by looking at me.  so OF COURSE, we went to see the dark knight rises on its opening day.  

i’ve had this caped blouse for months…languishing in the closet, waiting for juuuuuust the right moment to be worn.  hmmmm…i would say going to see a movie about the *caped crusader* is more than appropriate, wouldn’t you say?  hahaha!  no spoilers here…but i did like the third batman movie A LOT.  not a lot of loose ends that were left untied, didn’t-see-it-coming plot twists & of course plenty of action & fighting.  my favorite!!!  also for the record…i was not the only girl at the theater wearing a cape.  mine was more fashion…hers was straight out the costume aisle at the kid’s department ^_^

wearing:  blue caped blouse (platinum mall, bangkok) || black skinny jeans (c/o kmart) || the glamourai dharma neck plate || glass & wooden buddha bracelets (various locations) || T by alexander wang velvet/cotton bralette || jessica simpson black dany platforms

*bold geometrics black & grey*

wearing:  thrifted black/grey dress || mother of pearl & silvertone cuffs (random harvard square store…old) || melissa rubber egg wedges

i love florals…i love print mixing.  *however* i don’t mind sleek & uncomplicated with bold standout geometric designs every now & again. this dress was another successful goodwill find with its cute, subtly tapered bubble skirt.  

keeping things simple, yet still with sharp lines with these “wonder woman” type bracelets…hahaha! *clink*clink*  of course…it’s hard to go sans color completely, so thankful for my bright blue toes that can be seen a mile away (via beaucage spa & salon) ^_^

*resplendent in rose gold*

wearing:  hugo buscati white suit blazer || LF store oriental print camisole || forever 21 neon pink bra top || asos pink pleated wide leg pants

in attending the tiffany & co blogger event, i decided to go all out with the whole rose gold theme & put on practically every rose gold accessory i own…hahaha!  why not right?  my philosophy is come high or stay home.  when the director & host of tiffany & co actually complimented me on my rose gold necklace, well then, i knew i made the right decision :)

accessories:  michael kors watch || asos ring band || rose gold/CZ floral cocktail ring || target oval necklace || charlotte russe metallic heels

*feeling blue*

it’s as true today as it has always been.  i tend to fall into a mild clinical depression whenever i leave my family.  i get so happy being around my parents & brothers & other family members…then i come home to boston, fall into my usual routines & realize how much i feel alone.  i know i’m technically *not* with a husband & puppy that need constant attention, but you know what i mean right?

guess that’s why i pulled out this blue shirtdress that my mom gave to me during my visit.  she does that a lot.  i’ll catch her doing laundry or putting away things in her closet & she’ll want to give me something, even if i don’t particular need or want it.  she took this out & was like “here take this.  i have 2 others in different colors.”  often times, it’s easier to just take the clothing item than resist. however, with mother’s day just around the corner…i took it…gladly ^_^

wearing:  blue shirtdress (gift from mom) || simply vera leggings || asianicandy store blue/white porcelain necklaces || JC galaxy litas

*sandy pink & ocean blue*

wearing:  river island cape dress (via asos) || aldo silver chrome heels || white bead bracelet (baclaran market, manila) || ice.com rings

keeping it short & sweet as i’m still here in florida & having an awesome vaykay with my family!  also, continuing to recover from the wonderful time i had at my younger brother’s wedding.  unfortunately, it was rainy weather the day of the ceremony which was to take place on the beach, but the indoor event was nevertheless lovely & we were all still so very happy & had tons o’ fun :)

the resort they picked to have their reception at was gloriously ocean themed & i loved the decor that had everything from smooth stones to bubble fountains to sparkling shells…all in the muted blues of the ocean & sandy beiges of the beach.  glad i wore the appropriate dress to match the occasion ^_^

*blue pants for a gray day*

yeah, yeah, yeah…i know what you’re thinking.  well, you could be thinking one of two things.  i know, i know…there’s a lot of BLUE in this outfit.  maybe it photographs odd, but it looks great in person, really!  even a couple clients today agreed.  then, again, when i stab people in the neck & back, they tend to say nice things to me…hahaha!  i was happy to find this missoni for target sweater that A) was actually on the nearly empty racks, B) my size, C) in my favorite shades of blue & D) not the same black/brown/beige/peach/baby blue zig zag pattern i’ve seen ad nauseum around the city.  the pretty wavy navy/turquoise sleeves are really textured & of better quality than most of the rest of the target collab.  i never thought i’d end up getting a piece of this collection after the shitshow debacle that ensued when it debuted.

also, i’m sure you’re thinking “pants…pants?  i thought you hate pants.”  well, yes, i do hate pants, but even i had to jump on the colored pants bandwagon, back when i was obsessed with red pants long ago.  so, i had these blue pants made when i was in bangkok & i’m amazed they precisely match some of the blue interwoven in the front pattern of this sweater.  even as a self-professed pants hater, i still have to admit that i’m a new englander through & through & there are some rainy miserable days that you just can’t deal with putting on a dress & trying to look cute.  however, that doesn’t mean you can’t put in some effort, right?  even though it’s dreary out…why would i pair this sweater with some boring ol’ pair of black pants?  so, to heck with it, balls to the wall, let’s go for color! colored PANTS, i say!  

*so many sandwiches at SOWA open market*

finally, finally, FINALLY! an actual summer weekend where i’m not out of town or performing at some chinatown festival…hahaha! i’ve been wanting to hit up SOWA market for what has felt like eons. do i go there however for the little indie shops or vintage market? having this fashion blog…you think i would, but nooooooo. my only purpose was to do a food truck crawl with one of my best foodie buds who’s always willing to food adventure with me ^_^

we started off at the roxy’s grilled cheese truck. i remember going to these guys regularly back in march. i was even the mayor of their truck way back when. now they’re on the great food truck race & as evidenced by the long ass line today, i can’t even get near them anymore. they’re too cool for me now *sniff*sniff*. oh who am i kidding, those guys are still great to me! always loves me some grilled cheese sammich action from roxy’s!

my friend & i rounded out our shared meal with a grilled cheese/kim chi sandwich *and* the elvis (peanut butter, banana & fluff) from lefty’s cart & fish tacos from go fish. unfortunately, while eating our tacos, the skies opened up & it started raining HARD…like florida hard…where we had to go running for cover, just like in the movies! our poor little fish tacos drowned :( still, it was plenty to eat in one morning & we considered our crawl a success! next time, we’ll hit the other trucks we didn’t get to (and maybe also check the weather forecast)…hahaha!