A Return to Orange…With a Split!
Posted on | August 23, 2010 | 12 Comments
Sources:
- Blue Tank – Banana Republic
- Red-Orange Belt – BR Outlet
- Yellow-Orange Flower – Blue Onion Marketplace
- White Skirt – score form clothing swap
- Sandals – Charlotte Russe
- Earrings – Gift from A2
Endnotes:
Like L., I failed to get my last color-challenge outfit in last week, but here it is – a split complementary using two shades of orange! I really wanted to push myself with this go at the Fashion 101 on color mixing. I already tried out this red-orange shade in my monochromatic look, but this time I took it a bit further by incorporating it into a split complementary. As E. explained quite well last week, a split complementary has you start with a color on the color wheel (in my case blue) find its compliment (orange) and then the two colors on either side of that complement (red-orange and yellow-orange). If orange is a daring color choice for me, yellow-orange is flat out radical! This fabric flower brooch from Blue Onion Marketplace is the only yellow-orange thing I own, and in the past I have only used it to adorn a summer bag or clutch. Today, I took a cue from S. and pined it up near my face.
A Return to Orange…With a Split!, originally uploaded by academichic.
I think the two shades of orange each pop off the deep blue tank and really help add the needed bunch to this otherwise simple ensemble of blue tank and white skirt. This skirt came from a small clothing swap E. and I recently went to (I also walked away with one of E.’s dresses and she left with one of my belts and a pair of my jeans). I have been looking for a fuller white skirt all summer and have even bought a few, only to return them later. This one might not be perfect, but its a fun summery piece that fits well enough considering its price tag. I love the scalloped hem and the embroidered and eyelet detailing.
Two things both the color challenge and the clothing swap had in common: the chance to reassess my closet and the chance to create new ensembles for free!
Have you ever been to a clothing swap? Did you walk away with a bunch of great new items? How was it organized? Was it just free for all or where there rules? I’d love to know the best way to host one.
A.
12 August 2010 – Super Hero Triad and Super Hero Hair
Posted on | August 12, 2010 | 15 Comments
Sources:
- Striped Tank – American Eagle
- Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
- Red Wedges – BR Outlet via S.
- Earrings – Gift from A2
- Bangle as necklace – Gap Outlet
Endnotes:
I started with my new favorite summer color combo of blue, white, and red and added this yellow bangle as a necklace (an idea stolen from E.). As I’ve said before, the triadic color combo of red-blue-yellow reminds me of a superhero costume and I think the large open circle on my chest reads a bit like a superhero crest. I needed some superhero powers today as I turned in my prospectus draft and headed to campus for a series of meetings.
The fabulous red espadrilles recently made their way into my closet from S.’s. She bought these shoes a couple summers ago and wore them a few times (also in a red -white-blue combo) bu in the end decided they where a bit too big on her. I’m worried they might be a bit too small on me but will test them out for a while before I decide. I do think they helped the superhero look!
It think what makes me feel most put together and confident in my appearance is a good hair day. I’ve written about this a few times, but the gist is: I have never dyed or permed my hair but I straighten it most days of the week. Now, courtesy of Misikko, I have a professional flatiron to use on my hair. Misikko sent me this Hana Elite 100% Ceramic Flatiron to review and I can honestly say I love it. I chose the thinner (1″) model because I have short hair. However, I have also noticed that the thinner iron gives me a bit more control over the shape of my hair, allowing me to curl the ends under for example.
I’ve had the flatiron for a few weeks now and have been using it regularly. I just haven’t managed to snap a picture before heading out into the extreme humidity these past few weeks have brought to Academichic Central. I have had my hair trimmed in the time, however, and my hairdresser is very happy with me that I am finally using a professional iron instead of the cheap one I was letting fry my hair. The Hana Elite isn’t cheap but I’m happy to say it is worth the investment.
What about you? Does a good hair day start your day off right? What do you do to make a good hair day happen? Are you a straightener? A curler? A dyer? Or a no-’pooer?
11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment
Posted on | August 12, 2010 | 21 Comments
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?
