2011 Roundup: Of Erin, By Anna

A surprise to even Erin, I decided to go through the 2011 archives and find my top 5 favorite outfits that Erin wore over the past year.

What I love about this outfit, is how much I covet each piece of it -- I can't choose what's my favorite, but it might be the shoes. Each piece works perfectly into Erin's strong sense of style, and here I'm most impressed with how she balances the feminine dress -- ruffles! pink! -- with the playfully schoolboy oxfords.
This outfit has some inherent bias because I took the pictures and bought a matching cardigan from Joe Fresh. I'm impressed by Erin's ability to construct professional outfits with simple pieces and fun, slightly quirky accessories. Teal and yellow? An inspired color combo.
I could have chosen all of Erin's novelty prints for this top five, but I managed to choose just two. I think this is my favorite outfit of the year. Instead of pulling back after pairing the twee top with the bubblegum pink skirt, Erin heightened the color palette with the teal necklace and shoes. An amazing result.
If there's something Erin has mastered its the animal print, so I obvious had to include one in my picks. This dress has made a few appearances on the blog, but this is my favorite outfit because of the amazing tights and the additional textual interest with the suede shoes. Erin's outfits always look so pulled together; she matches texture with texture and her necklace to her shoes.
Erin may love an animal print, but I am madly in love with this novelty animal print. The outfit doesn't just showcase the piece, though, it uses it to create a look that's both completely modern and strongly inspired by vintage. I can't get over how sassy that skirt is.

Erin, I love seeing your outfits, and can't wait to see what you'll wear in 2012. xoxo Anna Rae

A Love Letter of Sorts

Recently, thanks to my wonderful parents and some of my own obsessing, some lovely Kate Spade items have entered my life. A few were purchased when my parents took my brother, my sister-in-law, and me to Vegas and gave us a gambling/shopping stipend. I spent all of mine at the Kate Spade store. And then, even more exciting because it was surprising, we got an additional one present at Christmas and mine was also from the Kate Spade store.
The first reveal in my love letter to Kate Spade is this amazing sweater. I've come up with so many ways to wear it -- it's so versatile but still so special, but this way -- over a button down with jeans and my oxfords, is my current favorite. So preppy but playful and feminine.
I don't have a lot of sweaters that I'm really excited about, so this was definitely a very welcome addition to my wardrobe. I can't wait to show it off with skirts, dress shorts, dresses, and other jean combinations.
Sweater: Kate Spade store, Vegas

Jeans: Old Navy

Shirt: Thrifted, Value Village, Vancouver

Shoes: Bass, Zappo's

Purse: Thrifted, Alabaster's Attic, Greensburg
And my Christmas surprise -- this amazing Kindle cover! My brother and sister-in-law gave me the Kindle minutes early, so it was a pretty amazing time for me. I already downloaded the Hunger Games trilogy and cried and bit my fingernails the whole way through it. xoxo Anna Rae

Brought to You by iPhone

That's right -- this blog post is new. I finally entered the world of smart phones yesterday, and with that came a working camera. I've missed you, blog -- and you, blog readers.

Today was the last real day of the semester for me -- I handed in my final paper after some painful hours of switching my MLA citations over to Chicago, so I wanted to look pulled together (it makes you cite sources better, I swear), but also comfortable. I don't usually suggest pieces to have in your wardrobe, but seriously, get a cotton skirt. It may not be the most flattering, but it is such a great option when you'd rather be in bed watching Love Actually.

Since I moved to Boston, I've noticed that I'm really digging the red and blue color combinations, maybe it's all of the Red Sox and Patriots memorabilia hanging around. I wore this outfit without the tights and the blazer earlier in the fall, when the weather was lovelier, but I like the addition of the blazer. Another piece that's both comfortable and professional.
Blazer: American Eagle

Shirt: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Skirt: Thrifted, St. Vincent de Paul, Latrobe

Tights: Kohl's

Boots: Chinese Laundry, Zappo's, Gifted

Necklace: Tiffany's, Gifted
It's good to be back. I hope you missed me as much as I missed you. xoxo Anna Rae