9 December 2009

Posted on | December 9, 2009 | 29 Comments

9 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:
All remixed except necklace:

Black asymmetrical cardi – Banana republic
Brown top – Jersey skirt worn as shirt
Skinnies – thrifted
Flats – Kenneth Cole Reaction
Necklace – “Automated Daydreamer” from Tilly Bloom on Etsy, gift from husband

Endnotes:

The thing about having less clothes is not that you have less of a selection, it’s that you’re constantly doing laundry. Faced with almost no clean shirts, I decided to flex my creative muscles and came up with the idea of wearing this brown jersey skirt as a makeshift tube top. A cardi layered on top gave it the sleeves it lacked and I was good to go. After all, if a maxi skirt can double as a strapless dress, then why couldn’t a knee length skirt double as a top?

9 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Automated Daydreamer, originally uploaded by academichic.

Since it’s Braid Wednesday, I wore my hair in a style reminiscent of a Dutch milkmaid, although the only milk I’ll be getting near will be found in the copious amounts of coffee consumed at home and at the library while pouring over my work.

Braid Wednesday – Profile View, originally uploaded by academichic.

Braid Wednesday – Back View, originally uploaded by academichic.

How are you spending your Hump Day or Braid Wednesday today? Have a good one, you’re that much closer to the weekend! I have to go throw some shirts in the washer now and resume my reading… S.

9 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Category: Beltless, Our Best Flatware, Pants Please, Research Casual
Tags: braids > clothes conversions > skirt worn as top

Comments

29 Responses to “9 December 2009”

Megan
December 9th, 2009 @ 2:17 am

I’m so impressed by your ingenuity! I couldn’t even tell that was a skirt until I read the text.

I’d never heard of Braid Wednesday before… cool.
Kyla
December 9th, 2009 @ 4:44 am

So cute, though! And your hair looks great like that!
Clare
December 9th, 2009 @ 4:48 am

Ooh, this is tres chic! You look very French. Simple, muted colors, loose cuts, skinny ankle-length jeans (but of course!). I love this look (oh and I’ve been really enjoying the newspaper wall background you’ve been using!).
Diana
December 9th, 2009 @ 5:04 am

I didn’t even realize that it was a skirt until you mentioned it.

And your hair is gorgeous! You’re beginning to make me seriously consider growing mine out.
La Historiadora de Moda
December 9th, 2009 @ 6:04 am

I remember having the same problem of constantly having to do laundry during my research year in Madrid. I have to admit that you averted crisis more creatively than I did a time or two, when I ended up buying something at H&M on my way home from the archives, so I would have something to wear the next day….

I’m loving the braid! You’re inspiring me to try to be more patient with longer hair.
Julia
December 9th, 2009 @ 6:10 am

I LOVE this outfit! I couldn’t tell it was a skirt until you you mentioned it. The brown and black look awesome together and the cuffed skinnies complete the look. You’ve also inspired me to braid my hair to try new styles!
Sara
December 9th, 2009 @ 6:12 am

I love this idea and never would have guessed that your top was a skirt! I’m now thinking about how I can try this idea in my closet. Love the play of neutrals and the different layers in this outfit, too.

And I can’t wait until my hair is longer so I can try some braids, too!
Sally
December 9th, 2009 @ 6:21 am

I’m so glad you embraced the skinny, S … those jeans look fantastic on you. And what a clever way to repurpose a skirt!
Franca
December 9th, 2009 @ 6:51 am

your braids are so pretty! I wish i could do my hair like that but its so thin! also great job on skirt repurposing!
Shannon
December 9th, 2009 @ 7:06 am

That skirt-as-top idea is so genius! I have a similar black skirt and I may have to try it out. And the hair is adorable! You look so chic.
Tania
December 9th, 2009 @ 7:10 am

i never would’ve thought of wearing this skirt (which i have too) as a top, but it looks fabulous here!
i don’t know that mine would stay up as well, given the generosity of my hips in comparison to my ribcage.
impressed, as always, with your creativity.

whatwouldanerdwear.blogspot.com
jentine
December 9th, 2009 @ 7:29 am

You thrifted those bad boys (the skinnies)? Nicely done… jeans are probably the one thing I have limited success in thrifting…well, bras too. ewwww… gross, I joke.
Your Wednesday/ Braid Day outfit is very pretty, much better than mine as I’m wearing a sweater I shrunk in the wash and fleece pants. Sexy.
AlysonIsNeat
December 9th, 2009 @ 7:31 am

Skirt as a shirt! So sassy! I love this outfit!
Jo
December 9th, 2009 @ 7:36 am

I, too, have worn skirts as a top :) I love repurposing clothes. Gives it twice as much wear!
Orchid Grey
December 9th, 2009 @ 7:37 am

that second image is so cute, I love what you did with the skirt! Lately i have become awful about doing the laundry!

