See Jane.

Artistic (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:15:00 +0000

Gap blouse (very old but similar), F21 pants (old but similar here and here), J Crew heels (sold out color but similar), KW sunglasses, J Crew + Giles & Bro bracelet

If I was an art teacher, this is exactly the type of outfit I'd wear to class. When I was in grade school, I always thought my art teachers dressed so kooky and I have a feeling my pupils would think the same thing about this outfit. Also, did you guys have to use one of your dad's old button-up shirts as your art smock? I wish I could look back on those days as an adult now and see me and all my grade school friends running around in these huge, paint-stained shirts that once belonged to our dads.

Totally 80s (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Tue, 21 May 2013 21:48:00 +0000

Equipment top c/o (similar), Zara jeans (similar), J Crew heels (sold out but similar), 3.1 Phillip Lim bag, KW sunglasses

Ever feel like you grew up in the wrong decade? I was born in the mid-80s, grew up in the 90s (and don't get me wrong, I loved it), but always felt like I would've thrived in a Bret Easton Ellis-era novel. It just seems like it makes sense; I love Wham (and everything related to George Michael), the Smiths, Hall & Oates, and my flat hair could probably use a perm. Plus, I feel like this outfit, with its acid gray and faded black tones, is a throwback to the decade where I belong.

$1K J Crew Gift Card + The Shelf (See Jane Give Away)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Mon, 20 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

I don't do too many giveaways here on the blog unless they're something really special that I would love to win myself. It's safe to say that I would be ecstatic to win this: a $1,000 J.Crew Gift Card! (Please note that this is open to all international readers, too).
In celebration of an exciting new concept called The Shelf, this great group of bloggers and I are giving you the opportunity to win an amazing fashion makeover.

Style Elixir | Fash Boulevard | Ivory Lane | The Chiffon Diary | GBO Fashion

Hello Fashion | Barefoot Blonde | Because Shanna Said So | Shannon Hearts | See Jane

A Little Dash of Darling | Mix and Match Fashion | Little Miss Fearless | Merricks Art | Coast With Me

A fashionistas ultimate tool, The Shelf, is a new website that allows you to keep all the items you love in one place. When you go shopping online, simply click and 'shelve' your favorite pieces...

More importantly, The Shelf will even track their price. Input your desired purchase amount and you'll never need to spend a cent more than you have to - receive automatic alerts when your favorite items are on sale...

A hub for style inspiration and maximum savings, the gorgeous ladies I'm collaborating with are all using the The Shelf and we'd love you to join us! I've shelved some of my favorite pieces and you can keep up with these, or start adding your own.

For your chance to win a $1,000 J.Crew Gift Card...

Click here and sign up to The Shelf (if you're a blogger, add your URL for special features!)
Click here to follow your favorite bloggers' shelves
Complete the simple Rafflecopter entries below... remember the more you do, the more chances you have to win! It's open worldwide, too.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

PS Don't forget to enter my Henri Bendel giveaway, too!

Home Run (See Jane Decorate)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:41:00 +0000

1. dining room chairs / 2. pillow / 3. nesting tables

4. drum pendant / 5. pillow / 6. bar cart

7. gold flatware / 8. navy bed / 9. reclaimed wood dining room table

I'm moving in a couple weeks and all I can focus on is home decor. Interior design both excites and exhausts me; I could look for hours on pinterest and blogs but when it comes to execution, I have a hard time putting it all together. These items are either ones I'm eyeing or that I've already purchased; fingers crossed it looks cohesive!

On that note, any decorating tips or tricks that have worked well for you?

Short 'n Sweet (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000

J Crew tee, Joie shorts (also love these striped ones) , Zara heels (similar), TOMS sunglasses (c/o), 3.1 Phillip Lim bag

Hallelujah, it feels like summer! I'm sure this will fade fast but in the meantime, I'm baring my legs as much as I can. I'm sure i'll be wearing a turtleneck and jeans come Saturday.

