Over the Knee Boots for Petites

As a petite with a love for over-the-knee boots, believe me when I say that I've tried on hundreds of pairs of boots to find ones that fit and don't go all the way up to my hips! The shaft height measurements on websites aren't always accurate because stiffer materials make the boot stay up higher, while softer materials will allow you to adjust it a bit. Luckily, I've done the testing for you, and here are just a few of my suggestions:

1. Halogen 'Noble'
Probably my favorite pair - gorgeous suede, almond toe, perfect heel. It doesn't mold to my calves as well since the material is a thicker/stiffer suede, but still beautiful and comfy. Comes in black and burgundy as well. In general, I've found Halogen to be a petite-friendly brand for boots.

2. Charles by Charles David 'Sycamore'

The perfect pair of basic black over-the-knee boots! The shaft is a bit high, so some scrunching may be needed, but overall a great investment.

3. Ivanka Trump Saffri
I know there's alot of backlash with Ivanka Trump brand, but I purchased these boots almost 2 years ago and they remain my most comfortable pair. For some reason, the angle of the heel makes them extremely walkable, and the shaft fits perfectly for an extra petite frame. The almond/pointed toe is so feminine and helps slim and elongate legs! However, it is faux suede.

4. Ivanka Trump Kellyn
For those looking for a sturdier block heel, this is another great option. However, I have slightly wide feet and these feel narrower than the Saffri and are not as elongating. But a great choice for a casual look!

Budget Overview: How to Set a Budget

Hope everyone is still sticking to their resolutions 2 weeks into the new year! Mine is to stay on budget so I don't burn through my savings, and so far I've been good.

While I love shopping, I also realize how important it is to save. Ever since my very first paycheck, I've created strict budgets for myself and kept track of all purchases. The Mint app is great, but I choose to create my own Google Drive sheets so I can better personalize it. The nerd side of me thinks it's fun!

Because budgeting has worked for me, I thought I'd share my process. It's different for everyone since we all have different lifestyles, priorities, and commitments, but this might be a good starting point. I'll divide this topic into a few blog posts.

This is a rough estimate of how I allocated my after-tax income. Notice the 6% spent on shopping - it might be higher or lower for everyone. I'll go into mine in more detail some other time.

Winter Interview Outfit Ideas for Women

Interviews are my least favorite thing to dress for. Interviews in icy cold weather are even worse.

Here are just a few of my outfit ideas ranging from formal to casual. I tend to go with a lot of neutral colors during interviews since they draw less attention to a petite frame, and looks more professional!

Casual Interviews:

This all-black look is perfect for a retail or creative interview. Ruffled sleeves are everywhere this season. Heeled booties give a bit of height while keeping your feet warm. Fur collar adds extra warmth.

Black jeans are my go-to for casual interviews. They're comfy and won't make you appear too overdressed if you're interviewing for a tech job. Suede booties are so popular this winter - these look especially chic with a pale pink sweater!

If it happens to be snowing out, I don't think there's anything wrong with wearing a waterproof puffer coat. This turtleneck sweater will keep you toasty, and pull together this look with dress pants, but go with a navy color to brighten it up. Pair with waterproof black leather boots.

Formal Interviews: 

Formal interviews call for more traditional pieces, no matter how cold it is outside. The best way to keep warm would be to top your suit with a nice heavy coat. This beige one is super versatile for both work or a boozy brunch! Loafers are making a comeback - these cover more of your feet than regular pumps and have a chunky heel for greater comfort. I love this sweater-shirt combo but if you're at an extremely traditional firm, opt for a regular suit.

If it's snowing or pouring outside, sleek black booties are the perfect compromise between clunky snowboots and black pumps. Pair with black tights to prevent drawing too much attention to your boots. A trench coat looks professional and is waterproof, but layer with this cozy grey sweater coat for warmth. When you take these layers off in the office, you'll be carrying 2 chic pieces, rather than a giant puffer coat.

What's your favorite look?

Style Inspiration: New Year's Eve Cold Winter Weather

It can be tough enough to stay stylish in cold winter weather - but it's especially tough to dress for NYE when you're in a cold city like NYC! In California, you could easily get away with wearing a mini dress, leather jacket, and over the knee boots. Here in New York though, I can't imagine parting from my down coat and layers of sweaters. But there's always a way to be cute, sparkly, and warm for any NYE party.
Here are just a few ideas - lots of fur coats ahead! (Please do try to buy faux fur. It's so much cheaper and it doesn't hurt animals - a double win!)

NYE outfits for a dressier event:

These events call for dresses, so to keep your legs warm, opt for 1) long, flowing dress 2) ankle-grazing coat (not the most flattering for petites), or 3) over-the-knee boots with a short dress (very flattering!).

If you skip Rihanna's baseball cap, this would be perfect for a glamorous NYE party. Silky slip dresses and fur coats are super on trend this year, and would be great on a petite frame. Just make sure the dress and coat hits mid-thigh for the most flattering length. A short fur coat would look extra boxy and puffy on a petite frame, and a long fur coat could overwhelm the frame. To stay warmer, opt for some nice suede over-the-knee boots instead of sandals.

 

Kendall Jenner's sparkly birthday dress was a huge hit, so much so that there are tons of affordable replicas out there this year at places like Nastygal, Missguided, and ASOS! Pair it with a glamorous fur coat like the ones shown above, and some tall, lace-up boots. 

NYE outfits for a standard bar event or restaurant:

These events are much easier to dress for because you could wear nice pants, and even a sweater under your coat! Combinations could include 1) leather pants, chiffon blouse, strappy metallic heels, metallic clutch, mid-length coat 2) sequin pants, basic cashmere sweater, black heels, short coat 3) black pajama pants, satin blouse, heels, short coat, layer with a cardigan for extra warmth.

Review: Duck Boots for Petites

Since it rains roughly 5 days per year in California, I've never had to invest in rainboots, not to mention snow boots. But now that it's started snowing in Manhattan, and after slipping on ice a million times just to make my morning coffee run, I'm considering purchasing a pair of duck boots.

With a ton of brands, styles, and prices, I purchased a couple of different pairs to try on. Being extra petite and slightly curvy, I'm very particular on how certain boots make my legs look extra stumpy. Here are the factors that I considered: Comfort (ease of walking, interior), Flexibility of sole, Traction, andVisually, does it make my legs look stumpy?

The 4 pairs that I tried on are:

1. Sperry Top Sider Sweetwater Duck Boot
2. Steve Madden Tillis Olive Duck Boot
3. Sperry Top Sider Ripwater Duck Boot
4. Sporto Degas Duck Boot

1. Sperry Top Sider Sweetwater Duck Boot in beige/dark brown

Probably my favorite! They were comfy to walk around in, didn't scrape my feet and were very flexible. The inside wasn't super plush and warm, but there was decent padding. These run true to size to slightly large, which is perfect for thick socks. Visually, they molded to my legs decently, and would go well with any winter outfit.

   

2. Steve Madden Tillis Olive Duck BootThese are a close runner-up! I love the color combination. Even though they're green/brown, it would go well with any black, gray, camel, or navy coat. They were just as comfy as the Sperry's, but felt a little thinner and cheaper. This translated into a more flexible sole, which was actually comfier. Visually, they had the same shape as the Sperry's. They were true to size.