Autumn Neons

I typically judge what season it is based on what flavored coffees are being sold. Since I'm currently drinking the hell out of any pumpkin-flavored latte I can get my hands on, I know, empirically, that it is definitely fall. Here in Boston, in my second-floor non-air conditioned airport and on crowded T rides, it feels much more like the middle of summer. This merger of seasons in my mind has resulted in a deep attachment to bright, neon accessories paired with fall pieces.
The neon green belt and ruby flower were shockingly bright versions of colors that already existed in the dress. The yellow was added because I loved the look of the double flowers and because at this point in my obession with mixing colors, it's become a neutral.
Note the excellent necklace -- a bridesmaid present from Toni. It has both my initial and my birthstone.

Dress: Target

Cardigan: Old Navy

Flower: Free from Kate Spade

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Gifted, Toni, Etsy
The real victim in this unseasonably warm fall? My bangs. Here's hoping for sweater (but not parka!) weather soon. xoxo Anna Rae

Like a Pro

Although my roles as both graduate student and community college teacher allow for great flexibility in my wardrobe, there are some days when even student/teachers need to dress like professionals. On those days, I abandon my bright colors, my affinity for layering, and my desire to mix prints for simple, classic pieces. The pieces, of course, need to be well made, need to fit well, and need to be at least a little fun, so that I'll want to wear them.
This dress is not only a completely beautiful shade of purple, but the ruffle around the collar is what I'd like to call understated whimsy, if anything can be called such a thing.
With a solid color dress, simple ivory tights, and basic black tweed flats, I thought at least one piece of jewelry, something to heighten my clothes into an outfit was needed. My mom recently gave me this brooch for my birthday, and I love it. The pewter gives it a vintage feel and the horseshoe shape, to me, sets it apart from so many other brooches. I can't wait to buy a dress with a small horse pattern and wear this brooch with it.
Dress: J. Crew factory outlet, Lancaster

Tights: CVS

Shoes: American Eagle

Brooch, Gifted, Mom, Morning Glory
And a complaint to those most sympathetic: drug store tights, while earning high marks for always being down the block, are never worth four dollars. These, like all others bought during tight emergencies, ripped on my first day wearing them. xoxo Anna Rae

The Scarlet Leopard

I am so glad I picked up this snow leopard print dress earlier this year at Zara. While normally I wear it with bright tights, this time I chose to experiment with texture rather than pops of colour. The flower print of these stockings is subtle enough that it adds depth to the look rather than clashing.

The black tights also make the red shoes pop! I took advantage of the dry weather to wear these great low pumps. Sadly, the inherent incompatibility between suede and Vancouver means they don't get enough wear as they deserve.Normally I wouldn't be quite so matchy-matchy with my accessories, but I like how the red shoes and necklace add balance to a look with a lot of different textures and prints like the ruffled shoulders and snakeskin embossed belt.
Dress: Zara

Belt: Mexx

Shoes: Sam Edelman, Zappos.com

Tights: Gifted by Mom, from Portugal

Necklace: Thrifted, The Salvation Army Kerrisdale

Birthday Girl

For my birthday, I wanted to look a little special, but it was also very warm, so I had to keep it pretty simple. The skirt was a very exciting, recent find at the Garment District, a great vintage store in Cambridge. I think the shape of the outfit, plus the small details made it special.
The creams ant metallics in the skirt matched the necklace and top, and the birdcage necklace is one I don't wear often, because it's pretty big and loud, but it seemed like a perfect way to add interest o the outfit. The pop of color in the shoes completed the casual, simple, but fun and slightly retro look.
Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: Vintage, Garment District

Belt: American Eagle (very old, from high school)

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Target
My birthday was a success. Thanks to everyone who joined me for beers and so much gregarious fun that we were told by the not-so-nice waitress that three tables asked to not sit near us. xoxo Anna Rae

Newbury Street

My mom visited over the weekend, and we did some high end shopping on Newbury Street before wandering around the Public Gardens.
I love how this dress looks like a vintage flight attendant outfit, and decided to brighten it up with a lot of color. The yellow shoes and pink beret and belt seemed outfit enough when we left my apartment, but when Kate Spade was giving away these pop of color flower pins, I knew that the outfit had been sadly missing it before. My mom scoffed at the idea of wearing pink with ruby, but I like throwing all the colors against the neutral white and navy. The purse really brought everything together and added a touch of fall within the high temperatures.
Dress: Thrifted, Salvation Army, Lancaster

Belt: Target

Beret: Luxx, Southside, Pittsburgh

Shoes: Target

Brooch: Free, Kate Spade store
Results of the shopping trip? I did a lot of drooling, but my mom walked away with a gorgeous Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress. xoxo Anna Rae

Stormy Weather

Normally I dress in bright colours to counteract Vancouver's grey skies, but on this day I decided to blend right in with an outfit that explored a more subtle use of colour.
The tiny polka dot print and ruffles of this cropped jacket adds dimension, while the satin sheen of the teal blouse and the crystal necklace brings a bit of sparkle. I liked how the contrast of the grey jeans make the blouse pop so much more than regular denim would have.
Jacket: Nanette Lepore, Ebay

