On Repeat

Since I bought this dress when I was in Vancouver, I've worn this outfit about once a week. It's such a fun, comfortable summer dress and works well with all of my favorite accessories this summer: my hot pink belt, teal sunglasses, coral flats, and peacock necklace.
I love how the pink and coral work with the colors in the dress and the sunglasses and necklace off set them, making the outfit even more colorful.
Dress: Joe Fresh, stand alone store, downtown Vancouver

Belt: Target

Shoes: Target

Sunglasses: H&M

Necklace: Romwe
My favorite part of this dress? How it manages to combine two great prints -- stripes and polka dots! xoxo Anna Rae

Fauxhemian

I am about as bohemian as Paris Hilton. However, when a print speaks to me, I listen. This blouse speaks of a carefree lifestyle with limited use of powered hairstyling equipment.
A no flatiron aesthetic + a cutaway halter neckline = milkmaid braids. They might be currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity, but you can't beat their easy style, especially when the heat is on. And my great-grandmother, who I am the spitting image of in this hairstyle, would agree. Just braid pigtails and pin them over your head, tucking the ends under.
These silver metallic sandals replace my silver flats in the summer. I wear them with jeans, shorts, and dresses, proving one again that a metallic shoe is a wardrobe requirement. My only regret is that the weather was too overcast to lose the cardigan, although its loose drape was the perfect finishing touch to my free-spirit illusion.
Blouse: Banana Republic
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity, Hills of Kerrisdale
Sandals: Rocket Dog, Sterling Shoes
Cardigan: Line Knitwear, revolveclothing.com
Hoops: Winners

Canadian Tuxedo

Consider this a belated Canada Day post honouring the fashion missteps of my people. Besides, when one doesn't have a red hat with maple leaves like the Duchess of Cambridge, all other patriotic gear seems sub par. Rather than head-to-toe jeans wear, the pleated cummerbund and ruffled neckline of this denim dress are a more subtle homage to the Canadian tuxedo.But the real stars of this simple outfit, however, are my gingham wedges. These shoes make me very happy. And very tall. Dress: CK Calvin Klein Jeans, Winners
Wedges: Cynthia Rowley for Roxy, Roxy.com
Necklace: Tiffany, Gifted
Sunglasses: Kate Spade Franca, Amazon.com

Midway Mania

The fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays: picnic food, the Midway, once upon a time an early morning parade that I now sleep through, s'mores, and fireworks. In addition to all these wonderful things, Independence Day is the one holiday when the general public adopts my love of dressing for a theme. To match my family members and friends in their sartorial support of our country, I also try to make interesting and fun outfits complete with red, white, and blue.
This year I chose my blue and white vintage dress and wore a white rope belt from another dress, helping the look to achieve a preppier, New England vibe. My head scarf, fitting with a preppier look, was a plaid skinny tie that added a perfect pop of red.

(Oh, that face. I'm still trying to perfect some casual blogger poses and faces)

I kept the rest of the outfit casual with curly hair and my zip-up sandals. Last year, my red, white, and blue had more of a 1960s vibe, but today I felt like I could be heading out to a clam bake at any second. There's no better occasion to draw inspiration from the preppy and the nautical than the fourth of July. After all, those are two areas where American fashion probably knows best.

Dress: Vintage, hemmed, Eons, Pittsburgh

Shoes: Gabes

Belt: from St. Barths Calypso for Target dress

Tie (as head scarf): H&M
I hope both the Canadian and American readers had great long weekends, celebrating their countries in style. xoxo Anna Rae

All the Single Ladies

Last night, I drove to Wanynesboro, PA for my friend Toni's bachelorette party. I picked up this dress at Target the other week and it is my current favorite: I love its bold print and how it's both casual enough for daytime picnics or adventures, but also dressy enough for a night out. The dress is a bit short, although it does pass the catholic school hemline rule (fingertips may not touch skin when your hands fall naturally to your side), but I like the barer legs with the sleeved-dress. I also can't wait to wear some orange or pink tights with it in the fall!
Also, this necklace, which I mostly bought because it reminded me of Double, Double, Toil, and Trouble, the Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen made for TV movie, was a perfect accessory for the dress. The print was so bold that I didn't want anything too busy in the rest of the outfit. I kept it simple with the necklace to match the tone of the dress, nude wedges, and a pop of neon color in the clutch.
Dress: Clutch

Wedges: Old Navy

Necklace: The Hills, Kerrisdale, Vancouver

Clutch: Kate Spade, Kate Spade Outlet
The bachelorette party was such a success, and now I can't wait for the wedding! xoxo Anna Rae

Only Holding Your Hand So I Can Look at Your Bangs

My joy over dressing in red, white, and my necklace with leaves on it for Canada Day (because Canada is full of great nature, of course) has been completely overshadowed by my joy over my recently-cut blunt bangs. I was going to wait until my next paycheck to give my bangs the attention that they need, but then today I was feeling a bit stressed and I might have hit a mailbox with my car, so I need the kind of pick me up that a bang trim can provide.
Although I've already worn this striped shirt under plaid and I've already worn this red plaid shirt with my red shirt, this outfit felt fresh.
Although I don't normally wear my shirts untucked, especially for work, I liked the shape of the outfit with a longer shirt. The highlight of the outfit for me, though, was pairing the pale pink belt with the red pink shirt. I love how it brings out the cream in the shirt.
Shirt: Thrifted, Valve Village, Vancouver

Skirt: Thrifted, St. Vincent de Paul, Latrobe

Necklace: Gifted, Janet

Belt: H&M

Shoes: Thrifted, Goodwill, Etown, Target
Happy Canada Day! Get your bangs trimmed. xoxo Anna Rae

Sweet Tooth

As you might have noticed, I'm a sucker for a bold print. Especially a novelty print. If there is something quirky repeated across a fabric, you can guarantee I will want whatever garment it appears on. So how could I help but fall for this amazing Kate Spade blouse and its saltwater taffy print? In high school I had an amazing yellow dress from the 1940s with a candy print that sadly disintegrated, and I am beyond thrilled to be able to replace it with this amazing blouse.This pink blazer I picked up at Zara's recent sale was the ideal compliment. Expect to see a lot more of it in future posts!Blouse: Kate Spade, Amazon.com
Blazer: Zara
Capris: American Eagle
Flats: Tory Burch, Ebay