Sources:

• Dress – c/o Karina
• Cami – Banana Republic
• Shoes – Banana Republic
• Hat – Banana Republic

Endnotes:

One of the many things I will miss about blogging is getting to know some really great independent retailers including small online boutiques and etsy sellers like those featured in our Boutique Consortium.  If we weren’t closing up shop, Karina would certainly be a shop we would be interested in adding to our consortium.   Karina generously sent me this “Rita” dress to review. I love the color and can already image so many ways to wear it.  For its first outing, I paired it with heels and my straw hat for lunch with a friend.

Before I tell you how I feel about this particular Karina dress, let me tell you a bit about the company.  Karina dresses are all made of heavy, stretchy microfiber that drapes beautifully, never wrinkles, and washes easily. Each dress is made in Brooklyn in a small batch - which means prints and colors come and go, so if you see one you like, don’t follow my usual shopping pattern!

My favorite part about Karina is their motto:

dresses for “every body” … celebrating women from 18 to 80 … easy wear, easy care … wear the love”

Karina is committed to making all woman look & feel  great, no matter what shape or size . They offer many different styles made for a variety of body types and lifestyles and many of the dresses are offered in sizes 0 through 20. I also love that they use women of all ages, shapes, and sizes to model their dresses!

So, now about my dress – the “Rita.”  I can already tell this cap sleeved wrap dress is going to be very versatile.  I love the cut and the color and am quite happy with the fit. It’s a true wrap dress but has enough overlap to keep my legs covered.  The waist hits at the perfect place – often not the case for me with wrap dresses – and I think the tie could easily be tucked under a belt as a way of changing up the look.

I have to admit, I was surprised at first by the material, but am now a huge fan.  It really doesn’t wrinkle, making it perfect for traveling (both wearing on the plane and shoving in a bag) and super convenient if you just don’t have time to iron in the morning!  Also, the drape on it is much more flattering than jersey – I’m not even wearing spanx!  I also think the material could be dressed up more than jersey but can just as easily be worn with flats for an active day of errands.

If you want to know more about the dresses you can also check Karina out on Facebook!

A.

Sources:

• Tank: Banana Republic
• Skirt: Gap Outlet
• Scarf: Filene’s Basement
• Shoes: Tahari via endless.com
• Necklace: Accessorize

Sources (below):

• Tank: Splendid via Filene’s Basement
• Dress: Hourglass via Marshall’s
• Shoes: Gap Outlet
• Necklace: made by me

Endnotes:
By now most of you probably have read that the chics of Academichic are closing up shop at the end of this month. While I’m certainly sad to see this project end, I’d like to echo S.’s words today and THANK YOU all for your comments (both kind and critical) as these have pushed me to think far beyond my wardrobe into more theoretical questions of femininity, feminism, gender, ethnicity, economics, politics, and culture. Like S. said, we’ll each have longer wrap-up posts to get into our favorite discussions and wardrobe decisions, so I’ll hold off on waxing poetic for this post!

I thought it was appropriate that one of my last posts is very reminiscent of my first post – nothing beats a swirly skirt and light tank in the summer heat! However, one thing that makes a swirly jersey skirt even better is one that can be both a skirt AND a dress. I nabbed this at the Gap Outlet clearance section in June and have been experimenting with it ever since. Around the same time I picked up the blue dress in the images below and have been remixing that into a skirt. I was totally inspired by A.’s recent post about turning a strapless summer dress into a shirtdress, and you guys know how much I love “convertible season.” So here are two ideas that I’ve come up with so far for this skirt as a dress: trying a scarf/sash around the top OR using a scarf to give a little more coverage over the shoulders.

For the blue strapless dress I wore it a few times alone, but one day didn’t feel like being so bare up top and opted for a tank underneath. By pulling the dress (now a skirt) up right below my chest I made a kind of empire waisted dress that fell just below my knee. While I’m not sure that the length is very flattering on me, I know that mid-length skirts are “in” and it is very comfy this way.

Finally, I wanted to show off one of my favorite pieces of jewelry, which dresses up any outfit. My sister brought these small “evil eyes” back to me from Turkey and I love how they look all together (pun intended). I also strung one on the back so I have an “eye in the back of my head” so to speak.

What are your best convertible pieces? How do you style a dress as skirt or vice versa?

Ask this question and you’ll get about a hundred different answers: Don’t wear black, Don’t wear white, Don’t show too much skin, Don’t wear a pattern, Don’t wear something too tight, Don’t wear bright colors, AND no matter what, Don’t show up the bride!

