Back in June of last year, we featured The Uniform Project in one of our Spotlight Series posts. Meanwhile, word of this endeaver spread like wildfire over the internets and the wonderful Sheena Matheiken has raised over $70,000 dollars for the Akanksha Foundation, an organization funding schools for underprivileged children in India. If you missed this project, here’s your chance to get caught up with her wonderful outfit creations over the past year using one Little Black Dress and a variety of donated goods:
Now Sheena is at the Ten Day Countdown, bringing this project to a close. If you’d like to support Sheena by donating to the Akanksha Foundation and contributing to the educational needs of underprivileged children, then make sure to visit here. Great job, Sheena! We look forward to seeing the last outfits unveiled.
This is a simple and relatively casual outfit for a typical day on campus – running from meeting to meeting with stops at the library, the coffee shop, and a quick lunch with colleagues. It’s been a bit cooler here these past few days and I am loving it. I grabbed my casual day staple, my denim skirt, and a simple sweater and then accessorized with statement earnings, my favorite flats, and this beautiful bamboo scarf from TDM Designs.
I was feeling a bit guilty about trying to get away with these earrings as my use of florals for today so I posed in front of my lovely lilac bush to try and distract you, but they are cool floral earrings right?
The real focus of this outfit is the beautiful tie-die bamboo scarf sent to me from TDM Designs. We have all taken our turn at gushing over Nepali scarves, but I have to say I am yet again in love! The color of this scarf is even more lovely in person and I think the tie-die pattern is the perfect sophisticated variation of the Spring trend. As E. mentioned just last week when she premiered her tie-die bamboo, we love supporting TDM Designs and particularly their Nepali scarfs because of their impressive business practices.
I have a feeling I’ll be getting quite a bit of use out of this piece in the next few weeks. I promise another real attempt at florals is coming soon, but for now I think incorporating tie-die is commendable.
I admit it. The sunglasses have more to do with puffy allergy eyes than rock star status. Nevertheless, I am feeling like a cross between rock chic and cool art professor in this monochrome ensemble. Not bad for an outfit that marries two of my favorite stretchy wardrobe staples: my knit blazer and skinny ponte pants.
In person, the real star of the show is this chunky cocktail ring that we recently received courtesy of La La B jewelry. A sister company to Nepali by TDM Designs, La La B offers bold jewelry crafted from sterling silver and semi-precious stones by women artisans in Nepal.
This particular design is currently sold out, but there is still a similar pendant, plus some striking rings and bracelets that would make great statement pieces.
I’m thinking that a piece from La La B (or a scarf from Nepali) would be a really fantastic Mother’s Day gift, not only because they’re chic but because each purchase helps other women support and educate their families.
I love that a bold piece of jewelry and a strong heel can immediately “up” an utterly comfortable look comprised of only stretchy and drapey pieces. Do you have a secret accessory that can make almost any outfit special?
So I still am without a camera. I broke mine about two weeks ago and I’m waiting on the one my husband sent me to replace the one gone, but it still hasn’t arrived. I think it must be en route but delayed due to the extreme air travel blockage we’ve had in this part of the world after the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland. I was in Vienna this past weekend to run the Vienna City Half Marathon (awesome race! I highly recommend it!) and it was estimated that about 2,000 runners missed the run due to being stranded in airports along the way. I travelled by train, so this flight crisis hasn’t affected me much outside of leaving me without a camera. My heart goes out to all the people I met on the train, travelling for days already, trying to return to their countries via ground transport after having no access to flights.
On a lighter note, I wanted to share with you my packing plan from this past weekend and I thought I would overcome the no-camera problem by drawing what I wore. Yes, drawing. You may have heard of this genius little group on Flickr that represents the Wardrobe_Remix drawings contingent. The What I Wore Today (Drawings Only) group boasts an eclectic group of artists of all skill levels who choose pen and paper over camera and film to showcase their stylish daily duds:
One of my favorites is Alyssa N., whose 2D Double is so charming and chic that I tend to forget she’s not a ‘real’ fashion blogger:
(Interested in more of Alyssa’s work? You can see more of it here.)
