The State of Things

The good thing about a statement sweater dress is that you don't have to explain much of your outfit. I love it and I wear it often with black tights and black boots, mostly just changing the necklace I pair with it, but it's most often my beloved Kate Spade glasses.

Instead I can tell you about the state of the blog: it might be over. Erin and I, after some soul-searching/facebook-messaging have realized how costly it is to update a blog. It really wears on you and your bank account to feel the pressure to post new outfits. Neither of us can afford this indulgence and, honestly, we miss taking blog pictures together. And, you might agree lovely readers, the excitement over fashion blogs has waned. I am no longer as eager to read the ten I used to read on a daily basis. I no longer feel excited or inspired by other people's outfits the way I once was. You're probably assuming that the blog will no longer continue, and this is a pretty good prediction. There might be a catch: I've decided to stop shopping for Lent, and may find myself needing the inspiration to dress in interesting ways with old pieces. If that's the case, I might post again, but it would be a solo effort.

Dress: Old Navy

Necklace: Kate Spade, Kate Spade store, Vegas

Boots: Chinese Laundry, Zappo's

If this is the last post, then I just want to end it by saying how much I love this blog. I've never been a hobby person, but it was really a fantastic hobby. xoxo Anna Rae

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

Bad Weather and Good Holidays

I love my rain boots. They're such a fun, bright reason to not mind walking around in the rain all day. If they're on my feet, then they're the focal point of the outfit for pretty obvious reasons.
I styled the boots against neutrals: black tights, denim dress, and a gray sweater vest. The pink belt matched the pink in the boots, helping the outfit to not seem too gloomy from the knees up.
Boots: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Morning Glory, Greensburg

Dress: Old Navy

Vest: Gabe's

Belt: Target
Additionally, it's Halloween weekend! This year, with the snow and the uncertainty until the day before that I would even be celebrating, I chose a costume that was both on my list of favorite characters and pretty low-key to assemble. Canadians may be unfamiliar, but I went as Daria and wore clothes from my wardrobe and a pair of those $1 glasses with the fake nose and eyebrows (I pulled off the nose and eyebrows). Simple! Fun! Warm! I'm posed below with my friend and sometimes blog photographer Will, who is dressed as Leopold Bloom.

Happy Halloween! xoxo Anna Rae

I Spy

I spy with my little eye a new novelty necklace from Vegas. Like Erin, I also sometimes stalk clothes and accessories that I'm very in love with. I've regularly visited this necklace at the Kate Spade store in Boston, knowing that I couldn't really afford this. This past weekend, my family went on a long-weekend vacation to Vegas as an early Christmas present and we, the now adult children, were gifted a Vegas allowance as part of our present. I spent almost all of mine at Kate Spade, and I'm sure you'll see all of the results soon.
The rest of the outfit isn't new. I've been pretty unexcited about my clothes recently, and I think it's because they aren't that new. It's important, though, to think about your clothes as exciting once the newness has worn off. Instead, how can you change your clothes, even slightly, to make them seem fresh? Today, I changed the tights to a slightly richer color, left the dress unbelted to fully explore its shift shape and matched the gold necklace to a gold headband.
Dress: H&M

Tights: Hue, Macy's

Necklace: Kate Spade, Las Vegas

Headband: Gifted, Elana

Boots: Zappos, Chinese Laundry
My chic raincoat for the threatening skies added, with my black boots, an additional layer of black and white. What do you do when you're unexcited about your wardrobe? xoxo Anna Rae

Against the Grain

This outfit is not at all typical of my style, my go-to pairings, or my natural instincts about what works best on my body. Still, I felt great in it, loved the double stripes and the black, white, and gold color scheme, and thought the boots with the skirt was the sort of bohemian, Sienna Miller type of style 20-year-old me would have cried in delight over. So, I must say, it was a success. Sometimes, going against your instincts can be fun.
Skirt: Vintage, Garment District, Cambridge

Shirt: J. Crew Factory Outlet, Williamsburg, VA

Cardigan: Jacob

Boots: Gifted, Mom and Dad, Chinese Laundry, Zappo's
Look at that small braid in my hair. I'm very proud. xoxo Anna Rae

Bubblegum Pink

Wearing a more conservative combination of a button-down shirt and jumper dress, I thought I could add some fun to my outfit with bubblegum pink tights. The tights brought out the pretty pastels in the shirt's plaid, a fun and feminine addition to my otherwise basic outfit for interning.
I balanced the pink out with a neutral metallic belt and shoes and added a final touch of fun with my anchor earrings.