Well, did any of those answers help you? With the exception of “don’t wear something too tight”, which is always a good piece of advice, none of those answers helped me either. Sometimes being a bridesmaid isn’t that bad – at least your dress is picked out for you in advance – even if it is pink, poofy, sparkly, or any other number of things, at least you don’t have to ask yourself, “What, oh what, will I wear to this wedding?!” In an effort to give just a small bit of guidance, we at Academichic wanted to provide you with a few ideas based on the many weddings we’ve attended (or hosted in the case of A. and S.).

Spring and Summer Weddings

A few summers ago we answered What to Wear to a Beach Wedding. We recommending things like: “Brighter colors and prints are more easily made beach appropriate but can just as easily become formal as black or grays” and “look for silk or chiffon blends. Try to avoid 100% cotton – it’s easier to dress down a silk-blend fabric than it is to dress up a cotton dress.” S. debated the taboo against certain colors and decided on a black dress for one wedding and a pink dress for another summer wedding last year. E. too opted for a bright hue for a Labor Day weekend wedding, and of course, A. wore a gorgeous sapphire colored sheath dress for S.’s wedding.

As it happens, I (L.) had the chance recently to put this advice to the test because prior to my departure for Peru, I had the pleasure of attending my best friend’s wedding on Cape Cod. The wedding was on the beach and the reception was under a tent on the lawn of her yacht club. I wanted to wear something dressier than a sundress, but not overly formal (or hot) for the beach. I knew Ab’s dress, from BCBG via Nordstrom, was long and flowy and had flowers on the skirt. My only restrictions were that I had to wear flats due to the sand and grass, and I wanted to stay away from blue since I knew that was what the bridesmaids were wearing. I settled on a bright, cheerful, printed, vintage Nicole Miller halter dress that I’d bought at a consignment shop two summers ago.

The wedding was gorgeous, the weather was perfect, and Ab looked amazing. After the ceremony they walked off together down the beach, happily ever after. Congratulations Ab and Eb!

Fall and Winter Weddings
While the majority of weddings are still probably in the spring and summer, there are more and more cropping up in the cooler months. E. and A. attended weddings in Colorado and Montana where the temperatures varied from the 50s to almost the 30s at night.

While some fall weddings are held outside, most winter weddings are indoor affairs and lend themselves to being a touch more formal. A. added some bling for another of her winter wedding outfits, and shoes are another way to dress up a look. For A. and A2′s wedding reception last fall, the Chics varied from black taffeta cocktail dress on L. to a red-orange jersey dress refashioned by E. The cooler temperatures can also mean layering more either on top with a wrap or sweater or under with tights like E. did for a wedding last fall.

Ultimately, what really matters in your wedding attire is that you feel beautiful and happy (and comfy enough to dance the night away!). Not all “rules” suit all people, and the only guidelines that you have to go by are your own. We hope that seeing some of our sartorial choices will inspire yours, but we, like you, are still figuring things out, one dress at a time. What will you be wearing to your next wedding?

Sources:

• Shirt – Gap
• Dress – J Crew
• Flats – Target
• Earrings – Aldo

Endnotes:

I promised there would be more blue and white stripes to come!  I wore this nautical (/patriotic?) ensemble on a much-needed date this past weekend.  We just went up to our local brewery for a casual dinner and some delicious beer and most people (including A2) were in shorts and a t-shirt. But, when a much-needed date comes around, you better believe I’m going to spruce it up a bit more than that.

I love summer dresses!  They are perfect for many of my favorite summer activities: casual date nights, summer parties, outdoor brunch, picnics, BBQs, music in the park, and so on.  I don’t have nearly enough casual summer dresses (I now have a decent selection for summer weddings),  but also don’t have the money for any new ones at the moment.  So, I decided to revisit my closet.

I have been particularly pining over summer shirt dresses with cap sleeves and popped collars – preferably in blue and white stripe pattern.  I’ve long loved this dress from Shabby Apple and for some reason this weekend the inspiration struck to try and recreate a similar look with pieces in my closet. So I pulled out a very old strapless white seersucker dress from J. Crew and this blue and white striped button-down shirt and started playing around with it.  I’m really happy with how the look came together and I think it approximates the Shabby Apple dress – full skirt, shirt collar, breast pockets, a tie at the waist, and of course, blue and white stripes.