Thus inspired, I grabbed a sketch pen and my Moleskin notebook and found a quiet bench in the city park and attempted to record my self-portrait without the aid of a camera, but the results were dire. It was rather disappointing to admit that a polyvore collage would be more suitable for this post than my sad little attempts at sketching. But maybe you’re more artistically inclined than I am and, even if you’re not, this awesome Flickr group is still worth your visit.
As for my outfit, I pretty much wore this all weekend – the same skinnies, flats, and trench coat, while going through a rotation of plaid button down tops each day. Easy, comfortable, and practical. S.
Dress: self-made from Target tank top and Heather Bailey fabric (tutorial coming soon)
Belt: Old Navy
Ruffled cardi: Ann Taylor
Wedges: Naturalizers, via DSW
Earrings: gift from husband
Allergies: courtesy of spring
End Notes:
The best thing about floral print fabrics is that they don’t have pollen. Folks, I am enduring the worst allergy season I’ve ever had, and so even though I finished sewing this dress last week and planned to post it as my weekly floral venture…blogging did not happen.
I have been loving the tank+skirt dresses that have been appearing this spring, but between my height and my long torso-ness, off the rack dresses were predictably too short in length or too abbreviated in torso. I figured that sewing one couldn’t be too hard, and the added bonus was that I got to pick my own floral fabric (this fun little number is “Nicey Jane Picnic Bouquet” print from Heather Bailey.) I’ll have a tutorial up shortly, but suffice to say, this was really quite easy to make, even for a touch-and-go sewer like me.
And it has POCKETS. Who doesn’t love a skirt or dress with little hidden pockets? All the more places to stuff tissues and allergy medicine, right?
I vacillated for a little while over whether or not I wanted to make a faux-two piece dress. After all, I wondered, wouldn’t it be more practical to just make a skirt that can be more easily mixed and matched? And, this isn’t the least bit nursing friendly.
But…seriously, how wonderful to throw on just one piece. Also, this was darn easy to sew and I didn’t have to worry about elastic casings or zippers. Also, I never have to worry about becoming untucked every time I sit down or when I’m on my bike. And, as baby e. grows older and nurses less, it’s sometimes nice to wear something that’s just fun and not dictated by practicality. So maybe I’m rationalizing, but I’ve already found it to be surprisingly versatile in styling potential. You’ll be seeing more of this dress, I’m sure.
I seem to be having some trouble with my photography skills lately, so the below image is a much better representation of the beautiful analogous color combination than either of the full body shots.
I bought this dress on super markdown (it had a couple stains) at Banana Republic a couple years ago, but have rarely worn it. I was so excited about the dress because I love the color and the cut. Unfortunately, while I love the color on me, there is something about the cut that just isn’t right, so I haven’t ventured to wear it too much. But, once again a belt has swooped in to save the day! I spent some time looking at myself in this dress in the mirror trying to figure out what wasn’t working and I realized it was that the faux-wrap part of the dress hit me too high. I often have issues with proportions in dresses because I have both long legs and a long torso so things are often too short and the seems often hit me in the wrong places. My small waist and large butt/hips/thighs don’t help matters. I added this wide belt to visually lower the placement of the wrap. The belt slightly overlaps the wrap making it look much wider. The belt also adds a fun pop of color, making this an all over more exciting ensemble.
I ran a half-marathon last weekend and then decided to do a total toning course a couple days later, so my legs are sore and my toes need special attention. I assumed flats would be the most comfortable option, but for some reason of all my shoes (besides maybe my thick soled flip flops) these wedges proved the best option. I wasn’t convinced they worked that well with my green and teal color combo, so I added wooden accessories to tie them in.
Turns out, I am in love with this dress again – it’s fun and professional and is appropriate for both the classroom and my walk across campus in 80+ degree weather. Plus, during a busy week, there is something to be said for an outfit primarily comprised of one piece!
