academichic

27 July 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Teal dress – BR Outlet, remixed
• Red-orange top – Zara, remixed
• Purple beads – F21, remixed
• Purple clutch – Nine West. remixed
• Gray wedges – Report, remixed

Endnotes:

For this week’s review of Complimentary Colors and the Two-Thirds Rule, I chose red and green (complimentaries) as a starting point. Red and green smacks of Christmas decor and winter holidays, so it’s always a struggle to pair these two and not look like an elf heading to the North Pole. As both A. and E. mentioned today, it’s often easier to choose slight variations of the crayon box colors to still get a bold and bright effect without any of the sports or holiday color connotations. So I opted for red-orange and blue-green instead of straight up red and green.

I then fished around for the perfect accessories to finish the look and was struck by how warm and rich of a color palette the purple beads and clutch created. I think this is due to it being a near triad (triad: purple, green, and orange), and thus coming close to the pinnacle of bold and rich color combinations. Gray wedges finish the look without competing with this already intense color combo. Quite the change after a week of neutrals! S.

27 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed.

• Teal tank - Ann Taylor
• Brown cotton skirt – BR Outlet
• Orange patterned scarf - Target
• T-straps – Target.com

End Notes:

This week we’re playing with complementary and two-thirds color schemes and I’m starting the week out with perhaps my favorite complementary color mix: blue and orange. I’ve worn this color pairing several times in the past; I think it has a certain freshness that works well for crisp winter, bright spring, and hot summer.

On the other hand, straight-from-the-crayon-box blue and orange veers a little too closely to sport’s team colors for my taste. Does that ring true for anyone else? I think that’s why I shy away from pairing orange with a cobalt blue and instead lean towards blues that are either lighter or have a little bit of green in them. In today’s outfit, the patterned scarf also helps to keep things from feeling too collegiate by adding some visual interest, not just a slash of color. And while the scarf-as-a-belt has to be untied every time I feed my son, it’s a painless style sacrifice I’m willing to make. At least for now.

Also, I am pretty darn excited to be wearing a full skirt again. Voluminous skirts were not doing me any favors once my preggers bump really popped, and while I love a sleek pencil skirt or bermuda short on my bottom half I’m thrilled to have something to twirl in again.

27 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 July 2009 – Twins ;), originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

On A.P.:

• Dress – thrifted
• Red belt – thrifted
• Sandals – thrifted

Endnotes:

Last week I got to visit one of my closest friends, A.P. We did our Masters together and during that time we were known as the good twin and the evil twin. As you can tell from our picture, we’re clearly not twins of the biological variety, but we sure are soul twins. We have the same sense of humor, we love to travel, we both love chocolate and wine, and we both share a passion for style and thrift shopping. So when the opportunity presented itself for me to visit A.P., I was thrilled to get to see her and to inevitably raid her closet.

Which proved pretty fruitful, since she decided to let me inherit this pretty, rose-colored lace top. I layered it under my new cardigan from Banana Republic, which has almost as crazy of a cut as the Anthropologie Possibilities cardi we got to try out a while ago. Like the Anthro cardi, this item will lend itself to various stylings and I’m excited to experiment with it more. For now, I went casual and tied it at the waist.

26 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Top – TJMaxx, remixed
• Skirt – Boden, thrifted, remixed
• Tan wedges – TJMaxx, remixed
• Sunglasses – H&M, remixed

Endnotes:

I’ve been packing, storing, organizing, and I’m all moved out of my condo. But not before joining A and her girlfriend A2, and E., her husband N. and their baby for a brunch party. Like A., I opted for a skirt and pretty top as the perfect brunch outfit. This skirt and lacey top combo proved a welcome break from the shorts and tanks worn while loading and packing boxes.

Tomorrow, we start our second review session on Color and this will present a two-fold challenge to me. Not only will I try out complementary or two-thirds color combinations, but I will do this while my wardrobe is in a state of nomadic chaos. The first time we embraced these color challenges, I had a perfectly stocked and color-coded wardrobe at my disposal. Now my clothes are in part with me at my fiance’s house, in part in storage at my condo., and in part at my parents’ house from where they will take off for Germany with me. So with a much more limited and chaotic wardrobe, I will attempt to review our color module for this week in ways that hopefully will not look limited nor chaotic. Stay tuned! S.