Dress: H&M

Shirt: Gabes, Urban Outfitters

Belt: Target

Shoes: Thrifted, Etown Goodwill, Target

Earrings: Claire's
Although I sit alone in a room working with maps and street orders from 1916, I think the outfit added some excitement to the Public Works department at City Hall. xoxo Anna Rae

Playing Favorites

When I put this outfit on today, it felt like one I had worn many times before, but I liked it enough to take some bad-lighting, end-of-the-day photos of it. It really has all of my favorites: dress, tights, cardigan, shoes, necklace.

Dress: H&M

Tights: Target

Belt: H&M

Cardigan: Old Navy

Neckalce: Gifted, AlyWebb

Shoes: Gifted, Mom and Dad, FS/NY, Zappo's

Headband: Claire's

I also love the polka-dot layered look with my headband, an easy hair solution that gave me 10 more minutes of sleep this morning. xoxo Anna Rae

Freaky Friday

I know what you're thinking, how did Erin's clothes and style get on Anna's body? I guess that's what happen when you share a style blog with someone -- you start picking up their fashion cues.
Since Erin debuted her yellow tights with houndstooth last year, I've been wanting to do the same. I paired the yellow in the tights with the yellow brooch and offset it with my red belt. I love red, yellow, black and white together. It feels so very 1960s London.
I didn't want too much going on with my necklaces since I was wearing a brooch and bright belt, but I think layering the gold would well with the other accessories and the (unphotographed) exposed gold zipper on the back of the dress.
Dress: H&M

Tights: We Love Colors

Belt: from thrifted dress, Salvation Army

Brooch: Etsy

Necklaces: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore and Gifted, Target

Shoes: Chinese Laundry, Zappo's
I can't wait to wear this dress again and again. xoxo Anna Rae

Autumn Neons

I typically judge what season it is based on what flavored coffees are being sold. Since I'm currently drinking the hell out of any pumpkin-flavored latte I can get my hands on, I know, empirically, that it is definitely fall. Here in Boston, in my second-floor non-air conditioned airport and on crowded T rides, it feels much more like the middle of summer. This merger of seasons in my mind has resulted in a deep attachment to bright, neon accessories paired with fall pieces.
The neon green belt and ruby flower were shockingly bright versions of colors that already existed in the dress. The yellow was added because I loved the look of the double flowers and because at this point in my obession with mixing colors, it's become a neutral.
Note the excellent necklace -- a bridesmaid present from Toni. It has both my initial and my birthstone.

Dress: Target

Cardigan: Old Navy

Flower: Free from Kate Spade

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Gifted, Toni, Etsy
The real victim in this unseasonably warm fall? My bangs. Here's hoping for sweater (but not parka!) weather soon. xoxo Anna Rae

Like a Pro

Although my roles as both graduate student and community college teacher allow for great flexibility in my wardrobe, there are some days when even student/teachers need to dress like professionals. On those days, I abandon my bright colors, my affinity for layering, and my desire to mix prints for simple, classic pieces. The pieces, of course, need to be well made, need to fit well, and need to be at least a little fun, so that I'll want to wear them.
This dress is not only a completely beautiful shade of purple, but the ruffle around the collar is what I'd like to call understated whimsy, if anything can be called such a thing.
With a solid color dress, simple ivory tights, and basic black tweed flats, I thought at least one piece of jewelry, something to heighten my clothes into an outfit was needed. My mom recently gave me this brooch for my birthday, and I love it. The pewter gives it a vintage feel and the horseshoe shape, to me, sets it apart from so many other brooches. I can't wait to buy a dress with a small horse pattern and wear this brooch with it.
Dress: J. Crew factory outlet, Lancaster

Tights: CVS

Shoes: American Eagle

Brooch, Gifted, Mom, Morning Glory
And a complaint to those most sympathetic: drug store tights, while earning high marks for always being down the block, are never worth four dollars. These, like all others bought during tight emergencies, ripped on my first day wearing them. xoxo Anna Rae

Birthday Girl

For my birthday, I wanted to look a little special, but it was also very warm, so I had to keep it pretty simple. The skirt was a very exciting, recent find at the Garment District, a great vintage store in Cambridge. I think the shape of the outfit, plus the small details made it special.
The creams ant metallics in the skirt matched the necklace and top, and the birdcage necklace is one I don't wear often, because it's pretty big and loud, but it seemed like a perfect way to add interest o the outfit. The pop of color in the shoes completed the casual, simple, but fun and slightly retro look.
Shirt: Old Navy

Skirt: Vintage, Garment District

Belt: American Eagle (very old, from high school)

Shoes: Target

Necklace: Target
My birthday was a success. Thanks to everyone who joined me for beers and so much gregarious fun that we were told by the not-so-nice waitress that three tables asked to not sit near us. xoxo Anna Rae