Product Review: Crystalyn Kae Bag
Posted on | August 11, 2010 | 3 Comments
Sources:
- gray striped top – thrifted
- black linen skirt – H&M
- belt – H&M
- yellow flats – Target
- Green clutch – courtesy of Crystalyn Kae
Endnotes:
I recently received this clutch bag from Crystalyn Kae to review. If this name rings a bell, it’s because A. has been using one of their totes as her daily campus bag and has reviewed it here.
Since I’m biking to campus these days, I usually go for my backpack to hold my laptops, books, and various other necessities. Upon arriving home, it’s been so nice to dump that backpack in a corner of my living room and transfer my basics – wallet, keys, cell, ipod, chapstick – into a small little clutch. And this one is just perfect, I’ve been in love with it since it came in the mail.
Why do I love it so much? Here’s a handy top ten list to explain:
- 10) The wrist band makes it easy to carry while leaving my hands free
- 9) It’s surprisingly roomier than it looks
- 8) Its awesome pleats and folds give it a cool ‘relaxed’ look
- 7) But it’s still elegant enough that I would use it for a night out too
- 6) How can you go wrong with a little vintage fabric insert (mine’s striped and corduroy)
- 5) [Each bag comes with a different fabric embellishment in the center]
- 4) It’s hand-made in the US (Seattle) so I’m supporting local artisans
- 3) It’s vegan-friendly
- 2) It’s simply gorgeous
- 1) No one else has one like mine
I’m not much of a clutch wearer, I tend to prefer large roomy bags and totes, and still I’ve found myself using this on a daily basis. Since my life resides in my wallet, cell, and ipod (gone are days of large paper organizers and address books), this little clutch is all I need to grab my must-haves.
If you’re thinking of treating yourself to a new bag, I highly recommend checking out Crystalyn Kae’s site. Especially if you’re concerned about shopping locally (from the US) and getting a gorgeous looking bag that is not made of animal products. They come with a one year warranty and shipping to anywhere in the US is free.
Have fun perusing all the different colors…
Or the different sizes…
I used my green bag with yellow accents to create an analogous color combination with my accessories today. Since it’s analogous week over here, I took my neutrals outfit (black, gray, white) and added touches of green and yellow for some interest. While A. voiced her reservations regarding warm color analogous schemes, I can say the same about cool color ones. I typically gravitate towards reds, purples, and fuchsias but went for yellow and green today instead. A yellow bracelet and yellow flats mixed with the green and yellow clutch add a little pizazz to an otherwise subdued color combination.
Are you experimenting with analogous pairings this week? If so, what are your favorite combinations? And are they tried and tested old favorites or are you pushing yourself to try new things? S.
4 August 2010 – Kind of Neutral
Posted on | August 4, 2010 | 11 Comments
4 August 2010 – Kind of Neutral, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Top: Target
- Belt: Old Navy
- Skirt: Banana Republic Factory
- Ring: c/o Lala B Jewelry
- Bracelets: gift
- Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell, via Rue La La
End Notes:
For this week’s color module on neutrals I really wanted to push myself to combine neutrals in a new-to-me way. So, I steered away from my preferred navy+brown+gray or black+brown combinations in favor of playing with neutrals that have a bit more of a specific color cast to them: an olive-heading-towards-gray top, a violet-heading-towards-gray skirt, a gray belt, and cognac sandals.
Neutrals, originally uploaded by academichic.
Perhaps because I grew up in Hawaii, where, as a teenager, mainland style rules like “no white after Labor Day” were as foreign as the idea of actually wearing a belt and closed toed shoes, I went off to undergrad blissfully unaware of the supposed taboo against mixing neutrals. As I struggled to figure out how to dress for multiple seasons for the first time, I remember distinctly thinking — thanks to my color theory exercises in 2D design! — that I should be able to wear my brown cardigan with my black long sleeved shirt. After all, a neutral color is created by mixing multiple colors together, so that means it should be able to “go” with any color, including another neutral. So, I wore my black shirt and brown sweater together and one of my roommates — a Texas debutante — almost had a heart attack. She — and I, by extension — was only saved by someone else pointing out that JCrew had recently started styling models wearing black and brown together.
Because, you know, if JCrew does it then it’s a-okay.
Anyway, that was the beginning of my neutral mixing, and I have since unsettled many a sister-in-law and friend by blithely wearing black and navy, brown and gray, or black and brown together.
