academichic

Sources:

Above:

• Cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet
• Belt: thrifted
• Dress: Ann Taylor Loft, with purple strip added
• Wedges: thrifted

Below:

• Tank: Target
• Skirt: Old Navy Maternity
• Sandals: Target
• Scarf: gift from S.

End Notes:

You know how some people can layer on accessories and look all put-together but not matchy-matchy or overdone? Yeah, I’m not one of those people.

I tend to be a single accessory kind of girl. I wear a hat. Or I wear a necklace. Or I wear a belt. I’m actually not that gifted at simultaneously wearing a necklace AND a belt. Sometimes I forget about jewelry altogether and just count on my bright shoes to see me through. And usually I’m okay with that.

Take the above outfit, for example. I think the graphic color blocking and the combination of coral, gray, and purple is striking enough that I don’t particularly miss having loads of accessories thrown on there. I admit, it would have been cute with some bangles and maybe some earrings, but I didn’t feel boring.

On the other hand, sometimes I’m guilty of adding an accessory because I feel like I should. Case in point, adding a patterned scarf to an otherwise simple striped tank and denim skirt combination. It’s not bad, per se, but it felt forced to me and in the end I think I really preferred the version without the scarf.

Maybe it’s because the scarf made me feel like I should be asking for directions to the nearest yacht. And I don’t quite know what to do with that. What kind of accessorizer are you? Do you focus on a key piece or two, or do you prefer to layer for depth and interest?

In any case, there you have it. Fifteen outfits from fifteen garments (plus free access to shoes and other accessories) and lots of stress-free dressing while I banged out a dissertation chapter draft. And while these weren’t the most ground-breaking, stylish outfits I’ve ever worn, they allowed me to feel put together and present while things other than getting dressed took necessary precedence.

If you’re wondering what I took away from this experience, it’s this: purple and coral are fabulous together.

Sources:

• Cardigan: Target
• Cami: Forever 21, from last pregnancy
• Maxi: Forever 21, from last pregnancy
• Sandals: Old Navy
• Necklace: Hawaii swap meet

End Notes:

Notice anything different? Yes, I’m wearing my hair up. Or at least up-ish.

Thanks to your advice, I tried a modified version of the Real Simple tutorial for three low buns at the nape of the neck. Since I have a LOT of straight, slippery hair I need pretty significant length to make “real” buns. But, I loved this idea and I stood in front of that mirror for a long time with damp hair, some texturizing product, a few pins and some little hair bands to make something that sort of approximated that look. I just decided to embrace the spikes. It’s not the most beautiful hairstyle out there, but it fulfilled the purpose of getting hair off my neck with the added bonus of making it look like I had longer hair to start with. At least, that’s what I’m telling myself. I appreciated all the suggestions you had and will work on expanding my hair repertoire in the next few weeks!

I should say something about the outfit, but really…it’s purple and it’s mustard and I love this maxi dress and I added an old necklace so that you wouldn’t get too bored. The end.

P.S. Just three more outfits left to post in my self-imposed 15 for 15. (But that’s not too exciting since many of you will certainly be launching a 30 for 30 experience today ala Kendi…good luck!)

Today’s giveaway comes courtesy of Shabby Apple, an online boutique of vintage-inspired women’s dresses.  The “Toe the Line” dress, a 50′s-esque chambray shirt-dress, is part of Shabby Apple’s summery “Set Sail” collection.   We love the combination of  knee-length full skirt, over-sized buttons, and three-quarter sleeves, all in a lightweight breezy fabric.  Wear it with simple saddles and a sun hat or dress it up with red pumps for a summer date!

To enter to win this dress, check out Shabby Apple’s selection of women’s dresses and then leave a comment letting us know which one of their dresses is your favorite. For a second chance to win, “like” Shabby Apple on Facebook — and get access to special promotions and discounts — and leave a separate comment telling us that you did so.

The contest is open until Midnight US Central Time on Sunday, June 12, 2011. We will randomly choose a winner to announce on Monday.

Even if you don’t win, you can still take advantage of a special Academichic discount! Just enter academichic10off at check out.

Sources:

• Coral tank: Target
• Maxi dress: Forever 21 (my “reserve” dress for my mini capsule wardrobe)
• Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell, via Gilt
• Necklace: Fig and Ginger

End Notes:

You may be a bit baffled by this post’s title: how is wearing a purple maxi dress and bright coral tank top particularly amenable to “fitting in” in a crowd? Or, at least, a crowd in the Midwest. It’s not, really. I was the only pregnant, maxi dress-wearing, color-blocking lady I saw all day. But you see, there was another element to this outfit: my now-ubiquitous summer hat.

