18 August 2010 – New Faculty Orientation Outfit

Posted on | August 18, 2010 | 15 Comments

Sources:

White tee – H&M
Wrap skirt – Boden, thrifted in San Fran
Yellow flats – Target
Necklace – thrifted

Endnotes:

No, your eyes are not failing you; this is neither a monochromatic ensemble nor do the colors make a split complimentary combination. I am sporting a triad (pink-blue-yellow) on my skirt, but even that’s a week too late.

I really tried to make a color challenge happen yesterday morning. I stood in front of my closet door and stared at the contents for a while before giving up and reaching for a trusted combination I knew I’d feel good in; this gorgeous Boden skirt, a simple white top, a navy cardi, and these yellow flats for a unexpected pop of color in the shoe. You see, yesterday was my first day of new faculty orientation and I was going to be meeting a bunch of new colleagues and university people and I just wanted to look both professional and comfortable (i.e. – like ‘me’) and the color challenge just wasn’t working with me on that one.

So while I knew I was dropping the ball on the color challenges, I went with my gut and picked the outfit that spoke to me. (Essentially a summer version of this fall favorite). I decided to post this because I think it’s a realistic depiction of how getting dressed often goes; you envision the expectations of others, you try to live up to some picture in your mind of how you should look, and you end up feeling frustrated when it doesn’t all come together the morning of. Even worse, that sometimes ends up ruining your day before you’ve stepped out the door or you end up wearing something you think you ‘should’ wear and feeling uneasy in it all day.

At said faculty orientation, I attended a very interesting session on planning for your first week. The instructor noted that all it takes is fifteen minutes for a first impression to be made. So it’s important to set the stage of how you want the year to go in those first fifteen minutes of class. If you don’t want your students coming to class looking disheveled or wearing pjs, then you might not want to show up looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed either – that sets the tone for the semester to come. I think this applies to other things as well; how you show up to an interview will set the tone for that hour, how you show up on a date will likely set the tone for the dinner and drinks to come, and how you show up to meet your partner’s family will likely affect how they understand you until they get to know you better.

This is not to say that there is a correct way to look for any given activity (there is a plurality of looks that work for most given contexts). It’s just to say that first impressions matter and that it’s not weird that we end up spending so much time thinking about what we put on in the morning. I opted for something that made me feel good, feel like myself, and was university-appropriate in my agenda despite knowing that it wasn’t what I was ‘supposed’ to wear for the day (I say that very tongue-in-cheeck since our color challenges are self-imposed and I hardly thought that E., L, or A. would begrudge my rogue outfit choice here).

How do you figure out how to best present yourself in a first-impression situation and do you remember to strike that balance between dressing as you should and dressing as you want? S.

PS: I met a lovely reader at faculty orientation who recognized me from the site and came to say hi. Hi, Rachel, it was great to meet you!

5 August 2010

Posted on | August 5, 2010 | 16 Comments

5 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Flutter Tank – J Crew
Black Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
Black Pumps – DSW
Necklace – made from a gifted earring

Endnotes:

I don’t know if the color of this top is exactly a neutral – its a kind of putty color that sometimes looks olive. J Crew calls it “mink.” I’m a sucker for all the lovely shades of grey J Crew has invented but “mink” is less than helpful as a color description. But, I’m using it as a neutral and considering this a mix of black and brown. I wore this top with navy last time, but I think the black makes the “mink” look so much richer.

The top came with a thin waist-creating tie which I removed for this iteration. I tucked the base of the top into my high-waisted skirt and let the flutters drape over the top. I think it makes this otherwise sweat detail a little more dramatic, even edgy. I usually think of mixed neutrals as creating a generally soft look or sometimes a very polished professional look, but in this third stab at the color wheel challenge, I wanted to push my use of neutrals into a new kind of look. I think “edgy mink” is definitely new for me!

