Shine On

What better way to show off your holiday spirit than with sequins! Not just reserved for a black tie affair, sequins can be dressy or casual and not to mention, who can be in a bad mood when you are glittering? Here are a few tips on wearing sequins this season!

If you have slight sequin-phobia, don't worry your pretty self! Start small and incorporate accessories before you jump head first into this trend. A sequin clutch, headband or statement necklace can all serve as baby steps for the novice.

Let's begin with an every day look. You can still look casual chic and wear sequins. The trick is to pair your sequins with more casual and subtle pieces. An example is a sequin blazer with a simple black or white tee underneath and a pair of jeans. Or go the opposite way and take a solid cardigan and put it over a sequin tank or top. This will dress down the sparkle a little, but you are sure to look sassy without going overboard. For somewhere in between casual and cocktail, pair a statement sequin top with a pair of black pants. This can be great for an after work get-together or a dinner date.

Stun at your holiday cocktail party or girl's night out in all over sequins. There is a plethora of sequins out there in all colors and styles. You can't get much more glam than with a sequin dress. Go with an emerald green if color is your thing, or stick to black sequins. Keep in mind your skin tone. If you are fair, stay away from rose gold and go for a darker sequin color. The trick to this look not being over the top, is to keep in mind the length of your dress. Don't go too short! The same rule applies for a sequin skirt, which is another great party option! Dress down the sequins by adding tights. Keep accessories to a minimum and don't mix your sequins. You don't need a gold sequin purse to accompany your shining sequin attire! There is such thing as too much!

Shine on!  

Fancy in Fur

You don't have to be royalty to make an entrance in fur! While I can't argue with the fact that fur is a statement piece, it's made a comeback this season. With so many faux options out there, you won't have to max out your credit card to look like a celebrity. We're seeing fur everywhere; vest, jacket, gloves, hats, scarves. Start small or go glam! Make a lasting impression and stay warm all season!

The fur vest is the most popular, especially for this time of year. It's chilly, but not so cold that you need your long coat quite yet. Turn a simple outfit into spectacular by just throwing on the vest! From pairing with your every day jeans to over your LBD, the look embodies chic! I recommend steering clear of the cropped fur vest to avoid looking a stumpy look. Go slightly longer because this will allow you to throw it on with more attire such as a mini skirt, leggings or leather pants! Leather and fur often go together and their combination is very trendy. Choose a black fur if you wear dressier attire, and go for a mix of brown or grey if you tend to go more casual.

For a feminine look, you don't have to invest in a whole fur item, you can either go for a coat or jacket with fur trim. If you have fully embraced the trend, try the trendy cropped jacket. Be advised that to cropped version looks best with a pant. Go for the more traditional longer version for a versatile look. A mid-rise jacket complements a skirt or tighter fitted pant. The long version of the fur coat transcends on more formal attire and is definitely a top pick for date night or a black tie event!

Feeling overwhelmed? Don't! If you aren't ready to take the plunge, start with fur trimmed gloves or a cozy fur scarf. No matter what fur accessories you choose, with a big smile, you are sure to look fabulous!

Good Big or Go Home

One thing most women can all agree on is that bigger is always better! Not to mention, when it comes to fashion bigger, is also more forgiving. Lucky for us the over-sized look is in! Two tops that your fall wardrobe must accommodate are the dolman sweater and tunic top. My personal fav is the dolman sweater. Because of the banded or tighter fitted waist, it still accentuates your best assets without making you look frumpy. Initially this creates the idea of a casual look, but there are ways to dress this up for an evening out!

Going for the unfussy look is simple and the easiest way to wear these over-sized tops. No matter how you pair them, make sure what you don on bottom is more snug than loose fitting. You don't want your attire to give the illusion of a giant trash bag. Go casual with a skinny jean or legging under the top. Boots or a smoking slipper will look knock-out with trying hard! Throw on a felt hat with messy hair for a more urban feel.

Going elegant is easier than you think with these tops. For an uptown feel choose heavy fabrics or opt for sequins or metallics. Lace is also super feminine and gives your outfit a certain charm. You can't go wrong with these festive and fun alternatives to your basic cotton tee for the Holidays. These tops transcend well with a black crop or ponte pant. (A ponte pant is similar to a legging, but with heavier material to look a step up from the casual black legging) If you dare, leather leggings are completely fearless and beyond hot! Zippers will spice up any pant as well!

Go big or go home ladies, because this is a must have look of the season!

Printed Pants

The arrival of chilly weather brings the inevitable need to cover up. Why not do it in style and let your legs do the talking? Start off the season with a bang and invest in a pair of printed pants! Go glam or work week chic, these are sure to make a statement!

