Items shown in video:
1. Gap tie-neck blouse in XSP (petites sold out online, check in-store for regular sizes, on sale)
2. Gap dropped-shoulder sweater in sulphur in XS
3. H&M; Divided faux-fur vest sz 2, $29.95
4. H&M; wool-blend mini sz 2, $24.95
5. Ann Taylor glazed lace pencil skirt in 00P (yes, I caved during the last sale)
Are you sick of seeing this blouse yet? I wore it 2x last week – to work and also to the ice cream festival. Remember these bunchy $11 H&M; pants? I think they look better for casual slummin’ w/ the hem rolled up.
2. Ann Taylor Melded Shell Print Dress sz 00P. This dress fit me nicely throughout and I like the elegant boat neckline. However, it is not worth the price, even when discounted at 40% off. It’s a stretchy knit tee dress that I’d expect to be $30 at H&M.; See also on Ping.
U are absolutely gorgeous!!!!
I am petite like you and I also have a styling blog as well…keep up the good work
Hi Jean i've been reading your blog for quite sometime now….and i love it ….i love the way you dress and give some tips about fashion. I'm reading your blog everyday. Hope you'll continue doing this. take care.
Sonia from Netherlands
Hi there! I've been reading your blog for quite some time now, but I think i've only commented once. I love your style and fashion choices. I'm 19, 5'3" and 90lbs, I live in Australia and recently I managed to score two Ann Taylor pieces in 00P from Ebay, including the glazed skirt. The skirt is lovely and fits decently, but my body figure is straight and because of this I feel like the skirt makes me look a bit too old-fashioned. Could you suggest any ways to look more youthful wearing the skirt?
I got the exact same mustard pants in size 4. Thank God they're cropped and fits me (5'3") just right. I also love Gap, Ann Taylor and Loft for their petite sizing. I'm in-between petite and regular size and like you, it's difficult to find clothes that fit and flatter. Thanks for sharing!
I bought the H+M wool blend skirt this weekend too haha. Looking forward to your pairing on it:) Great blog btw.
How do you not sweat/stink in polyester clothing?
I love your blog despite the fact that I am far from petite (I'm over six feet tall) really enjoy your styling tips as well as these great vids!
-Nico
can you do a blog about wearing tights for work with the upcoming fall/winter seasons coming up? it would be much appreciated!
jean– that blouse blouse from asos is really cute on you. is that a keeper?
i like the h&m; faux fur vest. i wished it was a tad longer in the back.
saw the fur scarf at h&m; and i am going to go back and get it today! never thought i was a fur person, but it does look cute and luxe 🙂 also i got some great deals at Gap this weekend too – thanks for the heads up on deals!
Jean, I read your post about the mustard pants and noticed the price said $29.95 (before coupon). I just bought some strikingly similar pants from h&m; in a navy blue color. The pants also came in tan, gray, and black, however they were only $14.95! They fit perfectly. They are fitted, yet also breathable and a perfect length. I am 5'3" and 102 lbs, so I'm not sure if these will fit you, as the size 2 fit me perfectly. Just thought you or anyone else might benefit from the heads up!
Hi Jean, I honestly think the last dress looks fab on you!
I love the dress on you, but I was surprised when I first saw it in the store and saw the fabric!
Hi Jean, thumbs up for the tie-neck shirt. Initially I was not too sure whether or not to buy it but I did and I love it. The best part was the price less that $5 for this lovely blouse (using a BR $10 rewards card)
Also reminded me of this blouse from TB and the cute video:
http://www.toryburch.com/blog-post/blog-post,default,pg.html?bpurl=/editorial/how-to-tie-the-bow-blouse/
@Kaelin So glad you found it! It's pretty much gone online but yesterday I also saw quite a few in-store.
@Anonymous It's really personal preference, but I didn't want any logo print on my purse so my choice was between damier azur and damier ebene, not monogram. I like both, but already have lots of black bags so I went with the lighter one. Good luck making your decision!
@Anonymous Nick is half Filipino : )
@Shannon leigh Hi Shannon! Sorry for missing your question. I would say these skirts are definitely not appropriate even in business casual. Maybe in fashion or a trendier job. I do agree opaque tights brings down the short skirt factor by a lot, but I still err on the side of caution with skirt length at work. My shortest pencil skirt is 18" (and last week a coworker commented that it was short), and the H&M; wool skirt measures just 14."
@Anonymous I got it at a local gift shop that went out of business, but Kelly posted here about hers which is available online: http://www.alterationsneeded.com/2011/01/petite-dress-form.html It's hard to find an affordable one, though!
@Annapurna Yes that BR dress was such a disappointment…mostly when I tried to take it off and got completely stuck at the shoulders. Your sunny lady day sounds beautiful, esp for dismal winters. And that is so strange about the Youtube commercial – I wish I could find/see this! Let me know if you see it again and have a link!
@Anh Anh I'll keep my eyes peeled!
@Anonymous Thanks for saying hello, and have a wonderful time traveling! I'm going back in a few months and can't wait for all the good food. I've gotten a few comments/general observations about how petite bloggers don't give the Limited or WHBM love. Mostly I think it's because those stores don't offer shorter lengths. For that reason, I can see why they're perfect for someone who is taller but still narrow (fits the 00 sizing), but for me, I find the same styles at Ann Taylor but in an overall smaller/shorter cut.