2 August 2010 – Neutrals (with a pop)

Posted on | August 2, 2010 | 4 Comments

Sources:

Eyelet top – thrifted
Jean skirt – Urban Outfitters
Yellow flats – Target (I totally copied A!)
Pendant – Anthropologie
Ring – Lala B Jewelry
Bike – Electra Hawaii Cruiser
Helmet – Nutcase

Endnotes:

Remember our home-made color wheel? It seems so long ago that we made it, gathering colorful clothing at my little condo and stuffing them into plates for our photographic project. I had no idea how much of a staple in my getting dressed approach that little installation would become. But since constructing that color wheel of clothes and getting dressed more color-consciously, I’ve developed a much greater appreciation of color theory and aesthetics.

So I’m excited that we’re revisiting our color modules this summer, taking a little refresher course with the newest member of our site, L. This week we’re focusing on Neutrals (with a pop). Since our last color course, I’ve come to embrace neutrals much more and so this week’s challenge is really no challenge at all. I pulled out a creamy eyelet top (so wonderful in this heat!) and my jean skirt (jeans count as neutrals in my book) and added a pop of color with a yellow shoe.

Such a subdued outfit presents the perfect palette for some statement jewelry. Enter my Lala B Jewelry ring that I’ve been wearing a lot lately. You probably noticed E’s Lala B ring, which she wears quite often as well. We got to choose a ring from Lala B and were asked to review them for our site, and I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t stand by it: their company and products are wonderful. While a bit pricer, their jewelry is well worth the investment because it’s not only beautiful but also hand-made my women artisans in Nepal. The feminist in me can’t help but love a company whose mission statement reads:

LA LA B Jewelry creates opportunities for poverty-stricken women to generate sustainable income in Nepal. Our mission is to bring about social and economic change by giving women the opportunity to participate financially in their family and society. [...] The Collection brings employment to over 150 artisans within the Kathmandu valley. Women’s lives in Nepal are dramatically elevated in society when they bring sustainable income into their families. This is exactly how LA LA B is helping.

So if you’re looking for a special gift for someone or just want to treat yourself to a unique and durable piece of jewelry, consider something from Lala B’s line of rings, bracelets, or necklaces. Not only will you be helping this socially conscious company help women in Nepal, but you’ll also be adding one heck of a ‘pop’ to your outfits. S.

30 July 2010 – Complements

Posted on | July 30, 2010 | 30 Comments

30 July 2010 – Complements, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Top: thrifted
Cardi: Target
Shorts: Ann Taylor
Ring: c/o Lala B Jewelry
Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell, via Rue La La

End Notes:

In the last few days I went to New York, sans camera, for a whirlwind two and a half day dissertation research trip. I overlapped with A. for half a day, came home, and am now about to embark on a road trip to somewhere-in-Oklahoma for a family reunion with my in-laws. I will say, though, that take-offs and landings (and the very long lead up to both wherein you are not allowed to have tray tables down or lap tops out) is prime outfit-planning time.

I really struggled with putting together a complementary color scheme though, which is a little unexpected since I have worn them before, even when it’s not part of a challenge week. For some reason, though, I was really having a hard time. I think part of the problem was that I initially wanted to stay away from saturated complementary colors and instead play with complements in softer hues: lavender and yellow or peach and blue or something like that.

But you know what? Let’s be honest, I’m a saturated color kind of girl, and I know that I can wear mustard and royal purple well separately…so why not together? I’ll tell you why. Purple and gold are pretty quintessential school colors. Eep. No one wants to walk around looking like a college mascot. Still, I think the ruffles on the purple top and the play of proportion with a longer top and cropped cardigan, keep things from looking too school spirit-y.

La La B Ring, originally uploaded by academichic.

Jeffrey Campbell Sandals, originally uploaded by academichic.

Plus, school mascots don’t wear chunky rings and cutout wedge sandals, right?

Is there a color combination you now avoid because it brings back memories of school colors? Or rival school colors, I suppose.

30 July 2010 – Complements, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 July 2010 – Pattern

Posted on | July 23, 2010 | 3 Comments

Pattern , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Dress – Old Navy
Sandals – Target
Basket – Electra
Bike – Electra Cruiser

Endnotes:

On most days while riding my bike I can be seen wearing a dress similar to this one. That is because it’s patterned. And not just any pattern – colorful, busy, floral pattern. According to Velouria, author of one of my favorite bike blogs, a great way to disguise sweat stains on clothing in the summer is to wear a pattern that doesn’t show that change in color (from sweat) as it just mixes in with the rest of the hues and swirls of the fabric. Velouria goes on to suggest that floral prints are optimal for this kind of chameleon game, which couldn’t work better for me since I am definitely a florals kind of girl.

