My Best Friend's Wedding

Although I'm usually focused on my own style, clothes, and looks on this blog, today I'd like to take a backseat, like any good bridesmaid should, and share some beautiful pictures from this weekend's wedding. Toni, my absolute favorite person from the Derry Area High School graduating class of 2004, married Nate, and their black-and-white wedding with small touches of pink was absolutely beautiful.

The happy couple

I was lucky enough to be with Toni the day she found her wedding dress, so I was almost as excited as she was to see her in it again, with her hair and make-up. I love the dress's neckline, the beautiful lace, the sparkly headband, and the long, simple chapel veil. Her bouquet may be my favorite part of the ensemble, though. The mixture of creams and light pinks makes it my favorite bridal bouquet to date.
Our bridesmaid flowers were a mixture of light pinks to bright pinks, which transitioned nicely into the the bright pink floral arrangements at the reception.

Each of the bridesmaids chose her own style of bridesmaid dress, although they were all black and to the knee. Because each of us chose our own shoes and silver jewelry, we coordinated well without looking too uniform. The result, I think, was understated and classy.
And, of course, no discussion of a Western PA wedding would be complete without mentioning the cookie table (profiled here in the NYT for those of you unfamiliar with the tradition).
Although I failed to take a picture of the table at the reception, here is a behind-the-scenes action shot of us traying the cookies the day before. They were, of course, delicious.
Congratulations again to the beautiful bride and groom. xoxo Anna Rae

An Impending Reunion

Anna and Erin: Together Again

I'm currently sitting beside my suitcase, packed to the brim with all of my favorites, incredibly excited to fly to Vancouver tomorrow. I promise that there will be blogging, or at least the dressing and photographing that leads to blogging, but the actual posting may be delayed. We'll have a lot of hugging and shopping and eating brunch and walking on the beach to do. xoxo Anna Rae

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

Stripes Ahoy!

Why do I look so happy? It's not raining and I'm wearing black and white and a blouse with a peplum!.

Because of the blouse's nautical 1940s styling, I wore it with wide leg sailor pants that my Mom scored for me at the Scottsdale Arizona Ross (for $2.99!) after listening to me whine about my search for long enough sailor pants for many years. Of all the decades I take style cues from, the 1940s suits me best because although I am curvy, I am also tall and broad shouldered. Plus I love platform and wedge shoes! This recent article about picking a fashion decade based on body type is great.

I was pretty pleased with layering of the detail of the buttons on the pants and the pleated peplum and hook-and-eye closure of the blouse, which add interest to a pretty much monochromatic look.

Also sporting a textured monochromatic look is my lovely photographer Jenna. She wears skirts with lovely details beautifully and always looks polished and simply chic!

Top: Nanette Lepore, Ebay

Pants: Ross Dress for Less

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Flats: Sam Edelman, Winners

Necklace: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Well, it took her long enough.

Readers, today we have a very special blogging surprise: Libby finally made the 45 minute trek out to Anna's house to visit and, of course, pose together for blog pictures!

Look at this leaf in the foreground with a stylish Libby in the background. She's gazing off into the distance thinking about how good that picture of the leaf is. No, seriously, look at it, she's demanding it. And you don't want to mess with someone who takes artsy pictures that play with ideas of perspective and distance.
Moving on, let's focus on Libby's outfit and her typical kind of pictures:
Libby making a goofy face: I think the question she's asking is, Where am I? I'm hiding so well in the flowers! Or maybe it is, Why did I just take that artsy picture?
Pay close attention to Libby's shoes because I think they are extra pretty. Also, she's distracted with talking to Karen right now, and I don't have a lot to say about her outfit, besides the fact that she got her shorts on the cheap and they are lovely. Oh yes! The back:
It's a key-hole and -- I don't want to say anything -- but maybe a little bit scandalous.
Don't worry! Libby still took a picture looking down at her shoes with her hair in her face. Some things never change.

Shirt: AE

Shorts: BCBG Outlets

Shoes: Sam Edelman

Speaking of scandalous, please ignore that face I'm making, it's actually a little embarrassing. Anyway, onto my outfit -- since, you know, I'm clearly the dedicated blogger, one not distracted by talking to my mom about babies or weddings or something else inconsequential. It's finally cold enough to wear some tights -- Thanks, Hurricane Earl! I took advantage of the weather by pairing a bright color with my polka dot dressing, something I've been waiting to do since the hemming.
I added my new black-and-white striped sweater because, hey, everyone knows I love a mixed pattern.
And, of course, I wore my tights with open-toed shoes. And I loved it.
Dress: Thrifted, St. Mary's Hospital Thrift Store, Hemmed by Mom

Sweater: Gabe's

Tights: Hue, Macy's

Shoes: Payless

You can look forward to the next time we're photographed together which will probably be in 2012, or maybe -- just maybe -- at my upcoming themed birthday party. Party like it's 1925! xoxo Anna Rae

...oh, and that Libby girl. What does she say? Something stupid like "Until tomorrow"? Yes, that's it.