Sportif (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

H&M anorak (old but similar here and here), Zara kids sweater (old), J Crew skirt, Gap flats (old but similar), 3.1 Phillip Lim bag

I'm not very athletic. I tried a handful of sports growing up and either all my friends/peers were extremely talented or I just wasn't very good (..and I'm leaning towards the latter). So organized sports aren't really my thing and this outfit doesn't exactly scream 'wear your jersey to school on game day,' either. An anorak and flats is probably as sporty as it gets for me. And as you might've guessed, Sporty Spice was my least favorite Spice Girl.

PS Don't forget to enter the Henri Bendel giveaway here!

Henri Bendel City Guide + Giveaway (See Jane's City)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Tue, 07 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Mango jacket, Zara top, J Brand jeans, Henri Bendel bag, bracelet + necklace

I'm really excited to tell you all about my recent collaboration with Henri Bendel. I did a little Chicago-centric city guide on their website where I listed all my favorite places in the city (and yes, most of them are restaurants because, hey, this city loves to eat) and was able to snap some pictures around town with this season's hottest accessories.

The best part of this is where you come into play; all the accessories in the photo above are up for grabs (includes this cross-body bag, necklace and leather wrap bracelet)! Please use the rafflecopter tool below to enter; a lucky winner will be chosen on June 2nd.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Open to legal residents of U.S., D.C., P.R. 18 years or older. Enter between 5/7/13 and 6/2/13. Limit one entry per person. For odds, prize descriptions & Official Rules visit facebook.com/henribendel. Sponsor: Henri Bendel, Inc.

PS Check out an excerpt of my city guide below!

Sun's Out (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

J Crew chambray, Zara skirt (old but similar), 3.1 Phillip Lim bag, Zara heels (sold out but similar), Gap sunglasses

That's right; this week it was warm enough to wear short sleeves without a coat. I felt a little bare but boy, did it feel good. My "guns" (i.e. arms) leave a lot to be desired, so it may be time to get into a workout routine for real this time.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Eric's Favorite Cookies (See Jane Bake)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Thu, 02 May 2013 01:22:00 +0000

I've said it once and I'll say it again: I'm not a baker. Although I think these cookies are delicious, I generally look at baking them as a tedious task. Eric has been living at the office lately and I wanted to lift his spirits a bit; nothing makes him happier than these salted chocolate chip cookies. This is a big deal that Eric has deemed them his favorite, because he's a total sweets fanatic; what's equally impressive is that I also love these cookies (and am not at all crazy about sweets in general). The consensus? These cookies are a people pleaser, all around.

As for the recipe, I'm partial to this one as a base (I like any recipe that uses more brown sugar than white sugar) with a few of my own modifications. I refrigerate the dough for a few hours before spooning onto cookie sheets; also, before baking, I sprinkle sea or kosher salt on top for more of that extra, salty goodness that I love.

Vertical (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:27:00 +0000

Zara skirt (similar), J crew sweatshirt, thrifted Gap jean jacket (similar), Zara heels (old but similar), KW sunglasses

Although stripes take up a huge part of my closet, this is my first try with the vertical kind. They're a a bit intimidating and a lot bold, so I paired it with the most disarming pieces in my closet: a light sweatshirt and denim jacket. A light sweatshirt, denim jacket and pajama pants is what I wear to walk Jerome most nights, too; I wasn't kidding when I said that they go with everything.

Slice (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:20:00 +0000

J Brand jeans, Urban Outfitters top (old, no label), Karen Kane jacket (c/o), J Crew scarf (old but love this one), 3.1 Phillip Lim bag, Gap sunglasses, J Crew shoes (via eBay...color sold out but other versions here and here)

This lemon-lime combination is a great way to add color into a neutral (work) outfit. Remember the soda (or, "pop," if you're midwestern) Slice? Does that even exist anymore? Anyway, as soon as I walked out the door with this refreshing, lemon-lime combination, I instantly thought of the (most likely) now-defunct Slice. One might say I had a 'spritely' step while wearing this outfit (get it!?).

...Enjoy the rest of your week!

Peanut Butter + Banana Granola (See Jane Make)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:47:00 +0000

Homemade granola was a household staple growing up. Although I begged and pleaded for the packaged granola at the grocery store (you know the kind with huge, nutty, chunky clusters...mmm), my mom wouldn't budge because she made herself at home and unlike the store-bought version, it wasn't full of additives . As I got older, I began to appreciate the fact that my mom said no to me about such things and also grew to love her granola. She'd make me huge batches to bring to college and I still snack on it when I visit home.

