I’m telling you, if I had owned these clothes when I was 17, I would have worn them every single day. Opaque black tights? Check. Calf-height, flat-soled boots? Check. Oversized, belted plaid flannel shirt dress that’s kind of unflattering (but who cares because it was cheap)? Check, check, check! Seriously, this is all sooooo Anna-in-1992, and it’s making me really, really happy.
I hope I never grow up and start buying clothes at Ann Taylor.
Also, if you don’t already own a pair of gray boots, I highly recommend these.
Oh, and another thing: I was just marveling this morning over the difference in the quality of opaque tights in 2008 vs. 1992. I clearly remember getting maybe 4 wears out of a pair of tights back then before they started to fall apart, usually beginning with the seams in the crotch area. (Do you remember this, Nicole?) These days, I can own a pair of tights for years without getting so much as a hole in the toe. Nice! Of course, these advancements in quality would mean that I could never achieve that naturally-ripped-and-held-together-with-safety-pins effect I used to love so much, but I think I’m over that particular look by now.
24 Comments
You look fabulous!! I totally need to go shopping, especially for some more dress-up-like clothes, as most of my stuff is casual, as teaching art gets me out of the shirt and tie gig. I replaced all my too big casual clothes, but not my too big formal clothes. I seriously panic every time I have a formal event to go to!
THANKS for the link to the boots! 🙂 I love the ones you were wearing and was thinking, I need a pair!
Oh wow Anna, you look great! I’ve been thinking of trying that skirt + opaque tights + boots look (though I doubt I could ever look 1/10 as good as you). Sold!
I am always behind the trends. Every season, I resist the trend because I think it’s ugly and not me at all, then it grows on me, and by the end, when there are no more of it left, I am scrounging to get it. Then the following year, I feel prepared when I have the item, except oh no, the trend has changed.
Case in point, your boots. Just today I was thinking about how vogue mid calf height boots are, instead of just below the knee. Guess what, I have a ton of just below the knee boots, and no short boots. I guess I’ll have to get some. Way to go for being with it, unlike myself.
That is so cute! I’m the opposite. When I was younger, I wouldn’t have worn that ever, but now I absolutely love it! Maybe it was all those years of Catholic school where I had to wear plaid!
You look so great! I have been obsessing over those Frye boots ever since you posted them on Flickr a while back and keep looking at Zappos and debating spending the money. After seeing this post I think I’m going to pull the trigger… 🙂
Mary, buy them!! Fryes are so comfortable and such good quality. Worth every penny!
I’m usually more of a fan of taller boots, but I LOVE yours! So I clicked on your link and FREAKED OUT because they have the same name as me! I THINK IT’S A SIGN!
great boots! how do you wear them with jeans? in or out?
lulu, I ALWAYS tuck my jeans into my boots! You can kind of see these boots with jeans in the bottom photo here.
With short boots like these, I like to just sort of stuff the jeans into the tops of the boots so they’re a little scrunchy. With tall boots, I wear socks over my jeans to keep everything very smooth so there’s no bunching at the knees.
Also, I never wear boot cut or wide leg jeans with boots, only skinny and straight leg.
So jealous. I love those boots. Ever since you posted about them I have had them in the back of my mind.
I have been looking at various Frye boots online but not quite sure of the sizing. Do you find Frye to be true to size? I guess I could go into a store and try some on but I CANNOT abide going to a shoe department right now- way too much stimulus with everyone scrambling to buy their winter boots… just did my shopping for winter tights at H&M. Let us hope they will last the season because you know when February comes around all they will have left is extra small. And extra small I ain’t.
You are so cute!!
I can’t WAIT to start wearing tights! Still a little too warm here in Cali, but, soooon! 🙂
I honestly MISS opaque black tights. Thank you for giving me the green light, I’m soooo all over these when it finally gets cold out here!
too funny! i picked up a flannel dress at the uniqlo a few weeks ago and i had the “can i really wear this, it is so 1992” conversation with my husband in the store for like half an hour! in the end i bought it, but have yet to find the courage to wear it. you look great, maybe i’ll rock mine on monday! thanks for the confidence boost.
I think you’re wearing my first day of school outfit, circa 1991. It’s looking very fresh again… love your (flattering) dress!
Oh – love your outfit. Agreed, tights are so much better now. I remember having to either pull the toe area under my foot, as my tights had got so thin, I had poked my toes thru the end. Or I would wear two pairs of tights (the winters in London were brutal – 1) for warmth and but 2) because all the holes and “runs” weren’t so noticeable when doubled up. So glad I can afford to replace my tights when they’re “holey”.
Just found a pair of old Fryes at a flea market. I think they are still the best made boots – they last forever.
i was drooling over those boots all day today when i saw you. i’m surprised you didn’t notice the extended stares.
yes, i remember the lousy tights. i even remember intentionally ripping them apart — fishnets mostly — to create sleeves. i must have photographic documentation of that buried somewhere.
Perfect! A great ensemble…I just saw this dress in the new issue of Lucky!
I love that dress and boots. It might look 1992, but I’d wear it any year.
I used to ALWAYS rip my tights the first time I would ever wear them! I just now remembered that! I always had white ones because I had to wear them to Sunday school at church. With my white patent leather maryjanes, of course.
Oh I like the look a lot! And like you, I never hope to grow up to wearing boring formal clothes too.
It’s quite weird: a while ago I read a letter from a 48-year-old woman in one of those ‘readers can send in their fashion/work/personal troubles’-features in a serious, intelligent magazine. The woman wrote: ‘I’m 48 years old, but I still have a good figure and I like fashion a lot. I like to wear modern, young fashion showing a bit of leg and cleavage. But my children say I’m too old for that. Should I dress more formally?’
Readers could comment on the subject, and their comments were all so hostile and grim: ‘You should dress like a woman of your age! Don’t try to look younger than you are! Old women trying to look young are so pathetic! A woman of your age should dress formal!’
I was so surprised to read this. I’m certainly not pro-plastic surgery or trying to look like 20 when you’re 50, but those comments really were like ‘you have to conform, don’t think that you can be different then the rest of us’.
Anyway: stay dressing the way you like it.
Oh and my tights certainly don’t last a year…
Boots gorgeous,blog awesome:),
best wishes from (remote;))Poland