White skirt black flowers

White House Black Market skirt (in petite) c/o, H&M turtleneck, Kate Spade heels (current color) Warby Parker "Evelyn" glasses c/o, Ann Taylor necklace, J.Crew Claremont tote
I paid a quick visit to NYC last week for both work and blog projects, and loved getting to catch up with old friends at favorite spots. Highlight meal of the trip was at Maharlika (on an unexpectedly gorgeous day), which I recommend if you find yourself in the east village. Nick and I cook a pretty mean brunch at home so we don’t usually get it at restaurants, but exceptions are made for their Filipino-style silog breakfasts - fragrant garlic fried rice topped with a perfect egg and side of protein...happy sigh.

I packed this outfit for a meeting, choosing pieces that could also serve for going out or casual wandering. The turtleneck and faux leather jacket are great transitional pieces that travel well without wrinkling. The skirt is conservative in style and length, but the beautiful print makes it more exciting than my average pencil skirt, and something I’d wear onto dinner or drinks.

For those who have not tried WHBM sizing before, the fit of their petites line feels consistent with other American work wear brands for most items. I tailored this skirt (size 00 petite) about one size down in the waist and hips to fit. Because there is no waistband and there are seams down both sides, the job was easy enough for me to DIY at home (although the lining did complicate things a bit). You can see the subtle difference in the before and after photo below. Slimming the sides ~2" raised the waistline closer to my natural waist and the hem to right at my knees.

In comparison, I also tried on a dress from their instantly slimming line in the same size, which ran at least one whole size small. I needed to size up for it to be work-appropriate and the length hit 2" above my knees, so I'm curious how the regular sizing would fit. The material was very stretchy with an interior almost like banded layers of shapewear. If you are looking for a fitted LBD (or LWD), I'd suggest giving dresses from that line a try (also see Sydney's review). Both items I tried were good quality and fully lined, and I’m already eying new arrivals like this charming dress with (removable) bow belt and piped tweed jacket.

Blank NYC faux leather jacket (reviewed here)
Below is a quick snapshot before heading home. This purse was a gift from a generous friend who knows my style well - it came to me monogrammed (!) and also comes in black and cream on final sale. It's a great size, and the material is like a saffiano leather that's durable enough for me to haul my laptop in and travel with. As an FYI I do want to note the metal top clasp does not stay closed.

J.Crew bag, Ricardo 20" spinner suitcase, Gap "real straight" jeans, Uniqueen (sadly out of business) jacket
I also wanted to do a quick review on this H&M drape blouse, since a number of you have asked for an update. Thank you ago to the ladies who suggested this as an alternative to the Pleione one at Nordstrom (see review). This is the fit of a sz 2:

I did decide to keep the H&M version as the shorter length from all angles fit better on my shorter frame, and the price point made me less concerned about likely spills and stains. However, there are noticeable differences in quality with the Pleione one winning on that front. Although both blouses are sheer, the sleeves and back on the H&M are very see through. The material of the H&M close up looks cheaper, almost styrafoam-y. The material of the Pleione one has good weight and drapes more smoothly, bearing greater resemblance to silk. If I weren't a perpetual klutz and lover of bright red sriracha sauce, I might've opted for the Pleione version.