12 Standout Party Shoes

Can you smell the party season? The moment we got back from vacation, we quickly put up our tree because I can already feel the holiday spirit all around me. So many Christmas decors all over and this has me excited for all the celebration that is to come with the season. I'm pretty sure most of you have your December fully booked with parties and other gatherings. Hence, I'd like to make it easy for you to plan your holiday outfits. 

Below are 12 killer party shoes that I'm sure would take  your outfit to the next level:

Dakota Lace-Up Heel / Fifi Nude Suede Ankle Strap Heels / Ted Baker Peep Toe Shootie

Nude Suede Platform Heels / Chic Black Suede Lucite Mid-Calf Boots / Wine Suede Heels

Laila Black Caged Heel / Lace Black High Heel Booties / Red Multi Print Pumps

Schutz Lace-Up Pumps / Badgley Mischka Glitter Pumps / Aquazzura Hello Lover Pumps

Which of these party shoes will you be strutting in this holiday season?

StyleWe 101: How to Style Mini Skirt for Fall/Winter

With the prospect of colder weather, are you starting to wonder what to do with your mini skirts? Or is it appropriate to wear them at all? With the rising popularity of the latest fashion micro skirts, it becomes increasingly important to find fashion-forward ways to wear them all year round. It not only helps you save (since you no longer have to purchase new seasonal items) but you can also get more wear out of the current pieces in your wardrobe. 

Here are some fashionable mini skirts that I found from a fashion shopping store called StyleWe. This website features creations from independent designers and their inventory is quite massive. Hence, you should find a skirt that you'd love to wear all winter long. Below are some of my top picks:

Deep Grey A-Line Buttoned Mini Skirt / Polyester A-Line Mini Skirt / Fringed Vintage Mini Skirt / Black Sheath Mini Skirt

Meanwhile, here are three fun ways you can wear a mini skirt for fall and winter:

Tip 1: Add thoughtful accessories to help you stay warm and look fashionably chic. Think in the line of over-the-knee boots and a head gear (such as a beret or beanie). These fun accessories will elevate a mundane look (aka sweater and skirt combo).

Tip 2: Layer it up with a coat or blazer. If you can find a faux fur layering piece, that's even better. The textural contrast will make the simple elements stand out, not just individually but as a unit. For a more chic touch, you can try adding a scarf into the mix too.

Tip 3: Throw in your tights! Keep those legs warm by layering your skirt with tights and adding some heels or ankle booties into the mix!

What is your favorite way to wear a skirt this season? Be sure to check out StyleWe on Facebook and read their blog to get more styling tips!

Disclaimer: I was compensated for writing this post. However, the opinion expressed are my own.

Preppy in Stripes

Dress: Shein
Chambray: Shein (sold out, similar here)
Sandals: Sammydress (c/o)
Tote: Deux Lux
Watch: JORD (c/o)
Earrings: Kenneth Jay Lane

I wouldn't call my style preppy but it's fun to try out new styles and looks from time to time. Case in point: this outfit I have for you today. But what exactly is preppy style? It is the focus on casual and simple but polished outfit using just a few key accessories. The use of classic pieces make it such an enduring style since there are several possibilities to create your desired outfit and it will never go out of style. 

SHOP THIS LOOK
Dress: Shein
Chambray: Shein (sold out, similar here)
Sandals: Sammydress (c/o)
Tote: Deux Lux
Watch: JORD (c/o)
Earrings: Kenneth Jay Lane

In this case, the classic striped shift dress is the base of the look. Pairing it with a classic chambray top provides endless possibilities for styling: 1) wrapping it around the waist to provide a cinching effect, or 2) wear it over the dress for light layering effect. A classic black tote is also a great way to compliment this preppy style. A basic black tote can go with any outfit, but works beautifully with a preppy look with some nautical freshness to it!

The best thing about preppy style is that there is a certain sophistication with the look. And yet, it is easy to put together. As long as you basic and classic pieces in your wardrobe, it is easy to build up a preppy look from there. In general, try to avoid incorporating pieces that are too flashy or too sexy. The pieces you wear should be moderate length and clean-cut at all times.

Here are some pieces that would be good to build up on your preppy wardrobe:

Pencil Skirts

Left to Right: Moschino Pencil Skirt / Velvet Knit Skirt / ATM Striped Rib Skirt / Free People Skirt

Cardigans

Left to Right: Long Sleeve Belted Cardigan / Long Sleeve Pocket Cardigan / Open Front Loose Fit Cardigan

Crisp Button-Downs

Left to Right: Splendid Fringe Cotton Shirt / Equipment Slim Signature Blouse / DVF Lanzi Blouse / McGuire Denim Hideaway Shirt

What are your thoughts on preppy style?

Where to Eat in Siem Reap, Cambodia

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to eat. Food is my happy place. Whether dining out or cooking at home, I always enjoy food. Whenever I travel, I try to sample as many foodie spots as possible. From street food to gourmet restaurants, I am open to trying them all. During our travel to Siem Reap in Cambodia, we were able to try out quite a few foodie spots and I will list them here for you to check out on your visit one of these days.

Angkor Herb

If you are looking to sample local Khmer cuisine or the best grilled dishes in town, head to Angkor Herb. You will find this cozy spot along Pub Street. It is easy to distinguish this restaurant as they do have a grill station up front. We tried their Chicken Kebab, Pork and Beef Steaks and they were all delicious. The best part is that most of their grilled options are priced at no more than $3 each.

