That's Not My Name

I stalk clothes. When I first discovered that Nanette Lepore had produced both dresses and blouses with a print of boys' names in script I knew I had to own one of them. The print also came in pink on black and I would buy it as well if I could!
As an English PhD student I of course love font as pattern, and adore the way you can't really tell what the print is unless you look closely. There is also something so deliciously retro and tongue-in-cheek about having "Ralph", "John", and "Harry" emblazoned on a conservative blouse.
A black skirt, pearl studs, and simple turquoise flats set off the top without competing with it.
Blouse: Nanette Lepore, Ebay

Skirt: Teenflo, Winners

Shoes: Banana Republic, Ebay

Photos by my lovely fiancée Reece, whose name sadly doesn't appear.

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

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

That's Not Our Deal

Have you seen the video for Best Coast's Our Deal that Drew Barrymore directed? I'm concerned that maybe I've seen it too many times. I quickly put this outfit together and, later, realized that it was probably heavily influenced by the music video (a slightly sketchy version can be seen here because I know you can't watch MTV links in Canada).
Unfortunately, I didn't commit to the hairstyle, but the bright lips, bright colors, and touch of bling with my favorite novelty necklace certainly reminded me of the Day Trotters. If only the back of my blazer was graffitied with my allegiances. It took all summer for me to hop on board with the short dress and blazer combination, but I'm happy that I came late to the party instead of not coming at all. While very similar to the first time I wore this dress, the blazer instead of a button-up, along with the more structured belt and bright lips, helped the simple cotton seem appropriate for casual evening shopping and dining.
Dress: Target

Blazer: Old Navy

Belt: Gifted, Erin

Necklace: Romwe

Shoes: Payless

Sunglasses: Target

And I think we should all start practicing those hairstyles. xoxo Anna Rae

Candied Camera

Anna and I may have different style, but one thing we both do often is overdress. For the final exam, teachers often dress down, but I decided it was time to embrace the last day of the summer workplace dressing. The star attraction is, of course, my saltwater taffy blouse. I like it best with pink (of course) and used turquoise accents to keep it appropriately saccharine. These perfect patent pumps are Expression, The Bay's poorly named footwear house brand. Almost all of their shoes are classic shapes in leather (the heels have leather soles) at a low price point that often gets marked down. My black and white flats are also Hudson's Bay specials. Blouse: Kate Spade, Amazon.com
Skirt: Halogen, Nordstrom.com
Necklace: Sam Moon (in The Woodlands TX)
Shoes: Expression, The Bay
Sunglasses: Kate Spade, Winners

All The Pretty Horses

Yes Virginia, that is a zebra pencil skirt. A consignment shop purchase, it's a piece that brings the pizazz to professional.

While a sleeveless blouse made an excellent warm-weather compliment, I'm hoping the skirt isn't too summery to work with sweaters in the fall. I'd love to hear your styling suggestions in the comments!
If you had pink patent pumps you'd stare at them too.

Skirt: No brand name, La Belle Vie Consignment in Kerrisdale

Blouse: Nanette Lepore, Nordstrom's Rack Seattle

Shoes: Coach, Ebay

Necklace: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Belt: Gap

A Horse of a Different Colour

Seeing double? It's because both Anna and I purchased the same skirt on our successful Joe Fresh shopping trip while she was visiting Vancouver. Its bold print, comfy cotton and wide elastic waistband will make it a piece I will reach for for both work and play all summer long.

The green zebra is so bold I just had to run with it. I love the juicy effect of the watermelon pink cardigan with its gumball-like buttons. While pairing red and green is a bit of a fashion faux pas, pink is an excellent stand in for an equivalent complementary pop.

I love the way the graphic touches of white make all the colours seem even brighter, so I resisted the urge to pile on more than a simple bangle and pearl studs.

Yellow patent flats added another bold colour while keeping me comfy at work. Because all of my colours have the same intensity they work together without overpowering one another.
Skirt: Joe Fresh, Joe Fresh Downtown Vancouver
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Flats: Gianni Binni, Dillards Las Vegas
Tank: TNA, Aritzia
Bracelet: Winners
Pearl Studs: The Bay

Release the Hounds

I was so excited to find this cardigan at the Joe Fresh store in downtown Vancouver (American readers can look forward to a Joe store in NY soon) as I am always looking for variations on my perpetual black and white theme.
While I usually pair this houndstooth blouse with colour, I liked how the white stitching made the white in the pattern pop.
And, of course, a yellow belt and turquoise flats can do no wrong, letting me walk the line between personal style and professional polish with comfort and ease. Regular readers might notice that both Anna and I usually wear flats-- while I appreciate the sky-high heels worn by many prominent fashion bloggers (and like to wear heels myself), working nine-to-five, whether teaching or otherwise, is just more practical in flats. And I still think we look great!
I can't get enough of the Chanel-esq back detail on this cardigan and, as always, the shine of a patent shoe. Not only does patent look great, as I have noted before, I find it wears better, especially in rainy climates.
Cardigan: Joe Fresh Granville Street

