Take Ivy

I was recently introduced to the magic that is Take Ivy, and can't believe I was in the dark about this amazing fashion piece for so long. I assembled a fantastically preppy and collegiate outfit and was prepared to have an extensive photo shoot in the crisp Autumn leaves outside, but broke my camera only a few minutes after stepping outside. Using unreliable objects as a substitute for a tripod? Unwise. Unfortunately, I only have this rag tag group of photos to represent my take on Take Ivy.
The button-down and loose tie combo was, to me, the most essential part of the outfit for achieving the Ivy league aesthetic. I originally wanted to pair it with my wool yellow cardigan, but opted for this lighter sweater due to the surge of warm weather. I like how you can only catch a glimpse of the tie, though. The socks with oxfords updated the outfit to feel very this season.
Take Ivy, a collection of photographs detailing men's fashion on Ivy League campuses in the 1960s, was published in Japan in 1965. The book was a hit there, helping to create a long-standing trend in men's fashion, and was a highly-coveted but hard to find fashion text in the States, until it was republished with English captions earlier this year.

Shirt: Joe Fresh, the Real Canadian Superstore

Tie: H&M

Sweater: Abercrombie, from the high school days

Shorts: Thrifted, Value Village, Brand: Dockers

Socks: Mom's sock drawers

Shoes: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Brand: Bass

Since I spent most of yesterday researching the book instead of doing actual work, I thought I'd share some of my results.

The Trad, a blog that scanned images from the original text

New York Times article and slideshow

A Curious Lean article from before the reprint came out

And now I'll be taking a small hiatus until I get another payheck and can buy a new camera. xoxo Anna Rae

Opening Day Steals

This past week, I took a mini-vacation to visit old friends in Etown and then stay with Toni, my sole graduating high school class friend, to help her shop for her wedding dress. It was a successful shopping experience, and I can't wait for her wedding so I can post some pictures of the dress. It's absolutely beautiful. While in Etown, I did some shopping at the Light of Hope Church Thrift Store on its opening day and scored this lovely polka dot skirt. Such a great find!

I bought the skirt because I thought I would be able to match the bright blue spots with a pair of tights I own, but the coloring was actually pretty off. Instead, I paired the spring-like color of the dots with a purple sweater, and kept the rest of the outfit black, keeping it interesting with some textured tights and my beautiful new oxfords.

They're shiny! Patent-leather! They almost look like tap shoes. I love them.

Skirt: Thrifted, Light of Hope Church Thift Store, Elizabethtown, H&M

Tights: Target

Sweater: Old Navy

Shoes: Gifted: Mom and Dad, Zappo's, Fitzwell

I'm now on the lookout for a pair of tights to match these polka dots! xoxo Anna Rae

Let's Go Pitt!

Readers, let me apologize. I know you're tired of my yellow cardigan, especially paired with my yellow tights. You've seen it before, and you probably have a feeling that you're going to see it again. But look at that sea of orange. A Pitt fan has to do something to stand out, especially in the intimidating, air-tight Carrier Dome, home to the Syracuse Orangemen.

I wanted to wear my Pitt apparel like everyone else, but I wanted to have fun with it. I chose to wear a Pitt t-shirt that wouldn't actually be the central focus of the outfit, and build the rest around some vintage collegiate vibes and an overload of yellow and blue.

After creating that game plan, the yellow tights and cardigan were a must, as was my blue and white belt, a bonus vintage find that came attached to my seersucker dress. I kept it both casual and in the color family with my jean skirt and didn't let any of the accessories overwhelm the color palette. The neutral two-toned Oxfords, pearl cardigan chain, and pearl earrings helped give the outfit a dated college feel, remembering a time when football games were attended in sport coats and dresses (Oh, how I wish...).

Cardigan: Old Navy

Shirt: Family hand-me-down

Skirt: Thrifted by Erin, Salvation Army in Kerrisdale, I believe

Tights: We Love Colors

Belt: Vintage, Eons (came with purchase of dress)

Pearl chain: Thrifted, Salvation Army, Latrobe

Earrings: Gifted, Erin

Shoes: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Zappos, Bass

The good news? We won! The better news? Because we were sitting so near the end zone when Pitt scored so many touchdowns, we were also on TV! Thanks again Julie for taking these pictures. xoxo Anna Rae

Birthday presents

This outfit post was made possible by lovely birthday presents from fellow blogger Erin and my parents.

