Thursday, January 27, 2011

Other People's Birthdays

I know what you're thinking and yes, that shift dress is covered entirely in sequins. It's okay to dress extremely sparkly for someone else's birthday as long as you call them and okay it with them first, right? Luckily, the birthday girl in question was my aunt, who long ago accepted my fashion whims (Happy Birthday Aunt Donna!). This recent Gabe's purchase could only sit in my closet for a little over a week before I overdressed for dinner. To tone the dress down a bit, I paired it with greys and blacks, adding only another layer of metallic with the necklace.
I'm loving the sequins trends, and cannot wait to wear this dress again when it is more event appropriate and the weather warms up! I'm hoping by that time I will have a metallic belt.

Dress: Gabe's
Cardigan: Topshop, London, Basement (vintage) floor
Necklace: Gifted, Erin
Tights: Walmart
Boots: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Zappo's, Chinese Laundry
Photos: Aunt Donna
Since I wore this in the evening in the middle of winter, there was no way I could take outdoor photos, but how fun does this dress look next to vegetation? xoxo Anna Rae

Details and Cold Coffee

Today my outfit was pretty boring, except for the details. I decided to use Anna's old-fashion post to inspire me today - I also love hats. And in the name of full-disclosure, I'm already at the stage of drinking reheated coffee. Come on, don't judge me like that! Listen, waste not, want not, right? RIGHT? Alright I reheated my coffee the other day because I forgot it on the counter when I went to babysit so it was just BEGGING to be reheated the next morning for school....listen, I have no shame.
So besides wearing gray pants, a gray blazer and a black sweater, these shoes spiced up my outfit. I actually forgot I had these shoes because they were in the back of my closet from the summer, and I was super excited to come across them! They're more comfortable than they look, too, and I'm pretty sure I got them on sale last season for $29.
Until next time. Libby

Shoes: Naughty Monkey
Chords and Blazer: Gap
Hat: Nordstrom

Carmen Miranda North

Anna was with me when I bought this dress at an end-of-season sale last January and thankfully convinced me to splurge a little on a truly special piece. It may be a simple black sweater dress, but the details on the sleeves punctuate the look, giving the dress (and me!) that extra bit of flair.
The delicate crochet ruffles remind me of coral while adding a bit of sass to my pedagogical hand guestures. Their sassy detail is typical of many Milly designs, (like my New Year's dress) most of which leave me lusting after an endless fashion budget. While I can't clothe myself entirely in Milly (or Kate Spade for that matter), I try to use their creativity and wit to inspire my own more budget style.
Dress: Milly, Holt Renfrew
Tights: Hue
Boots: Diba, Ross Dress for Less






Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Flavor of the Week: Fashions for Fran

Photo from http://shouldbeonthenanny.blogspot.com/
Originally from Style.com, Louis Vitton Spring 2011

About once a week, I find a new blog that I personally declare to be "The Greatest Blog in the World," and I thought it's about time that I start sharing these treasures with my favorite corner of the blogging community.

Have you ever thought to yourself, I would like to know more about the new Fashion lines, but couldn't someone present them in a fun, kitschy way? Or maybe, You know those wacky characters on television, do you think that maybe they were actually fashion geniuses?

The answers to these questions and more can be found at Should Be on the Nanny, which is the the Greatest Blog in the World, for this week at least. I found it through some weird archival search of Jezebel, one of those internet rabbit holes you're glad you fell through. Let me know you're thoughts on the blog -- a lot of love could move it from fleeting favorite to a position on the permanent blog roll. xoxo Anna Rae

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Old Hollywood Glamour for New Suburban Lifestyles

My grandmother, a child of the Depression, has some strange habits that we as a family have always attributed to her childhood in the 1930s. If she's drinking a coffee on Friday, but isn't done with it before she leaves for a weekend, she'll leave it on the counter to finish on a Monday. Examples like this, and others, left the 1930s unglamourized in my mind. Recently, though, I've been more interested in 1930s fashion: fur, the hats and headpieces, flattering cuts, knee pleats in skirts -- I've fallen in love. This outfit, mostly this vintage fur collar, has been inspired by the obsession.
I like this summery dress, and I thought that the fur would be a perfect way to winterize it. The colored tights were a last minute addition, and I didn't intend on adding any color to the outfit, but I thought that the jewel tone went so well with the collar and brightened up the mostly greys and browns. The accessories, of course, made this outfit. Aside from matching the dress, I thought that the stones on the earrings had a vintage feel, and the hat, with its side ribbon, seemed the perfect compliment to the main event, the collar.
Collar: Vintage, Etsy, Archives Chicago Shop
Dress: Thrifted, Value Village, Vancouver, Rietman's
Belt: Target
Cardigan: Thrifted, St. Vincent de Paul, Latrobe, Zara
Hat: Target
Tights: Hue
Boots: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Zappos, Chinese Laundry
Earrings: Gifted, Mom and Dad
I can't wait to rewear this collar, and am currently taking suggestions on how to wear it in my next attempt! xoxo Anna Rae

Red Letter Day

When lecturing on a Monday morning it is advisable to have some sort of sartorial distraction to keep the stragglers engaged. Yesterday it was red tights. While they would have been more appropriate for teaching about Chaucer's Wife of Bath ("hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed," proving that fashion is nothing if not cyclical) they gave me some pep in my step nonetheless
Houndstooth is the logical pairing for legs like these, and because this dress is a thick wool its heft toned down the screaming scarlet.

