14 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Jacket: Banana Republic Factory
- Tank: Target
- Belt: Old Navy
- Skirt: thrifted ages ago
- Wedges: Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
End Notes:
Somewhat ironically, although S. and A. have been having days of simple or repeat duds while traveling or working away from campus, I’ve been secretly relishing the excuse to dress up every weekday for my translation course. The only problem is that since the class consumes so much time my picture-taking and post-writing moments have been severely constrained!
While one cannot ever entirely separate clothing’s form from its function, I do feel like I’ve been dressing primarily for function for quite a while now. When we started this blog, I was dressing to accommodate my growing baby bump. Then, I was dressing for ease of frequent breastfeeding (nursing tanks and surplice necklines). Now, I’m dressing to be able to bike to campus in hot summer weather (hence the recent lack of pencil skirts and pants). While I may sometimes whine about how the demands on my body circumscribe wardrobe creativity, I have to admit that the default primacy of functionality in my clothing choices certainly reinforces the notion of style always being understood in a social context, of clothing as woven (pun!) into our lives of doing, not only being perceived.
Perhaps I should also qualify the notion of “functionality.” Certainly some spandex and sneakers would arguably be “more functional” for commuting via bike. But I’m not really interested in finding the “most” functional outfit, just as I’m not really interested in finding the most creative or aesthetically pleasing outfit. For my specific ride to campus, for the specific schedule of my day, for the particular thermostat levels of the classroom I’m in, and from my particular closet, I make choices. It’s this sense of clothes-in-context that first drew me to style blogging, and what I miss when I’m just flipping through a JCrew or Anthropologie catalog or looking at Banana Republic’s lookbook online. I love seeing how clothes accompany and enable the “doing” of people’s lives, right down to the various iterations of skinnies-and-tunics or tanks-and-bermudas that let S. and A. do all that they do.
Love your outfit! It really says summer to me.
And with regards to clothes being understood in a social context I’d never realised that but it’s totally true.
FAB SHOES!
Those shoes are super cute!
I couldn’t agree more with you, E. I also prefer style blogs over catalogs for much the same reason. As pretty as it is to see beautifully dressed women hang out in beautiful rooms or landscapes, staring beautifully into space is not particularly inspiring for my everyday life. Why do retailers these days think that’s what we aspire to?
I love your expression in the top photo!
Funny how function can be such a relief after stretches of dressing to impress, and aesthetics can be such a relief after stretches of dressing pragmatically.
That skirt looks perfect for riding. And being pretty. Best of both worlds!
Love the skirt. It reminds me of one that Carrie Mulligan wears in An Education.
I love your top. I have been wearing lots of knee-length skirts because of you gals. :)
I love the skirt.
Lilou