Happy Tuesday, loves! Reviewing one of the most hyped items of the season for you guys today--the Chloe Drew bag! I've already written some content on a dupe for the Drew bag since everyone has been swooning over it from its release, but I thought that today, I'd go "beyond the hype" and give you guys the whole "low down" on the bag itself as well as how to be smart while buying luxury!

**Disclaimer: This post is in no way sponsored by any retailer or company. All opinions and recommendations are solely my own.

Your Step-By-Step Guide to Buying Luxury:

1. Do Your Research

Now, when I am thinking about buying luxury, I always do my research online first. When it comes to  choosing the perfect Drew bag for you, it's all about looking at what options are out there in the first place--from color to material to size. It's easy to be overwhelmed in a store setting if you don't have an idea of what your perfect bag is because the choices can be pretty endless. And then, you run the risk of getting buyer's remorse after the purchase if you catch your eye on something else! So, always always always--do the research first! 

2. In-Store Visit

Once you have an idea in your mind which bag you're dying to get your hands on, make sure you actually go in for a store visit to see the product in person. It's always a good idea to see what the product looks like in real life, especially since you can have a better sense of the size, material and subtle details that may not have been captured by the camera in an online photo. I especially recommend this for the Drew, since you'll be able to see and feel the leather quality. Not to mention, there are now color block Chloë Drew designs, with other textures such as suede and python. 

The other factor to consider when you're thinking of purchasing the Drew is the size preference. I believe that Chloë now makes the Drew in 5 sizes: nano, mini, small, regular and medium. It can be a little confusing and hard to tell in photos which size is the perfect one for you, so definitely do a little comparison between the different sizes in stores! The photo below features a regular Drew bag on the left (pink) and a small Drew bag on the right (gray).

3. Making The Purchase

 Mull over your final decision for a couple of days before clicking that "purchase" button! This will weed out any last doubts and ensure that you know absolutely which Drew bag is for you! As for where to make the final purchase...I recommending ordering from Farfetch.com. Farfetch is an international online retailer that curates its products from boutiques from all around the world. I recommend ordering from their site because all taxes/import duties are included in the price that is quoted, which ends up making your final purchase slightly cheaper than if you order from a regular department store carrying Chloë (please read the site's shipping policy for more details). Not to mention, Farfetch ships internationally--so no worries if you're in an area that does not have a local department store carrying the Chloë bag you want!

Now, let's get to the actual review of this gorgeous bag! It was one of the happiest mail days that ever existed when this little baby showed up at the front door. The packaging was pristine, wrapped delicately in tissue paper and double boxed. You can tell the amount of effort it took to ensure the immaculate condition of the bag at its arrival. After careful unwrapping, (and lots of oohhing and ahhing), the Drew was finally here, in all its beauty. The leather is very soft, and a little flimsy to be honest. But that's just the texture of "genuine lambskin leather" I guess. 

Definitely took the Drew out multiple times during NYFW this season. It's very surprising how much the bag can actually hold. The Drew pictured here is the pink mini in grained Nappa leather. This neutral light blush color is very easy to pair with any given look, and adds a nice soft feminine touch to more structured pieces. 

Loving how versatile the design of the Drew is--you can literally take it from day to night, from work to weekend. 

I thought that I might have had to take the mini back and get the regular size instead, but the mini has proven to be able to hold its fair share! The exterior design can be misleading of how big the bag actually is. The interior features a separate small pocket, perfect for holding credit cards, keys, ID and perhaps loose change. I was able to fit all my NYFW essentials into this Drew! If you're someone who has a full size wallet though, you might want to consider the regular because the mini isn't quit wide enough to fit a regular long wallet. Functionality is one of the most important factors when choosing a bag, especially when its an investment piece. My issue with this Drew bag is that the clasp and turnlock design may not be the most practical and can actually make it quite difficult for me to quickly and easily get things from the bag. Still getting used to the turnlock design, but I can't say it's my favorite. 