Tara’s favorite Tom Bihn accessory: “probably the shop bag (though the knitting bags are awesome and would probably get me to pull my needles back out after a long knitting hiatus!). I like the passport case above…for a passport and travel documents, it makes lots of sense.”
And her ideal trip: “Spain. For the 6th time. I can’t get enough.”
(On a completely unrelated note, a few folks have asked for a tutorial on turning old jeans into a skirt, ala my outfit from earlier this week. I made this way back at the end of my undergrad career, so I’m a wee bit fuzzy on the details, but I’m guessing I followed something fairly close to this tutorial here. Good luck refashioning!)
When it comes to layering with dresses, the natural tendency is to add something on top: a cardigan, a jacket, or even another top. But, there are also ways to under a dress (and without it looking like a jumper!).
S. is pretty much my dress-layering hero. She’s layered dresses over dresses, dresses over skirt-and-top combinations, dresses over long sleeved shirts, a dress over a button down shirt, and dresses over tops with interesting necklines.
I really like the effect of these ruffles popping out from under a sleeveless dress. The result is a nice balance of graphic and sweet and poof! I am wearing stripes without feeling too wide, nautical, French, or jailbird-ish.
I broke my camera last week and until my new camera arrives, I’m out of commission in terms of outfits posts. So if I can’t do a ‘real’ post, than I’ll do an ‘imaginary outfit’ post instead. This March we’re indulging in the Spring trend of Florals, and so I’m picturing a beautiful floral based look that I would love to wear today. And since my wonderful husband has been scouring Craigslist for the better part of the last year to find me an affordable cruiser bike, and has emerged triumphant as of last week, I’m including my new (to me) Electra Hawaii Cruiser in my ‘perfect ensemble’ look below. This little gem is waiting for me at home (in ‘Mint’ rather than ‘Pink’) and I cannot wait to get home and ride it all summer long.
Sources:
Cruiser bike – Electra Hawaii Cruiser
Dress – Wet Seal
Flats – Camper, TWS Collection
Floral scarf – Liberty of London
Endnotes:
So if this were my ideal day, I’m be riding my new cruiser to the library for some light research (It’s kind of sad, but even in my ideal day scenario, I feel compelled to go to the library and put in some work time, what is wrong with me?). Then I would simply ride my bike around town, stopping at our co-op for some delicious coffee and scones, and perhaps browsing the local shop windows downtown while enjoying my edible treats. I would wear this floral scarf tied around my hair and woven into a braid, which would also make it easy to throw on my helmet when on the move.
Yes, I would wear a helmet. I will address my thoughts on this in another post, but for now I want to share with you some stylish helmet options which make donning a hardhat not so bad . . .
I’ve been searching the internet for some chic helmet options to go with my new chic bike, and the best sources I found were Nutcase (pictured above) and these amazing Sawako Furuno helmets, which are pretty pricey and which I’m not certain how one would get in the US. For US shoppers, Nutcase makes a variety of solid colored or patterned helmets that do not have that typical sporty look. Dottie, of Let’s Go Ride A Bike, has the lovely Starbright helmet and I ordered mine in a Powder Blue Solid.
Since bikes have undoubtedly been on my mind since hearing news of my new friend waiting for my return home, I have been filling my work breaks with much bike-related procrastination. As a result, I’ve come across a plethora of bike related products that I would be able to afford and indulge in were this my ideal day. But since I’ve blown my budget on my return flight home to the US, I will just share these findings with you, the fellow cycle enthusiast out there, so that you may enjoy this eye candy and perhaps give it a good home…
I also love this large tote made of 100% recycled cotton. Perfect for throwing in groceries or books and then storing in one’s bike basket on the ride home.
And to bring it back to March being Florals Month here in academichic – how pretty is this floral backpack that would be great for throwing on while riding through town? Just large enough to hold your wallet and some necessities but light and small enough to serve as a good alternative to a purse should you want something more secure and easy to wear while cycling.
