Palm Palazzo trend

I've been seeing wide-leg or palazzo pants all over Anthropologie lately, and I think I like them more than the harem or peg pants trend (my previous H&M peg pants experience didn't suit me). However, I'm not too sure if palazzo pants would suit my short legs either....but I enjoy seeing them on others. I really dig this palm print from Forever 21 because it's camouflage-y!

Palm Print Wide Leg Pants $19.80

Ooh, with matching top...

Peplum Palm Tree Shirt $17.80

Although I'm not too keen on the silky blue collar....I would cut them off (something I learned from the guys here). 

Island Vacation Vibes

Fortunately right before the pandemic happened, my husband and I accomplished an epic trip to Vietnam, a bit of Thailand, and even a couple of hours in Taiwan in November of 2019. Culture shock, yes (especially the crazy moto-traffic in Ho Chi Minh City). I'm not much of a foodie, so the street or restaurant foods did not appeal much to me, but the fresh fruits and pressed juices (nước ép) in Asia are BOMB! Impressed, yes, especially by the new developments for tourism with the cutest modern decor. Overall, it was a trip to remember!

We stayed in mostly tourist areas, so I did not witness much local fashion other than the women on motorbikes covered head to toe with face coverings, and colorful printed aprons to shield from sun/dust. I thought it was interesting though that workers like waitresses and hostesses had uniforms with really short mini skirts. Young adults who hung out at popular coffee shops were into pastel over-sized tee's and sweatshirts.

No one walks casually around town in style except for tourists. Therefore, whatever fashion I saw came more from tourists (not locals). When I was on the VietJet Air flight from Vietnam to Thailand, I saw this photograph on the plane magazine that inspired me!

Two key items here stood out for me: wide-leg palazzo pants and rattan bag. 

Palazzo Pants:

The Good: this is all about comfort when traveling. Breezy pants keeps one cool in hot humid weather while keeping dust/bugs away from skin. Also for the paranoid person who carries money in hidden waist bags during travels, these pants can hide that pouch. Choosing a thin synthetic material like 100% polyester also packs very light and washes/dries quickly.

The Bad: the restrooms in Vietnam can be very gross, especially in older areas or in people's homes, where the floors are always wet. It can be challenging or time-consuming to keep these wide legged pants from touching the wet floor when sitting on the toilet. By time-consuming, I mean trying to roll up the pant legs before getting down on it. 

Rattan Bag:

The Good: I've been seeing this style of bag on fashion bloggers for a year or two already, but never have been provoked to purchase until this trip. Probably because in Vietnam and Thailand they sell these everywhere in every street market stalls and you can try to haggle for cheap. I've seen these bags in the US retail stores for around $20-40 (on sale). I'm not very good with haggling prices, but I found the exact one that the model wears in the magazine at a random stall at the An Dong Market, in which I paid about $15 US dollars, not much cheaper, but I know they tend to hike up prices for tourists.

The Bad: although this circular bag is super cute and editorial worthy, it doesn't fit the things I normally carry in a purse like my iPhone 11, but my old iPhone 6 would fit. Therefore, this rattan bag is more a souvenir that will probably collect dust in the back of my closet. 

Flowy pants

Continuing my pants phase...I've been seeing lots of interesting pant styles at my favorite Forever 21 store lately. I'm not sure if "culottes" are considered pants, but I decided to try one out for fun.

It's kind of vintage, romantic and weird...I like it!

At first I was hesitant on the length...the dreaded "midi" length (which usually makes me feel stumpy and frumpy), but somehow fashion overcame the rules here. 

I've always been attracted to palazzo pants, but most on the market are so long in length that I don't even care to try them on. I'm thinking maybe culottes (especially with high waist and A-line shape) are a better alternative for petites than palazzo pants for that wonderful breezy flowy effect!

Here's some of the interesting pants I'm seeing at Forever 21 (click on picture for link):

Updated Shopping Limit List

Since August 2012 till now....I've spent around $1134.88+ in clothes/accessories. Holy moly, that total sounds way more than I expected! I really need to focus now, especially since some of the items I ended up not loving anymore :(

Thus, I have devised a list below of the staple items that I absolutely adore and can wear year after year without tiring. If it ain't on this list, don't buy it! 