And, apparently, if you want to commune with other hat-wearers, then the place to do that is on a weekday morning walk through the local botanical gardens. There were a LOT of straw hats to be seen there, from wide-brimmed floppy hats to fedora-style hats to tie-beneath-the-chin hats. I felt like a “real” garden-walker in my hat, rather than — as is sometimes the case when I wear my hat around the neighborhood — that odd pregnant hat lady. (Not that the latter has stopped me…it’s just nice to occasionally feel sartorially relevant.)

It’s also a great place to go if you’re almost-two and want to feed really large koi.

P.S. For those counting, this is outfit number ten of my 15 for 15.

Sources:

• Purple dress – thrifted
• Tote – thrifted
• Teal cami – BR Outlet
• Belt – Gap Outlet
• Sandals – Target
• Necklace – Earring turned pendant
• Bike – 1969 Raleigh Sports
• Helmet – Giro

Endnotes:

Remember our color modules? When I pulled this purple jersey dress off its hanger and added the orange skinny belt to it, I realized that I was one color away from creating a triad. So I reached for a teal (blue-green) camisole to complete the look. For any color theory purists out there, I realize that this isn’t a ‘true triad’ of purple, orange, and green, but it comes pretty close. And in fact, I’d say that near triads often end up looking just as bold and punchy but in a better, more subtle way. Take a look…

While straight-up oranges, purples, and greens can end up looking a bit Crayola, blue-greens, red-oranges, plums, and aubergines can make for a much richer or more sophisticated color palette. I kept the rest of the outfit simple in terms of color with a navy tote and silver sandals completing the look. (Silver, like navy, is a neutral in my book).

If you could pick any three colors, but only three colors, to wear for an entire month, what would they be? – S.

Sources:

• Dress: Banana Republic outlet
• Sweater: BR outlet
• Belt: American Apparel
• Shoes: Pucci (gift from mom)

Endnotes:
That’s right – this week I had my last day of classes for the year, which means I’m almost done with my first year of teaching high school English!!! I remember at the beginning of the year when I was a) a new teacher b) training for a marathon and c) blogging for the first time and honestly I’m not sure how I got through all that. But, here we are, early June and I’ve survived – thanks in large part to the support of my friends (and co-bloggers) and family. Thank you to everyone who helped me through this year of massive transitions and first days – and that includes all of you who wrote encouraging comments! As our Dean of Faculty told me during the first week (when I may or may not have been crying in his office), “Every day is a first day in your first year of teaching.” And he’s right. Every time I stepped in my classroom this year, it was the first time I was teaching that lesson or discussing that book. As the year went on, I learned how to gauge my students more, and I could anticipate how each section was going to react to certain things and could begin to tailor things a little more. Having one year under my belt, as it were, makes me so excited for next year, when I’ll have a much better idea what to expect!

Anyway, back to the clothes. I wanted to wear something on my last day that would remind me how far I’ve come this year – and would include things that I love: anything pink and fabulous shoes. The base of this outfit is the same as what I wore on the first day of school. I switched in a bright green cotton cardigan for the turquoise one I ended up wearing the first day (not pictured), and moved my stretchy belt to the outside. This is definitely one of my matchy-matchy outfits since the pink and green are perfectly reflected in the pink and green of my fantastic satin Pucci flats.

The learning curve of a new teacher is pretty much exponential, and I feel so great coming out of this year with all the knowledge and ideas I’ve gained and cannot wait to implement new things for next year. I’m pretty sure that’s the best way possible to end a year – excited for the next year to come. Not that I’m not going to enjoy my summer. Oh, boy. Summer. Here I come! What are you all up to for the summer???

L.

Sources:

On J:

• Academic Regailia – a Midwest University

On A:

• Dress worn as skirt – Gap Outlet
• Navy Ruffle Tank – Gap
• Belt – Old Nanvy
• Grey Pumps – Banana Republic Factory Store
• Earrings – F21

Endnotes:

Last week our Midwest University celebrated commencement and I was there to watch our special guest poster J. receive his masters.  J. has been a kind of little brother to me these past two years (he has also been called my adopted son) and so I was quite proud of him.  I’m very happy for his accomplishments but will miss him (and his fabulous style) terribly when he moves away from Academichic Central in a few short weeks.

Commencements can be a funny thing to dress for.  There are proud patents in their “Sunday best” and many students in casual duds.  It’s a formal celebratory event, but it takes place outside in the sun and, in our case, involved quite a bit of walking.  So, I opted  for a casual summer dress and my comfy suede peep-toes.  I dressed things up a bit  by layering a ruffly tank over the built-in tank of the dress. I was dressed up enough for the two ceremonies but cool and comfortable enough to walk across campus a couple times and downtown for a celebratory meal.

