Are y’all youngsters still saying “OOTD”? What’s trending lately? I feel like I can’t understand half of the things teens are saying these days. Is this what getting old is like?
Speaking of trends, honestly, I don’t think I can stand any more of the halter top trend. I’m sure it was cuter when it had just gotten back in style, but now it’s a bit overdone; it’s in that awkward phase between trend and almost-basic. Well, at least one style I actually don’t mind came out of the halter as it’s seeing its own way out: High-neck collars, like this.
(You might remember this top from my photos of the first /r/AsianBeauty meetup in Hawaii!)
I can’t say I have a completely capsule/French wardrobe, since I buy trendy pieces every so often (at the right price, because I’m also cheap). However, because I am so cheap, my wardrobe philosophy requires my closet to be built on wardrobe staples. The clothes I own simply must be in dedicated, long-term relationships with me. They can’t be thrown onto my one nightstand (huehuehuehe…) and then forgotten for seasons and years. I have a LOT of neutral-colored pieces in blacks and grays, though even neutral browns are rare. Layers call for lots of staples, too; this is useful in slightly unpredictable weather. Basically, I only buy pieces after weeks of research and Pinterest’ing and sad obsessions over rising and falling prices. That way, I know I’m buying something I’ll wear over and over again with multiple outfits.
Well, this blue blouse is the opposite of all of that. First of all, it was a gift from one of my best friends, so I had no part in picking it! Plus, she didn’t really consult with me or anyone—you know how hard it is to buy clothes or accessories for other people. And surprisingly, I grew to really, really like it. It’s somewhat trendy in cut yet not completely outrageous, it’s a subdued color but definitely not a neutral—the pattern and textures make it centerpiece-worthy—and it’s oddly okay year-round yet quite wintry/cool-spring-y despite being sleeveless.
Recently, I’ve found myself gravitating toward interesting collars. Of note in my closet’s past few years were the Peter Pan and mandarin collar (is there a more PC term for that?). Now, I can add these collars to my list; it’s essentially a closed version of the mandarin collar. Or the mandarin collar is an open version of this. Eh.
This blouse actually has a faux-velvet panel at the bottom, which is just hidden when I tuck it into my skirt. This makes it surprisingly more versatile than most trendy tops I’ve ever had the misfortune of liking. It’s conservative enough for business-casual, yet fun enough for happy hour (well…Lily-level fun. So not as fun as usual).
Zara tends to be pretty good at picking up and reproducing runway styles at a fast pace. I’m not sure how long this collar will look good until it’s gone the way of the halter top, but I think I’ll wear this as long as I possibly can. I feel like this helps my outfit stand out yet keeps me comfortable.
Anyway, I’ve talked enough about the damn blouse! For my bottom, I wore this ol’ A-line skirt from a YesStyle clearance sale. Similar to the blouse, it has characteristics of a wardrobe staple but is overall geared toward certain looks. This one has a bow that makes it cutesy. But it’s black, like my soul, so it’s easy to dress it down a bit like I have here.
Okay, okay. Now, these two items are staples in my wardrobe for as long as I can keep them: My ol’ kate spade Wellesley Durham handbag in black, my simple Anne Klein wristwatch, and my, err, $2 sunglasses from a bus station in Thailand. And hey, look, my d’Orsay flats!
Top: From Zara, but I can’t find the listing… Here are some other closed high-neck collars I like!: WallisFashion.com | Nordstrom Zara (black) | Bonus dress from eShakti
Skirt: Similar: ModCloth | YesStyle 1, YesStyle 2 | SheIn (knee-length)
Shoes: Similar: Franco Sarto (Amazon) | Charlotte Russe | Forever 21
What are your wardrobe staples? Do you have a favorite “centerpiece” item? ☺
A River Lily 
OFF TOPIC: I love your hair. Your hair is what I wish for my hair. Ughhhhh, my jealousy knows no limits Q_Q
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D’aww you fabulously sweet thang, thanks! It must be true that people want what they can’t have, because I’m getting sick of caring for such long hair (for me)… Hahaha.
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Gorgeous outfit, thanks for sharing! X
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Thank you!
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