So here's a new list to help narrow my spending and 'keeping it my style':

BAGS:

Daytime: plum or soft pink, black

Evening clutches: black, gold

Travel: backpack

Extra: red bag, mint bag

SHOES:

See 15 essential shoes list

Extra: something cap-toe

JEWELRY:

Silver hoop earrings

Crystal stud earrings

Patent nude band watch*

TOPS:

Neutral layering tanks

Neutral short-sleeve tees (white, black, taupe, navy, blush, red, black print on white) 

Black long sleeve knits

Cardigans: cream, grey, light brown, goldenrod

Winter flannels: green color tartan plaid (aka. MacLeod of Harris tartan/James Tissot-inspired), black & white buffalo check

Spring button-ups: black or navy & white polka dots, grid print, blue & white stripes

Extra: dalmation print, fun red/white print

PANTS:

Black

Navy

Dark Green

Camel

Brown

Extra: prints (ie. culottes/palazzo) 

SHORTS:

Black, white, and olive

Black bike shorts

DRESSES:

Black

Navy/Blue

Teal/Emerald

Crimson

Ikat/geometric print

Ditsy floral print

OUTERWEAR:

Spring casual: classic denim jacket

Spring casual: orange, sage, or khaki windbreaker (preferably cropped)

Spring fancy: khaki/stone trench coat

Fall fancy: aviator/motorcycle/bomber jacket

Fall/winter casual: layering fleece jacket (black or grey)

Winter casual: light grey or black short jacket

Winter fancy: long black wool coat

Extra: fitted blazer (black)

OTHER ACCESSORIES:

Elbow black leather gloves 

Burgundy leather gloves

HATS:

Summer: wide-brim floppy hat (straw/black)

Fall/spring: pink knit hat

SCARVES:

grey

black-white

pastels

MISC:

Red & white stripes swimwear

Palm print beachwear (here, here, here, and here)

OTHER necessities:

Underwear

Pajamas 

Dri-fit workout pants/shirts

Black tights

Black trouser socks

Everyday socks

Leg warmers

Need to put on my tunnel-vision glasses!

(*asterisk mark = items I'm still trying to find or needing an upgrade)

High waist baggy straight leg jeans trend

During the winter holidays, I've been noticing my fashionable teenage niece wearing some interesting high waisted baggy jeans that looks almost vintage and familiar from my past (maybe from 1994-ish). It reminded me that teenagers are always the first to spread the hottest fashion! Then last weekend, I spotted two more young females at Costco and Trader Joe's sporting these high waisted baggy straight leg pants with itty bitty crop tops that confirmed the budding trend. These are the newest "in" pants! 

1, 2

The Good: high waist makes legs look longer, baggy fit is breezier (good for keeping comfortable in the coming warm Spring/Summer weather) 

The Bad: The type of tops to wear with such pants and not look frumpy is limiting. It appears these pants looks most flattering with small fitted tops to accentuate the waistline, and not everyone is comfortable wearing tiny crop tops or tight bodysuit style of shirts.

The Verdict: not going to jump on this trend, but appreciating this new take on pants away from the skinny jeans that stayed in mode too long. In the meantime, I'll be sporting the cousin of these pants, the thinner breezier palazzo pants, which I already have in my closet. 

What are your thoughts?

 Do you think these jeans will replace the long-reigning popularity of skinny jeans?

Resort Wear Inspirations from Forever 21

Who here is planning a trip to Mexico or the Caribbean this Spring? 

Forever 21 got you covered in a pinch. Here's what I'm loving:

1. Earrings in shapes of the sun:

1, 2

2. Vibrant turquoise outfits for the win:

1, 2

Always a fan of palazzo pants! 

 

3. Flip-flops with bows on them: 

1, 2

4. Color block dresses in macaron colors: 

1, 2, 3