I kept things tongue-in-cheek with yet another telephone brooch and bow earrings. I may have attracted some stares on public transit, but I am still looking forward to bringing these tights out again.
Tights: Kate Spade, Ebay
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Dress: Lauren Ralph Lauren, The Bay
Wedges: Cole Haan, Freedman's South Grandville
Brooch: Vintage, Etsy
Earrings: Vintage, The Salvation Army Kerrisdale



Monday, January 24, 2011

Sunday Matinee

This past Sunday, my aunt took me to brunch, which I've missed so much since I've left Vancouver, and to see Camelot at the Public Theater. Such a fun occasion called for a fun outfit, and when I bought this dress on Thursday, I knew it was the one. Although I desperately wanted the Miu Miu print dresses last season, and I wanted birds not butterflies, when I found this dress on the super clearance rack at Old Navy, all those nights of longing over my computer screen came rushing back.
Aside from having two different ruffles (!!!), this dress seemed like one of those all-season dresses with its base gray and pops of bright colors. It's a bit shapeless, so I added my cream belt, and the rest of the outfit sort of fell into place. Yellow cardigan to match the dress, cream textured tights to add a sense of occasion (I was at the theater, after all), and my sturdy enough for the snow and ice oxfords.
And a few detail shots to admire the ruffles in all of their glory. Because I didn't want to overpower the neckline, I added this simple locket and my post pearl earrings.
Dress: Old Navy
Cardigan: Old Navy
Belt: Thrifted, Value Village, Vancouver
Tights: Target
Shoes: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Zappo's, Bass
Necklace: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Etsy, Japonicas

Thanks to TJ for, once again, taking such lovely photos. The afternoon was a wonderful break from the Steeler fandom that I love to avoid. The Public Theater did a great job, and I loved their production of Camelot; the two leads were particularly excellent (though no comparison to Mike McCarthy's performance, of course). It's still in the beginning of its run, so if you one of Pittsburgh area readers, I'd recommend seeing it! xoxo Anna Rae

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Feline Frenzy

Surveying my closet after a post-Christmas shopping trip to Seattle, I came to the realization that my wardrobe might be showing an early propensity (in the form of multiple leopard prints) to to becoming a crazy cat lady. Or maybe I'm just becoming my Nana (she may be gone but her floor-length leopard vest and matching bodysuit live on!). Look for many more manifestations of this pattern preoccupation in posts to come. And let me know if you think there is such a thing as too much animal print in the comments...
The star of this outfit, however, was not the cardigan but the beautiful cameo I was gifted for Christmas by my best friend Kelly. I think her exquisite taste in accessories elevates this look to another level. The bulk of the chain and the frosted glass relief give the necklace real presence, allowing it to stand out even amid ruffles and leopard spots.

A final, more subtle touch was flesh toned fishnet knee highs. Like their full-length sisters, they provide the comfort and respectability of a nude stocking without the fuddy duddy.
Necklace: Gifted, Kelly
Flats: Zara
Knee Highs: Winners
Jeans: Paige Premium, Fab Kerrisdale
Blouse: Esprit, The Bay
Cardigan: JCrew, Ebay

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Power Blue

or, How Much Anna Rae really adores navy.
(I apologize if these photos seem off or extremely grainy. In order to really showcase the amazing feather details on this cardigan, I had to play mad scientist with the adjusts on my iPhoto).
This outfit is simple, almost, in my opinion, too simple to blog, but I love the cardigan so much and am so happy to have this skirt back in commission. About two (three?) months ago, I was wearing this skirt around Pittsburgh, when the bottom button fell off, making it completely inappropriate to wear in public without some shorts underneath, which seems like another inappropriate thing to do. I can sew a mean button onto a skirt, and could have fixed this on the same day that it happened, but my mother, the keeper of the keys, has a organizational system for all extra buttons in our house and I waited three months to ask her to find this one. Why? I'll never know. Not only did she find it, but she sewed the button back on the skirt, washed it, and returned it to me in about a 2 day turnaround.
I was so happy to have this skirt back and so excited to show off this cardigan, that I paired them together and added blue tights because, well, why not. The locket and oxfords seemed simple and scholarly, just like the rest of this outfit.

