academichic

    

26 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Jersey dress – Banana Republic, remixed 
• Blue cardi – H&M, remixed 
• Knee-socks – Ralph Lauren, remixed 
• Boots – Dillards, remixed 
• Heart pendant - Mărţişor
• Book – It sucked and then I cried, Heather B. Armstrong

Endnotes:

I’m being a copy cat today and making like e. with the jersey dress. boots, and knee-socks. It’s this weird in-between weather that allows bare legs but still demands a little more coverage than sandals would provide…so I thought e’s outfit yesterday was the perfect solution. 

On a book note, I just got It Sucked and then I Cried by Heather B. Armstrong, also known on the blogosphere as Dooce, blogger extraordinaire. I love her blog, her sense of humor, her spunk, her approach to family and parenting, and her sense of style. So I have high hopes for this book, which chronicles her experiences with pregnancy, motherhood, post-partum depression, and the general changes that happen when baby makes three.

Have any of you read it? If so, actually, please don’t give anything away! But I would love a little book chat when it’s all read and done. I read the first few chapters last night, and it’s hilarious so far! S.

   

26 March 2009 – Reading Material, originally uploaded by academichic.

25 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Sweater – BR
• Cord Skirt- Faces
• Skinny Belt- Ann Taylor
• Red Wedges – Anthropologie, via ebay

Endnotes:

his is a look very much inspired by the lovely Amy McAdams (aka unabashedly copied)! Last week she wore a very similar combination of brown skirt and skinny belt with muted teal sweater and red shoes. I love to flip through the photostreams of some of my favorite stylish ladies on Wardrobe Remix looking for inspiration – only rarely do I find a fantastic outfit that I can actually recreate with the items in my own closet.

I often find myself stuck in a rut of paring the same items together. I find a color combination or silhouette that works and it’s hard for me to try those items in different pairings. Our pattern and color challenges were unbelievably helpful on this front but in “freebie week” like this I still get a bit stumped. How do you push yourself to remix? Where do you find your inspiration?

Shoes and Necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.

 

25 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Dress (with sleeve ties!) – Target
• Woven belt, Steve Madden boots, necklace, and cuff – all remixed

End Notes:

Today is a paper and paper-proposal writing day, so I’m keeping things simple in a jersey dress (also part of my Target spree in Colorado). I am inordinately excited about the sleeve ties; when dressing primarily in jersey, it’s the little details that spruce things up.

It’s a little chillier today than earlier this week, but I’m embracing the opportunity to squeeze in some more wear from my beloved boots. As excited as I am for spring, I am regretful to pack away these boots. I can’t really think of anything else in my winter/fall wardrobe from which I am truly sad to take a leave of absence. While I love my coats and my thick patterned scarves, I’m ready for a break. These boots? Not ready.

What about you? Is there a colder weather item that you’ll be sad to pack away for the next two seasons? What are you trying to get one last wear out of? (And yes, I just dangled a preposition.)

 

24 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Orange bauble necklace – Forever 21, remixed
• Metallic peeptoe wedges – Target, remixed
• Flutter sleeve top – Old Navy
• Purple tie from another tunic
• Black trousers – Liz Lange for Target

End Notes:

Oh my, what a morning. As you can probably tell from all our end notes, there’s quite a bit of stress over at academichic central. And I have to say that I’m quite impressed that we’ve all managed to get ourselves decently dressed for the first two days of our hectic week. I think we all have been grateful for our color and pattern modules, which have provided a framework for spending even a few harried moments looking in our closets but reaching for items and colors that make otherwise simple outfits more interesting. Ta da! It’s a triad. I mean, we’re academics, after all, and we love us some methodology.

Finally, I just need to give a shout-out to these pants. I picked them up at a Super Target in Denver while shopping with my wonderful sisters-in-law and I love them. I’ve realized that I really appreciate maternity clothes shopping with someone else in tow who can look at my changing body more objectively and say, “No, those pants do not look like diapers. They look awesome and you should get them.” Thanks.

 

Orange Bauble Necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.

