We are so excited to be reintroducing one of our favorite “challenges” at Academchic: Dress Your Best Week. In order to spread out the love, we’ll be hosting DYB for the next two weeks, and we hope that many of you will play along.

Particularly in the midst of shorts, tank top, and swimsuit weather, we often focus on minimizing parts of our bodies or downplaying characteristics that we don’t like or feel self conscious about. Do my thighs look big in these shorts? Does this shirt show my wobbly arms? Do these jeans make me look short? Does that swimsuit conceal my midsection? In order to bend our minds in another direction, we are purposely setting out to get dressed with the intent of to showing off our best – big or small chests, eyes, hips, lips, legs, arms, freckles, you name it – rather than minimizing our worry spots.

This idea all came about two years ago during a Fashion 101 on Proportion and was a big hit last year with many fellow bloggers participating as well.

For the next two weeks — June 20 – July 1 — it will be Dress Your Best weeks 2011 at academichic.com. Intrigued? Want to participate? What body parts do you love, no matter how big or small? Have great legs? Fantastic ankles? A graceful neck? Please leave a comment on this post telling us that you’ll be dressing your best, and we will also have chances for you to link directly to your blog or send us your pictures for our “Round Up” series at the end (see Round Ups 1, 2, and 3 from last year). Please click below for more info about getting involved!

We’re inviting you to dress your best with us! If you’d like to participate on your own blog and be linked to other bloggers who will also be dressing their best, follow these simple steps.

1. Leave us a comment letting us know that you want to be a part of Dress Your Best week. We’ll add your blog to a master list of participants which will be posted on academichic.com.
2. Write down a list of body parts that you love. We’ll be aiming for five apiece, but pick what seems right for you. You can look at some of the great lists that we received last year for inspiration.
3. During the weeks of June 20 – July 1, 2011, dedicate at least one post on your own blog to an outfit that you’ve built around one of your favorite body parts. Explain why you love that part of you and how your outfit complements it.
4. Link back to this post on academichic.com and, if you wish, download the banner or badge below and include it in your Dress Your Best posts to let your readers know about this week long effort.

We look forward to hearing from you!

- The Chics

If you could give one of your body parts a gold star, which one would it be? Better yet, which five? Download this banner or badge to include in your posts the next two weeks and let everyone know you’re dressing your best.

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.

Detail on White Skirt, originally uploaded by academichic.

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.

A Return to Orange…With a Split!, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 August 2010 – Rainy Days and Mondays, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• T-shirt: American Apparel
• Skirt: Calvin Klein Outlet
• Belt: Old Navy Outlet
• Shoes: Madden Girl via DSW

Endnotes:
One final post regarding our color wheel challenge. Since I had been putting this outfit together in my head for days, I wanted to share my monochrome blue-green ensemble. This outfit is very simple, but with the addition of a belt and heeled shoes it manages to look polished despite the easy T and skirt combo. This is another one of my super girl-y feeling skirts because it moves so well. It is surprisingly heavy since the pleating hides where several panels of material are added and you can’t see the many inner layers that help give it such a swishing motion. I was determined to get a picture of this skirt in mid-twirl, and I seriously almost fell over from dizziness at the end of this photo series! Oh, the things we do for Academichic.

23 August 2010 – Twirl!, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 August 2010 – Twirl!, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 August 2010 – Twirl!, originally uploaded by academichic.

The belt you might recognize as the same as E’s and A’s (although hers is teal) and it is one of the workhorses of my wardrobe. I wear a lot of grey and grey goes with everything, so the purchase of a stretchy grey belt was a necessity for me. I used to be very wary of mixing neutrals including metallics, so the brass buckle made me a little anxious. However, thanks to my co-bloggers I’ve realized that things like that don’t matter very much and I can still wear silver jewelry despite the color of my buckle. These shoes were also a major addition to my wardrobe this year and have proven very useful. I like the small heel because they are comfy enough that I can wear them all day, but give me a little height and my legs a little length.

23 August 2010 – Grey, originally uploaded by academichic.

It has taken some adjustment, but I’m getting used to how delightfully cool the weather can be in New England even in summer – I’ve taken to carrying a light cardigan with me and don’t have to wear tanks all the time. Lately it’s not only been cool, but also quite rainy, which somewhat inspired this marine blue pairing. If I’d had my whole wardrobe at my disposal, I would have tossed on my grey cardi or my navy blazer from Ann Taylor Loft (not the same as A’s, but similar!). As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve just moved into my new apartment, but I’m still bouncing around New England visiting relatives and friends, and hence, I don’t have access to my whole closet all the time. I have really enjoyed color wheeling for the last four weeks, and I do think it will make me think more about my options when it comes to colors and combinations. However, I’m looking forward to school starting so I can share my daily teaching outfits with you all. This week I’ll be deciding what to wear for my first day of faculty meetings – exciting!

