9 March 2010 – Urban Cowboy

Posted on | March 9, 2010 | 16 Comments

9 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Gray sweater – AE, hand me down,
Plaid button down – thrifted
Jean shorts – thrifted and chopped by me
Sweater tights – drug store
Boots – Dillards
Bracelets – Big Lots

Endnotes:

It’s no secret that I’ve fallen a bit in love with shorts this winter. But while the J.Crew models seem to be easily pulling off shorts and bare legs with their winter cardis and jackets, I live in a city where no such skin exposure is plausible.

So if I want to do the shorts and sweater combo, I have to make sure to add a sturdy pair of tights in there as well. Enter: the sweater tights. Possibly one of mankind’s best inventions along with chocolate and This American Life podcasts. They’re soft, cozy, and actually much more insulating than a pair of trousers or jeans.

Since we’re featuring tights this week for our Fashion 101 course, it’s only fitting that I start my posts with my favorite kind of tights. While sweater tights don’t come in fun patterns or peek-a-boo fishnet materials, they usually do have a nice texture that give them some added interest and they are also far more snag-proof than their lighter and thinner counterparts. And not to mention oh-so-cozy and warm.

As for a side note on the shorts – I wanted a pair of shorts that would be similar to my trouser shorts, so I went to the thrift store back home looking for a pair. I found there to be a slight problem with cutting up a pair of existing jeans in my closet – they’re cut to be fitted and thus are much snugger around my thighs than a pair of shorts ideally would be (this works well for a trouser shorts look but is a little too tight for my taste when it comes to also wearing them this length).

So I thrifted a pair of shorts that fit well and felt nice and roomy without worrying about length too much. I then cut off about 2 inches to make them my desired length. These were also cuffed initially, and while I like that on the J. Crew models above, I was aiming for a more rough fringed finish à la Renee Sturme or Christina from Second Skin (see examples below).

If you’re looking to show off your tights this winter, why not try a pair of shorts one day instead of a skirt or dress? Don’t have a good winter pair? Thrift a pair of shorts (you can always adjust the length yourself) or DIY a pair of old jeans you no longer wear. S.

Category: Beltless, Layers Upon Layers, Research Casual, The Short of It, Weekend Wear

Comments

16 Responses to “9 March 2010 – Urban Cowboy”

BB Wooten
March 9th, 2010 @ 7:52 am

S., are you pulling my leg? Tights warmer than jeans?! :)
Sally
March 9th, 2010 @ 7:59 am

I’ve been hoping to thrift a pair of LEATHER pants to cut into shorts for cold weather wear. So far, no luck. ;)
Megan
March 9th, 2010 @ 9:15 am

I have been loving the shorts and tights look, but I wondered if you could also pull it off with a longer pair of shorts–like a trouser pair or a pair of bermudas? Also, I have never seen sweater tights before, where do you find them?
admin
March 9th, 2010 @ 9:23 am

@Sal – I want to see leather shorts if you ever do find some, it sounds awesome!

@Megan – most department stores carry the heavy sweater tights come winter. They may be past their prime now as stores are stocking up on Spring items, but earlier in the season, Target, Macy’s, Nordstrom, and my local drugstore here all had them.

As for the longer shorts – my other pair of jean shorts are longer and more trouser shorts like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/academichic/4303721184/in/set-72157623076091075/

And A. actually wore a pair of trouser shorts with tights and heels for a more professional look and it looked quite polished and put together:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/academichic/4349243057/

S.
Lisa
March 9th, 2010 @ 10:08 am

Great look! If only you wrote this post a week ago…

Last weekend I cut a pair of old bootcut jeans into shorts and the result is disappointing, since they are too snug on my thighs. I kind of knew that even before cutting, and I was debating between cutting them as shorts or just above the knee (something like a trouser short, I suppose). Unfortunately I made the wrong decision. Lesson learned: when in doubt, cut less in the beginning, then cut some more if you don’t like the first result. I was just so impatient to have my shorts! Well, I guess I have to go thrifting again. The only problem is that if I thrift a pair of jeans that I like I feel bad cutting them, it happened twice already.
Ann
March 9th, 2010 @ 10:36 am

Totally agree about the sweater tights.They saved my life this winter,seriously.
k
March 9th, 2010 @ 11:08 am

i still don’t think i could get away with a pair of cut off jeans at work, but possibly some wool shorts. however, i think i’m wearing nearly the exact same pair of sweater tights right now – love them!
All Women Stalker
March 9th, 2010 @ 1:33 pm

I’ve wanted to try this combo for so long. You just inspired me to go with it! Of course, I will not wear sweater tights as it’s hot hot hot where I am right now :)
jentine
March 9th, 2010 @ 2:25 pm

You know it! I looovvve this! A lot!
I hate that about jeans cut into shorts too… you’re all excited to to try the new look and then you’ve got muffin tops on your legs because the newly shortened shorts are too tight. You found the perfect solution…
What Would a Nerd Wear
March 9th, 2010 @ 2:28 pm

you definitely rock the shorts and tights!
Ariana
March 9th, 2010 @ 5:53 pm

this is one of the few looks I haven’t attempted yet… maybe I’ll make myself try it this week
Andrea
March 9th, 2010 @ 11:23 pm

I love this! Shorts with tights is a favourite combination of mine. I wear them all the time in colder weather (which is just around the corner … ugh). :)

A xx
sabrina
March 10th, 2010 @ 5:15 pm

I agree that sweater tights can be warmer than pants. Especially when layered with thinner, more nylon based ones underneath (in fact, they can get too warm). Something about the way that cold wind touches denim that makes me so uncomfortable in the winter.
I think you got the proportions just right. Shorts often end at right around the widest parts of the leg, and when it’s too tight, it emphasizes the wideness in a not so flattering way. For some reason, tighter shorter skirts tend to be more flattering.
Jenny
March 10th, 2010 @ 8:34 pm

When are you guys going to write an academichic textbook? I swear that cutting up old jeans into shorts would have occurred to me before, but it never did. This blog is quickly becoming a daily read because I literally get new inspiration and ideas every time. Thanks!

closet365.wordpress.com
Clare
March 14th, 2010 @ 7:43 am

Yay! Your urban cowboy look is awesome.
Dottie
March 16th, 2010 @ 7:12 pm

I so rarely wear shorts any time of year, I don’t think they’ll be coming out in the cold weather at all :) Your outfit looks really nice and cozy, though. I’m all about sweater tights.