What a week it has been and I’m finally able to take a deep breath and relax…temporarily.
My parents are furiously preparing for Chinese New Year and I’m caught in the middle. Cleaning the house, going to the bank for new bills, deciding which relatives to visit, buying snacks as gifts, and getting a new haircut. I’m exhausted just thinking about it, but it’s the first year in a long time that I get to partake in this tradition.
I’m flustered, but I’m excited.
With the weather warming up, I realize that I’ve been really overdressed and it’s way more casual here. So I’m packing away my “fancy” clothes in favor of jeans, casual blouses and flats.
Speaking of clothes, I’m almost through with my first month’s shopping ban. I didn’t purchase anything, but my mom and sis gifted me two items from Banana Republic partly out of guilt since they were stocking up on spring essentials. The items they picked are a departure from my usual selections but I needed something different anyways.
It’s very rare that you’ll find me in an all-black outfit since I think it washes me out. My black jeans have been worn so many times that they’re faded. To make matters worse, my mom put them in the dryer and ironed them so I have a center pleat down the leg. LOL. I’ll just have to re-dye it to give it that brand new look.
By the way, I’m wearing the LOFT necklace that Liane of Petite XXS sent as part of a Secret Santa present. Isn’t it lovely?
I recently replaced my Steve Madden red flats with these purple calf hair flats from Talbots. In size 5.5, they have a slightly rounded toe with a peek of toe cleavage.
They’re well-constructed and more comfortable than the Steve Maddens. One note of caution, the bottoms are really slick when you first get them, so scour the sole or add rubber traction grips before wearing so you don’t slip and slide.
Outfit Details: Derek Heart (TJ Maxx) top – S, Madewell jeans – 24, LOFT necklace, Talbots flats
Shop: top, jeans, flats
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I actually LOVE all-black outfits!! The flats and necklace are perfect
And I laughed at the pleated jeans – that’s what moms are for I guess!
I heart this outfit. Comfy, casual, and totally put together. I’m happy to finally get a glimpse of these Talbots flats. They are so cute on you. I’m pretty sure I’ll get my Chinese card revoked because I don’t even know when Chinese New Years is this year. D’oh! Super Bowl weekend?
I love seeing you in loose tops.
it must be fun to partake in all the Chinese New Year’s festivities. thank goodness my family doesn’t do much other than just have a dinner together though. i can imagine it being a little too much.
and the all black look actually really works for you! it really makes the necklace stand out. and it looks like you guys have some amazing weather out there right now! so jealous.
Have fun preparing for Chinese New Year! I never knew there was so much planning and activities involved!
The colored necklace looks fab against an all black palette!
Oh I love Chinese New Year! I like the all black outfit- I think it’s chic and always makes us look taller and slender
@Erin: I’m still getting used to wearing monotone colored outfits. I always thought that colors make you look better, but I’m embracing single color schemes.
@Cee: It’s taken me some time to actually get a decent photo of the flats since they turn out black most of the time. You still have your Chinese card, Chinese New Year starts on Feb. 3. =)
@Aubrey: Thanks for the compliment! I love wearing loose tops!
@Kileen: I have a big family on my mom’s side so we sometimes visit my mom’s cousins too in addition to my aunts and uncles. It’s exciting reuniting with all my relatives and seeing how we’ve changed throughout the years. We’re a big but tight-knit group so it’s never really awkward. Btw, the weather is pretty nice, but it’s chilly/foggy in the early mornings and late nights.
@AlterationsNeeded: I’m definitely trying to keep up with all the planning…it’s just little things we like to do to make it extra special since we don’t celebrate most other holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
@Really Petite: I’m still learning how to put together all black outfits that don’t feel like I’m going to funeral, but I think accessories make a huge difference.
I’m a sucker for toe cleavage! That’s so cute about your mom ironing your skinny jeans
It is sooo adorable that your mom ironed a center pleat down your jeans. The necklace is gorgeous against the black background! Happy early Chinese New Year!
you look too cute! love the shoes and necklace
Spending holidays with family is always wonderful, but can be stressful. I hope you have a wonderful time.
By the way, I love the all black!
Oh! I love this outfit!! I am not usually an all black fan, either, but this looks great!!
LOL! about your mom ironing your jeans!!
Good job Liane for picking out that necklace!! Gorgeous!!
@Callandra: I think a peek is fine, but too much and it’s not so pretty. lol.
@SewPetiteGal: The necklace is so pretty it needed to be showcased! =)
@Leena: Thanks, the accessories really pop in this outfit!
@Sydney: I agree, I’m hoping to have a fun holiday and enjoy all the little goodies.
@Michelle: Thanks for the compliment! Liane has such great taste! =)
Once when I was in high school my mom was sick for a week and was stuck in bed with the flu. My dad took over the laundry duty and he ironed my jeans and added a crease. I was mortified.
This is a cute outfit. I am on the fence about black jeans. I once owned a pair from Gap (circa 1994) that were more of a thin textured cotton rather than traditional denim. I wore them to death throughout college, but now whenever I try black jeans I feel like they look ‘wrong’.
This look reinspires me to try them, and I might go for the Gap kids Skinny jeans since I had good luck with them before.
You look very stylish and taller than some other pictures (as tall as one who is our height can look), which is impressive given that you are wearing flats. And I am jealous of your warm weather. I am getting frustrated with our weather, with every day below 30ºF and 6-8″ of snow falling at least once per week. I can’t leave the house without knee high boots and many layers of wool. It is making getting dressed each morning depressing.
With black jeans, I think it’s edgier than blue skinnies since everyone wears blue jeans nowadays. Just something different. As for looking tall in photos, I think it’s the camera angles. Most of the time, I set my tripod at waist level so maybe that helps make me look taller? The weather is fairly nice but we do have fog in the early morning and at night.
your pictures look great as always!
and I adore your flats , they’re so cute x
The weather looks amazing! I’m so jealous
Have fun preparing for the new year! It’s so exciting 
xx The Little Dust Princess
@Annie: Thanks! I’m still working on improving my photo-taking abilities but I’m getting the hang of it.
@The Little Dust Princess: The winter weather here is not as bad as other places, so I can’t complain. =)
the necklace is so pretty! love how it has like an “ombre” effect, the purple flats are perfect as well! I’m interested in knowing how you will dye your jeans. I’ve never heard of anyone dying their own jeans before, so would love to know how you do it!
hey stylepint! i love this cute simple outfit. i’m glad you profiled it. i think sometimes we forget that the simpliest outfits look awesome too! you mentioned in this post about redyeing your jeans. how do you do that? and what type of fabrics do you suggest would be good/worth redyeing?
@Olyvia: I’ll try to document the dye-ing process. I just follow the instructions on the Rit Dye box and it comes out fine.
@Rina: I use Rit black dye for my jeans and Lucky Magazine actually did a quick feature on dying clothes in their latest issue, Feb 2011. I would stick to cottons and some synthetics, though the synthetics are trickier when taking up the dye. Also What I Wore had a couple of posts about dying her clothes too.
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Ooo I LOVE the necklace on you! Kinda tooting my own horn a little bit there hehe… but you definitely make it work!
The cute and simple outfit is perfect for any piece of jewelry with a bit of pop actually, I definitely want to try this too! 