New Favorite Products: Home Edition

I'd like to take a break from the fashion and style posts for a while and share a few home decor updates. Technically, this isn't a home decor update but more of a roundup of new items that I have added as accent to my home - specifically, my bedroom vanity. We have a small space and so we had to improvise a lot with what we have to turn it into a comfortable space for us to live in. It's a work-in-progress but I love how it is turning out. 

This Bride lidded box from Gift Boutique is one of my favorite additions to my vanity. This is a small porcelain container which I use to store my stud earrings in. I love that it is large enough to store my earrings but small enough not to take up too much space. It also comes in a pretty mint color (which coincidentally is also one of our wedding colors) and the Bride calligraphy on the cover for a personal touch.

This prism jewelry stand is another favorite new addition to my home decor, especially my vanity. This jewelry holder comes in a unique prism shape, which I use for storing my necklaces and earrings in. I love the matte brass finish that doubles as an accent to my room's interior decor. 

This clear acrylic lipstick holder is the most recent buy of this batch. I needed a way to get my lipstick more organized rather than keeping them in my makeup bag all the time. I love that it is easier for me to pick the shade that I want, which will hopefully make it easier to get dressed up. I definitely need to buy a new one to cope with my growing lisptick collection. Right now, I've only placed my most favorite lipsticks. 

Okay, I know this isn't related to home products but I just had to squeeze this in as it is a relatively new purchase (worn it only once since it arrived). I have been looking for a new wedge for a while now but wanted something with short heels. Most of the wedges that I found locally or online were at least 5 inches in height. I opted for shorter heels (this one was 1.5 inches in height) to wear with casual outfits and not hurt my feet in the process. This wedge sandals from Splendid was super comfortable on - first time I wore it, I had to walk around for 5 hours and did not feel a thing. Bonus - it's only $68!

What is your favorite new purchase?

Shoes: Girl's Best Friend

In an earlier post, I've featured my favorite pair of Steve Madden pumps and talked about how it combines with my favorite LBD for a classic evening outfit. And I am sure most of you would agree that shoes make the outfit; thus, I try my best to invest in quality and stylish pairs to complement my outfit. It would be sorry to invest a lot of time conceptualizing your outfit only for your footwear to ruin it all. I am happy to introduce a new website that I've discovered and was recently launched dedicated to helping women out there find shoes that fit into their eclectic personal style.

According to the website, their styles and fashion options are synchronized with international fashion. Hence, you can find a wide array of options suited to various personalities. If you are tired of seeing the same old styles from various online retailers or local shops, then you will be spoilt for options at FSJ Shoes. Check out their hot heels and pencil heels selection to see for yourself:

Green Pumps / Alva Floral Printed Pumps / Leopard Printed Pumps

Khaki Criss-Cross Strap Sandals / Pink Splash Heels / Maroon Cobra Ankle Strap Heels

Pointed Toe Ankle Strap Heels / Pink T-Strap Heels

FSJ Shoes takes pride in its use of exceptional craftsmanship and sexy cuts to stand out in the shoe industry. In addition, you can find plenty of shoes under $100 so it is a good option for the practical women out there (aka most of us!).

The website just launched this past week and they are so excited to finally bring their unique designs to the world! Be sure to check out the website here. 

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links; however, the opinion expressed and products picked are my own.

Classic Combo

Dress: WAYF
Shoes: Steve Madden
Watch: Michael Kors
Earrings: Happiness Boutique (c/o)

An LBD or little black dress is a closet staple in my book, and I'm pretty sure the same is true for most other women (not just bloggers). An LBD is a versatile piece that can be easily dressed up or down. It is also my go-to option for cocktails and special occasions. Aside from an LBD, a pair of red pumps is another go-to for me. 

SHOP THE LOOK

Dress: WAYF

Shoes: Steve Madden

Watch: Michael Kors

Earrings: Happiness Boutique (c/o)

This look I am showcasing you today is therefore a classic combo: LBD and red pumps. This is my favorite cocktail look of all time. You can never go wrong with red pumps, as much as you can't go wrong with red lipstick -- especially when it's Steve Madden. I love adding the pops of red from the heels and the clutch bag with my lace LBD from WAYF. This LBD being made of lace is another hit in my book. WAYF can do no wrong.

What is your favorite classic combo of all time?

Wishlist: Ear Crawlers

Ear crawlers. You've seen them in blogs, shopping sites, celebrities... literally, everywhere! This new trend has got me curious and craving for one of my own. I love that these earrings that 'crawl' up to your ears give an edgy twist to an outfit. However, it is also versatile enough to be used as a dainty access to your outfit, think crystals or anything sparkly. Indeed, ear crawlers are a combination of stud and cuff earrings... and there are so many reasons to want one. I've curated a few of my fave finds online to get you even more excited about this trend:

Gala Ear Crawlers / Double Dipper Ear Crawler / Asymmetrical Tinker Bell Ear Crawler

Mohawk Ear Duo / Asymmetrical Falkor Ear Crawler / Caesar Ear Crawlers

Rebecca Minkoff Boho Bead Ear Crawler / Sam Edelman Tapered Pave Ear Crawler / Kate Spade Dainty Sparklers Ear Crawler

Are you loving ear crawlers too? Which of these would you pick out?

Summer Prints Series: Folk Revival

Folk and tribal prints seem to be hottest during summer time. I'm not surprised about that since they give a free-spirited vibe that reflects the season. The navy aztec shift dress that I've featured in this post is one of my summer go-to (which I've also linked below). It's both fresh and easy-to-wear: two key elements that we all look for in a good summer outfit, right? Tribal prints aren't entirely revolutionary though. They are everywhere all the time! This provides more incentive to buying tribal and folk print pieces - they never go out of trend.