Erin sent me this beautiful necklace in the mail for my birthday (wrapped, of course, in amazing paper with a velvet bow), and it seems to compliment every outfit I assemble.
Knowing that I needed new shoes, my mom gave me a modified version of free reign over Zappos after I concluded that it would take a few more months of research before I could commit to the record player I want. Christmas present, here you come. But back to the shoes -- I love these Oxfords! They're so delightfully two-toned. My brother called them bowling shoes all weekend, but I think they're perfectly preppy.
And now the outfit -- I wore this to dinner during the first night of the annual family road trip to a Pitt Panther away game. This year we were in Syracuse, and I wanted my outfit to match my collegiate location. Since I was really excited to wear both the shoes and the necklace, I wanted to keep the rest of the outfit simple and navy, because, to me, navy is the most studious of all colors. It is also part of both Syracuse and Pitt's school colors, so I could fit in without feeling like a traitor.
I wore these earrings because I felt the gold ball on top matched the necklace and who can't resist an extra little splash of color?

Necklace: Gifted, Erin

Earrings: Gifted, Cammy

Sweater: Thrifted, Value Village, originally Tommy Hilfiger

Skirt: AE

Shirt: Charlotte Russe

Socks: Gifted, Mom and Dad

Tights: Hue, Macy's

Shoes: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Zappo's, Bass

Thanks Julie for snapping these pics in the hotel lobby, and thanks again for my amazing birthday presents Erin and Mom (and Dad, even though I had to tell him when I was wearing the shoes that he bought them as a present for me). xoxo Anna Rae

Beardsley's Blouse

The beautiful art nouveau floral print on this blouse reminds me of the illustrations of Beardsley and his contemporaries. It came in green as well, and I wish I had given in to my impulse to buy it in multiples when I originally bought it.

My jeans are a summer purchase meant exclusively for tucking into boots, a worthwhile investment if you do it often. They are much skinnier and shorter than my regular jeans, and the reduced bulk makes for a more comfortable boot tuck.
The finishing touch? My Nana's cameo. And a resolution to try and get more sleep.

Blouse: BCBG

Jeans: Gap

Boots: Zara

Cameo: Vintage, Nana's

Oh, you again.

I don't think I even have to tell you how much I love my yellow sweater.

Falling in love with your new yellow cardigan and then realizing that it is the exact same yellow as one of your favorite pairs of tights is a sign -- a sign that screams, wear them together but only pair them with black and white so you look a little like a bumblebee.

The pairing of the cardigan and tights was the obvious inspiration for the outfit, but once I decided that the true piece to connect the two was my black and white polka dot dress, the idea of wearing only other black and white pieces seemed both natural and perfect.
I didn't want the accessories to be too overwhelming, but I love this pearl chain that I found on a blouse at the Salvation Army. I bought the blouse and immediately handed it back to the saleslady, explaining that I only wanted the chain - I had been looking for one - and two dollars seemed like the best price I'd find. It's retro vibe fit perfectly with the feminine embellishment on the sweater and the tweed flats with their delicate pink bow. Add some backcombed hair, a belt to give the dress a bit more structure, and some black and white floral earrings, connecting the colors to the cardigan embellishments, and you have my new favorite fall outfit.
Dress: Thrifted, St. Mary's Hospital Thrift Store, Sechelt

Cardigan: Old Navy

Tights: We Love Colors

Shoes: Steve Maddens, from Kauffmans (so old that the department store wasn't even Macy's yet!)

Earrings and belt: Gifted, Erin

Pearl chain: Salvation Army, Latrobe, connected to blouse

And the perfect accessory to any fall outfit? Beautiful foliage. xoxo Anna Rae

belated Birthday fashion

First, let me start by wishing all of our Canadian readers and our Canadian blogger a very happy Thanksgiving!

Onto the outfit! I wore this to my family birthday dinner at Valozzi's a couple weeks back. It was the perfect outfit for an Anna-based dinner because it featured my two favorite colors in a complementary combination, a giant bow, a floral embellishment, pearls, high-volume hair, and lipstick. Phew. I got all the favorites, I think.
I paired the sweater with the skirt because I liked the look of the contrasting colors, but once I saw how much I loved wearing a giant bow with the even sweeter flowered cardigan, I wanted everything about this outfit to be adorably feminine. The pearls, lipstick, and hair quickly followed.

Sweater: Old Navy

Skirt: Purr, South Granville, Vancouver

Pearls: Claire's

Shoes: Charlotte Russe

Tights: Hue, Macy's

It's the twee-est of outfits, in the best way possible. xoxo Anna Rae