Angkor Cafe

This restaurant is easy to spot as it is located right in front of the entrance to the Angkor Wat temple. This is an international cuisine restaurant; hence, you and your group can share different dishes from across various cuisines. During our time there, we sampled their Korean dishes. We ordered two Korean meal seats for the five of us. It was a good deal especially given that the Korean dishes served to us were authentic.

Viva Mexicana

This was my favorite among all of the places we've dined in at Siem Reap! We happened to pass by this restaurant while walking around Pub Street one night. To be honest, I did not hold high expectations especially since it had an unassuming ambiance. But when the food was served, it was not only delicious but their serving sizes were also large! You can order a dish for $5 to $8 each.

Red Piano

When I was doing my research for the best places to eat in Siem Reap, or when we asked locals around for recommendations, there was one name that kept popping up: The Red Piano. We decided to give it a try for some late-night drinks and snacks. The Red Piano actually became popular because of Angelina Jolie. Word has it that this is where she dined while shooting the film Tomb Raider in Cambodia and she loved it so much that she raved about the place. Since then, tourists have become curious about The Red Piano. It didn't disappoint though, but I do wish we could have tried their other dishes. Definitely something to consider for a return trip!

Brown Coffee

This was my second favorite place to have dined in at Cambodia. I've been looking for a great coffee shop since we arrived in Cambodia and we discovered this place by chance aswe were driving around Siem Reap. The beautiful architectural details of the coffee shop was what caught our attention first. We decided to try it and was highly impressed with their selection of cakes and drinks. It is a bit pricey for Cambodia's standard (a slice of cake would require you to shell out $8 each) but the cakes were absolutely worth the extra dollar you spend.

Lucky Burger

This fast food joint is basically Cambodia's version of McDonald's. They have fried chicken meals, burgers and fries... the usual. We dined here while strolling and buying some groceries at the Lucky Mall. The quality is reasonable for its price - just as you would expect from a fast food restaurant.

Pub Street

When in Siem Reap, you have to go to Pub Street. This is the best place to be in if you want to eat or grab a drink and party the night away. I love the vibe here; lots of friendly locals and tourists. During the day, we usually visit tourist spots and then head back to our villa to rest and relax. By nighttime, we head to Pub Street to eat or get a massage. You can find a wide assortment of food here - from street food, to desserts, to all types of cuisines you could imagine!

Have you been to Siem Reap? What was your favorite place to eat at?

Luxury Holiday Gift Guide

The holidays is the time of the year wherein we splurge a little bit when buying gifts, whether for loved ones or ourselves. With luxury gift items, it is important to get an early headstart. If you're out of ideas, I've listed some of my coveted items here:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

What is your favorite luxury piece from this guide? Will you get one for yourself or a loved one?

Shopbop: Buy More, Save More

The biggest sale of the year is finally here: Buy More, Save More at Shopbop! The more you buy, the bigger your savings. It is therefore the perfect time of the year to buy all of your holiday gifts at once. Here is how the tiered sale goes when you use the code GOBIG16: 

SPEND $200+, GET 15% OFF

SPEND $500+, GET 20% OFF

SPEND $800+, GET 25% OFF

Certain exclusions apply so be sure to check that here. This promo lasts until November 28 only!

Now, onto the best part - my favorites from the sale. I'm listing down a few essentials you might want to stock up on for the upcoming holidays:

Party Dress

Alice + Olivia Wrap Dress / Black Halo Pabla Mini Dress / Victoria Beckham Flounce Hem Dress / Alice + Olivia Pouf Sleeve Dress

Clutch

Rebecca Minkoff Leo Clutch / Inge Christopher Fiona Leather Clutch / Milly Slay Box Clutch

Stocking Stuffers

Gray Malin Flamingos iPhone Case / Tory Burch Zip Coin Case / Flight 001 Jewelry Box / ban.do 12 Month Planner / Foley + Corinna Cache Cross Body Bag / Cosabella Thong 3 Pack / Stella McCartney Extreme Cateye Sunglasses / ban.do Work It Out Water Bottle

What are you going to buy from this sale? Don't forget to use GOBIG16 until Nov 28 only!

Must-Have Maxi Dress

Dress: Shein
Tote: Herschel
Earrings: Mod & Soul
Watch: JORD (c/o)
Wedge Espadrilles: Sammydress (c/o)

There are so many reasons to love wearing maxi dresses, but if I had to pick just one, it's the fact that you can wear one all throughout the year. The length makes it ideal to transition even for cooler months. At the same time, the casual feel and style makes it great for summer time wear when you want to stay cool but chic. I just recently added one to my growing collection and it's another one from Shein. 

SHOP THIS LOOK
Dress: Shein
Tote: Herschel
Earrings: Mod & Soul
Watch: JORD (c/o)
Wedge Espadrilles: Sammydress (c/o)

The print might be a bit reminiscent of summer fashion but the fabric is extremely comfortable you'd want to wear it all year long! The cotton blends fabric was truly a welcome surprise! I love its comfy feel especially in this crazy season we're having wherein the days are extremely humid and the nights are extremely cold (due to the rain!). Hence, this maxi dress is a must-have in my book. I can wear it as is on those hot and humid days, or layer with a denim jacket or cardigan on cooler days!

Some other maxi dresses I've styled from Shein: 

Do you like to wear maxi dresses all year round too?