I’m already thinking about other shirt + dress/skirt combinations that will give me a similar silhouette.  How are you creatively working with a summer budget?  A.

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:

Dress – Liz Lange Maternity for Target, via consignment store ($7)
Flower brooch – very old H&M
Pashmina – consignment store
Purse – Ann Taylor many years ago
Flats (above) – J. Vincent, via Dillards
Heels (below) – Anthropologie, gift

Endnotes:

Over the weekend, T. and I attended a friend’s wedding in Columbus, Ohio. We had a great time on our little weekend getaway, althemore because we got to see some old college friends and catch up after about five years of not having seen each other. I wore one of my only maternity dresses that I bought specially for this wedding – a simple black and white sheath dress in a stretchy cotton fabric and with extra room in the front. I loved how comfortable this dress was all day while still looking formal enough for a wedding.

To lighten up the color palette for a Spring wedding, I added a bright pink flower brooch, a purple pashmina, and – initially – a pair of pale green heels. You can see them in the photos we took before heading to the ceremony (below). It soon became clear though that we would be doing a lot of walking that day. We walked from the hotel to the ceremony site and from the hotel to the reception site and back. We also had a few hours to kill between ceremony and reception, during which T. and I explored German Village and took a walk through the quaint cobblestone-paved neighborhoods there. Heels were just not going to be realistic for me.

I really admire how E. can wear heels all day, even when chasing a toddler around, and even while majorly pregnant. But then again, E. is a heels kind of girl all the time, while I much rather prefer flats. So I changed into my velvet and leather J. Vincent flats and spent the rest of the day wearing those. In the end, I’m not even sure that I can say which shoes I like better with the dress. I think both work well but the flats allowed me to be on my feet and walking all day, without feeling uncomfortable. What do you think? Do you think one looked better than the other?

(T. and I comparing the size of our bellies…. at 24 weeks, I definitely won…)

Sources:

• Shirt: Ninety via Filene’s Basement
• Camisole: Banana Republic Outlet
• Necklace: made by my aunt
• Belt: mom’s closet
• Skirt: Juillet via Neiman Marcus
• Shoes: Crown Vintage via DSW

Endnotes:
Dear DSW,

Thank you for my $10 birthday month gift certificate. I bought these shoes and I love them.

Sincerely,

L.

But seriously, if you’re a shoe junkie like me and live near a DSW outlet then it is definitely worth signing up with them (and no I’m not being paid to say that – but I would accept payment in shoes if anyone reading this is from DSW!). I know rewards programs are really ploys to make you spend more money, but I love that DSW sends me gift cards in the mail to spend on shoes. Only shoes.

I bought these at the end of March and was envisioning this exact outfit when I was debating the purchase. I know that I’m about two years late on the oxfords trend, but that’s what happens when you only shop sale and clearance (with very rare exceptions). I like the contrast of traditional men’s pieces (oxford shoes and button down shirt) with the ultra femme floral and eyelet lace skirt. I was inspired by other bloggers like the lovely Monkeyface, who wears her oxfords with jeans, with skirts, and even with red socks! You should also check her out because she’s a talented photographer AND a witty writer AND has amazingly perfect hair. I think I have a bit of a blog-crush :)

In other news, last Thursday night my mother and I went to the Boston Ballet’s opening performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and let me tell you, it was spectacular (look at the video on their website for a glimpse)! The costumes, made of diaphanous chiffon, were gorgeous and ethereal. The music was mellifluous. The glittering wings on fairies and donkey head for the character Bottom were fine and delicate and in contrast bumbling and hilarious. It’s the first time I’ve actually laughed at the ballet! Also the first time I was sipping on champagne while watching – who knew you could do that?!

Sources:

• Dress: Banana Republic
• Belt: J. Crew
• Scarf: vintage (from mom)
• Shoes: vintage Calvin Klein (from mom)
• Purse: Lauren Merkin via Neiman Marcus (gift from mom)
• Necklace: from mom
• Ring: gift from mom

As for my attire, I had been trying to think of a way to wear this purple scarf (which my mom had bought at street market in Paris a million years ago), but the deep fringe stymied me and it seemed like it was not for everyday wear. For this more formal event I wanted to wear it over my shoulders, but didn’t want it just hanging loose down my front. The trick was to belt it and put the belt backwards so just the pink patent leather showed and the buckle was hidden behind the back.

