La vie en couleur

I really shouldn't be shopping, but the sales end on Tuesday and I got caught up in the frenzy of last minute discounts, most of them too good to be true!

I got the snakeskin top/sweater from Mango along with two belts. The first belt (see pic 2) is a black elastic belt with a black and brown snakeskin clasp. I like the combo of black and brown because I feel like it will make the belt versatile. The second belt (see pics 3-5) is a deep red obi belt with super skinny ties. I remember Angie says deep reds are very 'in' this autumn, so I just couldn't resist this belt!

Also, remember the knuckle ring I posted about here - http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....rustrated? Well, it arrived! I got it from raveneve jewelry on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/raven....._shop_more) and it is a perfect fit (see pic 6). I love how 'cool' it looks! :D

What do you think of my new purchases?

After months of stalking her shop, I finally purchased a black leather obi belt from elizabethkelly (http://www.etsy.com/shop/eliza....._shop_more) on Etsy.

I sent the seller Jo several messages on Etsy with questions regarding her belts and she answered them patiently and in great detail. I narrowed down on the black belt but wanted the ties shorter than normal and she agreed immediately, even giving me advice on a good length for someone my height. Needless to say, I was impressed with her shop even before I got the belt.

The belt was shipped in 3-4 days and Jo sent me the tracking number the moment the package was shipped. It reached me in a few days and with the belt, I found a lovely handwritten tag saying 'Handmade for Ki'. I don't know about you, but I am a sucker for personal touches like this!

The belt itself is made of a very soft leather. When I first tried it on I wondered if getting the ties shortened was a good idea since they seemed a little too short to me. However, after wearing it around the house a few times, I realised that this is a good length for me as it doesn't overwhelm my 5'4'' frame. I also love that Jo sells her obi belts in two different widths, 5'' and 3''. I chose the 3'' and it is the perfect width for me - any wider and it would be too much belt for my short waist.

I had a great experience buying from elizabethkelly and even though the belt wasn't cheap, I feel like it was well worth the expense. I hope this helps those of you who are thinking about ordering from her (like Shannon) or anyone who is on a lookout for a quality obi belt.

Here is a link to the belt I ordered - http://www.etsy.com/listing/81.....-wrap-belt. (see pic 1)

Pics 2 to 4 show me wearing the belt.

P.S. I am in no way affiliated with this shop, I just wanted to show off my latest purchase ;)

I'm not sure quite what they are - booties? oxford like shoes with buckles? I was attracted by the buckle detail and I think that these would work well well for autumn and winter, with both pants and dresses.

What do you think? Worth getting?

I had a doctor's appt today and on the way back, I stopped at the mall. I have been on the look out for a slouchy sweater, something like Angie got from NAS but with a lower neckline since I have a larger bust.

I think this cotton sweater from Mango might fit the bill. It is black&white snakeskin, slightly high low and has 3/4th length sleeves. I would wear it with a cami underneath and when it gets colder, a thermal tank. I usually wear fitted clothes, so this is something new for me. What do you think?

It is on sale and the sales end on Sunday, so I would get this tomorrow if you all approve. Thanks for helping! :)

I had a doctor's appointment today and on the way back, I decided to take the metro to the mall. I stopped by at Gap to try the Sexy Boyfriend jeans and I have to say, I'm a little confused about what these are supposed to fit like.

I first tried my regular size (see pic 1 to 3). The waist fit pretty well and these are definitely slouchier than any other jeans I have ever worn. But are they slouchy enough?

Pics 4 and 5 show one size up. These are so loose in the waist that they sit on my hip and even then, I was petrified that they would fall off! I can take these off without unbuttoning. Is this the right amount of slouch? If I get this size, should I get the waist altered?

I'm also wondering if boyfriend jeans need to be worn with a pair of heels (however low) or if I can make them work with flats? I'm picturing my oxfords with these and I like the idea of that menswear-ish vibe.

Thanks for helping!

I have been stalking elizabethkelly's etsy shop and her gorgeous obi belts since the beginning of the year. I just couldn't pull the trigger because I felt like they were a little too expensive, plus what would I wear them with?! But now that I've bought a few dresses and a skirt in the sales, I decided to pull the trigger and ordered this belt - http://www.etsy.com/listing/81.....ef=pr_shop.

I cannot tell you how helpful and friendly the shop owner is. She answered every one of my (silly) questions so patiently and agreed to make the belt ties a bit shorter for me as well. I will review the belt once it reaches me, but for now all I can say is that I have had a great experience with this etsy store. :-)

Thanks to Zapotee, Astrid and a 35% off discount code, I managed to snag the H&M cropped denim jacket for 19 euro today!

I haven't cut off the tags yet, but I'm leaning towards keeping it, since I love the fit, the faded colour and most of all the length. The sleeves are definitely too long, but I like to fold and scrunch, so that's okay. What do you think?

P.S. Sorry I folded the sleeves so crappily in the photos, I was in such a hurry to show you the jacket that I didn't notice!

P.P.S. SYC? Whay SYC? :P

These are the two skirts I bought from Zara in Paris. I love them both and even though I have not taken the tags off yet, I really want to!

These pictures are not styled, I just wore the skirts with my blouse/cami from today's outfit. I will get the leopard skirt shortened to the same length as the lace one, since I do not wear midis (they make me look stumpy with flats).

What do you think? :-)

ETA: Pic 3 shows the length of the lace skirt and I hope pics 5&6 show the leopard skirt better.

...I should have known it wouldn't last in Paris! My husband saw me staring greedily at all the brands that we don't have in Lyon and offered to take me to Banana Republic and Marks and Spencers. I did not find anything there that fit right despite liking and trying on a LOT of stuff so I was quite dejected.

Hubs is such a darling. He said 'doesn't Zara really suit you these days? I am sure you will find something there!' So off we went to the giant Zara at Blvd. Hausmann. I picked up just two items to try and both fit! The first (pic 1) is a leopard print skirt that hits me slightly below my knee. I am planning to shorten this just a tad. It is 100% cotton so perfect for summer!
The second (pic 2&3) is a lace skirt. This one hits me right above my knee and looks so great on! I am so happy I found it just when Angie wrote her post on lace skirts! It is polyester but unlined. Do you think it would work for summer?

We also just happened to pop into Mango, where I bought this red skirt (pic 4). It is also cotton and seeing how much I wear my red pants, I am sure it will get a LOT of use.

I really should be repentant. But these skirts are so awesome! Plus, I got my result today just after we finished shopping and I got 86% this semester!!! So how can I be sad?

I promise I will be as good as gold now and I will only shop during the sales end of june.

What do you think of my purchases? I am going back home tomorrow so I will put up styled pics then!

This past month has been very hectic for me shopping wise. I bought a lot of stuff and frankly, I do not want to add up the costs and see how much I have overspent! The good thing is that I have been filling the big hole that was my summer wardrobe, plus with all the styling experiments I have been doing I know that each item will be remixed and reworn a lot.

Anyway, even though all the shopping has been worth it, I need a break especially since the annual summer sales will start in Lyon on June 27th and I want to set aside some money for shopping at that time.

So I have decided to do SYC as well, just until the sales start. I am sure it will go well, since I have lots of new stuff that I am very excited to start wearing! The only exception I might make is for summer footwear, either metallic flats or sandals, since it is difficult for me to find footwear that fits and is comfy.

My last purchase before starting will be a pair of denim bermudas (which I tried on before deciding to SMC), but after that I am going to take SYC very seriously - I plan to unsubscribe from emails about promos and sales and to avoid even thrifting and window shopping for a month!

Who else is on SYC in June? :-)