Strange photo quality to highlight its textures aside, how much do you love the feathers on this cardigan? So much, right? I love how they range from navy to light blue to black. I love how they're made of both cotton and tulle. I love that I found it on sale!
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Skirt: Purr, South Granville, Vancouver
Locket: Gifted, Mom and Dad
Tights: Kohl's, inside out
Shoes: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Zappo's, Bass
And a special thanks to Mom for not only sewing the button back onto this skirt, but also taking the pictures even though I obnoxiously waited until she was right in the middle of baking Amish friendship bread to ask her. xoxo Anna Rae

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Red, White & Blue

So I'm feeling a little waitress-y here, but that's okay. And I guess it doesn't help that I forgot to take my Staff badge off from school today. I feel like I should be all [smoker's cough] "Want another piece of blackberry pie, sweetie?"
You can't really tell, but my tights have a diamond pattern on them, and they're really soft - I love them. Today is kind of another mish-mash of colors day, but I like to think it worked. I added the sweater when I got chilly in the school today and think it looked decent. It's just really early to think of outfits at 6 am and sometimes I'm just not at my most creative. Oh well, overall I'm happy with my look! Now where can I find some blackberry pie....

Until next time. Libby

Shoes: Steve Madden
Tights: Macy's
Skirt: Gap ($12)
Shirt: Express
Sweater: American Eagle
Ugly Name Badge: Boyce Middle School

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Yellow Haze(ing)

Why hello there! What's that hiding in the bottom of the frame? Are those (mustard) yellow tights? Yes indeed they are and they are fabulous!When I joined the blog the lovelies Anna and Libby invited (dared?) me to join their jaundiced jaune jambes and sheath my stems in saffron. Challenge accepted ladies!
I kept the rest of my outfit simple because clearly everyone would be mesmerized by the tights. The skirt is a recent post-Christmas super clearance item that I bought because of the houndstooth even though (as previously noted) I am not a big fan of skirts. I must say that wearing a skirt all day reinforced my aversion-- it orbited around my waist like an asteroid belt and tried to make a break for my armpits every time I moved too aggressively. What am I doing wrong? If you know, avid skirt wearers, please fill me in the comments!
While the tights are pretty spectacular, my favourite part of the look is the novelty brooch. One part whimsy, one part kitsch, and one part E.T., it reminds us all to do the right thing.
Tights: Gap
Skirt: DKNYC, The Bay
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Camisole: Zeller's (WHICH TARGET JUST BOUGHT!!! AMAZING!!!)
Brooch: Vintage, Etsy

Friday, January 14, 2011

Polka Dots and Grandpa Sweaters

Oh hello. Look at me posting twice in one week. Well this is quite an easy outfit to put together, and extremely comfy. I'm a fan of the skinny cords, I could lay around in them allllll day...which I kind of have been. Yup, laying around, being a bum, doing homework.
Oh, and blog posting. And what would a post of mine be without doing the class Libby "head down, holding my bangs back" pose? I just also wanted to show a quick detail of the bow that the shirt has when not covered by a cardigan - it's cute in the summer.
Welp, that's all for now!

Until next time. Libby

Boots: Steve Madden
Cords: Gap ($14)
Shirt: White House Black Market Outlet
Cardigan: Gap ($12)

PS - Look how long my bangs are getting! It's taken since July for them to grow out this long and boy am I excited with the progress!!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Work Wardrobe

Although this may seem a bit off given my fashion history on the blog, when I'm teaching, I wear dress pants once or twice a week. I've never posted any outfits involving them because I usually feel like they are lazy and uninspired, but I'm trying to making my outfits more interesting with small details, not just crazy tights and layers, so here is my first attempt. I feel like this outfit is quite Erin.
I actually really like these pants. They're flattering, comfortable, and endlessly useful. I bought them in the summer of 2007 when I realized that I was weeks away from having an internship in London that may require some business casual clothing and panicked when I realized I had none. And that's the thing about nice dress pants: they still look nice and they are as in style now as they were then.

