Black and Blue

If you don't own teal tights I suggest purchasing some. I love the punch they bring to the simplest of outfits.
I kept up the bruise theme with a grey striped tank and black cardigan. The cardigan is Joe Fresh and features a great gathered trim. It's still available (also in beige) if you want a cheap new basic!
The shoes aren't new but are worth featuring. They have the perfect point and chic flat bow for a touch of timeless elegance. Don't own pointy-toe black flats? Get some.
Tights, Necklace, and Cardigan: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Tank: Talula Babaton, Aritzia

Skirt: Anthropologie, Turnabout Consignment (Broadway and Balaclava in Vancouver)

Shoes: Restricted, Amazon.com

Connect the dots

Wearing pink makes me feel good. While I love the whole Roy G. Biv, pink seems to have special mood-elevating qualities that other colours just can't touch.

Needless to say, I was enchanted by this fuchsia shirt dress with great detailing. I know it will be a versatile three season piece that can be dressed up or down.

For now, with a chill still in the air, I wore my favourite tights (which I have to seriously ration because they snag so easily) and workhorse striped cardigan. As you can see by the many ways both Anna and I combine a black and white striped cardigan, it really is a piece worth having.

And I still can't get enough of these shoes.

Dress: Nanette Lepore, Ebay

Cardigan: Club Monaco

Necklace: Vintage, my Nana's

Tights: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Shoes: Bass, shoebuy.com

You've Been Blogged!

A very special thanks to two of the youngest fashion blog photographers Kate and Emily (aged 7 and 5) for taking my pictures on Friday, before the impromptu beach getaway. Not only did they do an excellent job, but Kate, after about six pictures were taken, stated, "You've been blogged," and then handed the camera back to me. And she was right -- all the pictures that I needed were there. Such efficiency.

I needed an outfit that would be both suitable for teaching and comfortable for a car ride, and after seeing Erin's success of a mixed pattern earlier in the week, I was inspired. The outfit quite accurately displayed my present mental state: I'm completely ready for spring (sundress, sunglasses, open-toe shoes), but understand that there are still winter storm warnings for the area (heavy, wintery cardigan, tights). Additionally, I enjoy this outfit for its fashion merits. The black sweater and black dress worked well together, and although this is my first time pairing bright tights with open-toe shoes, I have to say that I am a big fan.

Dress: C'est la Vie consignment store, Vancouver, Main Street

Sweater: Jacob

Tights: Hue, Macy's (I think, since they were actually a Christmas present)

Shoes: Old Navy

Earrings: Gifted, AlyWebb

What are your thoughts on tights and open-toe shoes? On mixing not only patterns, but also winter and summer clothes? xoxo Anna Rae

The Bluestocking Society

Educating young adults about 18th century Bluestockings: a great way to spend an hour. Doing it while wearing blue stockings? A true Ms. Frizzle moment.

This dress is rendered work appropriate by a top-buttoned cardigan. It has a slightly cleavage-baring keyhole cutout at the front and another at the back, but the cardigan takes it from cocktail wear to classroom appropriate.

Dress: Tara Jarmon, Hill's of Kerrisdale

Tights: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Brooch: Vintage, Etsy

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction, Joneve South Grandville

Aphids in the Rose Garden

Another day, another fashion risk. I wanted to take mixed patterns to the next level, so I paired polka dots and a floral in what I think was a very successful combination.
While I went the extra step and paired the mix with a skirt and bright tights, on reflection I think I would let the dots and roses shine on their own with either denim or black pants (and probably a pink shoe!) I'll keep you posted.

Blouse: Micheal Michael Kors, Ebay

Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft, Ebay

Skirt: Teenflo, Winners

Tights: Hue, The Bay

Shoes: Reaction Kenneth Cole, Joneve South Grandville

Ruffling my fur

As promised, there are going to be a lot of leopard posts in the next little while, starting with this great shirt dress. I wore it over the holidays with fishnets and bronze pumps, but wanted to dress it down a bit for teaching.

I chose a black cardigan with ruffles for both warmth and dimension, and purple tights for added richness.

I really like how pairing the tights with boots leaves only a subtle slice of colour, a great option for when you are feeling bold, but not that bold.

Dress: Nanette Lepore, Ebay

Cardigan: Mexx

Tights: Hue

Boots: Zara

Necklace: Le Chateau

Red Letter Day

When lecturing on a Monday morning it is advisable to have some sort of sartorial distraction to keep the stragglers engaged. Yesterday it was red tights. While they would have been more appropriate for teaching about Chaucer's Wife of Bath ("hir hosen weren of fyn scarlet reed," proving that fashion is nothing if not cyclical) they gave me some pep in my step nonetheless

Houndstooth is the logical pairing for legs like these, and because this dress is a thick wool its heft toned down the screaming scarlet.

I kept things tongue-in-cheek with yet another telephone brooch and bow earrings. I may have attracted some stares on public transit, but I am still looking forward to bringing these tights out again.

Tights: Kate Spade, Ebay

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Dress: Lauren Ralph Lauren, The Bay

Wedges: Cole Haan, Freedman's South Grandville

Brooch: Vintage, Etsy

Earrings: Vintage, The Salvation Army Kerrisdale

Comfort and Detail

I was distracted by these tights on a Christmas decoration shopping trip to Zellers and had to add them to my legwear wardrobe. I loved their black lace print on a very opaque grey background-- they manage to be both subtle and interesting.

To stay warm during our unseasonable cold snap, I paired the tights with a black merino sweater dress. This outfit is really about texture rather than colour, detailing that sadly doesn't come through in the photos (depite the wonderful camerawork!). The pattern on the tights seems embroidered, and the dress has a ruffled placket and pockets and a small rib knit on the top.
Dress: Laundry by Design, Ebay

Tights: Wonderbra, Zellers

Coat: Tulle, Shine

Scarf: Club Monaco

Shoes: Kenneth Cole Reaction, Joneve