Sophie's Top Picks for Libby in 2010

Hi everyone! Nooo, Anna and Erin did not ask someone to guest blog, it's just been 5 months since I've posted. To all of you new readers, I used to post on here semi-regularly but then I got lazy. And I hated my camera. And while I'm still lazy, I got a new camera for my birthday (thanks, Benjamin!) and I really like it now. So I'm hoping that will motivate me to take more pictures. And I start practicum for counseling this semester and need to dress nicely so why not document my outfits?

And before I begin, I need to clarify the title of this post because it is a little (mostly) misleading. I first thought I would narcissistically choose my top outfits of 2010 since Anna and Erin picked for each other. Then, when I mentioned it to Amanda, she suggested that my adorable niece Sophie make the picks. Well guess what? Apparently the attention span (intellectual capacity) of a 7 month old just does not allow her to choose favorite outfits. Thanks for letting your Aunt Lib down, Sophie. Just kidding! And also, let's face it, I posted for about 1/4 of 2010. So without further ado (tangents), I give you Sophie's (Amanda's) Top Picks for Libby in 2010 (March, April, July and August).

This outfit truly exhibits my favorite silhouette. I love skirts that are high waisted that maximize my narrow waist, and minimize my saddle bags. Hey, we all have problem areas, right? So we might as well work with our strengths and make our weaknesses invisible! And how can Amanda not pick an outfit that has a skirt with pockets?! Good pick, Amanda!

Moving on...
Amanda is really hitting my stereotypical outfits - you rarely see me with a sweater that isn't belted. It once again is a trick to draw other's line of vision to the tiniest part of my body. Also, because my waist is seemingly ending there, my legs look longer. Try it, it's a fun trick that I wholeheartedly promote. And I really do love this shirt; coincidentally I'm wearing it today. The color of my cardigan that I've paired it with today is an oatmeal color though, and is much more appropriate for A. Winter months and B. My blah feeling about my first class of the semester tonight...woof! And because Amanda picked these, I'll mention the bag. I will ALSO mention it because she offered to trade me the bag for her baby when she was born. Well guess what? Amanda is a LIAR. Sophie is seven months old and my bag has been ready to be swapped for about nine months. Ball (bag and baby) is (are) in your court, Amanda.

And finally we have this outfit. I'm not sure if any other outfit so accurately describes my style. This blazer is a sweatshirt material, yet tailored. And I've once again belted it to give the outfit more of a structured waist. I wear plain pieces virtually all of the time, yet strive for a polished look that neither stands out, nor blends in, but is just enough to be simply noticed. Strive to dress in a way that works with your personality and pay attention to your strengths and positive attributes instead of worrying about hiding your problem areas. If you dress for your strengths, any other little problems will be overlooked and ignored!

Here's to resolving to post more this year.

Until next time. Libby

Thanks again for your input, Amanda (and Sophie, too, I guess!)

Back to Basics

Happy 2011, readers! To start off the new year, I decided to wear an outfit so simple that, once I put it on, I was sure that I had worn it before. Although I haven't, it feels very familiar.

I love this vest, it's one of my most worn pieces, and I'm glad that I pulled it out of the back of my closet. I both like this blouse and find it a bit strange, and am always trying to find new ways to wear it. I love how it can be paired with both bright colors and dark tones.
And who doesn't love a cropped pant? Okay, a lot of people, but I'm pretty sure that they are here to stay for a season or two. I like how simple and structured this outfit is, and how the pretty bizarre blouse and small detail of socks and flats save the dress pants and vest from a too somber tone.
Blouse: Charlotte Russe

Vest: Old Navy

Pants: Thrifted, Alabaster's Attic, Greensburg

Shoes: American Eagle

I'm looking forward to a fashionable new year and maybe some overdue thrifting before the semester starts again. xoxo Anna Rae

Comfort and Joy

Confession: I don't always dress up. In fact, in true Vancouverite fashion (see what I did there?) I often parade around in Lululemon pants, Aritzia hoodies and Puma sneakers. And I think it is just fine! For my New Year's recovery outfit, however, I wanted to be super cozy but also more winter walk than hangover homebody.

The key (and yes I received my very own Tiffany key for Christmas from my special man friend!) to comfort is this oversized cable knit cardi. I have wanted a thick and chunky knit one that was not a wrap for a while, but had almost given up hope because every sweater I found was an acrylic blend. If you don't want your sweater to pill, avoid synthetics! Go with 100% wool for the best long term washing and wearing. While is it true that cashmere will pill a bit, it is easily brushed, and, especially when blended with cotton or merino, wears beautifully. This Talbot's sweater, thanks to the discerning tastes of an older generation, is all merino wool. Yum. You might have noticed that I am a bit of a fabric content freak but it really makes a difference if you buy pieces you love and want them to last.