Pattern , originally uploaded by academichic.

So for many of my bike commutes, I have been throwing on a floral dress and taking on the heat. I do usually arrive pretty sweaty and appreciate that this type of outfit hides that much better than many other less suitable options. Although some of you may not ride a bike regularly, it’s likely that many of you are tackling some hot and humid weather this time of year, so I thought this type of ‘dress to disguise your sweat’ tip would still pertain. While certainly less glamorous than tips on belting, color combos, or chic shoes, I figured that this type of advice would still have its place on a site about staying stylish while being practical. Having to get from point A to B sans car, this is good know-how for me to have up my sleeve. This strategy might prove especially effective once I start teaching again and will have to face a class full of students after riding my bike to campus.

For those of you who do bike or are interested in more bike specific discussion, you can find a review of the above pictured bike basket here or my review of my bike cup holder here. Additionally, I’m very excited to feature Tania from What Would a Nerd Wear this coming week on Simply Bike on her essentials for bike commuting in style. And while we’re speaking of exciting upcoming posts, make sure to check back here for some academichic surprises we have in store for you this coming week as well!

Happy weekend, everyone! S.

Shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

22 July 2010

Posted on | July 22, 2010 | 20 Comments

22 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Top: thrifted
Pants: Banana Republic
Shoes: Lauren by Ralph Lauren, via Macys

End Notes:

Do you ever have one of those “off” weeks? Not a bad week per se, but just one where you’re stymied in all the small stuff, your words don’t seem to be coming out right, you can’t seem to get on top of the laundry, and all the books you need are checked out of the library? I’ve just realized that when I get into one of these “real world” ruts, my style tends to follow as I gravitate towards tried and true silhouettes and combinations in my wardrobe.

I’m a huge proponent of dressing to make yourself feel powerful and put-together, and so on most days when I need a pick me up I’d be most likely to turn to my ubiquitous navy dress or floaty cream skirt. But today I thought I’d try taking the opposite approach. What if I wore something that’s not on my list of “go-to” items? What if I wore something that I kind of have to psyche myself up for a wee bit? What if I pushed myself past my style comfort zone in order to force myself to be assertive, to be positive, and to take ownership of a so-so week?

22 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Caylin Wedge, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, originally uploaded by academichic.

So, out came these light gray pants that I haven’t totally figured out what to do with, and a boldly colored top in a longer length, and tall shoes. And look! No tucking in and no belt. If that’s not taking away a safety net, I don’t know what is, right? And I have to admit, now I feel all super-hero-y and proud of myself for trying something a little different rather than depending on my standards, as flattering and valuable as they may be.

Do you see a correspondence between an uninspired week and uninspired style? What do you do to get yourself out of a style rut?

22 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

2 July 2010 – Bike Picnic

Posted on | July 2, 2010 | 12 Comments

Sources:

Gray tee – Gap, thrifted
Navy skirt – J.Crew
Black patent sandals – Target
Pendant – Anthropologie
Bike – Electra Hawaii Cruiser
Helmet – Nutcase

Endnotes:

I apologize for the poor quality of this picture, but this photo was taken pretty late in the day as T. and I set out for an outdoor concert on our local college campus. (You can read all about that here, should you be so inclined). This was by far one of my favorite ‘dates’ we’ve had recently and one I’m sure we’ll repeat. Since the evening would go down as a date and we would be cycling, I needed an outfit that would meet the criteria of both….enter What Would a Nerd Wear.

Tania of What Would a Nerd Wear is one of my favorite style bloggers and not only does she look super cute all the time, she also does so while riding her gorgeous vintage bike. So she would to be my outfit muse for this one…

One of Tania’s signature looks is pairing a simple fitted top with a high-waisted fuller skirt. This ensemble always ends up looking polished while still playful and laid-back. I have long shied away from this particular silhouette because I tend to want to hide my midsection and wear things that flow away from my torso, but sometimes a bit of experimenting with new shapes and lines is all you need to spruce up an old wardrobe. And I’ve found that wearing a high waisted skirt that fits well with a not-too-tight tucked in top can actually create that coveted silhouette of the small waisted even for those of us not blessed by nature in that department.

