I grew up in a conservative money-tight Chinese family. But even coming from a frugal background, I started paying attention to what I wore as I grew older. There wasn’t really a specific point in my life when I decided that I love fashion, but naturally, I just wanted to feel unique. So I became enthralled in finding the one ‘it’ piece hiding in the bottom of the sale bin. And it continues to this very day.
Back when I did not have my own disposable income, the only time I received new clothes was during Chinese New Year (it’s Chinese tradition to wear something new on the first lunar day). My mom and my sister and I would wander down to the mall and pick out an entire outfit.
My first ‘cool’ pants I wore were in the seventh grade, brown flare corduroy from Wet Seal for $20.
One of my favorite outfits. Splattered Zara dress (gift) $20. Black slip from Free People (came with another FP dress). Light Pink sweater from Taiwan $20. Martin & Osa forest green belt $10. Heart with Trinket necklace from Top Shop $15 (back when the pound was 2X!). Purple sling bag from Nordstrom $50.
Back when I did not have my own disposable income, the only time I received new clothes was during Chinese New Year (it’s Chinese tradition to wear something new on the first lunar day). My mom and my sister and I would wander down to the mall and pick out an entire outfit.
My first ‘cool’ pants I wore were in the seventh grade, brown flare corduroy from Wet Seal for $20.
At a flower convention with my family rockin’ my brown cords. Age 12.
I didn’t shop much through high school although I did have a job at the local bakery, It’s hard to let money go when you’ve been raised to save for rainy days. It wasn’t until I went off to college at UC Santa Cruz was I able to find myself.
One of my first jobs at UCSC was as an usher at the theater halls. Fresh out of my bubble, I watched shows with unshaven girl students perform dances and naked students walking over a kiddie pool: people who weren’t afraid of expressing themselves. My confidence was boosted and I started purchasing with a rapid succession colorful t-shirts from Urban, loud necklaces from Mervyns, and obscure patterns wherever I could find them. At Santa Cruz, people didn’t always worry about matching, yet their style always had brilliant, unique tidbits, and their outfits were fully accessorized.
One of my first jobs at UCSC was as an usher at the theater halls. Fresh out of my bubble, I watched shows with unshaven girl students perform dances and naked students walking over a kiddie pool: people who weren’t afraid of expressing themselves. My confidence was boosted and I started purchasing with a rapid succession colorful t-shirts from Urban, loud necklaces from Mervyns, and obscure patterns wherever I could find them. At Santa Cruz, people didn’t always worry about matching, yet their style always had brilliant, unique tidbits, and their outfits were fully accessorized.
Xmas Shopping, layers and big warm boots! Age 21.
Being stylish is what you feel good wearing combined with a few pieces currently ‘in’ via the fashion world. After a couple of years of subscribing to women magazines, it put me in a subdued mood: I knew that I would never spend my life savings on the ‘it’ jacket or Christian Louboutin shoes, yet they made me actively think about doing so. Rather than perpetuate this masochistic state of being, I tossed those magazines and started taking fashion ideas from celebrity magazines. Celebrities are always wearing the newest fashion. My blog is about not having to spend an arm and leg to be fashionable, yet not having to sacrifice quality for price.
One of my favorite outfits. Splattered Zara dress (gift) $20. Black slip from Free People (came with another FP dress). Light Pink sweater from Taiwan $20. Martin & Osa forest green belt $10. Heart with Trinket necklace from Top Shop $15 (back when the pound was 2X!). Purple sling bag from Nordstrom $50.
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