The pants are absolutely not the focal point of this outfit, though. That distinction goes to this amazing shirt I recently bought at Anthropologie. It has a lot going on by itself, but I thinks its drape is so lovely and the black at the bottom suits itself to my pants so well that it felt like a great combo for teaching. I tried to keep the rest of the outfit's details subtle, but also fun. This shirt is, after all, fun. I wore my maroon tweed flats (not pictures because I'm still getting used to the new tripod and because it was cold! And snowing! And windy! And cold snow was blowing in my face!) and gray cardigan because I didn't want to add any extra colors to the outfit.
This cardigan, as you can see in the collective detail shot below, has small hearts cut out of it, which makes it the most twee and adorable thing I own. My beautiful diamond necklace (thanks Dad!) fit the neckline well, and I couldn't resist adding a brooch. A serious accessory for dress pants with just enough whimsy to match the fun shirt.
Pants: The Loft, hemmed (I'm not that short, but I do have an aversion to heels)
Shirt: Anthropologie
Cardigan: Basement of Topshop, London
Brooch: Golden Nugget Flea Market, New Jersey
Necklace: Gifted, Dad
Shoes: Gifted, Doug, Aeropostale

A great workday success that easily became a great post-workday success by exchanging the dress pants for dark jeans and the flats for black boots. xoxo Anna Rae

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Anna is such a Liar

I would just like to start by saying that I don't know where Anna is teaching this semester but I would like to know because I haven't had shorter-first-week-of-classes in quite some time and frankly, I'm jealous. My professors usually just taunt us with "You think this is syllabus week, but there is no such thing. Oh and by the way, we'll stay the entire time each week." RUDE. So I also started school this week: I'm interning at a middle school 2 days a week. It's in a school district that is well to do, so I feel the need to dress to impress especially! (Also, I need to get back into the swing of posting and learn to add the photos in the correct order, bear with me)

Here is the detail of my outfit - the top is see through on the sides, but I can't risk being scandalous, so I wore a black cami underneath. It's still a nice detail though. And I love having a fun bow! I tried to get a pic of the fun zipper on top of the sleeve, but am not exactly coordinated enough, wah wah.
I wore my black boots today that I have usually worn on here, but needed a break before class and was instead wearing slippers - hence the cropped feet. I didn't take pics the first day at school, but I've gotten compliments each day so I'll take that as a good sign. Some fun notes about the skirt: It's so easily cleaned! How do I know? Well I wore the skirt for New Year's Eve and spilled beer on it and it came out in the regular old washing machine. Hell yeah! Also, it was originally $60, but I got it on sale for $14. Now that's what I call thrifting! I'm not a fan of actually going to thrift stores, but instead waiting for amazing deals in stores.

Skirt: Gap
Shirt: Gifted by Meg (thanks!), Gap

Until next time. Libby

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

First Impressions

First day of school outfits are always my favorite. I love the beginning of school -- new notebooks and folders, new promises about waking up early and working ahead. Not only was today my first day of any class for the semester, it was also my first day at a new campus, so I wanted to make a really excellent first impression.I rewore the J.Crew dress that I wore on Christmas, reworking the elements that I liked best from each wear -- the belt to help shape the dress and the tights because they dress it up and a bit of frivolity through texture. The real star of the outfit, however, is the cardigan, a recent purchase from Anthroplogie. I love the deep purple with the tangerine, and its details are amazing.
Snowflakes were ruining any attempt at an outside close-up, but note the amazing beadwork on the flowers. I'm in love.
Dress: J.Crew Factory Outlets
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Tights: Target
Shoes: AE

The best part of the first week of school? Class always ends early. xoxo Anna Rae

Off to work we go


The holidays are over and the working wardrobe starts... perhaps all the black is mourning for lazy days gone by. I wear this dress often, even though it isn't really like anything else in my wardrobe. My mother picked it out for me and made me try it own against my initial resistance, but as soon as I put it on I loved it. The fine wale corduroy is comfortable and warm, and the embroidered detail is a luxe bohemian touch.


Dress: DKNY, Enda B
Tights: Hue Boots: Diba, Ross
Earrings: Foxy, Blue Ruby

Friday, January 7, 2011

Small Town Girl in the Big City

Now that I'm fully immersed in the suburbs, I feel like I really need to step up my game when I go into the city. The other days, I drove into Pittsburgh for shopping at Anthropologie and celebrating the engagement of two of my favorites -- Yay Will and Lindsay! -- and, for the occasion, threw together a pretty lovely outfit. You know something is a keeper when you're done shopping at Anthro and you still like what you're wearing.
It's a bit of a variation on a theme -- clearly looking at Erin's top three choices was an inspiration. I really liked having so much black in the outfit though, I think it gave it a bit of a cooler edge.
These tights are so amazing, but starting to really rip, so I can only wear them in moderation. I knew that, at least once, they needed to be paired with the amazing leopard print shoes.
And, of course, when you feel like you might actually be able to accomplish edge with your outfit, you should layer a lot of gold necklaces.
Cardigan: Old Navy
Shirt: Target
Shorts: Thrifted and hemmed, Value Village, Vancouver
Tights: Kohl's
Shoes: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Zappo's, FS NY
Necklace: Gifted, Elana; Gifted, Janet; Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Super Store

A very special thanks to Lindsay for taking these pictures and to Will for having such a great bookshelf for posing. xoxo Anna Rae