I also love the juxtaposition of the plain and simple gray cotton tee paired with the more polished and formal navy skirt. And I’ve discovered a new favorite for cycling; while this skirt is on the shorter side, the stiffer and heavier material translated into it staying in place and hardly blowing ‘open’ while pedaling … win!

Thanks, Tania, for a great outfit idea. I know I’ll be replicating this look a lot more this summer, be it for bike dates, coffee shop outings, or even just for showing off to my dog at home. S.

28 June 2010 – Taboo Hues

Posted on | June 28, 2010 | 34 Comments

28 June 2010 – Outdoor Wedding, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Pink eyelet dress – Ann Taylor, thrifted in San Fran
Pink flower pin – H&M
Yellow shoes – Gianni Bini
Silver cuff – gift
Gold clutch – BR, gift from mom
Flower earrings – my wedding earrings, side walk sale

Endnotes:

This past weekend, T. and I attended the wedding of two good friends of ours. It was a beautiful outdoor ceremony in a park followed by a wonderful reception at a local restaurant. The couple looked gorgeous and the day couldn’t have been any nicer or more enjoyable. Everything was great, barring perhaps the insanely hot temperature – close to mid 90s during the outdoor ceremony part. I knew it was going to be sweltering and so I tried to dress accordingly.

I had initially planned on wearing this light and airy white dress (also thrifted) that has a tulip shape to the skirt and a deep V cut-out in the back. It’s also knee length and somewhat more formal than the pink cotton number I ended up wearing. I had envisioned adding the same flower brooch for that touch of summery flair and my red wedge sandals…

But after I brought up the discussion on wedding guest attire during my last wedding-related post, so many readers chimed in with emphatic protests to wearing white as a guest that I first wavered and then retreated entirely from said ensemble above.

Although I still don’t agree with the idea that certain colors (even white or black) should be taboo for a wedding, I couldn’t help but lose my resolve to wear what I wanted to wear because I realized how many people might read my choice as something other than what it was. I wanted to wear a dress that would be elegant yet summery and day-wear appropriate; light and breezy for the heat; and flattering on my body shape. I had no intentions of outshining the bride or diverting attention to myself. And while I know that, I decided that a sign is not only what you (the wearer) decide it is, but also what the other person – the receiver – reads it to be. So despite my best intentions, if the majority of readers (and by extension, perhaps the people attending this wedding?) would misinterpret my wearing of white (with polka-dots, mind you) to a friend’s wedding, then it would be a battle lost.

28 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

In the end, I was happy with the pink dress, I don’t think the bride would have cared either way about my choice, and I forgot all about my outfit once the celebration started and I enjoyed the time with my friends. But this incident just reminded me once more how powerful certain sartorial symbols are and how ingrained certain signs and signifiers continue to be. I’m appreciating that even when I don’t agree with said symbolisms and signs, I still cannot opt out of what they mean to others. S.

24 June 2010 – Meet Mojito

Posted on | June 24, 2010 | 22 Comments

24 June 2010 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Gray tank with ruffles – Filene’s basement
Purple bubble dress – TJMaxx
Pendant – Anthropologie
Damask flats – Old Navy
Silver cuff – gift from dad
Bag – Etienne Aigner hand-me-down
Helmet – Nutcase
Bike – Electra Hawaii Cruiser (named Mojito)

Endnotes:

And I’m back in the States. Boy, it’s good to be home. One of the first things I was really looking forward to doing was hopping on my newly acquired cruiser and taking it for a spin around town. It’s also so nice to finally feel like it’s summer after so much rain and cold in Germany over the last month. Hot weather calls for breezy dresses, so I donned a light and comfortable purple bubble dress paired with black and white damask flats. I added some silver jewelry, a slouchy bag, and my new powder blue Nutcase helmet (it’s so cute, I don’t even mind sporting a helmet)…

24 June 2010 – with helmet, originally uploaded by academichic.

In Germany, I had a little vase with (fake) flowers on my desk and I decided to bring the flowers back with me to add to my bike basket as a little keepsake from my year in Munich. I was inspired by the Let’s Go Ride a Bike Summer Games challenge, which requires participants to decorate their bikes as one of the entries…

I like how this Electra bike basket just pops off and can be taken along once the bike is parked. I did just that as I went to the library and then a consignment shop downtown, where I couldn’t resist filling my basket with lovely books and an awesome thrift find. Incidentally, another task in the LGRAB Summer Games is to carry a load on your bike…

Bikes, Books, and Other Goodies, originally uploaded by academichic.