When we first explored the color wheel and experimented with various color combinations, we found it to be extremely helpful in lending us new eyes with which to see our wardrobes. This was so useful the first time around, that we decided to revisit the color modules and to challenge ourselves to a review session using our summer wardrobes. In our first review session we reexamined Neutrals and Neutrals with a Pop.

This week we will review Complementary Colors and the Two-Thirds Rule. To read more about this color mix lesson, click here…

» Read the rest of this entry «

23 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Magenta shirt dress – Target
• Woven belt – F21
• Patterned flats – Old Navy, remixed

End Notes:

It’s been two weeks since I gave birth to baby e., but today was the first time that I ventured out on my own without him. Sure, I ended up leaving the house 45 minutes and one feeding later than I had originally anticipated, but at least I was clean and clothed. I was even — wait for it — wearing a woven fabric rather than the knits that typified my late maternity wardrobe. I know, it’s a big step.

This wine color is one of my favorites, and I’m thrilled to have a whole dress in this hue. Since the button-up front of the dress makes it highly conducive to breastfeeding, this will likely be a new favorite day dress. While I have several ideas on how to restyle this in the future, today I opted for the most straightforward route: a belt to give waist definition and patterned flats to add a little interest.

Patterned Flats, originally uploaded by academichic.

As my body continues to recover from pregnancy and adapt to breastfeeding, my wardrobe remains in a state of daily flux. Will this bottom fit today? Can I feed baby e. in this top? How badly will stains show on this dress? Is it dangerous to wear this necklace around little grabby hands? It’s a rather unglamorous approach to getting ready in the morning but it’s also a different kind of creative challenge. How can I be functional and look stylish all while negotiating a body that seems to be a different shape every day? When I think about it that way I am intrigued, rather than frustrated, and ready to tackle my closet again.

23 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

We frequently receive questions regarding the cameras we use or how we take our pictures. So here are some quick answers to enlighten those curious about these things:

Cameras: While A. and E. have pretty nice machinery, S. uses a simple point and shoot Canon Powershot SD750. Sometimes she gets to use her fiance’s Canon EOS Digital Rebel TX, which takes great motion shots (on the Sports setting) and makes for better quality images altogether. For simple portraiture, however, the Canon Powershot has served her well.

A. uses a Nikon D50 and E. uses a Nikon D40. These are the cameras generally used when photographing How-To’s or our Fashion 101 modules on color.

Photographer: The majority of our pictures are self-portraits taken with a timer and by placing our cameras on a table, stair, mailbox, or some other convenient stationary object. On occasion, we take each other’s pictures or have a partner play photographer. A. and S. have also invested in a small portable tripod, while E. has acquired a small remote control.

Tips: None of us have any formal training in photography and we have been learning a lot while working on this project and experimenting on an almost daily basis with angles, lighting, and composition. We’ve learned that an uncluttered background works best as well natural lighting! Outdoor, indirect lighting tends to produce the best pictures, so balconies, backyards, or front porches have become our favorite photo shoot locations.

22 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed

• Navy Blazer – Forever 21
• Teal Tank – BR Outlet
• Grey Skirt – Old Navy
• Navy Peep Toes – Off Broadway
• Scarf – Gift from Kimberly

Endnotes:

I wore a very similar outfit to this just about a week and a half ago.  I loved the color pairing of teal with my new grey skirt and the way the pencil skirt and a pair of higher heals made my legs look.  I simply chose a blazer instead of a cardigan and switched out my brown wedges for navy pumps.

New Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

This is an ensemble built of basics!  I have worn this teal cami over and over as a layering piece and on its own.  The slim fit makes it versatile and while the color is rather specific, it is one of my favorites, making it a go-to item.  The skirt can be dressed up or down and paired with just about any color.  I also expect it to be a good three season piece.  The blazer has seen more wear than just about any other item in my closet (except my denim pencil skirt of course).

I am constantly on the look out for a neutral colored versatile skirt and a well-fitting blazer.  They remain on the top of my shopping list.  What items do you consider your most important basics?  What items could you always use more of?

To add a little something extra to this all-basics ensemble, I tied this lovely floral scarf around my waist.   I find scarves to be one of the best ways to change up a look and add visual interest to a rather simple outfit.   We plan to do a longer post on the many ways to wear scarves, but until then, check out our scarf set on flickr for inspiration. -A

22 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.