J. had quite the snazzy outfit, as is to be expected.  Unfortunately, we didn’t really think to capture what was under his regalia.  He wore the pants and shirt from his Banana Republic interview suit with owl cuff-links and a purple and fuchsia bow tie, which happened to match his celebratory drink perfectly!

Sources:

• Dress: Moulinette Soeurs via Anthropologie
• Sweater: Gap outlet
• Belt: Old Navy outlet
• Camisole (under): Banana Republic outlet
• Shoes: BR

Endnotes:
I think S. brings up a great question: How do you best dress with stress? I had wondered at the beginning of this school year if during 9 months of dressing for classes 6 days a week there would come a point at which I absolutely could not stand to get dressed in the morning. For me getting dressed is fun. Obviously I enjoy it or else I wouldn’t bother playing around with what I wear, nor would I take the time to blog about it. Certainly in these last 9 months there have been days, or weeks even, when looking at my closet has inspired more dread than pleasure, but for the most part I’ve enjoyed starting my day playing “dress-up.” As I’ve said before, I use clothes to get me revved up, keep me motivated, and put on a brave front when I’m not feeling so tough inside.

However, in these last few weeks of school, as the weather has not warmed and the rain keeps falling, I have hit my wall. I have been going back to old, faithful staples that I’ve been wearing since I was in high school: corduroys and Birkenstocks. I haven’t blogged these outfits both because I feel “frumpy” in them and because it’s definitely not corduroy season in most of the country, so who cares how I styled a pair of cords in mid-May when really you want to know how to wear sundresses and straw hats?

Anyway, today I was actually feeling motivated enough to pull on a dress, a belt, and some cute flats. Pretty good considering there is a 70% chance of rain. Oh well, it’s time for me to bundle up for another afternoon of coaching in the drizzle. I probably will change out of these super comfy flats in favor of some waterproof sneakers, but who wants to see pictures of those?

- L.

Sources:

Dress – thrifted
Yellow bag – vintage Sears, $1 garage sale find
Yellow flats – Target last summer
Heart pendant – gift from husband
Bike (below) – 1969 Raleigh Sports

Endnotes:

After a weekend spent mostly in shorts and a tank, it was glorious to see the sun come out, to don a summer dress, and to bike to the library yesterday. Over the weekend, my in-laws were in town to help celebrate my husband’s birthday and to help us paint and get the baby room ready. It was so much fun and I’m getting increasingly excited for the arrival of our daughter (I’m now 31 weeks), and am just trying to squeeze as much out for my dissertation as possible before July.

As I noted the last time I wrote, for me being productive and getting a lot of writing and nesting done means not having to get dressed if I don’t feel like it. It means being able to spend half the day in sweats or days in a row wearing iterations of the same tank + shorts combo. But on the occasion that I do want to look a little more presentable, my favorite way to do so quickly is by throwing on a sundress and some flats and leaving it at that. Not only are sundresses super comfortable while still looking nice, they’re also very welcoming of a bourgeoning baby belly. I already had a good collection of empire waist sundresses before I got pregnant and I’ve added a couple more as I’ve come across them at the thrift store these past few months, this blue floral number being one of them.

I’ve always had hippie-ish tendencies when getting dressed but not having to teach and being pregnant has really brought those out in me: just give me a loose floral dress, some Birkenstocks, and let me braid my hair, and I’m a happy camper.

Meanwhile, I so admire how put together and polished E. continues to look throughout her pregnancy. It just goes to show how different all of our styles are here on the site. The same can be said about our approach to getting dressed; while E. thrives under the structure of wardrobe challenges, such as her current 15-for-15, I thrive most when I’m given free reign and can make decisions on the go. Having a wardrobe challenge in addition to being busy sounds really stressful to me, but to E, it represents a fruitful downsizing of options that allows her to thrive under pressure.

What’s your personal stress/style preference? Do you like self-imposed wardrobe challenges or do they feel overwhelming to you? When tackling a multitude of projects, do you prefer to let your fashion choices fall by the wayside or is that when it seems althemore important to look polished in order to feel organized and on top of things? Do share your take on this!

S.

Sources:

• Cardigan – Gap
• Jersey Dress – Banana Republic Factory Store
• Scarf – don’t remember
• Boots – Steve Madden Intyce
• Jean Jacket – Gap
• Bike – 1970s Schwinn Le Tour
• Helmet – Bern

Endnotes:

This week has been extremely busy with commencement events, advisor meetings, and out of town guests.  But, I did manage to fit in my first official bike commute to campus.  It was wonderful!  I’m hooked!

Here are a few pictures of my beautiful new bike (and my post-commute helmet curls):