All posts by Angela Lan

About Angela Lan

I make clothes and do that blog thing. Writes a 124 paged manuscript no one knows about. Proud supporter of messy hair and sweatpants. x View all posts by Angela Lan →

10 Tips for Winter Fashion and Beauty

December is already here and with winter creeping in, here are my top 10 tips for fashion and beauty during the colder season. A “winter essentials” post will be up soon, perhaps tomorrow or sometime this week to show you what my “must-haves” are for winter, but for now, let’s get on with the tips!

DISCLAIMER: Although this post isn’t sponsored, affiliate links are used, which means at no additional cost to you, I will be compensated with a very small commission if an item is purchased through my link. All proceeds will be used toward this blog, keeping it updated and covering the cost of materials and such. Not all links are affiliate ones. I only recommend products that I think are worth the money, and will never link to products I do not use or cannot justify for. Thanks for reading! ♡

Beauty

1. Stay moisturized. Your skin can get pretty dry during colder weather so drink lots of water and use creams/lotions to avoid flaky skin. Also bring a chapstick with you during the day to avoid flaky lips.

2. Avoid long, hot showers. It may feel relaxing but the water actually strips out the natural oils you have on your skin. Switch to a moisturizing wash and take “normal length” showers with water no hotter than around 110 degrees (I’ve done my research, but if I’m wrong, please correct me. Additionally, I am not responsible for any incidents regarding this information).

3. Use leave-in conditioners/hair treatments to prevent split-ends. I especially like this one. Your hair can get dried out too, so be sure to take care of it and not wash it everyday which strips the natural oils. Washing it every 3-4 days will make your hair stronger and healthier rather than daily.

4. With the dry air, it’s better to exfoliate your skin less during the winter, especially if you have sensitive skin. Even if you don’t have sensitive skin, excessive exfoliating could cause more sensitivity, likeliness to UV damage, and unattractive, patchy, splotchy, and red areas so take it easy with the exfoliators.

5. Use ionic and ceramic hair tools when working with curling irons/straighteners because they heat the hair more quickly and evenly. That way, your hair isn’t exposed to any unnecessary or extra heat.

Fashion

1. Wear a pair of leggings underneath your jeans to keep your legs extra warm. This is especially great for thin jeans.

2. Get a pair of thick and warm above-the-knee socks to wear with your dresses. They’ll keep you warm while still looking chic. And did you know they can also double as leg warmers? Just scrunch the legs down to below-the-knee.

3. Add pops of color to an otherwise neutral colored outfit with bright hats, bags, scarfs, or jewelry.

4. Because of all the layers, your body can get lost through the bulkyness so emphasize your waist with a belt or by choosing a belted trench coat. It’ll make you slimmer and not feel like a snowman. ;)

5. Layer your summer pieces during fall and winter to create texture and re-wear them. Something such as a maxi skirt could be paired with some boots, a cropped sweater, and a hat to make a classy and effortless look. Or wear your tank tops underneath lightweight cardigans with an oversized jacket layered on top. Flannels and darker florals are also great to wear underneath coats during colder seasons.

Hope you enjoyed!

XX,

Grey Skater with Plaid

Dress- Self-made; Coat- Macy’s; Flannel- Arizona Co.; Necklace- Forever 21; Knee-socks– Forever 21; Booties– Forever 21

Happy Sunday!

This dress that I’m wearing today has become one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe. Maybe because I made it, or maybe it’s because of how simple yet versatile it is. It’s a dark heathered grey skater dress with long sleeves and a flared skirt. I used a medium weight knit that has a good drape and soft touch. The back has criss-cross straps which adds a more edgier touch to this dress. I actually completed it a while ago, but never got around to photographing it. It was pretty simple to make, 2 hours at most.

Going with the layering theme for fall, I put on a flannel over the dress to add some color and interest. If you know me, you know that my entire wardrobe is black, white, grey, and blue. I didn’t want this entire look to be grey and black so there goes the red.

Now that it’s chillier than I had planned for this post to be (and the pictures were shot in Vancouver, where it was below freezing), I wore this classic babydoll style coat. It was on sale, pretty inexpensive and also really cute. Forever 21 has some pretty similar coats for cheap as well. Because of the freezing weather, I also wore some thigh-high socks with some detailing that were scrunched down to create faux-legwarmers and finished off with basic black combat boots. You could add a scarf if needed for more warmth, but I just forgot to bring mine for the shoot.

And yes, if you’re wondering, there are airplanes photo-bombing my photos. Quite many, if you ask me. We were at the “walkway” or ramp or “sightseeing” place that supposedly is great if you want to watch airplanes land/take off. I guess that explains why.