It was a wonderful evening with my mom, and as you can see, I take much of my style sense – and much of my clothing, jewelry, and looks, for that matter – from her! Thanks mom, I love you!

I often draw inspiration from the outfits styled for clothing catalogs and retailer websites, so since I knew I wouldn’t be able to purchased all the fun items I tried on at Banana Republic, I decided I would use the experience to come up with inspiration for my existing wardrobe.  My first instinct with this ponte grey ruffle dress was to pair it with a pair of shinny heels, sparkly jewelry, and other evening accessories.  But, this cognac braided leather belt happened to be in the dressing room with me so I threw it on.  I liked the unexpected addition of the casual belt so ran with it.  I added orange and wood wedge sandals, gold hoop earrings, and this brown and black snake-print clutch.

Ruffles and Woven Brown Belt, originally uploaded by academichic.

I didn’t purchase any of these items (although I was really tempted by the dress, which is what I would put a $50 gift card towards).  Instead, I took home inspiration for a similar ensemble using pieces in my own wardrobe.  I love the navy ruffle dress I wore for S.’s wedding, but have been looking for ways to keep wearing it.  Thanks to this little experiment, I’m now planning to wear the dress with my cognac belt, brown wedges, and my woven straw clutch, for a more casual spring dinner date. Now, if only the weather would warm back up!

S: Go for the Gold, originally uploaded by academichic.

I had so much fun playing dress-up with Banana Republic’s new Spring line. For this look, I opted for a tried and true classic: the printed wrap dress made of comfortable jersey. I own a few wrap dresses similar to this one and always feel great when pulling them on. My favorite go-to wrap dress is from Banana Republic a few years ago and it’s seen many combinations with many different color pairings. Yet I never tire of it.

To push things out of my comfort zone, I paired the wrap dress with a pair of sky-high shimmery gold pumps. I don’t know that I would ever reach for such an item based on the description but the moment I put those shoes on, I was hooked. They were fun, glamorous, unexpected, and a bit wild. It was love at first sight. I felt anything but pregnant and dowdy in this outfit.

If you’re interested in any of these items, here they are online: a similar version to my wrap dress, the “Trey” pumps, the Admiral Links necklace, and vintage-inspired earrings. Unfortunately, my small clutch in not avaliable online, so you’ll have to go to the store for that and the actual version of the wrap dress shown here.

Sources:

Endnotes:

This is what I wore to a Jewish Baby Naming Ceremony this past Saturday. I had never attended one before and so I actually googled “what to wear to a jewish baby naming ceremony” and found a couple of answers to my questions. They all came down to this: make sure your shoulders are covered in Synagogue. Well, yeah, in February that should be no problem.

I thought back to previous visits to the Synagogue with friends and also pulled on my knowledge from having visited various churches growing up and came up with this outfit. It turned out to be sufficiently dressy, sufficiently modest, and sufficiently practical for February temperatures. And the ceremony was beautiful! So joyous and festive and moving (I confess I cried a bit).

Now, since we’re dedicating this week to Jewelry Week here on academichic, let me tell you a bit about the bling I wore…

You may have noticed that I’ve developed a penchant for bolder and bigger necklances lately. I’m also a huge fan of brooches. (I’m really happy to see Emma Pillsbury bringing brooches back on Glee.) But I rarely combine the two. I have, however, in a moment of spontenaity, once combined two layered necklaces with a big flower pin for an outfit for the opera. And I loved the results. So I did something of the sort again this weekend with this tiered gold and pearls necklace and a this vintage birds brooch on my lapel. (And I pictured Emma Pillsbury looking at my reflection in the mirror from her vantage point behind me and nodding with approval. So I went with it.)

On a side note, I used to be able to button this dress when I first purchased it. It was a snug fit, but a fit nonetheless. My expanding waistline has made buttoning this dress impossible but it’s given me incentive to experiment with all kinds of dress layering using the shirt dresses in my closet. Even when I could still button this dress, I loved layering it and wearing it partially open, which is what all the fun is about with a shirt dress anyway. So here’s the first incarnation of my experiment of shirt dresses and maternity induced layering. ~ S.

PS: Last year in February, we dedicated a whole month to scarves. Yes, we like the theme thing especially when winter blahs are setting in. Look here for all our scarf wearing entries and here for our scarf tying bibliography, pulling together a plethora of ‘how-to’ tutorials on tying and wearing scarves. And check back all of this week for jewelry themed posts and a jewelry themed giveaway!