Gap army jacket (similar) & sweater, thrifted skirt, Hue tights, Revlon “Vixen” nail polish, DIY clutch
Adrienne Vittadini ankle boots (similar – plus Nordies’ shoe sale has begun! lots of small sizes)
70hr work weeks and snowy terrain has left me with no new photos, but here’s an old outfit that I wore to a friend’s engagement party. I wanted something comfy and casual, but still chic enough for the night out. Basic black served as the base, the tweed skirt added texture, and a pop of leopard print finished off the outfit.
I first saw a leopard foldover clutch on Wendy’s blog and fell in love. It was sold out, so I decided to try my hand at DIY. I’m sure the quality of mine doesn’t come close to a professional one, but it satisfies my craving for now : )
PS – Going to try and answer all your pre-owned Coach bag questions in a post this weekend. Please stay tuned!
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Anon @3:24 – Thank you for your comment, please understand that I moderated it as there isn't a factual basis for some things mentioned, and they could be misconstrued. I appreciate everyone's opinions and closed comments so we can move forward from this.
Hi there – Nick is 5'9" and there definitely is not a focus on apparel for shorter men like there are for women. The only suggest I have is to shop online for the best variety of lengths (also, theory makes some great "short" sized suits), and to get dress shirts tailored so the sleeve cuffs are shortened, or to just get custom dress shirts made because the aforementioned alteration costs can be steep. Good luck to helping him shop!
Hi Jean,
Can I ask how tall Nick is (hope that's not too creepy)? I ask because my boyfriend is 5'6 and it can be a headache shopping for him–I told him about your blog and he joked that he should also become a member of the petite blogging community. I'd love to know about shopping resources for shorter guys if you or anyone else knows about them!
On another note, I think that you're incredibly impressive and professional as a blogger– you provide detailed reviews, have an impeccable understanding of products and fit, are great at communicating with your readers respectfully, and never just accept sponsorships for the sake of them– you even give feedback to the companies about how to improve their products. The way you've handled recent events has also been in the same professional way. That's a major reason why I (and many of your readers) read your blog, and I hope the other blogger comes to see that that kind of professionalism and integrity is something that simply can't be copied. So please don't let any recent negativity and ugliness diminish something that you enjoy and are very, very good at, and please take care of yourself first and foremost.
Wow you must have had a tough week – thank you for taking the time to write a post even though you've been so busy! I found your blog on a list of fashion blogs for short women (I'm 160cm myself), and I'm your new follower!
Your outfit looks stunning, I love the jacket!
xxx
E from Helsinki
http://dragonflyelisabeth.blogspot.fi/
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
1st anon
There's a clear line between inspiration and plagiarism. I have been a long time reader of both blogs (still am) and couldn't help to notice the similarity between both blogs. At first I thought it was just me.. but there were just too many similarities between the blogs that left me w/ questions in my head. It is not a crime to purchase the same shirt as another blogger or style it the same way but at least give credit when credit is needed. Do you ever expect to turn in a writing assignment w/o proper citation and expect to get away from it? Probably not. Its the same concept.
For the past 3+ years, this classy young lady has been extremely quiet about these repeat offensives and never made any comments via her blog/twitter regarding it.. and now that she is finally voicing her thoughts there are people calling her out and perceiving it as bullying and harassment? This is really sad.
Hi Ana,
Well said. I took a moment and visited your blog! 🙂
People are free to follow whatever blogs they want. Perhaps instead of focusing on the other blogs followers/supporters and name calling we should follow Jeans example. Contact retailers and voice concerns, if you currently follow the other blog unfollow and in a grownup polite manner, spread awareness of the situation. Bullying is not an acceptable way to deal with a bully. Be better and smarter and act with integrity, as Jean has and has asked her supporters to do.
I decided not to log out and post as "anonymous" because this is something that has been whispered and hushed about for far too long. I understand the newbie mistakes that bloggers make, because I was there just a brief year ago. I figured no one would really be reading my blog other than my mom so who cared if I styled my scarves the same or labeled a post the same as another blogger. My mom would only think I was witty.
Well, the more you delve into the blogging community, the more you realize that most bloggers are really cool and often willing to help those who are just getting started. Some of us can admit we messed up and learn not to continue the bad behavior. This other blogger not only doesn't understand that she is in the wrong, she flat out continues and does everything in her power to scrub the internet clean. She heavily moderates comments that are anything short of "You are brilliant!" and blocks anyone who would even suggest a similarity to another blogger. Filtering your own page and social media is one thing. Asking others to delete any criticism is on the opposite end of that spectrum.