The Wedding! Part I

So, apparently, I'm actually not that dedicated of a fashion blogger -- I completely forgot to take blog photos for the wedding and the rehearsal! Hopefully, once all the photos filter in, they'll be enough for some posts -- and I am totally ready to recreate the rehearsal dinner look, as I loved it -- but, again, you'll have to wait. To hold you over, I have the results from my first experience as stylist and personal shopper for the very important Mother of the Groom. Shut up and wear beige, she did not.

But first: the beautiful bride and her okay-looking groom:

There was a disco-themed party-bus limo. It was kind of hilarious.

I started shopping for my mom's dress over Christmas, when I was home from Vancouver, so I did most of the shopping online. We ordered a bunch of dresses from Nordstrom's, but once she put this one on, we knew it was the one (or I did, and she fretted for a while about the length). The colors of the wedding were black, silver, and sangria, so I thought this pewter color worked really well. The dress was a little long, so she took it to a tailor and had one of the ruffles taken off the bottom.

Because the top of the dress was a pretty deep V (especially for Karen), we knew we needed some substantial jewelry. Originally, we were shopping for rhinestones, since she already had the shoes, but Mom saw these at David's Bridal and they seemed perfect.
I love these shoes! They're the perfect color, they're fun, and they're just dressy enough without looking wintry.
Convincing my mom to buy a colored clutch was probably the biggest coup of my styling. A woman that loves matching and coordination, she thought the purse should be pewter, but as soon as I sent her a few online options, she seemed pretty excited about it. The purple didn't exactly match the dresses, but stayed in the color scheme and offset the pewter well.

Also note the band on the waist, it's my favorite part of the dress.
And her best accessory: her favorite stylist, me!
Dress: Nordstroms, online

Jewelry: David's Bridal

Purse: Zappo's, Jessica McClintock

Shoes: Zappo's (brand unsure)

Photo credit for the picture of the bridal party: Damon Burnette

Look out for my outfits soon! xoxo Anna Rae

Lady Liberty Part III

The third day of Red, White, and Blue may have been considered cheating by some, since the only red was my lipstick, but the holiday was pretty much over and I love an occasion to wear red lipstick.

Yesterday was a family dinner for Emily's birthday, an event I, as always, overdressed for. But I just love how summery and whimsical this skirt is, and it goes perfectly with a tshirt and flats. Unfortunately, the lining was too oppressive for the heat and I had to change after dinner.
The outfit is so simple that I think it really needs the red lipstick to brighten it up.
But, most importantly, do you see that key dangling from my neck? It is from Tiffany's and I am in love with it. My parents bought it for me as a graduation present. Below is another picture featuring the beautiful necklace, taken after my celebratory dinner. I'm the one wearing it, the one who is not is my mother.

Outfit details (for the nautical, patriotic outfit)

Skirt: Gifted by Erin, H&M, Paris

Shirt: Wet Seal

Shoes: a store in London, bought years ago

Necklace: Tiffany's, Gifted by Mom and Dad

I hope you've enjoyed the holiday spirit! xoxo Anna Rae

The Fashionable Erin: A Brief Introduction

As you dear and patient readers may have noticed, Libby and I have been slacking a bit on timely and reliable blog updates. To inspire and motivate our own fashion, the Tights that Bind is opening its cross-continental conversation (or perhaps sustaining it, since tomorrow Libby and I will be a mere 45 minutes away from each other), becoming more of a collective by inviting the incredibly fashionable Erin to blog.

Erin, as you may remember from previous posts, is already an important and influential contributor to The Tights that Bind. Fashion photographer and thrift store shopping expert, she always made sure I was well-dressed and well-photographed.

I don't want to say too much about Erin's fashion because she's going to blog about it herself, but I'll introduce her style by way of a few things that I really admire in her sense of style.

Erin's wardrobe always seems really complete. Unlike most people, who have one or two winter coats, she has about 5 different brightly colored ones to mix and match with different outfits.

She never shies away from a bold pattern, bright color or novelty print. She also knows how to balance these prints and colors out with basics (a skill I often lack).

Her outfits, like the one above, are often fun and interesting, while still being professional. And as you can probably tell, she loves an animal print.

(This cardigan, aside from being such a beautiful yellow, has the loveliest ruffle trimming. I'm so jealous of it)

And I think she loves shopping more than anyone else I know, so her closet is full of amazing pieces, like this skirt from Anthropolgie.

Despite our clearly different styles, she still sometimes dresses like me.

Most importantly, Erin will bring some much needed DIY features to the blog. She made almost half of the costume she's wearing below (standing beside the great Dolly Parton).

(This is, I admit, less of a fashion shot, by hey I miss the ocean already)

Welcome to the blog, Erin. xoxo Anna Rae