On the other hand, to make a bad pun, I’m kind of neutral about this whole outfit. I think it’s an interesting play on neutral tones and it’s a little different for me, but I’m not sure if I’m totally sold on it. Still, these color wheel modules are doing what they’re supposed to: encouraging me to experiment with new pairings and to figure out how to successfully translate theory to practice, even if the practice is a little shaky.
4 August 2010 – Kind of Neutral, originally uploaded by academichic.
Shabby Apple Review: La Tour Eiffel
Posted on | July 15, 2010 | 41 Comments
14 July 2010 – Shabby Apple Eiffel, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Dress: c/o Shabby Apple
- Belt: Target
- Shoes: Ralph Lauren, via Macy’s shoe sale
End Notes:
Maybe it’s because I spent the first half of my summer learning how to translate French, but when the kind folks at Shabby Apple asked if I wanted to review one of their dresses, I gravitated fairly quickly to this faux-two piece number that is aptly named “La Tour Eiffel.”
Now, the bad news. As much as you may want it to, this dress will not transform you into a blithe red head frolicking in the Champ de Mars. Bummer.
It does, however, inspire a certain carefree attitude. Perhaps it’s the fact that, for once, I’ve found a faux-two piece dress that is both long enough overall and accommodating of my long torso. Or perhaps it’s the fact that it has a great balance of stretch and structure (there’s a hidden side zipper through the skirt and top), creating a crisp, chic silhouette that still allows for easy movement (no retucking your blouse every time you stand up!). Or maybe it’s because I know that this dress is almost seasonless, and will stand up to scarves and cardigans in the fall and a flower pin in the spring. Or because it’s a great canvas to play with long necklaces, pop of color shoes, and brighter belts.
Or maybe it’s the pockets that have me feeling so insouciant.
Pockets!, originally uploaded by academichic.
No matter how many sizing charts there are, I am always uncertain when first purchasing clothes from an online-only retailer. Thankfully, Shabby Apple makes returns and exchanges free and easy, as I had no problem exchanging one size for another. And although the tag on the dress recommended hand washing, I did machine wash it in a lingerie bag and it’s none of the worse for wear.
I’m really taken with Shabby Apple’s desire to make dresses that don’t necessitate a camisole or cardigan for modesty, but even beyond their dresses, I’m quite intrigued by their retro-inspired swimwear and aprons!
Enjoy 10% off at Shabby Apple with this coupon code: academichic10off!
15 June 2010 – School’s IN for Summer
Posted on | June 15, 2010 | 20 Comments
15 June 2010 – School’s IN for Summer, originally uploaded by academichic.Sources:
- Bag – Troubadour Tote by Crystalyn Kae
- Tank – J Crew
- Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
- Belt – Gap
- Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
- Earrings – Gift
Endnotes:
That’s right, I said “school’s IN for summer!” Yesterday I started teaching a 5 week summer course that meets every morning. Part of me is actually looking forward to be back on campus everyday and I’m really excited to be teaching this course. I’m also quite happy to have an excuse to pull out my professional wardrobe again, but I think creating 25 professional outfits appropriate for the extreme heat of June in Academichic Central will likely be a tough challenge.
Luckily, I now have the perfect summer school bag! Last week I received this beautiful Troubadour Tote courtesy of Crystalyn Kae. I love the slouchy but refined shape of this tote and adore the pleats and rivets. It actually comes in a variety of great colors but I’ve been looking for a bag to replace my reddish brown tote, which broke last year.
Crystalyn Kae Accessories – Troubadour Tote Bag, originally uploaded by academichic.
Inside the bag, originally uploaded by academichic.- a tiny make-up pouch that holds cover-up, chap-stick, mini-sunscreen, bobby pins, and a hair band (not pictured)
- my new i-phone pouch from pomella on etsy – I love the vintage green fabirc, the pocket for my headphones, and the bright green band that holds everything in place
- a small zipper pouch of campus essentials that holds, among other things, a laser pointer, adapters for my laptop, pens, post-its, band-aides, hand lotion, gum, etc
- my incase neoprene laptop sleeve
organization, originally uploaded by academichic.