Thank you for the links about pattern mixing, very helpful!
Miss L
December 9th, 2009 @ 8:19 am

Love it!!!
Alisha
December 9th, 2009 @ 8:52 am

Gosh, I love your outfit! I actually have that same skirt, but in a different color, and now thanks to your creativity, I’ve got a new way to wear it. I couldn’t even tell that it was a skirt until you said something. Oh, I love the flats, too! You look so cute, and I love how you did your hair. Is there a tutorial online somewhere that you followed? I’d love to wear my hair like that, too.
Lauren
December 9th, 2009 @ 8:57 am

This is a great look – very creative too! I love the 2nd photo – you look cute & happy. :-)
Sheri
December 9th, 2009 @ 9:29 am

Pouring [the coffee] over your work? :-)

Your hair looks beautiful in the braids!
AJ
December 9th, 2009 @ 9:39 am

Well desperate times for you calls for creative measures! Luv the skirt as top! Such a cute grab and go outfit. This is one of my favorites on you! I have lots of laundry right now and unfortunately it is Mount Washmore since I am NOT limited to a couple of suitcases! LOL!
Your braids are cute! I’ve been trying some lately and having some fun with it. Thanks for keeping up with your posts!
Chelsea
December 9th, 2009 @ 10:31 am

You are rocking the most fabulous hairstyles lately, my dear! I’ll have to keep in mind “braid Wednesday” for next week.
S@sha
December 9th, 2009 @ 10:46 am

This has to be one of my favorite outfits that you’ve ever posted. Every piece looks great!
huzzahvintage
December 9th, 2009 @ 11:20 am

love your hair-do! makes me almost sorta wish for longer hair again.
Nadine
December 9th, 2009 @ 2:07 pm

So cute! And so clever! I love a mix of dark neutrals.
Sassy Molassy
December 9th, 2009 @ 3:47 pm

Oh, I love this outfit! One of my favorites, in fact. What brand are the jeans?
Jennifer
December 9th, 2009 @ 5:15 pm

Pretty nifty thinking of that skirt = top! Loving the hair too. *sigh* Now missing my long hair.
Andrea
December 9th, 2009 @ 8:45 pm

Your creativity today inspired me to try out something I normally wouldn’t have thought of: a sweater vest and a shrug, BUT with the shrug underneath the vest. And it worked out great! It’s a wonderful pop of blue sleeves with a dark grey torso, with no extra colour at the neckline which makes for an interesting look. I’m definitely going to wear it sometime next week!
admin
December 10th, 2009 @ 2:24 am

Thanks, everyone!

@Clare – haha, yes, the newspaper background – a remnant form a recent party – has proven handy for my photo shoots. I was dismayed to come home after my run today and find it gone :(

@Alisha – there’s no tutorial, it was quite simple. I just did two regular braids (pigtails) and then I took them and wrapped them around my head, crisscrossing them behind me. So the right braid went left and up, and the left one went right and up. Then I used bobby pins to secure the ends. Good luck!

@Sassy Molassy – these jeans are amazing and were a lucky thrift find. They’ve got a bit of elastic in them which makes them super comfy. I’ve never heard of this brand though: Celebrity Pink.

S.
Dottie
December 16th, 2009 @ 8:25 pm

Braid Wednesday! Love it. I tried my first French braid on myself while sitting in my office at work last week. (How I went through a whole girlhood without trying to French brain? I dunno.) But it actually worked! The braid looked perfect. I think the trick was not being able to obsess about how the braid looked in the mirror – just going for it. The braid you showcase here is a bit more complicated, but I’m going to remember this life lesson and try braiding with a more laid back attitude :)