20 July 2010 – Turquoise Two Ways, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
Above:
- Ruffle cardi: Ann Taylor
- Belt: Forever 21
- Skirt: Target
- Cage heels: Target
Below:
- Gray tank: Target
- Necklace: bracelet-turned-pendant
- Belt: Old Navy
- Skirt: Target
- Sandals: Target
End Notes:
I cannot entirely explain my affection for this turquoise tulip skirt. This is a pretty different silhouette than my usual fare of full skirts or structured pencil skirts: it adds fullness to a place that I usually prefer to skim on over and is shorter than many of my skirts as well. At one point while wearing this, I panicked and wondered if I was wearing the skirt equivalent of so-called “harem pants”.
But perhaps it is precisely the freshness of the silhouette to my wardrobe that has me reaching again and again for this skirt. (Plus, I figured that I could take a page from Dress Your Best week and acknowledge my birthing hips.)
On one hand, this tulip shape plays well with other stand-bys in my summer mom casual wardrobe: a simple tank, a belt, and colorful sandals. The skirt is breezy and quirky and a fun color to boot.
On the other hand, the different-for-me shape also inspires different-for-me outfits, like the edgier look up top. Although there’s a lot going on — cage heels, draping, and ruffles — the relatively subdued color palette, with just a sole pop of color, pulls everything together. I actually really love of the play of soft lines up top, cut through by a strong belt and finished with the graphic geometry of the cage heels.
If a single garment in your closet could be a style muse, I think this skirt might be mine of the moment. It is familiar enough to be a staple and just different enough to encourage experimentation. Do you have a garment that inspires you to try new things in your style? What is it?
I absolutely love both of these looks and I’m equally in love with that skirt. I agree that the different silhouette is probably a lot of the draw. I think it’s quite flattering on you and the color is easy to go with almost anything else.
You’re crazy to worry about your hips! You look wonderful in this silhouette and I LOVE the turquoise.
I always try to buy something “interesting” and out of my comfort zone every once in awhile and am surprised by what it matches up with! Usually it’s something I wouldn’t normally wear like a hat or patterned tights!
I absolutely love those orange sandals! And while I love all three of you and your style, I have a challenge to offer you for the next week.
I teach English in South Korea, and I find it really difficult to dress in the warmer months because of the following obstacles:
a.)We can’t show our shoulders (so anything sleeveless is out),
b.) Anything about 4 fingers below the neck is considered too low/sexy,
c.) Skirts/Dresses should be no shorter than knee-length, stockings preferred,
d.) We have to wear slippers all day/I live on a remote island that is 95% rocky incline (no sidewalks), so heels have no place here :(
e.) There’s no air conditioning and it’s in the high 80s-90s with 85% humidity inside and out,
f.)Must comfortably be mobile- ie, crouching down to speak with little ones, reaching up high to write at the top of the board.
Think you’d be willing to try to conquer this for five days straight?
I would really look forward to it!
:)
That first remix DOES seem a bit edgier than your usual fare, E, but I adore it! It’s great to have pieces that make us push our own boundaries.
I love a lot of the shoes that you guys wear and I notice a lot are from Target. I LOVE Target, but I find that their shoes are terribly uncomfortable. They give me blisters on my heals, pinch my toes and rub my feet the wrong way. What they lack in quality they make up for in price. My shoe collection would be a lot larger if I could wear their shoes. Are your feet super strong or mine super sensitive? Any tips on how to make cheaper shoes more comfortable?
I love turquoise, and you look adorable in both versions! Piggybacking on two other comments, I also was wondering about Target’s shoes. I teach and stand on my feet for a good part of the day, and generally look for a comfortable shoes at DSW (such as Aerosoles). Do you find the Target shoes comfortable when you will be on your feet for the majority of the day. And our schools are not air conditioned, so I always find looking neat, fresh, and crisp a challenge on hot, humid days. Any further tips? THANKS!!!
I like the orange shoes but wish they were in the style of the black sandals so the color would REALLY pop!
I love the turquoise and gray together! I like everything about these two outfits!
I also wearing my newish tourquoise dress today, but with purple. I don’t have much tourquoise in my wardrobe and I have been pleasantly surprised to see how much of my existing clothes it compliments.
When I bought it, I assumed I would be matching it to neutrals, but I love it with other bright colors. Go tourquoise!
I love your style, and you have wonderful taste, but this is like the nine millionth “skirt – shirt – belt” outfit from you. Do you ever go nuts and wear a dress or jeans or trousers or hell, even a tutu? Lovely, safe…Boring!
the skirt is lovely…curious though what items bring out our self-consciousness.
Thanks for your thoughts, everyone.
@Not Another Tourist – That is a tall order indeed! Given the other practical demands on us and our wardrobes I don’t think we’ll be able to take on your challenge right now. Can you wear something sleeveless while you’re walking to and from school? Many of the more casual summer outfits I’ve been posting would work well with a short sleeved jacket or short sleeved cardigan over top. Or, consider emulating S.’s use of square scarves to cover an exposed sternoclavicular region. Finally, there are plenty of exceedingly chic and modest outfits at Clothed Much that you may be inspired by!
Re: Target shoes – I have been hit or miss with Target shoes in terms of comfort. I save the cage heels for date nights or when I won’t be on my feet that much. On the other hand, I find these orange sandals to be quite comfortable. I did grow up wearing slippers all the time in Hawaii, so it’s quite possible that my feet have mutated into some form impervious to the wear and tear of certain forms of shoes. The Target shoes that I wear when I’m going to be on my feet for a while are wedges, which I find to be a much more forgiving heel in less expensive shoes. For a really excellent list of reader suggestions on comfortable shoes not from Target, see the comments on this post.
@deebee – I’ve actually worn lots of dresses lately, but I’ll try to post a picture in shorts or pants just for you!
Those heels are amazing. I really like the tulip shape on you.
I always think you look super svelte, especially in the hips/waist area, but I get that we all have insecurities about our various body parts.
Yes – we surely do all have our bodily insecurities, and skinny girls are allowed to have them too! However, I thought that Dress your Best was about embracing parts of ourselves that we love (and perhaps have had to come to love) – and I didn’t get that sense from your post… maybe I’m wrong, but the line about your birthing hips just didn’t strike me as being quite in the spirit of DYB…? Or maybe it’s just the semantic delicacy of birthing hips as in, the hips that birthed my child, and, you know, “birthing hips” (which means something a little different and has some baggage, at least, I think it does). Because I guess I think there’s a difference between acknowledging insecurities in an open and direct way and making quips about our bodies (that emerge from insecurities) – the latter being a kind of girl talk that is too often and – in my opinion – damagingly indulged. Now, I’m sure you didn’t intend it that way, but, it did get me thinking…
@Ruth – That’s an interesting point. Before having baby e., I would not have called my hips “birthing hips.” For me, terming them birthing hips is — as you suggested — an homage and an acceptance of the fact that they’ve changed since literally birthing my child. And I’m fine with that. But, obviously, not everyone knows my particular history with my body and so such a statement can easily be misunderstood. So, thanks for the great reminder to be careful about enabling body insecurity under the guise of jokes!
- e
I think skirt actually looks good on you. It accentuates a curvy look. I like the turquoise skirt with either a modern edgy look and a summer like look.