2010 Academichic – Miss Bling Bling, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blue dress: Banana Republic Outlet
• Orange-yellow scarf: Ferragamo via Filene’s Basement
• Orange-yellow Bling: gifts
• Purple belt: American Apparel
• Purple flip-flops: Nine West

Endnotes:
First, I wanted to voice how much I will miss S! She, E, and A, have worked very hard on Academichic and I am so happy to be a part of this fine group of women!
The title of this post comes from the catcalls of the street vendors in Florence who would entice the foreign students to buy umbrellas, pashminas, or anything with the David on it by yelling “Heyyyyy Miss Bling Bling” as we walked by on our way to school. Somehow I managed to leave Florence with only one pashmina, one umbrella and an apron with David emblazoned across it – all of which have since been lost – but “Heyyyyy Miss Bling Bling” remains my favorite attention getting phrase. This has been a hectic week since I’ve recently moved into my new apartment and have been busy unpacking, assembling furniture, and generally nesting. Despite the inevitable stress of a move it does present an opportunity to assess what things you have and what things you can give up – this orange-yellow rhinestone S-shaped pin was a definite keeper worthy of “Miss Bling Bling” distinction and deserving of a prominent place in my next outfit. It also perfectly matched this citrine ring.

2010 Academichic – Bling!, originally uploaded by academichic.

Additionally, orange-yellow has split complements of blue and purple, both of which are easier colors for me. This blue dress is probably too short to be work appropriate, but hey, it’s still summer where I am, and I don’t start work officially until August 30th! I have paired this bright blue primarily with black in the past, but that’s the great thing about the color wheel challenge – it has really made me expand the range of colors I’m wiling to combine and to think far outside the safe confines of a neutral pallet with occasional splashes of color. It seems to me that this whole exercise has been one in basically just going with it – “it” being showy, close, or seemingly opposite color pairings. Rather than the neat and clean matching with which I was brought up, the last four weeks have been dedicated to pushing myself to be a little off-kilter, break with the usual and do something on the edge.

2010 Academichic – Miss Bling Bling, originally uploaded by academichic.

For some reason the idea of a slant-rhyme comes to mind as an example of something that takes reading aloud, speaking and articulating the words, to really make sense and function as a rhyme. Likewise these outfits needed to be aired, tried out, messed around with in order to broaden my horizons more generally. I think after this I’ll be more likely to think of these kinds of complements and pairings in my everyday attire. But back to this outfit. Once I’d found the pin I knew that I wanted to wear it with this orange-yellow scarf and purple was brought in with the belt and shoes to complete the split complement.

2010 Academichic – Blue-Yellow/Orange-Purple, originally uploaded by academichic.

As reader GingerR asked after E’s post from August 16th, “I noticed that your outfit contains a very small percent of the start color. Any thoughts about how the proportions of color should be balanced and what that does to the quirky effect?” I think personally I’ve been more obvious in my blocks of colors because of this challenge, and so for the sake of fulfilling the color wheel module of the week some of my outfits have had bigger color elements than they might otherwise. If I were to do a redux of this outfit I’d probably ditch the scarf and showcase the pin — maybe placing it directly on the belt for maximum contrast or string it on a simple chain to wear as a necklace. I loved the scarf and pin together, but I would likely wear those two with more neutrals in order for them to have the most pop. I think the proportion of colors should be one or two as dominant and one as accent – mostly because it is hard to equally incorporate that many colors into one outfit without looking like a Kandinsky painting run amok. But that being said, it’s really up to you and what you’re comfortable with or what effect you are trying to achieve. What are your thoughts on proportions of colors? Has this challenge made you think differently about unusual color combinations? What pairings have you come up with?

Sources:

• Rust Top – Banana Republic
• Denim Pencil Skirt – BR Outlet
• Red-Orange Belt – BR Outlet
• Navy Blazer – Ann Taylor Loft
• Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
• Bag – Crystalyn Kae
• Earrings – Gift from A2

Endnotes:

That’s right, not only am I sporting orange, but I’ve pulled together three items in orange!  I usually leave oranges and reds to E. and S. (although I do think L. pulled if off beautifully) but there is something about this unique rust color that I think works for me.  Then, A2 bought me these lovely little orange earrings and I decided what better way to embrace the Fashion 101 Challenge then to do Monochromatic Orange!