On a similar note, the purse you can catch glimpses of in these pictures was expensive (for me) but I have had it for over 6 years and I think it still looks great. If you spend money on a well-made and classic leather bag it will hopefully last at least 10 years with cleaning and minor repairs. One black and one white (or beige or metallic) should see you through most days. My New Year's clothing resolution is to buy less but buy better-- which doesn't necessarily mean fancy brands, just good quality. Do you have any fashion related resolutions? I would love to hear them!

Cardigan: Talbot's

Jeans: Gap

Tshirt: Velvet

Necklace: Tiffany's, gifted by Reece

Bag: BCBG

Sunglasses: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Boots: UGG

The bigger the hair the better the party

In my opinion, nothing says festive like big bling and even bigger hair. Since I was a little too enthusiastic about celebrating the arrival of 2011, my New Year's outfit photos are a lot more hot mess than glam, so let's make up for it with a hair tutorial! You need four things: hot rollers, (a lot of ) hairspray, some kind of hair clip (or bobby pins) and a fine tooth comb. I highly recommend Loreal Elnett hairspray-- only recently available in North America, it comes in a huge gold bottle. You can really use any hairspray, just make sure it comes in the aerosol-type bottle (not the pump kind) for drier and more even distribution. Just stay away from open flame.

Section off and roll your dry hair using the largest rollers in the set, hair spraying each section before AND after you put it in the roller. This will give you less curl and more volume, the main reason to use hot rollers rather than a curling iron. (Full disclosure: I have two identical sets of Conair hot rollers because one isn't really enough for long hair) Let them sit until they are TOTALLY cool. Half an hour is best. Use the time to apply profuse amounts of eyeliner but NOT to drink profuse amounts of champagne. Unroll and brush out. Take a section of hair from the front of your forehead, tease the underside, and secure with a hair clip, creating a mini-poof at your forehead. Aim for more Barbarella and less Snookie. Gently tease the rest of the roots at the underside. Envelop yourself in a cloud of hairspray and you are done!

Dress: Milly, Ebay
Shoes: Aldo
Earrings: Forever 21

Anna's Style, Erin's Picks: Top 3 of '10

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

My top three picks of the year for Anna had to include her amazing yellow jacket. I love how she styles this blazer in so many different ways to highlight its different elements: preppy, vintage, structured, bright coloured, etc. Never in a million years would I have paired it with this beautiful Rodarte for Target dress, but it is a perfect match that manages to emphasise the best qualities of each piece. Also fantastic here is the sleek haircut and red lipstick, not to mention that sassy glance.

Friday, October 8, 2010

This outfit, for me, is classic Anna: printed tights, shorts, and an amazing accessory. My favourite part of this look is how much interest the subtleties of the layering bring. The paisley pattern on the tights, the bow on the blouse, and the peek of belt all make the look not as simple as it initially seems. I also love the way she paired the rich colours together and united them all with a sensational statement brooch. And did I mention how beautiful does she looks here?

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Of course I had to pick this one. Aside from the fact that it is something I could see myself wearing if I was bold enough, it demonstrates Anna's ability to unite disparate elements into a unified look. Stripes, leopard print, a pop of colour, fishnets, floral embellishement, clustered pearls and a bold belt are integrated seamlessly into a total outfit that is both classic and edgy. Anna makes it look effortless but I promise it is far from an easy fashion feat. Well done!

Were these your favourite Anna looks of last year? Did I omit something that you were sure was number one? Let me know. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next year.

xo Erin

A (half) Year in Review: Erin's style, Anna's picks

The Tights that Bind may not have started until February 29, and Erin may not have begun to add her fashion expertise until June 23, but we love a countdown as commemoration of the end of a year as much as the next blog. Since the Tights that Bind is more of a conversation among personal styles (Libby, we miss you! The plaid rain boots you wore the other day were super cute!) than just a singular personal style blog, Erin and I have decided to choose each other's Top Three Outfits of 2010.

Although Erin has only been posting for a little longer than 6 months, I found it very difficult to narrow my choices down to only three. Each of the outfits that I picked made it into one of the coveted spots because it works really well as an outfit as whole, it showcases incredible pieces, and it highlights a part of Erin's style that I really love and admire.