Folk Print Off Shoulder Dress / Navy Aztec Shift Dress / Kaleidoscope Print Halter Dress

Patchwork Print Dress / Split Back Top / Knit Jacquard Dress

Folklore Print Shift Dress / Vintage Print Maxi Dress / Multi Print Shift Dress

Which of these folk/tribal print pieces will make its way to your closet? Share your other picks below too!

Dressed Up Maxi

Dress: Splendid (black is sold out, available in navy & almond)

Chambray: Shein

Necklace: Mod & Soul (c/o)

Sunnies: Sunnies Studios (get 15% off Zalora with code ZBAPZD4H)

Watch: RumbaTime

I have a huge collection of maxi dresses but I did not realize until of late that I did not have a basic black maxi dress yet. This launched a major search for a black tank maxi dress. I have searched a few places and ended up getting it from Splendid via Shopbop. This ribbed maxi dress looks like the ideal maxi dress for a casual summer day - light, stretchy material and comfortable.

SHOP THIS LOOK

Dress: Splendid (black is sold out, available in navy & almond)

Chambray: Shein

Necklace: Mod & Soul (c/o)

Sunnies: Sunnies Studios (get 15% off Zalora with code ZBAPZD4H)

Watch: RumbaTime

But I wanted to depart from the typical casual look and decided to dress up this ribbed maxi dress. I incorporated my new SoHo leather watch from RumbaTime and statement necklace from Mod & Soul to glam up the dress. The chambray offered a light layer for the dress, which I think would definitely come in handy for the summer nights. The length is a bit longer than I would like from a typical maxi dress that I would wear (of course, I had to factor in my petite size) but I actually like the floor length for a more glammed up look!

Nili Lotan Column Black Dress
Norma Kamali Racer Back Dress
Shein Black Maxi Dress
Stateside Ribbed Maxi Dress
MISA Nola Dress

How would you glam up a casual maxi dress like this ribbed tank one?

Wedding Season: Reception & Rehearsal Dresses

The wedding season has officially kicked in! Even though I had mine in December, many brides are still more traditional and opt for a June wedding. If you like to take the traditional route, then you might be preparing to walk down the aisle soon. As part of the preparation, majority of your focus is towards getting your dress ready! But don't overlook your wedding rehearsal dress and reception dress, too. I personally skipped both, but again you can stick to your old traditions if you like (I prefer mine to be straightforward and modern). It's hard to turn down the idea of picking out a dress for your wedding rehearsal and reception with websites like BHLDN offering you with drool-worthy pieces that range from fun and flirty to elegant and ethereal. 

Wedding Rehearsal Dresses

Nadya Dress
Kavita Dress
Nadya Ivory Dress
Chandler Dress

Prospere Gown
Inesse Dress
Tobin Dress
Bea Top & Louise Tulle Skirt

Reception Dresses

Aaliyah Dress
Frida Dress
Anouska Dress

I have a slight regret for opting not to get a reception dress - my idea was that I spent a lot of money on my wedding dress so I wanted to wear it for as long as possible. But then again, if you have the extra budget, it's worth splurging on. After all, your wedding only happens once so you might as well make it as memorable and fashion-forward as can be!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. However, the opinion expressed are my own.

Trend Report: Shirt Dress

Shirt dresses... for a while, I had shied away from wearing them because (to be honest) who would want to look like they forgot to put on pants? But with busier days as a married woman, I have come to appreciate the ease and comfort they bring to an outfit. This couldn't be any more true for the summer days. They offer the comfort of wearing light dresses as they are easy to wear. Perfect for brunch or for running errands or doing the grocery, I have found myself yearning for shirt dresses. In fact, I've purchased more shirt dresses in the past couple of months than I had owned my entire life (no joke). 

If you want to enjoy the same comfort and ease in your outfit, I've picked out a few of my favorite (aka coveted) shirt dresses right now:

Frayed Denim Shirt Dress
Belted Chambray Shirt Dress
Contemporary Shirt Dress

Striped Pocket Shirt Dress
Floral Long Shirt Dress
Longline Cotton Shirt Dress

Lulu's Black Shirt Dress
Contemporary Plaid Shirt Dress
Self-Tie Collar Shirt Dress

What is your favorite way to style shirt dresses? I'd like to pick your brain a little and get more styling ideas I could use...

Polka Midi

Dress: Fashionmia (c/o)
Bag: 88 Handbags (c/o)
Sandals: Splendid
Watch: Rumbatime
Earrings: Kenneth Jay Lane

Summer fashion is almost synonymous to floral and tropical prints. It is cliche for a reason. Surprisingly enough, this summer, I haven't worn as much floral as I used to. Don't get me wrong - it still is my favorite print of all time. But I have tried to diversify my style with other prints. One thing that I admit to being a really big fan of is polka. And yet, I only have a couple of polka pieces in my closet. So when I spotted this dress at Fashionmia's website, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to add more polka to my wardrobe. 

SHOP THIS LOOK
Dress: Fashionmia (c/o)
Bag: 88 Handbags (c/o)
Sandals: Splendid
Watch: Rumbatime
Earrings: Kenneth Jay Lane

One of my biggest concerns when I ordered this dress was that it is going to be a bit sheer. I specifically chose it for the polka print but also because it is made of chiffon. Thankfully, this dress wasn't sheer at all! In fact, the material is thicker for a chiffon without losing its lightweight quality. I hate chiffon dresses that require me to wear a slip under. I'm not going to lie - I've been disappointed by Fashionmia before. But this time, they really nailed it! 

How do you incorporate polka into your summer style?