Orange Branch Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

Both the earrings and the top have quite a bit of red in them so I added my red-orange belt and a few neutrals to complete the outfit.  I like how the orangey tone of my cognac tote bag from Crystalyn Kae, adds to the monochrome and draws out a similar shade in my old stand-by brown wedges.  Monochromatic does NOT mean you need to dress from head to two in one color but rather that the only non-neutral you wear is one color.   Personally, I think neutrals are essential for keeping a monochromatic ensemble from looking to costume-y. Here  I chose to mix my neutrals – brown and navy, which I think adds a bit of sophistication to this orange number.

Earlier this summer, I asked for suggestions on where to find a cropped navy blazer to replace my increasingly faded and misshapen one.  A couple readers pointed me to Ann Taylor loft, where I found this 3/4 sleeve cropped blazer with a striped lining – perfect!  I’ve had it all summer and wore it a bunch in the classroom and have a feeling it will get tones of year-round use.

What’s a color you usually shy away from?  Do you have one item in that color you keep returning to?

17 August 2010 – Monochromatic Orange!, originally uploaded by academichic.

13 August 2010 – Turquoise Triad, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• T-shirt: French Connection
• Skirt: J. Crew
• Sash: somewhere in Paris
• Shoes: Ann Taylor
• Jewelry: gifts

Endnotes:

First I wanted to thank one of our readers for pointing us to this most helpful and interactive color wheel online called Color Scheme Designer. You can select a color and then have it generate the complementary, triad, split complementary, and analogous colors! I wish I’d been using this since the beginning of the challenge, but I will definitely get some use out of it in my daily dressing as well!

13 August 2010 – Turqouise Triad, originally uploaded by academichic.

I guess E., A., and I all needed to feel like superheroes this week with our blue-red-yellow triads. I do feel like my red sandals might have wings! When we started this challenge I knew that this yellow and orange scarf was going to come in handy seeing as how it was one of the few pieces I owned that covered that end of the color spectrum. However, it is pretty short 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 of blue and turquoise (which I think counts as blue-green) I would use this bright swath as a cummerbund of sorts and simply knot it in the back.

13 August 2010 – Knot, originally uploaded by academichic.

Perhaps not the most polished fastening, but definitely effective and looks great from the front! The scarf also has a turquoise edge, so my accessories and top both pull from that as well. This bracelet was a gift, and it is simply turquoise chunks on a red silk string. I love that turquoise jewelry is so fabulous that it really can stand on its own with very little embellishment and the delicious shade of blue can set off such a range of other colors.

13 August 2010 – Turqouise and Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Finally, to complete the triad – red shoes! These little flat sandals from Ann Taylor were red enough to pop and yet strappy enough not to compete with the rest of the outfit.

Red Sandals, originally uploaded by academichic.

I usually shy away from anything with an ankle strap because it cuts the leg, and I need all the length and illusion of height I can get. Although, I think these might be changing my mind about that taboo. What are your thoughts on ankle straps on shoes?

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.

Hana Elite – 100% Ceramic Flat Iron, originally uploaded by academichic.

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.

Straight Hair, originally uploaded by academichic.

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?

12 August 2010 – Super Hero Triad, originally uploaded by academichic.

12 August 2010 – Cool Colors, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Silk Tank: Banana Republic
• Obi Belt: mom’s closet
• Skirt: Julliet
• Shoes: Tahari via DSW
• Bracelet: gift

Endnotes:

Today I opted for a cooler rendition of the analogous colors green-blue and blue. My silk knit tank top is a silvery blue that I actually have trouble pairing with things other than neutrals, but I noticed that there is some blue in this skirt so I thought I’d give it a shot. I usually wear this skirt with brighter pink or green tops, and it seems like the blue cools down the whole outfit despite the floral splashes of pinks, yellows, and greens in the skirt.

12 August 2010 – Skirt Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

I fondly refer to this skirt as my “Granny skirt” because the florals and delicate cream-colored wedges of eyelet lace remind me of the Liberty prints my grandmother loved. It is a distinctly feminine piece I believe, and I always feel like a lady when I’m swishing about in it. I know the question of femininity and clothing is a recurrent theme in our blog (see our Theoretical category), and this outfit reminds me anew of the balance we strike between being both professional and women. The length of the skirt and the coverage provided by the cowl-neck of the tank makes me comfortable in an office. However, the bias cut of the floral panels gives great movement and the lace inserts add more volume to the bottom of this skirt for a fluttering (and you might even say flirty) effect when I walk. In all, one of my favorite pieces!

