I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but I found myself gravitating towards warm tops or jackets.

Sometimes you comes across a must-have piece of clothing when you least expect it, so I thought maybe this could be my lucky day. You never know what you might find. Being petite makes shopping in person and online a difficult task. It's rare to find a piece that fits like glove, but every now and then, I’m pleasantly surprised.

I've gotten lucky at Bloomingdale’s before. However, I thought I don’t have the budget for that today so let's go to Nordstrom instead. As if the price are any different.

Of course, certain textures, colors, and styles caught my eye. But after a closer look, none of them were quite right for me.

Eventaully, I caved an ended up walking over to Bloomingdale’s. I usually start at one corner and zigzag my way through the floor to ensure I don’t miss anything. That said, there are certain brands that graviate towards and spend more time browsing. Some of those brands include Cinq a Sept, Reformation, and Lagence.

As I was making my last turn, I came a across a rack with a few beautiful blue cashmere tops. The price immediatley dissuaded me, but I conintued browsing. Then, suddenly, there it was: a wonderful dark navy corduroy jacket.

It looked versatile. This jacket could be dressed up or down. It seemed perfect for the office.

I went straight to the fitting room. It was a perfect fit. It was spacious, warm, classy, fitted, and well constructed - almost as if it had been tailored specifically for my frame. It truly felt like a lucky find.

Still, I couldn’t let myself be too impulsive, so I tried the other two jackets on the rack to compare. I double checked for any imperfections. I even tried the brown version, but it wasn’t the vibe I was going for.

Since I rarely shop and don't have enough room in my closet, I buy each piece of clothing with intention. Versatility is a must. This jacket checked all the boxes. I could see myself wearing it to the office or on a night out.

I purchased it.

I wore it to work the following week and it kept me warm. That's a win. Who knew a navy corduroy jacket would become a must-have for me?

The jacket is Corduroy Shirt Jacket from Theory.

First, I had cleaned out my closet earlier this year. Second, I thought, What am I going to wear? It was time to go shopping.

I prefer to shop in person. I like to touch the fabrics and see how they drape. Most importantly, I want to be inspired.

I went to Westfield Century City mall, and my first stop was Nordstrom. I was committed and zigzagged my way through every section—from Reformation to, heck, even the teen section. Being 5’0” has its perks; nothing is off-limits.

I saw a couple of pieces I really liked, some eye-catching fabrics here and there. Unfortunately, nothing made me say, This is it!

My next stop was Bloomingdales. I made my way through as I usually do and came across this very chic embellished navy top. A versatile piece that could be dressed up or down. I tried it on. I thought I found the one—almost. I set it back on the rack and kept going.

For the next week, I kept thinking about that top, the Samina Jacket from Cinq à Sept. I hadn’t figured out what bottoms to wear with it if I were to buy it. I was also entertaining the idea of wearing a dress.

Then along came Alex Evenings. I was online shopping on Nordstrom for petite pants and came across the black Gauzy Wide-Leg Pant. Like the Samina Jacket, I could wear them for cocktails or a wedding rehearsal. I was sold.

Fast forward, the pants were too long. This meant I had to buy a new pair of heels, stat. If there’s anything life has taught me, it’s that you know something is meant to be when your shopping experience is a breeze. From Macy’s to Steve Madden, I lucked out and found the Larah black leather heels just an hour into my second round of in-person shopping.

Giving myself a month’s head start turned out to be the right move. The perfect blend of in-person and online shopping paid off. The Christmas party is a week away, and my outfit is ready.

The Samina Jacket - Cinq à Sept

Gauzy Wide Leg Pant - Alex Evenings

Larah - Steve Madden