Hi Jean,
I am new to your blog (since last week) but I have been checking it everyday since then! Unfortunately I will be going back to Hong Kong/Singapore for a visit for 2 weeks in Oct so I will be missing this blog! I love everything that you wrote and showed here. I know you spend most of your fashion money buying professional attire, same here. I work in an Engineering environment (though I am not an Engineer) so buying work clothes and wear them causally seems like a smarter idea. I am very fortunate that most of my tops don't need alternations (I am also Cantonese 5"4' and about 100lbs, depending on the brands and items, I can wear regular/petite, 00P, 00, or 0, XXS to XS), but pants – for sure. My twin sister can buy me some clothes that are not so ill-fitting from Hong Kong so I am pretty lucky from this standpoint! I love the lace AT dress you showed in the video! I noticed most of the petite bloggers don't pay much attention to The Limited and WHBM…I think The Limited has some fabulous pieces and they have sales all the time. At least go shop for some accessories! (I just recently started investing in jewelry and belts). I don't like much color in my wardrobe so WHBM is a perfect place for me to shop! Their dresses and tops tend to run pretty small too.
Anyway it's very nice to meet you! Keep up the good work!
Hi Jean,
Great info as always.
Btw, I love your talbots necklace, can you let me know if you see if its on sale again? Thxs
Jean! Don't you wish that BR scoopneck green lace dress was made out of the Ann Taylor glazed lace fabric. I sure do! The $130 BR price for that dress would sure have made a lot more sense.
I am glad you sprung for the sulphur neon yellow sweater. I have a coat in the same hello-I-xeroxed-the-sun color (a jcrew lady day, scored on sale forridiculously low $) and I am cconstantly looking for ideas on how to accessorize with it. Have you tried that sulphur sweater with the orange $11 H&M; pants? After seeing those 2 items in the same post, I have started looking for orange accessories (sweaters, mittens) for my yellow coat.
On another note, I clicked on a random website yesterday (linked from a basketball website of all things) and saw a youtube commercial – and you and Nick were on it. Just a screenshot. Did you know about this?
Love the cropped pants you're wearing in the photos!
I'm looking for an affordable dress form, where did you get yours from?
In love with your blog! I am following you now! I am super petite as well, I'm four feet nine inches (i know its sad lol)
Lookin' good!! 😀
Just became a follower. love your ideas and hints. learning alot. thank you!
I love that tie blouse. It looks great and versatile. I look forward to your videos because they're so informative! Love 'em! 🙂
i <3 the shell print dress - very feminine but still "i mean business" professional look x
I actually think the ASOS chiffon top looks great on you!
hi, what is nick's nationality? sorry so random! hehe.
I love the printed dress on you! It's very sophisticated, but the price is a downside.
Hi Jean — great finds! I posted this question on a previous blog of yours, wanted to know if you thought that H&M; wool skirt or your DIY version were work appropriate for a business casual workplace (consulting, biz casual when at the home office). I was thinking it could be OK with opaque tights? What are you thoughts on heels though, pumps make them more inappropriate or not? Thanks!!
You're so good about returning things! Once I get something in my closet, it's so hard to give back to the store, even though I know it's not a MUST HAVE item. Obv. gotta be better about that. In my opinion, the blue top didn't look bad on you at all. Great color on you, too!
The Fashionable ESQ
I love the H&M; wool-blend mini, the material does make me a bit itchy but for $24.95 I am not complaining!
Just curious, when you purchased your LV Speedy 25, how did you decide between getting the damier azur canvas or the monogram canvas?
you have some really nice picks there….i like the tops that you got from the gap. too bad the AT melded shell print dress was a bit pricey cause it looked great on you.
after seeing your h&m; review, i went there and scored a couple of things. thanks!
I love the way you wore the $11 H&M; pants!
The Gap blouse looks 10x better on you than the model on their site. I wouldn't have wanted it after seeing it on the model.
can't wait to check the video>!
my blog-follow me♥mfashionfreak
I love how you're wearing the bowtie blouse everywhere! I've got to try mine with colors other than black. 🙂 Thanks for the inpsiration!
http://www.longliveclassy.blogspot.com
bowtie blouses are everywhere! i have to say the electric blue look gorg!
JEN
@_jkyw
Great review 🙂 Loving the gap tie neck blouse and I love the ASOS blouse – too bad about it being too tent like on you 🙂
i love watching your review! Love the tie-neck blouse you're wearing, the red-orange skirt and that yellow dolman sweater!
I scoured the racks of GAP yesterday so I could find that exquisite tie top. I first saw it here, and when I opened up my Allure and saw it there too I knew I just had to have it. You're feeding my obsession XD. I found it in the sale rack for $32.99.
@Pragmacat Haha oh those old things – "INC" low wedge sandals from Macy's, from back in the day when I thought I was a sz 6 shoe : )
@AubreyOhDang! I know, right? Two plain neutrals, and one super bright neon, talk about a range…
@R.L. Good eye! The video does show post-DIY slimming. I took the sleeve and torso in 1 inch on each side.
I don't know if it's just fall but I think things you feature on your blog tend to sell out quickly! The mustard pants indeed look even better rolled up. I love the gorgeous blue color of the Asos blouse on you but too bad on the generous cut. Is the blouse you're wearing in the video post DIY slimming?
I really wish the gap sweater came in more colors. not quite looking for a neon color, but the other colors are too boring. god, I'm picky. anyways, have u acquired any "fall" jewelry pieces or accessories you wanna share?
What are those awesomely cute sandals in the sunglasses photo? 🙂