Toucan Tango

While the East experiences a heat wave, here in Vancouver summer has yet to truly arrive. So I brought it myself in the form of a tropical bird print.I love the combination of a print that looks like it belongs on a muumuu with the sassy neckline and ruffles. Also did I mention it has a bird on it? I wore metallic sandals yet again, this time in bronze, and showed off the racerback with a high bun and dangly earrings. My jacket is a cropped take on the trench in linen with a subtle gold sheen. I bought it about 5 years ago and it never seems to look dated.Blouse: Banana Republic
Jeans: Citizens of Humanity, Hills of Kerrisdale
Sandals: Rocket Dog, BeyondtheRack.com
Jacket: Mac &Jac, Winners
Earrings: Gifted, my Mom
Sunglasses: Kate Spade, Winners

Second Helpings

Some days, I find the logistics of fashion blogging to be quite challenging. Today, for example, I wore a fully thrifted outfit (minus the shoes) for the Every Body Every Wear challenge: Thrift Edition, only to realize halfway through work that I would have needed to wear this outfit yesterday or (absolutely not) wake up early enough to post the pictures before work. So, instead of being part of the collective, I posed in my very Working Girl outfit looking a little sad and alone.
Just like the ruffle on top of the bow in my last post, I love both ties in this outfit. I really, really like the idea of a pussy bow or limp tie. It's one of those styles that will always look retro in a way that I really love. This blouse is a bit formal, but I think the rolled sleeves did it some good. And the pop of color scarf is by far my favorite part of this outfit. Thrifting 101: Always look at the scarves. They're usually a dollar and almost always in great condition.
Shorts (hemmed): Thrifted, Alabaster's Attic Church Thrift Store, Greensburg

Blouse: Thrifted, Alabaster's Attic Church Thrift Store, Greensburg

Scarf: Thrifted, Salvation Army, Lancaster

Shoes: Target (I have thrifted shoes, but I couldn't find one of the pair I wanted to wear this morning and these were sitting by the door so nicely)
And if you squint/zoom: my toes are neon green, which matched the scarf belt quite well.

Watching My Tone

Plaid, bows, ruffles, and stripes may seem a bit overwhelming for one outfit, especially a work outfit, but the muted color palette and the near-perfect tonal match (in my favorite -- purple) really help to keep the outfit under control.
I love how well the colors blended, and the twee overload of the ruffle over the bow.
I kept the rest of the outfit simple with small pearl earrings and metallic shoes. The teal sunglasses were a fun after-work touch, celebrating the fact that the eye doctor has given my sad eyes the okay to wear my contacts again.
Skirt: Purr, South Granville, Vancouver

Shirt: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore, Prince George

Sunglasses: H&M

Shoes: Thrifted, Goodwill, Etown, Target

I can't wait to repeat this outfit in the fall with tights and my cream cardigan. xoxo Anna Rae

All The Pretty Horses

Yes Virginia, that is a zebra pencil skirt. A consignment shop purchase, it's a piece that brings the pizazz to professional.

While a sleeveless blouse made an excellent warm-weather compliment, I'm hoping the skirt isn't too summery to work with sweaters in the fall. I'd love to hear your styling suggestions in the comments!
If you had pink patent pumps you'd stare at them too.

Skirt: No brand name, La Belle Vie Consignment in Kerrisdale

Blouse: Nanette Lepore, Nordstrom's Rack Seattle

Shoes: Coach, Ebay

Necklace: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore

Belt: Gap

Wear, Rinse, Repeat

I loved my all black and white outfit from earlier this week so much that I had to repeat it, although this time I couldn't help adding a pop of colour. I had been looking for a chunky orange necklace for a long time and finally found this perfect one at Winners. The best part about black and white dressing is versatility. I can wear this top and shoes with any colour cardigan, shoe, or accessory year-round. It's like packing for your life. Because our weather has been bordering on sadistic, I wore my amazing new H&M trench. I was actually cutting through the store on my way to the bus when its ikat-like animal print stopped me in my tracks. Trench: H&M
Necklace: Winners
Top: Joe Fresh, Real Canadian Superstore
Capris: Old Navy
Flats: Expression, The Bay

Like Mother, Like Daughter

My mom and I don't share many of the same style opinions, but one thing we've always agreed on is how we love the pairing of navy blue and hot pink. This blue isn't that navy and this pink isn't that hot, but I still really love the look of the colors together. To add even more color fun, I wore my yellow shoes, because, especially in the summer, most especially this summer of color blocking, yellow is basically a neutral.
I really like the idea of mixing big prints with small ones. The small polka dots are underwhelming enough for the louder sweater -- a gift from Erin, as are all of my favorite hand-me-downs. My favorite part of this outfit is how feminine it is: dainty flower necklace, the floral cardigan, lace collar, pearl buttons. You'd never guess I was working at a plant that manufactures gas connectors while wearing it.
Dress: Thrifted, Salvation Army, Lancaster

Cardigan: Gifted, Erin, The Loft

Neckalce: Camilla as a graduation/goodbye present

Shoes: Target

Belt: H&M
Don't worry, I'm not crazy enough to wear an outfit like this in an actual plant, just in its office. The only time I venture out onto the plant floor is to get a Diet Coke from the vending machine, so between 1 and 5 times a day. xoxo Anna Rae

Domino Effect

Inspired by Kate Spade's colour of the month, black and white, I constructed an outfit around the crisp contrast that only these opposites can bring. Keeping with the opposite theme, I also tackled a fashion don't: white on the bottom. Figure-flattery wisdom holds that you wear white on your smallest body part, not your largest, and that white pants are for size six and under. As a double-digit-size-wearing lady, I say do the don't.Monochromatic does not have to mean uninteresting. Stripes and the contrast of chiffon layers with crisp denim creates depth in a simple look. Resisting the urge to choose a bright shoe, I went with metallic flats and a shiny necklace for sparkle. Blazer: Tristan
Capris: Tommy Hilfiger, Winners
Necklace: Banana Republic
Shoes: Tory Burch, Ebay (there are many fakes online: if the price is too good to be true, it is)
Blouse: Club Monaco

Thank you to my lovely co-worker Pat for the photos