15 June 2010 – School’s IN for Summer, originally uploaded by academichic.23 May 2010 – Paper bagging it
Posted on | May 24, 2010 | 23 Comments
22 May 2010 – Paper bagging it, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Navy tank: Target
- Earrings: Wet Seal
- Belt: Gap Outlet
- Ring: c/o La La B
- Skirt: refashioned from a Target sack dress
- Wedges: Naturalizers, via DSW
End Notes:
Last week was my “week off” for the summer. Nothing to turn in. No meetings to attend. No need to go on campus except to return my piles of library books. Baby e. and I had a fun week of gardening, visiting the art museum and zoo, and shopping. I also had time to do a couple of garment re-fashions that I’ve been wanting to finish for a while.
This paper bag waist skirt was one of my projects. I saw this gray dress on the Target clearance rack a month or two ago for $4. That’s right, $4. Two of my sisters-in-law actually own this dress in other colors, and it looks terribly cute on them, so I figured that I would snatch up this gray version and try it on once I got home.
Target dress before, originally uploaded by academichic.
Once I did try it on, I realized it was all wrong on me. Too short. Not that flattering of a color near my face. Too bunchy when belted. But rather than returning it, I thought I’d try to take advantage of the parts of the dress I did like — the pockets and the hem detail — and refashion it into an elastic waist skirt.
So I did.
Paper bag waist, originally uploaded by academichic.
(And will you forgive me the wrinkles, since we took these photos after returning home from a picnic?)
It was a fairly simple refashion. I cut across the dress just under the armholes, pulled out the zipper, and sewed the back seam closed. I turned over the raw edge 1/4″ then folded it over 2″ to create the wide top hem for the “paper bag” effect. Since I didn’t have enough length to create a casing for the elastic below the 2″ top hem, I sewed a wide ribbon in a coordinating color onto the skirt, just below the 2″ seam and left an opening through which I could thread my elastic. (You can’t see the casing in these pictures since I’m wearing a belt.) I took some pictures of the process, but I don’t think they serve that well as a tutorial since the directions are so specific to the particular garment I began with.
But what I will suggest is that if you are interested in the idea of refashioning clothes — taking an existing garment and changing it into something special or entirely different — then you must check out the Wardrobe Refashion blog. Basically, Wardrobe Refashion is a community of folks who have pledged (for different lengths of time) to not buy any new clothes in favor of thrifting or creating their own garments. (See the rules here.) The result? An aggregation of lots and lots of folks posting their creative re-imaginings of garments from their closets and fabric from their stashes. Although not all posts have related tutorials, the sheer volume of creativity and vision evidenced by these crafty folks is enough to get me seeing the potential of existing garments to become something entirely different.
I really love this idea of seeing something new in something old, of capitalizing on the good points and good craftsmanship of an existing garment to create something new-to-you. I’m not capable of a fancy waistband with zipper, for example, so I turned a pair of jeans into a skirt. I’m not confident enough to sew an entire knit dress, but I sure can turn a belt into a pair of wider straps. And I may not have the steady hand to create even hem details or to make inset pockets, but I can chop up a shift dress and turn it into a high-waisted skirt. For me, re-fashioning is a prime creative outlet, enabling me to create something from not-quite-raw material.
La La B Ring, originally uploaded by academichic.
22 May 2010 – Paper bagging it, originally uploaded by academichic.
Friday Giveaway: La La B Ring
Posted on | May 14, 2010 | 140 Comments
As promised, to celebrate a fabulous week of Dressing Your Best, we are doing a second Friday giveaway!
This beautiful sterling silver and Periodot ring comes from the fabulous jewelery site La La B, the sister company of TDM Designs, whose scarves we so often rave about. So for a chance to win, head over to La La B Jewelry and check out all the gorgeous rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces and then leave us a comment letting us know which piece you like most.
For a second chance to win leave a separate comment pointing us to your favorite DYB post out there form this week. Thanks again to everyone who participated this week!
21 April 2010
Posted on | April 21, 2010 | 4 Comments
21 April 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.Sources:
- Scarf – Nepali by TMD Designs
- Sweater – Banana Republic
- Denim Skirt – Gap
- Green Flats – Banana Republic
- Earrings – F21
- Sunglasses – Marshalls
Endnotes:
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?
Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.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.
21 April 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.Appendix
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Bibliography
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A consortium of feminist academics, in the Midwest and Northeast, on a crusade against the ill-fitting polyester suit of academic yore.
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