workworkworkwork

 Dress: local boutique / Sweater: Zara / Scarf: homemade by mi madre / Tights: H&M / Boots: local boutique / Socks: Target / Glasses: Coach
  







 Grad school has truly and completely eaten my life. I haven't been able to post in forever (obviously) and am incredibly behind on seeing what you other lovely ladies are up to....I miss it!

I'll do my best to be back here as much as I can, but oh my goodness, I don't even know what free time is any more! Can't complain, though, I am so happy to be doing what I love and learning so much along the way.

Hope you're all doing well, and having a good start to your week!

One Down, One to Go!

Dress: Urban Outfitters / Purple cardigan: Target (similar: $, if only -->$$$) / Faux leather jacket: Zara (similar: $, $$, $$) / Floral carf: Forever 21 (gorgeous one from Coldwater Creek, of all places!) / Chevron tights: Target (similar) / Boots: DSW (similar)

 

Whew! One midterm down, one to go. Upon finishing my midterm, I went to the library and photocopied readings hurried straight home and took some outfit photos. I really like keeping up with this blog and the blogging community and have missed it this past week! Its good to be able to say hi again. :)

In addition to my midterm, this past week I:
-threw a surprise birthday party for the Boyfriend, which featured friends driving
up from New York, and even flying in from Portland and Chicago!
-had an amazing time hanging out with friends from college
-made best friends with/dog-sat this little guy:

Hope you've all had a lovely week! Does it feel like fall yet, where you are?

Take a Breath

Oh. my. goodness. I am so busy. I knew grad school was going to be tough, but dang, I am working a ton! I'm not complaining though; I'm doing what I love and I couldn't be happier with my classes and classmates. It just means I am a million years behind on following blogs, and posting might be a bit sparse around these parts for a week or two....at least until midterms are over....

 Top: Forever 21 / Tank: Goodwill / Shorts: Gap / Shoes: Crocs / Bag: Jason Wu for Target / Sunglasses: Target

   

Also, this is likely my last post in shorts for another 6 months. :) The leaves are staring to turn (I'll have to post some pictures of them next time around; its getting gorgeous over here), the wind is starting to crisp up, and that smell of Fall is in the air. Break out the scarves and boots!

And it seems like I'm really getting into this beige-top dark-bottoms thing lately...clearly I have to start digging through another part of my closet...

Thank You, Internet

 Top: Gap / Sweater: LOFT (Buy here, currently 50% off, for $22.50! Small sizes unfortunately sold out, though) / Pants: LOFT  buy here, $59.50) / Flats: Target (similar with cap-toe, here for $19.99) / Necklace: bought in Italy / Glasses: Coach

 

I wanted to say a quick "thank you" to the internet today, and primarily to the style blogging community out there.

Overall, I have been AMAZED at the kindness, love, and support that flows through the style blogosphere; I have met some truly lovely women whom I greatly admire, and I completely enjoy making those connections. We all know that the internet (and, obviously the world), is full of not-so-nice people, but what this community has taught me is that it is even more full of kind, creative, and loving people, from whom I draw endless inspiration and support.

So, that's all to say a great big "thank you" to those of you who follow, comment, or just stop by for .01 seconds, and to those of you who put yourselves out there on your blogs every day and face the big scary Internet with humor and grace. You all inspire me to do it, too.

Hope your week is going well, and thanks, as always, for stopping by. :)

Right Around the Corner

 Top: Gap (similar, similar) / Sweater: Forever 21 (similar, similar) / Jeans: Gap 1969 Always Skinny, size 00 (same) / Shoes: Target (similar) / Necklace: from Italy / Bracelet: vintage, inherited from my Nana / Bag: from Unique LA  

Today was my favorite day (weather-wise) that I've had in New England as of yet. In the morning it was all blustery winds and bright blue skies, fading in the afternoon to a perfect 75 degrees with a light breeze and warm sunshine. It was the best combination of fall-is-just-around-the-corner and I-don't-want-to-leave-summer-quite-yet. I spent a good chunk of my downtime today (all of it, really) sitting in the sunshine and reading The Sun Also Rises.

Perfect weather, really, for what I was doing the rest of the day, which was Orientation! My program starts classes next week, so this week it's all meeting advisers, signing up for classes, figuring out study cards, and meeting new people. I am so excited to be back in school again, and cannot wait for it to start! Before classes, however, I've got to tackle a big move this weekend into my new/permanent apartment, though it can't be as bad as the Bigger Move across the country, right? :)

In the meantime, I'm going to go enjoy a bit more of this late-summer sunshine. I think I need to store up on it in order to have any chance at getting through my first New England winter.

Hope you are all having a great week!

Polka Dots and Review of Crocs Adrina Flat

Top: PacSun (similar, similar) / Tank: Target / Shorts: Urban Outfitters (similar) / Shoes: Crocs Adrina flat ($40, buy here) / Bag: from Unique LA / Necklace: from a farmer's market (same, from Modcloth)

 

I was heading outside today to take my photos when I realized that the light in the staircase was awesome...so I never made it out and took photos here instead. Also, I clearly need to take more pictures in stairwells, if this is how tall it makes me look! Fellow petite ladies, are you with me? :)

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As for the shoes:
These are the flats I decided to keep, after pondering whether or not I could bear to be the owner of a pair of Crocs. Verdict is, these are not your typical Crocs! They have a sleek low profile, a whimsical cut-out dot design, and come in a few great colors like this awesome aqua/celery combination. And, most importantly, OH MY GOODNESS THEY ARE SO COMFORTABLE. In that respect, these ARE your average Crocs. I have worn these trekking across Boston, playing tour-guide to visiting friends (which is a strange thing to do when you're new to the city yourself), moving boxes and suitcases, and generally running about town, and my feet have never once felt sore.