Blouse: Tory Burch, Ebay

Pants: Gap

Belt: JCrew, J Crew Factory Store

Shoes: Banana Republic, Ebay

Genus Capri Species Leopard

Sometimes you have to keep it simple. I know that leopard will always work with neutrals like denim, beiges, and black or white, and that the addition of any bright colour will help give the print an extra kick.
Because black and white tops are often basis of your look, I like to look for blouses or even t-shirts with special details. Ruffles, pin tucks, or trim on a white or black blouse can elevate a simple look to something more, and are just as easy to wear as a plain one.
My pop of colour came in the form of cheap and cheerful flats, but a bright necklace, brooch, or scarf would have worked just as well. What is your go-to way to style animal prints?
Cardigan: JCrew, Ebay
Trouser Jean Capris: Old Navy
Blouse: Club Monaco
Flats: PURE Alfred Sung, Zeller's
Necklace: Gifted, Kelly
Sunglasses: Kate Spade Franca, Amazon.com

Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough

Remember how I said my favourite colour is pink? I wasn't kidding. This outfit makes the bold statement of employing at least four different shades from cotton candy to fuchsia to rose.

While I could have stopped with the blouse and cardigan, adding the belt and shoes took that look from simple to styling. As Mae West said, "Too much of a good thing is wonderful." Try it at home by layering your hue of choice in as many tones as you own!
Blouse: Talbots
Cardigan: Banana Republic
Shoes: Jessica Simpson, Zappos.com
Jeans: Citizens of Humantiy, Hill's of Kerrisdale
Glasses and Case: Kate Spade, Winners

Mixy-Matchy

Everybody, Everywear has put me on a bit of a floral kick and I couldn't be happier! I decided to add a flowery belt to my polka dots at the last minute and am pretty pleased with the results. Because of the pattern mixing, I went for very strict coordination, picking up the violet and turquoise of the belt with my cardigan and shoes If I repeat this look, however, I think I will choose turquoise heels (which of course I own) over flats, because even at 5'9'' and with a pointy toe I feel like the knee-length pencil skirt needs the extra lift.
Blouse: Michael Michael Kors, Ebay

Cardigan: Gap

Skirt: PURE Alfred Sung, Zeller's

Shoes: Banana Republic, Ebay

Belt: Thrifted, The Salvation Army Kerrisdale

Photos by Dad

Zebrights

While wearing this outfit the sun reflecting off my shiny shoes was enough to distract me from concentrating on any task at hand. They make even coloured patent shoes seem dull in comparison.

Can you blame my lack of focus in the face of their sparkle? Like many of my best finds, I stalked these carefully online until they went on sale. While you risk your prey getting away this way, I can rarely justify a full price purchase.
Also gleaming was my crystal (ok glass) necklace, which picked up the blouse's glass buttons. While clear accessories are no longer super trendy, I think lucite, glass, or crystal jewelry is a classic and almost endlessly versatile choice worth owning.

Cardigan: JCrew, Ebay
Blouse: Nanette Lepore, Nordstrom's Rack Seattle
Jeans: Hudson, Ebay
Flats: JCrew, jcrew.com
Necklace: RW&Co

Leopards in Bloom

This outfit is definitely a transitional one: the black jeans and grey leopard say January, while the bright shoes and cardigan are asking when May is getting here. Black jeans are a great weapon to have in your wardrobe arsenal if you work somewhere with a flexible dress code. They are slightly more formal than regular denim, but not quite your standard black dress pant. These jeans originally had a flared leg, but I straightened the side seams to make them appear more like a trouser. Even if you don't sew, narrowing the leg of a pant is a quick and cheap job at any tailor that can resuscitate last season's leg line.

While I love my black cameo with any outfit, I am on the lookout for brightly coloured beads (yellow is at the top of my list) so I can add even more rainbow to rainy days.

Along with the solid pink cardigan, the bright turquoise shoes helped me make my first baby steps into color blocking. Look for more as the weather warms!

Cardigan: Banana Republic Jeans: Hudson, Hill's of Kerrisdale Blouse: Mia Via, Nordstrom's Rack Shoes: Banana Republic, Ebay Cameo: Vintage, My Nana's