Petite Lookbook: A Good Mandarin is Hard to Find

***A huge thank you to everyone who participated and voted in my work outfit giveaway. You guys chose Catherine (#5) as the winner with 36 votes, and Janice (#9) for second place with 27 votes. I counted meticulously because the votes were so darn close! Everyone looked great in my opinion, but special mentions to Callandra (#4) and Jessica (#12) who were super close behind.***

On to today's post...

I'm a little scared of the color orange, but this is the summer of pushing outside my comfort zone. Right now my mani is OPI A Good Mandarin is Hard to Find, a vibrant red-orange (as seen in my last video), and friends have commented on how tan it makes me look. But does this color also work on apparel?

Linen Blouse: Banana Republic Outlet, sz XXSP

Shorts: H&M Divided sz 2

Shoes: Banana Republic 5.5

Bag: LV Speedy 25

This blouse was my sole purchase from the BR outlet during my last shopping spree. There were TONS of 'em at the outlet (several in sz XXSP) and it wasn't hard to see why ...

Right off the rack, this blouse reminds me of Grandma's favorite top. When you're elderly, you just want something vibrant and roomy enough for air to flow through...but not when you're 20 something.

What saved this top from the "no way" pile was the oh-so-light, 100% linen fabric. It's been in the 90's a lot in Boston so I've been on the lookout for barely there materials. Oh, and the sleeve cuff detail. And I guess it also didn't hurt that the top was just $7.

I might take in the sides a little, but for now, tucking into bottoms is a good temporary fix.

Slipped into flats for a Target run:

H&M bangles, sz XS/S (2.5 inches in diameter) actually fit my bony wrists.