{Chloe Drew Mini Grained Nappa Leather in Pink}

Happy Saturday, loves! Weekending away in my home-town these last few weekends...it's nice to get away and take a breather from the city sometimes. Usually, the city emits a strong motivating vibe that gets me to take action and chase my dreams, but it can also be such an energy drainer at other times and leave me feeling a bit burnt out. Whenever I'm feeling a bit drained from the fast-pace of Manhattan, I like to retreat for a weekend back to my hometown in Jersey. Believe me, I definitely needed some alone time and a whole lot of sleeping in after the craziness of New York Fashion Week!

Loving this transitioning fall weather at the moment--the time right before the leaves start changing colors. When the air is crisp and you wake up not knowing if it's going to be one of those brisk fall mornings or a day from the warm summers end. It's still been pretty warm these last couple of weekends, so taking full advantage, wearing the last of my summer wardrobe before fall truly kicks in. 

These are actually my first pair of culottes--purchased in lieu of NYFW. I know I'm super late to the culotte game, and I've known other bloggers that have been in on this trend since last spring/beginning of summer--but, I've been particularly hesitant when it comes to wide legged bottoms on my shorter, petite frame. I've got to say, I think I've found the perfect pair though! 

I shopped around, tried on a couple of pairs before deciding on this one. I'm gonna be honest, some of the other culottes I tried on were not flattering at all. Once again, that wide pant leg just doesn't agree with my small, petite build. But in the end, I realized that it's all about the cut and design of the culotte. This pair is particularly flattering because of the pleats, giving me a taller, slimming illusion, making these so much more attractive than the other plain wide-legged culottes!

Who said comfy couldn't be chic?! Getting the most wears out of my favorite culottes now, before the weather gets too cold for them! (I've linked a couple of other culotte options below, if you guys are just getting into this trend like I am). Happy styling fashionistas,

{Top: Ann Taylor}

{Bottoms: Zara; Similar here}

{Shoes: Banana Republic}

{Bag: Chloe (dupe)}

{Necklace: Bauble Bar}

{Sunglasses: Burberry; Similar here}

{Bracelet: Banana Republic}

Happy Friday, loves! Finally the weekend...and phew, has it been a long week! Running from shows to presentations to events and it has been absolutely exhausting this Fashion Week! So grateful to have been a part of such an inspiring experience, in the one and only fashion capital of the country! This is my first time participating as a blogger in NYFW and it was every bit exciting and glamorous as I'd imagined. 

Of course, behind the bright lights of the runway, there's actual work to be done as well. Being invited to attend a show is the greatest honor--but the real work begins when the runway lights go up. Then, it's all about getting that perfect shot of the designer's collection. You'll seldomly see my face during a show...pretty much cause it'll be behind my DSLR the whole time! And when the show concludes, its time to get those photos edited and posted, so that you guys can experience the collection as well!

A rare respite in the midst of all the craziness of fashion week--romping around the cobblestone streets of Soho. This romper was such an amazing find! I actually picked it up at a HauteLook flash sale and I've gotten so much wear out of it since! Loving the pinstripe of the fabric & the sheer black back design (don't know if you can tell from these photos...sun was setting so I apologize for the grainy quality).

Experimenting in headwear with this olive felt fedora. If you couldn't tell from my previous posts, I usually avoid hats/never find one that looks flattering on me. BUT, I just couldn't help it when I came across this one for just $30! The perfect hat for fall, at such a great value! (No worries, I linked it below) ;D Any of you guys feel kinda weird when you try on hats and feel like nothing feels right? Cause that's usually how it goes, but I guess I found my perfect hat for fall after all! A true Cinderella story, haha. 

But anyway, I hope you guys have enjoyed this week of fashion week craziness & show recaps! Stay tuned for my NYFW vlog experience soon! Happy styling fashionistas,

Photography by: Angela Chen

{Romper: BCBGeneration}

{Tote: Rebecca Minkoff}

{Booties: Zara}

{Hat: Brandy Melville; Similar here}

{Necklace: Bauble Bar}

{Watch: Michael Kors, ON SALE!}

{Ring: Banana Republic; Similar here}

{Furry Keychain: Night Market; Similar here}

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