And now, I share with you my mom's granola that started making in the 70s--before I was even a twinkle in her eye. You can tweak the recipe any which way you want; here, I made a peanut butter and banana version.

5 cups old fashioned oats (NOT quick)

1/8 chia seeds

1 cup chopped walnuts

1 cup chopped almonds

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 T vanilla extract

1/2 salt

1/2 c peanut butter (I used fresh honey peanut butter from Whole Foods)

2 very ripe bananas

1/4 honey

Preheat oven to 300°. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the wet ingredients. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Drizzle with canola oil and mix around on baking sheet before placing in oven. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Forever Young (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:17:00 +0000

J Crew collared tee, Gap jeans (c/o), thrifted Gap jacket (similar), Chloe bag, Zara heels (similar here), KW sunglasses

There's nothing like a Peter Pan collar AND neon to inject youthfulness into an outfit. Luckily, the demure collar offsets the acid neon pants which can have a mind of their own. Sometimes, you've just got to tone it down it bit.

PS. I'm back! Last week just seemed like the right time to unplug for a bit, so thank you for understanding.

Bare (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Zara peplum leather jacket (old but similar), Duffy sweater (spring version here), Zara skirt (old maxi rolled up, but similar), J Crew pumps, KW sunglasses

Two words: bare legs. Also, a leather jacket is a wonderful contrast to the feminine, mid-lenth skirt. Pairing leather with overly short skirts can often look too "biker babe," so sweetening it up with long skirts or pointy heels is a great juxtaposition.

Also, I'm taking part in Vanity Fair's "Best Dressed" Challenge. I'd love it if you showed your support and voted for my looks by clicking here!

Same Old (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:21:00 +0000

Zara coat, J Crew Factory top, J Brand jeans, PLV wedges, KW sunglasses

I know, I know--I just wore navy +coral + denim last week, but during this "in-between" season, there's not much else that works so well. I'm scared to go sans tights because the weather has been known to drop twenty degrees in a day. For now, please bear with me while I stick to what I know best: coats and denim.

Southwest (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 18:15:00 +0000

ASOS (by Mango) jacket, J Crew chambray shirt, Zara jeans (similar), PLV wedges, 3.1 Phillip Lim bag, Super sunglasses

I'm feeling a bit 'urban cowboy' today. My jacket alone has a southwestern motif to it and when paired with a chambray button down (the obvious choice), I feel like I could rope in some cattle (which isn't too far fetched considering my cowgirl past). Giddy up!

This Vs. That (See Jane Compare)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 02:19:00 +0000

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

I already know what my office wear will be all spring: lightweight (hopefully chambray) blazers, printed pants, breezy blouses paired with various neutral accessories. I made some fun pairings above, but the caveat is that one of the blazer/pants combos costs significantly less--can you tell which is more expensive?

The Trench: A Spring Staple (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 01:22:00 +0000

Burberry trench (look for less here), Zara top, Gap pants, J Crew heels, Celine bag

A classic trench coat is one of those items that I grab for year after year. I've had this particular version for four years now and I think the cost per wear must be mere pennies by now. It's appropriate for the most conservative of offices and can be dressed down for the most casual wardrobes, too. I relied on this coat for business travel when I worked in finance; now that I work at a start-up where we can be as dressed down as we please, I still pull it just as often during springtime. They now come in a plethora of colors and styles (and price ranges, too), but you can't go wrong with a standard khaki or black trench.

Burberry trench, H&M jacket, DL1961 jeans, Joie flats, Chloe bag (old, but similar size/shape)

What A Peach (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 00:52:00 +0000

Zara coat, J Crew tweed tee (on sale!), Zara jeans (similar), Pour la Victoire wedges, 3.1 Phillip Lim bag

I'm done boycotting outfit posts only because Mother Nature has risen the temperatures above freezing. I swear, though, as soon as they dip, I'll be back to protesting once again. Now that my threats to stop posting pictures of myself on the internet have been vocalized, I have a feeling the weather is finally going to cooperate.

