11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Scarf: courtesy of Echo Design
- Top: Target
- Skirt: Target
- Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell
End Notes:
Triadic color combinations — three colors that are equidistant from each other around the color wheel — do not appear frequently in my outfit choices. It’s one of those combinations that can quickly veer into Crayola territory when the colors are too bright or the colorblocking is too severe. But, as with my earlier foray into saturated complementary colors, I decided that color module weeks deserve a bold effort.
11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment, originally uploaded by academichic.
It’s nice when a pattern does half (or in this case, two-thirds) of the work for you. This oblong scarf from Echo Design already pairs a mustardy-gold with a true red, and with a navy top they form a fairly traditional color combination. Had I worn a khaki or white skirt on the bottom, this could have been an exceedingly classic outfit.
But, for whatever reason, I wasn’t feeling particularly demure when I got dressed, and I was far more interested in finding what I like to call “my inner S.” You know, the super cool, bohemian, quirky chic look that S. does so well. So on went a turquoise tulip skirt (which knocks the triad off by just enough to be interesting) and funky cut-out sandals and…oh yes, I tried to wear a scarf wrapped around my head.
11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment, originally uploaded by academichic.
And I liked it.
Unfortunately, between my super slippery hair that denies bobby pins purchase and baby e.’s grabby hands, the head scarf had to relocate to my neck. But I did find it kind of exhilarating to venture off from familiar style territory by trying a more quirky look in a classic color scheme. It’s like a meta-style-juxtaposition.
Any tips on keeping a scarf in place around your head, especially when you have a shorter hair cut or slippery hair?
Cute! Sometimes what works for me is braiding a section of hair that will lie either under the scarf or just behind it, to give the bobby pins something to hold on to. At least for me, it ends up being a bit more secure than just trying to bobby pin into straight, slippery hair. :)
Love it! And Plummy’s idea for keeping the scarf in place is brilliant.
Just did a tutorial on boho looks earlier this week, if anyone’s keen: http://www.alreadypretty.com/2010/08/touch-of-boho.html
I wear one of those wide elastic headbands with the little rubber nubs that work so well when running under my scarf. It doesn’t work really well, but it helps a bit.
Oh my gosh, I LOVE the scarf around your head. You must try that again with a scarf with perhaps more texture.
I love the skirt on you. I picked up the same skirt in two patterns recently at Tar-jay. So flattering and comfy. I’m going to wear the heck out them.
Really enjoying this series on color. Very inspiring!
The two blues are really beautiful together, but the magic happens with the add of that beautiful scarf!
So cute! Some potential solutions to the slippy scarf problem include wearing a non-silk scarf, folding it thinner, or tying it under your hair at the nape of your neck (it seems from these pictures that your knot is outside).
I love this outfit! The colors are so great together – and I just love the academic approach you bring to their pairing! Plus, those sandals are awesome :)
This is a cute look! I really like the headscarf, although I have the same problem as you with keeping them on my head, so I’m keeping an eye on the tips being left in the comments.
The red-blue-yellow triadic combo is one I almost never do, although I do the orange-green-purple one on occasion.
I think you kept it far from crayola territory!
I just did a tutorial on keeping scarves in place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ot7Lk3QANA
Hope that helps. Also you could try those ModCloth ones with wires in them :)
Oooh, thanks for the shout-out, I’m flattered :)
E – I love the head scarf on you! Soooo boho-urban-cool!
S.
This scarf-on-the-head look is definitely a different look for you, but I like it! Recently I have really wanted to wear a scarf around my head a la S, but I have also struggled with getting it to stay in place. I discovered, however, that finangling the scarf over a plastic headband goes a long way toward keeping it discreetly in place. My endeavors were aimed at a slightly different iteration of the scarf as headband, but I think the idea could work on this style as well. So there’s my two cents. Finangle.
I have the same problem! M’s solution of folding the scarf over a hard headband sounds genius, I’ll have to try it. Most online sources tell me to tease the hair in a little pouf behind the scarf, or hairspray the bottom of the scarf, but so far I’ve found the only thing that helps is barrettes, lots of the good bobby pins, or putting my hair in two braids – one right behind each ear, Pocahontas-style – and securing the scarf under the braids.
I love the scarf on you!
I was just whinging to the hairdresser this week about how scarves dont stay in place because they slip off and I need a million bobby pins to hold them, in which case I decide not to bother. I dont think I could even do a braid in my hair because it just slips out.
She said slippery hair is because my hair is straight (and looks like yours is too!) and it is slippery because it is healthy! SO that made me feel better knowing I have good hair!
I have seen those Modcloth ones with the wire… would be easy to make your own version.
Positively love this outfit! Not something I would have ever thought of wearing, but the entire ensemble looks so put together. I especially love the skirt; I can totally see it becoming a really formal looking thing if paired with the right top.
[...] Academichic: A Boho Experiment with fantastic results [...]
[...] and doesn’t lend itself well to being used as a belt. As E. discussed in her post the other day, getting things to stay wrapped around your head can sometimes be tricky, and many of you have come up with helpful tips. I decided that to break up this analogous pairing [...]
I also have super slippery hair. I don’t know if you’re against using products in your hair, but on the days I wear a scarf my hair might not be freshly washed, so I don’t mind adding a little product to it. I really recommend the sprays that have salt in them to give you ‘beachy hair’. I have used the b&b ‘surf spray’ and it works really well. Spray lightly on the roots that will under the scarf and let air dry or blow dry. The finish is matte, but it DOES give enough texture to hold bobby pins and scarves!! :)
I have bobby-pin-resistant slippery hair too! I feel a bond of sistership with you, E! ;)
If your hair is long enough to curl a little bit up in a spiral above and behind each ear, held in place with bobby pins through the curl in an “X” shape, you can then pin the scarf in place to that – it creates a firm anchor and holds more securely that way. Also, keeping my bangs out, rather than brushed back under the scarf, seems to help a lot.
You always looks so nice. Love this outfit on you.
an amazing look. . especially love the headscarf one!