 

Peeptoe Wedges, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Purple Cardigan – Gap Outlet
• Grey Tee – BR
• Cami – American Eagle
• Belt – scrap fabric
• Jeans – BR Outlet
• Wedges – Gap Outlet

Endnotes:

I’m not angry today, as this photo might suggest, just exhausted…

Despite all the great looks featured in our color symposium, I was feeling less than inspired this morning so went rummaging through my scarf box looking for a way to spruce up this less-than-exciting ensemble.  I used to be a big headscarf wearer -  for a few years stretch I wore a scarf in my hair more often than not.  My last batch of haircuts haven’t been as receptive to the scarf so I’ve had a box of little patterned gems just siting in my closet.  Last week in a last ditch effort to follow the pattern module I pulled one out and threw it around my waist.  Turns out I now have a box of fantastic belts – I think this might be a reoccurring look for me!

Belt detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

A couple weeks back we asked readers to submit examples of outfits they created using the Fashion 101 color modules. We received some great submissions and have definitely been inspired by all of your great color combinations!

Here are some of our favorites:

Kayla paired a bright pink henley with a more subdued blue cardigan for a great Two-Thirds ensemble. We love it with the plaid pants!

Another great Two-Thirds look came from the lovely Bella with her mix of bright green with purple. Once again we were quite inspired by the addition of a pattern to this color combination.

Our favorite monochromatic ensemble comes from Jess, who kept it simple and elegant in shades of grey. Plus we are all impressed that she designed and made this great dress herself!

Last, but certainly not least, Courtney put together a fantastic “neutrals with a pop” look. She paired this lovely orangey-red with shades of black and brown as part of her “Farewell to Winter Tour.”

Thanks again for all the great submissions. We had so much fun seeing how all of you have been experimenting with color and found ourselves truly inspired!

Check back soon for the next CFP on playing with pattern!

 

23 March 2009 – Spring is Busting Out, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Chrysanthemum print top: Ann Taylor Loft
• Navy tee – Old Navy
• Brown jersey skirt – Old Navy and a maternity lifesaver
• Red wedges – Naturalizers, from DSW
• Mini trench – Forever 21

End Notes:

As crazy as it may seem, I am so ready to have a full, five day work week. After two weekends in a row of leaving town on Friday and having to cram in a full week of work in four days, I’m ecstatic to not have to worry about a Wednesday night spent packing or a Friday full of travel.

Unsurprisingly, jersey is a pregnant lady’s best friend; it’s stretchy, breathable, and wrinkle free. But to keep myself from becoming too slouchy while I’m campus, I’m trying to smarten things up today with my favorite red wedges and a short sleeved khaki jacket. Those little polished bits don’t hamper my corporeal comfort level at all, but they do help me maintain a level of focus that will come in handy for a day at the library.

 

23 March 2009 – With Jacket, originally uploaded by academichic.

 

Pattern Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

   

23 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Orange chord dress – thrifted 
• Maroon pumps – Etienne Aigner, thrifted, remixed 
• Orange star pendant – Gabriel Brothers

Endnotes:

A. and I have been on the look-out for this style of a dress for a while now, and this weekend, I lucked out! I took some items to sell at a local consignment store and used the credit I received to purchase this dress and a pair of shoes. (Consignment stores always give you more money if you opt for store credit than if you ask for cash). 

The reason I’ve been coveting a piece like this is that it’s so versatile. You can wear it like this in the summer, or with boots and a cardi (or long-sleeve tee underneath) in the colder months. You can also layer it over another dress, as these two inspiring wardrobe-remixers have done: E. Haze and treesaw1973. As I’m starting to think about my year abroad and packing for several seasons and occasions, and keeping it all to the two suitcase allowance of flight companies, I’m becoming more strategic with and demanding of my wardrobe: Can I make several different looks out of this one item? Check! Can it be dressed up or down? Check! Will it work with me as the weather changes? Check! Will is write my dissertation for me? Ok…so maybe that’s asking a bit too much.  S.

  

Seeing stars, originally uploaded by academichic.

  

Red Shoes Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.