Green Breakfast Smoothie (See Jane Blend)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:49:00 +0000

I know, I know--I'm about a century behind on the smoothie craze. My mom, however, is one of the original pioneers of the smoothie movement. She's been forcing them down my throat for as long as I can remember. Every single time I'm home, she makes me a healthy smoothie for breakfast (and yes, they're actually healthy..no processed foods allowed!). I've never been big into breakfast on weekdays, either; I'd much rather sleep. However, sipping one down in the morning has really quelled the "hungriness" (hungry/angry) I feel by noon due to skipping breakfast.

handful of spinach

handful of kale (broken up, with stems)

handful of strawberries (fresh or frozen)

1/2 banana

2 spoonfuls of raw almond butter

2 spoonfuls of greek yogurt

spoonful of chia seeds

1/4 (eyeballed) of filtered water

Disclaimer: I'm not really into sweets so this isn't sugary at all--it's more nutty than anything. I'm also not a health expert; I just know I need to eat healthier and this is a great way for me to incorporate more nutrition in my life. Here's my ingredient list. I'm curious, if you make smoothies, what do you use?

Repurposed (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:21:00 +0000

Kenna-T jacket (old but similar), Gap turtleneck, Old Navy skirt (old but this one is awesome for spring), J Crew pumps, Gap sunglasses

I will not discuss the weather. I will not complain about the cold.

....ok, fine--I can't help it! I need spring temperatures in my life. If anything, the abysmal weather is keeping me creative. I've been pulling items from the depths of my closet. It's not like I have a choice in the matter; if I have to wear another sweater with skinny jeans and boots, I might go insane.

Time Out (See Jane in Print)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 15:35:00 +0000

J Crew coat, Old Navy chambray, Rag & Bone jeans, J Crew heels (wedge version still available), 3.1 Phillip Lim bag, Super sunglasses

Check out my writeup in Time Out Chicago. Thanks so much to Nick Murway for snapping these photos and Kevin Aeh for a great interview.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Overwinter (See Jane Wear)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 02:44:00 +0000

Zara jacket (old but similar), Club Monaco blouse (old but similar), Rag & Bone jeans, Dolce Vita heels (on sale!), Celine bag

I'm so over winter. Every morning I look into my closet and think "you again?" to all my clothes. Bare legs aren't an option and I'm tired of tights and heavy overcoats. This morning, I decided a lightweight leather jacket was the only thing that would work for me, so I compensated for the chilly temperatures by wearing another coat (a trench) on top for my commute to work. It's the only thing I can do at this point short of hibernating.

Any tips for getting through these last weeks of winter? I'm desperate.

Salad Lyonnaise (See Jane Cook/Inhale)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:19:00 +0000

A lyonnaise salad takes me back to my days of studying abroad in Europe during college. I ordered it frequently because you could always count on it being on the menu (especially in Luxembourg, where I studied) and I thought I was being somewhat healthy because hey, it was a salad! As soon as I spotted "lardons" and "oeufs" on the menu, I thought, "mmm, bacon and eggs. Sold." It's no wonder I gained a few pounds that semester along with all the pommes frites I devoured.

To construct this salad is super simple; frisée (but I just used spring mix + arugula, bacon, croutons, a poached egg (great tutorial here) and a dijon vinaigrette (I make my own--there recipes aplenty on the internets). Bon appétit!

Mirror, Mirror (See Jane's Reflection)

noreply@blogger.com (Anna Jane) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 03:45:00 +0000

Ray Ban v ASOS

Super v ASOS

It's no secret that mirrored sunglasses are a big trend right now. Sometimes I think I love them, other times I'm whisked back in time to my high school days when tinted, frameless lenses were all the rage (examples here and here--it's ok, you can admit you had them, too).

Designers are all over the map with their own mirrored lenses, but I'm not quite sure if I can commit to this trend--but I'm looking to try it. Luckily, there are affordable versions available so you can try the trend without blowing your allowance AND getting Nokia phone cover you've been eyeing. Wait, sorry, I thought it was 2001 again.