Bike Commute, originally uploaded by academichic.

Well, that’s about it for my bike adventures. Now, for a less exciting task, I need to go tackle those suitcases needing to be unpacked. Anyone want to do it for me? S.

Damask flats, originally uploaded by academichic.

14 June 2010 – Deep Thoughts on Fashion Blogging

Posted on | June 14, 2010 | 42 Comments

14 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Sunnies – drug store
Silk scarf – 1 Euro find at Vienna flea market
Eyelet top – TJMaxx
Brown cardi – TJMaxx
Skinnies – S.Oliver
Flats – Palladium
Pendant – Anthropologie
Earrings – gift from husband

Endnotes:

These are my last travel photos from Cluj, Romania. As you can see, I wore more of the same ‘uniform’ I’ve been sporting throughout my trip to Prague and Romania. I pretty much switched between two pairs of skinny jeans, rotated through a variety of loose, comfortable tunic-like tops, and wore the same tried and tested pair of Palladium flats each day…

This look works really well for me because I’m somewhat of a straight-up-and-down rectangle, so tunics, empire waist tops, and loose blouses work really well with my shape. Someone with more of an hourglass figure might do well to pack tops that define a waist and show off some curves, but for me, it ends up working quite well to highlight my thin legs in skinny jeans and not bother trying to create curves where there are none. When I’m just trying to get dressed quickly and comfortably, that is. Style savvy-readers like Sal mentioned trying travel outfits on at home before packing and I have definitely approached my packing in that well-planned way before. But when time is short and I just want to throw things in my bag that I know will work, I stick with simple pieces that work with and not against my figure. And with well worn-in and tested shoes. Even if it means that I wear pretty much a version of the same outfit each day. When I’m traveling, I want my surroundings to be my focus and not my outfits.

To vary my looks a wee bit and to make me feel like I’m adding a dash of style to my ‘travel uniform’, I packed a bunch of scarves and used those to add color, texture, and diversity. Scarves are great because they’re so light and small that you can pack a whole lot of them without sacrificing much luggage space at all…

I have actually been feeling a bit like a ‘one trick pony’ since so many of my outfits have been of this skinnies + tunic + flats variety and even wondered whether to post them or not, but then A.’s last post really struck a chord. I liked her honesty in saying that she doesn’t always look put-together, nor that she tries to always look put-together, and that she questions whether style bloggers ought to admit that or pretend otherwise. I have often thought about this myself (being of the not-always-so-put-together-as-I-may-like-to-pretend variety) and it seems to me that what sets fashion blogging apart from magazine spreads and professional models is the portrayal of a somewhat more realistic approach to style, fashion, clothing, and wearability. (Although the spectrum of fashion blogging runs broadly enough that arguments could be made both for and against this). Our site has always been about showing what we would wear on campus, to teach in, on research days, for office hours, or for any other given activity that we would realistically engage in. Thus, it follows that I shouldn’t have to edit out those images of me repeating the same jeans and top for the sake of creative documentation. At the same time, showing off the same look over and over defeats the purpose of creating a platform that seeks to inspire creativity and innovation in one’s approach to dressing.

If you’re still with me and I haven’t lost you with my ramblings, I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Where do you see the role of fashion blogging fitting in? Is it more of an art form and should a good blogger strive to create the kind of unique, often extravagant, and decidedly varied looks found in the pages of your favorite glossies, or rather, is it about documenting the everyday, albeit at times repetitive and perhaps even lackluster outfit creations of regular people? (And yes, I realize that I’m creating a somewhat oversimplified dichotomy here, but you get what I’m saying…)

So which type draws you in more?