You can start on a more subtle note by snagging a pair of black and white printed pants. Houndstooth is uber popular this season or go for a graphic print. The color scheme is a toned down version of a printed pant and YES! these can be worn to work! Add black basic pumps, a white button down, a fitted blazer and you are professional chic! Branch out a little by adding color with a bright blouse and assemble with neutral accessories.

For a more fashion forward or daring look, go for print on print! You have to be careful with this, because you don't want to go print happy! You can mix subtle and busy prints, but one HAS to be on the basic side. For example: delicate, smaller polka dots on a top can easily be tucked into your busy pants. Don't go overboard with two large prints, this won't work!

Going out with the girls? An eye-catching ensemble is the printed pant and a sequin top or blouse. You can throw a blazer over it to complete the look. A solid peplum top will add drama while still looking streamline.

This look doesn't have to be fussy. There are tons of patterned jeans out there and these can be thrown on in a second with a solid blouse or cotton shirt and flats. Add a small cross-body and you've created an irresistible ensemble.

Dare to wear the printed pant this season!

 

Cozy Up

Enjoy this trend while it lasts, because right now oversized sweaters are having a major moment! This fall/winter staple is one you will want to take advantage of! Not only is it easy to pull off, but super cozy! You don't have to look like a frumpy mess when you crawl into your favorite sweater. You don't have to hide your shape to embrace this your newest fashion friend. Cuddle up, and read on...

Use a wide belt with chunky hardware to belt your sweater for shape. Don't worry about wrinkles when belting, it doesn't have to be perfect. Think sloppy chic!

Put your sweater atop a crop pant. Go with black or a fun color. Because of the solid bottom, you can go wild with stripes, prints or patterns on the sweater. Pair it with a killer pair of pumps to lengthen legs. This gives a slimming effect.

For a somewhat sleeker look, go with a neutral sweater. Black, gray, brown, tan...will make your look slightly more upscale and sophisticated. To add pizzazz find ones with metallic thread woven into the fabric.

Prep things up a little by adding a collared shirt under your sweater. This gives the the piece more structure and is a good option for the work place, if you think the oversized look might be pushing it a little!

Stay warm on a chilly day with your favorite comfy sweater and leggings. Throw on a pair of boots and head out the door! This looks casual but chic and is the ultimate in comfort. Put a pair of tall socks under your boots and throw on a scarf. A slouchy bag will add the finishing touches to your urban attire!

rag & bone

From it's New York origins in 2002, rag & bone was born. It combines British heritage with a modern twist. The line boasts clothes that are highly wearable that melds classic tailoring with an understated aesthetic. The importance of quality, expert craftsmanship and attention to detail resonated deeply, informing rag & bone's core philosophy. It's safe to say that rag & bone has redefined urban style. Each piece is crafted from the finest materials and approached from a form and function design point.

You might be most familiar with their denim line, but they brand goes far beyond!  The offer a full range of women's ready to wear, shoes and accessories. Their most recent collections is collectively made up of leather, lace and even fur. It offers something for the most urban and chic. Pair lace with wax denim or a fur vest with leather pants. From the most simple of tees to leather booties, you are sure to find attire for every day AND a night out on the town! Celebrities swooning over the line include Sienna Miller, Giselle Bundchen and Rihanna.

New fall pieces arriving daily! Our most recent rag & bone obsession are booties just in! Stay tuned via Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our rapidly arriving fall must-haves!

Introducing: DL Nineteen Sixty One Denim

Anna & Alice is proud to be one of the premier boutiques that carries DL Nineteen Sixty One denim in the Raleigh area. This hot brand of jeans is new on the fashion scene, but don't let that scare you. DL Neneteen Sixty One can hold it's own next to any other denim line, though they offer superior fit. Once you try these on, you are sure to have that "ah ha!" moment! These are the first jeans that stay true to your body's shape. Say goodbye to jeans that lose their fit after the first hour of wearing them! DL has crafted the perfect 4 way stretch denim that ensure no baggy or misshapen fit. DL Nineteen Sixty One retains its fit for the long run (or walk, skip and dance). After multiple wears, the jeans feel just as fresh as they did the first time you wore them! This graceful style is one that is often lost with other denim lines.

Not only will these quickly become your favorite pair of jeans, but they offer a multitude of styles, fits, and cuts. The colored jeans are flying off the shelves. DL boasts bright and flavorful colors for all your fall fashion wants! They offer your favorite classic styles all the way to the trendy wax coated jean. Go flared, cropped, skinny or legging (or one of each!). Stop by and try on a pair today! You won't be disappointed!