I will say I got two small blisters on my pinkies the first few times wearing them, but now that they're a bit broken in, I'm having no trouble. I realized early on that they don't exactly match with everything, but then decided just as quickly that I just didn't care. Aqua-and-celery shoes every day? Why not?

I bought a size 7 from Zappos and am usually a 7 or 7 1/2. These shoes, I think, run a teensy bit large as there is a bit of wiggle-room for me. So, if you're between sizes, I'd recommend going with the lower of your sizes. Right now they're $40.00 at Zappos.

So, I hereby promise to stop hating on Crocs. :) Has anyone else put aside their stereotypes to try a new brand?

Hope you all had a great week!

Lapis Lazuli (and a Hello from the Boyfriend)

Dress: Anthropologie (with alterations. similar, similar) / Belt: Madewell (similar) / Wedges: Target / Bag: Jason Wu for Target / Sunglasses: Target / Bracelets: Gift / Necklace: bought in Italy

 

I had an interview of sorts today (I say of sorts because it was pretty informal) for a job I'm hoping to get on campus. Essentially, the job's primary duty is serving alcohol to (of age!) undergrads. Or, to put it more seriously, standing between undergrads and their alcohol. This actually sounds like tons of fun to me. I thought on-campus bartending might be a good way to meet people from other departments, learn a new skill, have a good time, and of course make a little cash.

I mention this because the Boyfriend and I were in a bit of a debate over what I should wear to said interview. He was advocating a much more business-y look (black pencil skirt & button-down, pumps), while I thought this shirtdress (with a more professional leather bag) was appropriate for a casual job in the middle of the world's hottest summer. In the end, he deemed this look appropriate. This was aided by the fact that I'm currently living out of a suitcase and these wedges were the only pair of heels I had access to...kind of put a limit on what I could wear.

So, what do you think? Casual job (I was more dressed up than the interviewer, which I think is always a good sign), hot summer...what to wear?

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[Boyfriend edit: I requested the right to defend myself in court, and permission was granted... so hello! I am the boyfriend. My experience with clothes is, shall we say, binary. You are either dressed up (for men: collared shirt tucked into slacks and fancy shoes) or not (T-shirt, jeans). I learned this growing up in a small California town, but now that I am living in Boston I suppose these shades of grey are what I will need to learn. Luckily, Miss Petite on a Penny steadfastly ignored my "but, um, black pencil skirt and white blouse" plea, and put on something fun and vibrant. 

Now, all of that being said, I have a hard time gauging how far to dress up and when. So if the boyfriend is allowed to pose a follow-up question to the court: what factors and thought process determine how "dressed up" you get?]

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Edit to add: I must have done something right, because I got the job! :D

Petite Fashion Challenge #18: Date Night

This month's challenge is hosted by Amber at Easy Petite Looks. She challenged us to put together an outfit for a date night or a girls' night out.

Allow me to apologize for the horrible indoor photos! I left this challenge to the last minute and it was raining by the time I got around to taking the pictures.

Here is my date night outfit. It's been so horribly hot in Boston I couldn't wrap my head around anything more than a sheer, flowy mini dress and some comfy wedges. Anything more, and I was probably going to melt. Also, this whole outfit cost me somewhere under $60! (I can't remember how much the purse was...I know it was cheap...but the dress was $12 and the shoes were $24.99.)

Dress: Ross ($12.00) / Shoes: Target ($24.99) / Necklace: gift / Bag: honestly no idea.... :)

Please go on and check out the other entries (with undoubtedly better pictures!) over at Easy Petite Looks.

Review: H&M Shirtdress (and a bit of photo-phobia)

Dress and Belt: H&M (Size 4, $34.95) / Bag: Jason Wu for Target / Sandals: from my sister, bought in Dubai / Necklace: hand-me-down from my mother / Bracelets: bought in England

 

A few hours ago, I was all about this shirtdress! Almost half of the reason I bought it was for the belt, which struck me as endlessly pair-able (no holes, totally adjustable, great color). Then, I put on the dress today, and...the belt broke. Damn it, H&M! I know we're not talking the greatest quality here, but breaking on my first wear? Given my sample size of 1, this may not be an issue with the belt's construction as a whole and might just be that I got a dud. I'll probably make my way back to the store and try to exchange it...

Other than that, the dress is great! It runs small (I got a size 4 and usually wear a 0 or 00 in most stores and a 2 at H&M), and it's floaty and feminine and perfect for summer. It is, however, a bit sheer (I'm wearing an extra slip underneath, in addition to the attached lining), so I wouldn't buy unless you have a slip handy, or can rock that sheer look in a way I can't.

If you're interested, here's the product #:

 

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In other news, I'm becoming increasingly self-conscious about taking photos! I've been shooting in a little alley next to my summer sublet, looking about furtively each time I walk there with my camera and snapping pictures as quickly as possible, terrified that someone will walk by. I have no idea what I'd say if they did, though I've invented a few fanciful stories in my head about photography class self-portrait assignments that seem to ease the fear. :)

So, anyone have any tips on overcoming photo-phobia? Does this unfounded fear get to anyone else, too?