10 January 2010 , originally uploaded by academichic.Sources:
- Cropped jacket – thrifted
- Maroon top – thrifted
- Tweed shorts – thrifted
- Silk leggings – gift from mom
- Boots – Banana Republic
- Cluster of pins – thrifted
Endnotes:
One of my favorite purchases this winter have been these tweed shorts. I had been eyeing the shorts+boots trend from afar for a while and was excited to find the perfect pair of shorts to try this look myself. Trying trendy items can be a bit scary – you worry about how it will look on you and don’t want to spend a lot of money on an item you might only wear one season and then decide that it’s not your style after all. It’s no surprise that shows like What Not To Wear and fashion magazines often urge shoppers to invest in ‘classic’ and ‘timeless’ pieces. But sometimes it’s just more fun to buy something ‘timely’ and of the season. Two things I always look for when making such a purchase are:
1) Price – my budget is tight as a graduate student so I will only pay as much as I won’t regret having ‘lost’ if I change my mind about the said trend item a season later.
2) Fit – no matter how cute/stylish/cutting-edge an item is, it has to fit my body well or else I’m likely to feel double out of my comfort zone. Fit is key!
These shorts made the cut on both accounts and quickly won their spot in my heart as a new favorite. Thus far, I’ve worn them styled the following ways:
Today’s look with the cropped jacket was inspired by a recent post of Jess’s on What I Wore. A cluster of thrift shop and flea market sourced pins add that touch of whimsy I’m so fond of and keeps the ensemble from feeling too serious. Which of these stylings is your favorite?
Assorted pics, originally uploaded by academichic.Alternately, when it comes to embracing a ‘trend item’, what words of wisdom do you live by? What is your list of criteria for said item to find its way home with you? S.
10 January 2010 – Short Story, originally uploaded by academichic.
My favorite incarnation has to be the third. With the striped shirt, cute little vest, and gold pendants. It makes me think of France, sailing, whimsy, Catholic School… and despite that odd mix it’s so trendy and fabulous! Not to mention flattering. Well done!
I love all of these outfits! I’ve been thinking about the shorts in winter look too, though haven’t tried it out yet. I’m an American working in France for the past two years, and I love all your daily outfits! I feel like your style is similar to what I see and love in France too. Love the vest you found thrifting!
How cute!
I love doing the shorts over tights look too:
http://dailydoseofdana.tumblr.com/post/313714686/shorts#disqus_thread
I think that, of your shorts over tights outfits, this version is my favorite because of the way you played with proportion.
~Dana
I just bought a pair at Gap ($14), definitely in part inspired by you! Will have to check out your looks before breaking them out…absolutely are outside my usual comfort zone but I’m excited about them.
I love the purple in today’s version and the cropped jacket!
All of the incarnations are cute, but my favorite is the first. I love the looser white top over the shorts, and the opaque tights with the contrasting colored boots.
I also really love the little glimpse of red in the second version. And the vest and stripes in the third. But the first is definitely my favorite. I think I just really like the shorts and tights look, and all your versions are styled well.
I love how you’ve restyled them so many times!
i stole away from family time for a sec just to check my work email but wanted to comment… so i’ll do so really quickly!
i love the 3rd ensemble (vest) and the one from today the best. very cute and it embraces the trend, too. it actually doesn’t even look “trendy” at all the way you put it together… it still feels kinda classic. i’m scared of the shorts-tights combo on my body type so kudos, i am living vicariously through you!
We were twins today with tweed shorts. I agree with you that these are probably my favorite purchase this season. They can be dressed up and down. Love the looks you’ve created with them.
S., you have just ROCKED those shorts. I love all the versions, and I think the one with the striped shirt is my fave. I really love the location for your photos today, too!
I love how it shorts with tights look, but I have never been able to try it. My favorite picture is the one with the striped shirt.
S, I love how your style is evolving while you’re in Europe! The shorts, the hair, the treasures from your grandmother! I spent a year of my undergrad in Nantes, France, and it had a lasting impact on my fashion sense: I discovered H&M and Zara (both of which are hard to find in Canada- I usually have to go to Toronto or Montreal), which have become some of my favourite stores. For me, when buying trendy pieces, I try to go for things that are completely different from anything I currently have (in terms of material or construction), but in a similar colour palette to what I usually wear.
Keep up the fabulous posts!
I really like how you pull off this look. I haven’t tried it yet, but maybe if I find the right pair of tweed shorts :)
Like you, I tend to be extremely price-sensitive when it comes to trendy items. I think these shorts are actually quite classic, though! You might not style them the same 5 years from now, but I bet you can still wear them. You’ve made some great finds since arriving in Europe, by the way. Why wasn’t that thrift store you found in my Munich guidebook six years ago? :)
For me, when I buy anything it first has to pass the “Will Dan (my MrMan) ‘kill me’ for buying it?” The purchase then has to pass my impulse stopping post-it stuck in my purse which reads “Do I need it? Can I afford it? Where will it go?” This usually stops most purchases but I still let myself buy things. When it comes to trend items I tend to only buy them when they are cheap or from cheaper stores – unless it is something I think I can keep wearing for a few years or across every season for a year. ..I hope some of that makes sense :)
Lady, I feel you on the grad student budget issue for sure. I like the first iteration the best, although the stripes are a close second.
I just LOVE these shorts on you and how you’ve styled them! Your pointers about buying on-trend items is spot on.
That cluster of pins is the perfect touch.
Like you, I will only buy an on-trend item if the price is right, if it fits my body and if it fits in with my personal style.
Wow S, those pictures are gorgeous! Also, I’m right there with you on price and fit. If something doesn’t fit into those to criteria, it’s not coming home with me.
I love your tweed shorts! I want to buy a pair, but I’m not sure if I can quite pull them off.
Fabulous tweed shorts and you rock them. This is a look I’d like to try, but any tips on how to stay warm? Do you wear wool tights, or two layers of tights? I fess up to being a cold weather weinie, so maybe you can tolerate the chilly weather better, but if you have any tricks up your sleeve for maintaining warmth, please share.
Thanks for your comments, all!
@Emm – Actually, I *do* have a word of advice: silk thermal wear! What I’m wearing in the bottom two pics of the collage are black silk thermal underwear, I just call them leggings because they look like leggings and that sounds a bit more ‘dignified’ than long underwear. ;) But they keep me warmer than wool tights, are really comfortable, look nice bc they have a bit of a sheen so they can be worn like tights/leggings underneath stuff, and they insulate like no other! My mom bought me these when I was living in cold and snowy Austria to wear under jeans on my daily commute. You can look for them online, a lot of outdoor gear places carry them, and they’re really worth every penny.
Hope that helps!
S
I love, love, love this look!!!
I too, have been carefully considering the dressy-shorts & boots look for a while.
My favorite versions are the upper left corner and the lower right corner ones!
Now, I just need to find an affordable pair I can wear when I catch a cold day with the ever-changing climate my city has.
The nearest I’ve gotten so far is a piece that reminds me of my childhood: the skort.
I know, it’s a tricky garnment, but some time ago I found a dark grey linen skort-like thing on sale, and I couldn’t resist it.
It works great on a bike!
[...] of Academichic has put together some beautiful winter outfits featuring tweed shorts. I love the cluster of brooches she’s wearing [...]
[...] winter S. thrifted a pair of wool shorts and wore the heck out of them in a seemingly endless stream of effortlessly cool iterations. [...]