PS: It’s almost Thanksgiving! I’m so excited, but I still have “school” until Thursday. Black Friday is this friday, and if you always have a hard time shopping on that day, be sure to check back here tomorrow for some invaluable tips! ;)

XX,

Reinventing Your Wardrobe Part 1: Why You Have Nothing to Wear

Here’s a little project that I’ve been working on lately…..

I’m starting a series called “Reinventing Your Wardrobe.” This is a 6 (or 7) part series dedicated to helping you reinvent your closet, develop your own style, and building a solid wardrobe of clothes that fit your style. I’m not saying I’m an expert on anything of these topics, but I thought I’d share what I’ve learned to you guys to help you dress with more confidence and find out what works and what doesn’t. In the end, I hope you all have created what is a close resemblance to your “dream wardrobe” and are able to wake up everyday knowing exactly what to wear and feel good in what you’re wearing.

The posts will be spread over the rest of this month (November) and next month and they’ll feature short, quick, and easy tips/solutions. If there’s any specific topic you’d like me to cover, just leave that in the comments below and I’ll try to get to them; I’m still working out the details and am open to any suggestions. Meanwhile, this is what I’ve got planned:

– Why you have nothing to wear
– Cleaning out your closet
– Colors for you
– Dress for your body type
– Developing your fashion sense and style
– Tips for shopping on a budget
– Organization and making your wardrobe your own

Today’s post: Why you have nothing to wear. This is a HUGE problem for a lot of us so here are the top reasons to why. Let’s get started.

DISCLAIMER: Photo used in the graphic background above is by Andrew Morrell and is protected under Creative Commons. I do not own the original photo, and changes were made to it. Also, this post isn’t sponsored. Thanks for reading! ♡

1. Buying Stuff Because It’s on Sale

Just because it’s on sale, doesn’t mean you buy it. This is called impulse buying. Unless you really need it, you shouldn’t be buying anything from the sale or clearance section. I, myself, sometimes feel the sudden need for certain pieces once I see they’re on sale. Not a good solution to a lacking wardrobe; you’ll only end up with a bunch of clothes that you were tricked into buying because they were “a good deal” instead of what you really needed.

2. Buying Trendy Pieces

Trends come and go, so one reason you have nothing to wear is that your current clothes are “soooo last season.” What was “hot” last year is now considered tacky. Tip: buy classic/timeless pieces if you’re on a budget or just starting to build your wardrobe. That way, you’ll always have some basics to build your outfits around. I’m not saying to ditch what’s in right now; after all, that is what fashion is about. Just be aware of what you’re getting and errrr on the safe side.

3. It Looked Good on the Rack

That dress looked super cute on the maniquin, but when you tried it on, it didn’t look nearly as good. If it doesn’t look good, it wasn’t meant for you. Buying it will just result in everytime you reach for something to wear, make you think of how good it looked on the rack and how it doesn’t look that good on you.

4. You Plan to “Grow” Into It, or “Shrink” to Wear It

I’m guilty of always buying clothes a size larger so that I can still wear them next year. While this works in some cases, it’s not always practical. Think of it this way: if you buy your current size and love the piece enough to wear it constantly this season, you’ve already got your money’s worth. But if you buy a size larger, it won’t fit you as well and therefore, you won’t wear it as often. Then when next year rolls around, you probably won’t love it as much, so even though it may fit you well, it’s no longer fitting for your style. See what I mean? Same goes for buying clothes a size smaller and planning to “get fit” in order to wear them. Nope, it doesn’t work. If it doesn’t fit you right now, don’t buy it.

5. No Longer Fits Your Body or Your Style

Similar to #4, your clothes no longer fit you because you’ve outgrown them or have gained some weight. Items are just too tight or too loose in areas. Or you’ve changed your style and this piece just doesn’t fall under that category. You don’t ever reach for these pieces because they just don’t look good. Another reason why you have “nothing to wear.”

6. Peer Pressured Into Buying It

This may sound a little ridiculous but happens more often than you think. When you go shopping with your friends, how many times has someone told you “omg, that shirt looks so cute on you” or “that skirt is really pretty, you should buy it”? Your were pressured into buying an item because someone else told you to, even though you didn’t really like how the item fit your style or body. Exactly why I don’t suggest going to the mall with your friends if you actually need to shop.

Solution to all these problems: Out with the old, in with the new! In part 2 of the series, “Cleaning Out Your Closet”, I’ll give tips on what to get rid of and what to do with the clothes you no longer wear.

Be sure to check back here to read the next part in the series and I hoped you enjoyed! :)

XX,