Blouse: Nanette Lepore, La Belle Vie Consignment Kerrisdale

Jeans: Paige Premium, Zappos.com

Wedges: Cole Haan, Freedmans South Granville

Necklace: Thrifted, Salvation Army Kerrisdale

Umbrella: Echo, Winners

The Honeymoon Period

I know that everything is new, so it might be technically just a honeymoon period, but I am in love with the photography backdrop options at Simmons College. This wall, just hanging out near the admissions office on the first floor of our building, looks amazing. Credit must be given to Karleigh, an excellent photographer who -- bonus! -- lives close enough for some near the apartment shots. I have high hopes for my blogging future.
And onto the outfit -- it's one of my favorites. Although I originally found it hard to match this skirt with pieces in my closet, I've been recently having success mixing it with other patterns, first the ruffled stripe tee and now my polka dot dress.
The basic black and white color scheme of the dots and subdued tights and shoes helped the outfit from being too overwhelming. My teal necklace brought out the teal in the skirt, adding some interest, but keeping in the existing color scheme.
Skirt: Purr, South Granville, Vancouver

Dress: Thrift, St. Mary's Church Thrift Store

Necklace: Gifted, Jane

Shoes: American Eagle
I can't wait to revisit this background and find other great gems around Simmons. xoxo Anna Rae

Still in Season

Even though it's only appeared on the blog once before, I wear this dress all the time. It's classic shape and adorable novelty print make it perfect for almost any occasion, and it always makes me so happy to be wearing it.
With the drop in temperature, I was able to heighten the strawberries, tonally matching most of the outfit to it, with various shades of light pink in the tights, cardigan, and belt.
Of course, I couldn't resist the idea of dress a little like the fruit itself by wearing green on the end of my own stems.
Dress: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Super Store, Prince George

Cardigan: Thrifted, Value Village, Vancouver

Belt: H&M

Shoes: Old Navy (very old)

Necklace: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Tiffany's
And a very special thanks to Karleigh for taking these excellent pictures in the library at Simmons. All good library school students use the library for blog pictures, not reference and research. xoxo Anna Rae

Busy as a Bee

Nothing like getting back to the September grind to make dressing like a worker bee appropriate. Yellow and red are the 'popiest' colours to pair with black and white, and yellow feels fresher to me.
Reading this article about polka dot addiction made me realize that I am not alone. And also that I am perhaps a little bitter about the current uber-trendy status of my beloved spots. I think perhaps my spotted wardrobe needs its own family portrait.
This look is pretty simple, but full of details like ruffles, bows, and mixed-print accessories to make it something special. I'll never tire of this Joe Fresh blouse. Prepare for its American invasion soon my southern readers...(see article in October's ELLE) 24°30 or fight!I'm looking so pensive despite my sunny sweater because my lovely photographer Judith is departing for the semester for the libraries of Amherst. Her loss, combined with the darling Jenna's graduation, has left me looking for photographers. Names starting with letters other than 'J' may also apply.
Cardigan: J Crew

Blouse: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Pants: no brand, Winners

Shoes: Jessica Simpson, 6pm.com

Belt: Old Navy

Bracelet: Vintage, Etsy

Put a Sequin On It

Although I'm not typically a blue jeans girl, I can recognize when they will make a good outfit great. This vintage blouse worked perfectly with my very flared leg jeans.
The real star of the outfit, in my opinion, is the pairing of the blouse with my sequin tank from Joe Fresh. I love this shirt. I bought it on an excellent trip to Montreal, it's one of my favorite color combinations, and with it's slightly puffed sleeves and pussy bow, it's unlike most pieces in my wardrobe. Mixing vintage pieces in with very modern pieces is part of the fun of having a more eclectic wardrobe.
And it was officially time to pull the fall/winter shoes out of the closet. The working girl's blouse called for my favorite professional looking flats. The wide flare on the jean helped the outfit from looking too formal -- fitting its occasion perfectly, an afternoon of reading.
Shirt: Vintage, Arterie, Montreal

Tank: Joe Fresh, Downtown store, Vancouver

Jeans: Old Navy

Shoes: American Eagle
And I must thank Matty, who was an excellent photographer. It's great meeting so many new willing blog photographers. xoxo Anna Rae

On Uneven Ground

Formal shorts. Abhorred by the Fug Girls, difficult to wear, and, for me, a bit short for comfort. When confronted with this fashion challenge, I responded by retreating into my comfort zones: black and white polka dots and a coloured shoe.
The shorts are a silky (and sadly easily wrinkled) modal blend, so I paired them with a silk shell to skew dressy rather than casual.
Although I normally abide by a 'short hemline-flat shoes' rule, with shorts rather than a skirt I went all out and wore heels. I'm just glad that I was sitting down and paying too much attention to my brunch to get toppled over by the small earthquake that shook things up in Vancouver on Friday.
Speaking of shoes, I love these. They are over seven years old, but still just as wearable thanks to their 1940s silhouette and bright mix of textures.
Shoes: CF by Carlos Falchi, Winners

Shorts: Gap

Blouse: Michael by Michael Kors, Ebay

Sunglasses: Kate Spade, Amazon.com

Welcome to Boston!

Finally -- a post from Boston! Forgive the delay, but the adjustment of the new city, new apartment, new school, new job, and no air conditioning has left most of my outfits uninspired or exact repeats. Today, I was both a teacher and a student, and wanted to look professional for my classes, especially the one I taught in the morning.
Although I want it to be fall weather, it was still 80 degrees today. To compromise what I want with what I have to deal with, I wore one of my favorite summer dresses with dark brown and gold accessories.
The belt, to me, really helped to form the outfit and to make it seem suitable for fall. The belt inspired the shoes, and once I had the two, the necklace was an obvious choice. I don't like to wear anything too crazy on my first day of teaching a new class. But don't worry, I'm sure the syllabus printed on bright yellow paper alerted the students that they might be in for some sartorial amusement.
Dress: Adrianna Papell, Nordstrom's

Belt: Target

Locket: Gifted, Mom and Dad

Shoes: American Eagle (old)
Now that I have a great hallway for photographs and a willing friend to take them -- thanks Jan! -- I hope to be back to regular posting. xoxo Anna Rae