I hope you enjoy some of these findings. I’m heading back to reality now, which unfortunately does not entail much sunshine or many bike rides today, but soon, soon enough… What are some of your favorite bike-related finds? Do you have any good tips or brands to share? S.
We recently received this reader question in our mailbox:
I am writing to ask for some help with laptop bags. Being in the finishing stages of my PhD, I am on a hunt for a durable, yet chic, laptop tote that I can take to conferences and job interviews. For the past 4 years, I’ve used a black, patent leather one from Target. However, due to it’s poor quality, the bag is practically falling apart now. Do you ladies have any tips on where to look, or even brands that you’ve found to be pretty good?
Since we’re no strangers to toting our laptops around on a daily basis, we were excited to look for some chic yet practical and durable options to recommend to reader J. as well as to highlight some of the products we use and love. . .
None of us has an actual laptop bag; we each use the totes and bags that are large enough to hold our laptops and we switch between them at will. To keep our laptops protected, we all use laptop sleeves. We’re all three in possession of (and big fans of) the Incase Neoprene sleeves. I, (S), have one in bright pink while E. and A. have more professional looking black ones. While my pink one is more likely to show dirt and stains, I was pleasantly surprised to read that I can throw it in the wash and it’s no worse for wear. I have since machine washed my neoprene sleeve a few times and it still looks like new (just lay it flat to dry).
For other chic and unique laptop sleeve options, Etsy is a great place to shop. You can find such gorgeous items as this ‘Hot Couturier‘ laptop sleeve in a subdued and elegant floral pattern:
Or something more somber and neutral like this Portel felt and leather MacBook case:
The advantage of using a laptop sleeve over an actual laptop bag is the versatility this allows in switching between bags, carriers, or even travel carry-ons. I regularly switch between my green Kenneth Cole tote (when I have less to carry) and my sturdier brown REI tote (which I profiled in my Daily Campus Commute post a while back).
I have recently streamlined my bag system even more with the aid of a Tom Bihn Clear Organizer Pouch. I honestly think this is the best addition to my daily commute load that I’ve made in a while and I can’t help but gush about this. I tend to have a lot of little loose items that get tossed into my purse and bag – chapstick, lotion, sticky notes, pens, allergy meds, etc, etc, etc – that are a pain to switch from bag to bag when I change purses. Since I got this medium-sized organizer pouch, I just have all of those loose items in there, easy to grab and move from one bag to another. I love the fact that it’s clear, which makes it easy to see what I’m looking for within the pouch as well. My daily commuter load thus contains my laptop in a sleeve, this Tom Bihn clear pouch with all my little purse must-haves, and a tiny Reisenthel shopping bag, which also makes my ‘Top Ten’ list of daily commute items. (It folds up into a tiny pouch and it’s very useful for any unforeseen toting during the day, be it library books or groceries on my way home. Can you spot it tucked away into my clear pouch below?).
Since we’ve been nothing but enamored with all the Tom Bihn products we’ve sampled thus far, we would expect the Tom Bihn Ristretto Bag to be a good option for carrying a laptop around as well. It comes in a variety of color combinations and has a built-in padded laptop sleeve to keep your computer in place:
I’ve also borrowed my husband’s Timbuk2 backpack frequently and am always trying to convince him to donate it to me because I find it to have many of the same qualities that have appealed to me with Tom Bihn products; sturdy and quality materials, lots of handy little pockets and compartments, and great design. I would recommend checking out their various laptop sleeves or messanger bags as well. (Added bonus: you can choose your own color combinations and design your own product with their ‘Build Your Own Bag‘ option).
We hope that these suggestions serve as a good starting point for your search, reader J., and as always, we’re counting on the rest of our savvy readers to chime in with their tips and ideas to add to this discussion. How do you carry your laptop around and what have you found useful for your daily commute? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below, thank you!