Erin's Top Three Outfits of 2010

(in chronological order)

September 20, 2010

I'm glad that this is the outfit that appeared first chronologically, because what I love most about it is how it works so well showcasing what Erin does best: make denim interesting, pair black and white with a pop of color, understand where the visual interest should lie, and add fun but not overwhelming details to complete the look.

Unlike Erin, I struggle with denim. When I wear it, I feel underdressed and boring, and I don't have as many nice pairs as she does -- probably because I don't shop hard enough for them. I really love the bright pink shirt in this outfit and how it really becomes the focal piece because of its amazing pussy bow. Erin highlights this by having the only other splash of color be earrings in a matching pink (and matching whimsical nature!) and echoing the bow theme with her amazing rain boots. Another reason why I find this look so lovely is that I watched Erin long for these boots on the internet for months -- I'm so happy they're where they should be, on her feet.

I almost forgot the animal print! It works so well here because it gives a slight edge to the very feminine look. There's actually a lot going on in this outfit, but it doesn't feel overwhelming or busy at all. Such a really excellent example of Erin's most popular sartorial choices.

September 24, 2010

If you looked through Erin's blog posts and didn't pick this outfit as one of your favorites, I'd say you were crazy. Crazy! Have you ever seen a blouse as amazing as this one? This blouse, like the boots, was very familiar to me by the time Erin debuted it on the blog because she stared longingly at it on the internet for some time. Kate Spade really does design with her in mind, I think. It doesn't surprise me that two of my three picks were in the same week. Once I start putting together some really nice outfits, I find myself on a bit of a roll, dressing at my best for the next few days or so. Perhaps this is not a personal phenomenon.

Again, Erin knew exactly how to let this blouse shine, pairing it with a black skirt and black heels, with the black skirt's interesting pleating mirroring the amazing pleats of the blouse. The red coat did a lovely job of highlighting the pink and red color combo on the shirt, as normally the pink of the lips would stand out more than the red of the cigarette fire. The pulled back hair and pearl earrings were simple but classic, really letting the blouse take center stage. Not all people who are interested in fashion or style are truly successful shoppers, but Erin certainly is, and her knowledge of brands and the fashion market really pays off in pieces like this blouse. I could gush for ages (I have so much to say about the collar alone), but we have another really lovely outfit to discus.

October 29, 2010

When Erin originally posted this outfit in October, I commented on how much I have always loved both this dress and these shoes. This outfit really strikes me as part of Erin's signature style, even though it's quite different from the first two looks. Erin's closet is full of bold prints like this dress, and they leave such a specific and lasting impression. When I think of her fashion (which I often do, since she was for some time my favorite shopping companion and the very person who introduced me to personal style blogs), these bold prints often come to mind because they are so memorable. Also, as I mentioned before when praising Erin's ability to discern what the focal point of her outfit ought to be, she's similarly good at letting her bold prints breathe. Often, when the print is in a bright color, she pairs it with denim or neutrals, but since this dress is quite neutral in color itself, she paired it with her yellow jacket, which I really love. It works so well against the light blues and grays in the outfit. The rest of the outfit works with the colors in the print, adding interest with size and texture. These shoes, which I have praised before, are amazing. They are just quirky enough with their mixture of a platform wedge and a dainty Mary Jane strap to be as fun as a novelty print, but their reserved black tone allows them to be quite versatile for outfits and occasions. If I had the grace to wear heels, I would steal them.

In fact, what do I want to steal from Erin's closet was a question I asked myself a lot when looking through her archives trying to narrow down my top seven into a top three. Almost every piece of all of these outfits made the cut. What are your thoughts on my thoughts? Your own top three? Some honorable mentions? Countdowns are so fun; I really feel like I'm ready for the new year now. Erin, I can't wait to see what I pick next year when I actually have a full twelve months of posts to choose from! xoxo Anna Rae

Snow Day Fashion

For Christmas, I was gifted two really lovely pieces of outerwear -- both with very bold prints and colorful designs.I love the way that these boots and this scarf worked with my coat because they both have the deep purple. Even though my coat is a bold color, it's still one solid color, which means there is a lot of room for accessory fun.
And, seriously, what's more fun than these boots?

The floral on the boots and the stripes on the scarf might not match each other, but I think that they still work together to complete this fun, tonally matching look for cold months of snowball fights.
Coat: Burlington Coat Factory

Tights: Target

Scarf: Gifted, Aunt Donna

Boots: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Kamik

I hope everyone on break is having a relaxing one. I'm currently curled up by the fire watching What Not to Wear, which is pretty much the definition of relaxation. xoxo Anna Rae