At this point, she is copying not only Jean and Cee, but other bloggers as well and enough is enough. My parents always taught me to do the right thing even when it's a hard or tough move. Fortunately, my blog isn't very big at all and my mom is still the only one who reads it on a regular basis. I don't make my living from it, nor do I aspire to in the future-especially since I am middle aged and I like my work. I just don't want to be another anonymous poster. I am willing to publicly stand up and say that if you are one of those "nice" people who encourage the other blogger's behavior because you think you are being neutral, you aren't. You are contributing to her mean girl mentality and as the "mom" of a teenager and a pre-teen, I can't sit by and say nothing. My husband and I try to teach our kids that sitting quietly in the background is just as wrong and just as encouraging to bullies. So I am saying it here, too: cyberstalking, plagiarizing and lying to achieve success with readers and sponsors is NOT OKAY and it is absolutely a form of bullying. Jean isn't the one doing any of that behavior and she rarely speaks up about it. She is not only entitled to speak up about the way that she has been terrorized by this blogger, but because she IS so successful, she almost has a responsibility to do so. And I agree that she shouldn't be held responsible for what other bloggers (such as myself) post of their own free will.
Love the clutch, Jean. It looks flawless! You must show us how you did it : )
I like this suggestion. It's a good way of showing us how you travel daily even if you don't think it looks nice.
Jean has already shown a 3 year track record of EXTREME leniency and respect. Everyone is entitled to express their own opinion, and others are free to disagree, but it's illogical to criticize Jean or imply she's responsible for encouraging the actions of other.
I think we'd all agree that Romney/Obama are not responsible for any of the things their "fans" did or said on their behalf. Same is true on the blogging scale.
I think it's responsible consumerism by contacting a company and letting them know you will boycott them if they support a practice (ex: plagiarism, animal testing, etc.) you don't agree with. This is feedback to the company, not bullying.
Also, @Anonymous just above Jean:
Don't blame Jean for starting an Internet feud. If anyone is to blame, I'm the one who first tweeted the link "showing the other blogger in a negative light." You see this as bullying; I see it as supporting a friend and bringing awareness to cyberstalking. When the other blogger heavily moderates comments and portrays herself to the public in the best light possible, anyone who says anything negative (even if it's the truth) will look like a bully. The only way I could speak up without being moderated was through my own Twitter account.
I believe everyone should be held accountable for their actions (large reader base or not). It's only fair that you hold the other blogger to the same standard. Playing victim publicly through her blog, demanding Jean delete tweets when she was only stating the truth and defending herself, etc.
@Anonymous just above Jean
I understand where you're coming from. I just wanted to say that I think your posting that opinion on Jean's blog was unfair. Like you said yourself, Jean isn't responsible for these acts that some perceive as bullying another blogger. And you make a case about how "extensive" this perceived bullying is. So don't you think you should have allowed Jean the same courtesy you suggested by contacting her privately? After all, "all these fighting publicly do leave a bitter taste. In the end, it solves nothing."
To the demanding Anonymous reader above, why not take the outfits that you like from Jean's post and just add rain boots to them? Easy solution that can be applied to the real world.
You are right in that these are downsides of speaking up, and it was irresponsible of me to not consider these effects. I regret if anyone has been harassed by any readers fueled by things I said. I was fed up with the deceit and also my own inability to resolve it privately, and unfortunatley let that get the best of me. I hope anyone who has opinions on this can express them in a respectful manner and leave those alone who wish to be. It's hard to bring a controversial issue like this to light without rammifications, but the extent of what you describe is the furthest from what I'd wish upon anyone. I've started reaching out to anyone I saw crossing the line, and hope they can also understand that doing so doesn't accomplish anything. Thank you for being a loyal reader and for sharing your opinion on something I regret not recognizing myself.
Jean, I love the clutch. Do you mind if I ask where did you get the fabric.
Jean: It's okay to speak out. Everyone is entitled to express opinions. If the issues are indeed as extensive as you have outlined above, the situation is best being resolved privately. I don't know if there is any copyright law that you can check into, but if it's that serious, it's worth checking into any options out there to address this, right?
The downside of speaking out publicly on twitter or other social media is because of your reader base (which you have some loyal readers including myself), you can be perceived as the "leader" of bullying another blogger. Have you read the crazy twitter feud on this? Some of your readers are fighting with others and calling the blogger names like "pyscho" and "sociopath". Some are even twitting known retailers like Banana Republic that they will boycott their products if they support the other blogger. Some are attacking bloggers or readers who interact with this blogger. There are other petite bloggers (many are known friends of yours in this blogging community) RT the twitter page someone put up with the sole purpose of showing the other blogger in a negative light. If this is not bullying, I don't know what it is. I know you cannot control what others do or say, but starting an internet feud will not resolve the issue. All these fighting publicly do leave a bitter taste. In the end, it solves nothing.
Great look! <3
xoxo,Xeana
Please, check out my blog! Giveaway necklace!!!
I'm trying to find the follow button but have a hard time finding it! I kinda feel stupid :P.
Small victory I just found the bloglovin button so I follow you there but since I know myself (and I'm not really the bloglovin kinda person but prefer GFC and was wondering if you have that too! I love your outfits. I'm a huge fan of Wendy and when she pointed out this way I was sold! 😉
I understand, Jean. I want you to know that I admire how you've handled the whole situation. I'm glad it has not deterred you from blogging cause we would surely miss it. Thanks for all the great ideas, inspirations, detailed reviews, and sharing glimpses of your life these past four years. 🙂