12 August 2010 – Obi Belt, originally uploaded by academichic.

In another shopping trip into my attic I found a cache of my mother’s old belts. She had several “Obi” belts that are simple, wide pieces that wrap around and tie in the front. These belts are inspired by traditional Japanese kimono outfits. I’m not sure exactly when my mother was sporting this belt, but I think it’s time for a come back! The mossy green and subtle silky sheen of the belt plays off the silvery-blue and picks up the same tones in the skirt. As for the bracelet I’m sorry to say I have no idea where it came from, but the cream color and flower design match the themes of the skirt nicely.

12 August 2010 – Cool Colors, originally uploaded by academichic.

I appreciat that A. dressed out of her color-comfort zone the other day, and I admit that this outfit is pretty tame for me and I could easily wear this to work. Not all color challenges have to be the big-bold-bright ones, but those are definitely fun to throw in to spice things up and take people off guard. Have you ever made a splash at your office with an unexpected color combo?

Sources:

• Red-Violet Tee – H & M
• Purple Belt – Gap
• Grey Skirt – Old Navy
• Red Flats – Target

Endnotes:

So this week, we are reviewing analogous color combinations and triads.  I often find myself swathed in various shades of blue and green and blue-green, so an analogous combination is not much of a challenge for me.  But, an analogous combination on the warm side of the color wheel is a whole different story! I rarely wear red, orange, or yellow, and the purples I wear tend to have more blue than red in them.  I have enough warm colored accessories (my red flats, fuchsia pumps, orange floral flats, yellow bangles, etc) to complete a triad or complimentary combination, but mixing warm color with warm color is still a true challenge for me.

I’m not too sure about today’s color combo. I think the right shade of red-violet with red could be quite nice, but I only had one red-violet top to play with.  I considered doing a neutral shoe and wearing a red belt instead of the purple one, but the belt had too much orange in it.

I picked up this purple belt on super sale at Gap last year.  I love the shade of purple, it’s skinny width, and the pleated leather details, but this is certainly not custom-fit belt!  With this outfit, even the last whole left the belt hanging too loose, so I just pulled it rough the buckle and knotted it on the other side.  I actually like the effect and it managed to stay in place all day.

Tied Belt, originally uploaded by academichic.

2010 Academichic – Black and Blue, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• T-shirt: Banana Republic
• Belt: Leather Report (via Southern Vermont Art and Crafts Festival)
• Pants: Ann Taylor
• Shoes: Ciao Bella via DSW
• Sweater (below): Banana Republic

Endnotes:
Along the same lines as the brown and black debate, I fully endorse black and dark blue pairings. I think the key to mixing your neutrals is doing so deliberately and with style. True, if you are wearing black leather shoes and a brown leather belt you will look mismatched if the rest of your outfit does not support these accoutrements. However, if you walk out the door in the morning with confidence and panache, your outfit is already a success in my book.

2010 Academichic – Black and Blue with Panache!, originally uploaded by academichic.

Yes, this pose sums up my “panache” for today! For this ensemble I took my favorite black skinny pants, a nice navy blue T-shirt, and my new oxblood red leather belt to set off this rather dark combination. My T-shirt is pretty standard BR and has been on sale in stores for a while now along with the tanks of the same style. I like the fabric because it is light without being sheer, and the bias cut emphasizes what little curves I have. This belt is a recent acquisition and was literally made for me. I was at a crafts fair this weekend and came across Leather Report, handmade leather goods by Bradley Barnes.

2010 Academichic – Black and Blue – Red Belt, originally uploaded by academichic.

After I had selected this gorgeous oxblood skinny belt (the only one of this color that he had!) he marked the loosest that I’d wear it and the tightest, punched the holes according to my measurements, and trimmed off the tail to a perfect length. While I know that experiences like this can’t happen on every shopping outing, it was somehow really special to know that this belt fits me and only me. He doesn’t have a website (not surprising given the personal detail he puts into each piece) but he will be at the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival in early October if you’re in the NE area and are looking for some nicely tooled leather.

2010 Academichic – Black and Blue, originally uploaded by academichic.

These are actually not the same pants that I wore to NYC, but are also Ann Taylor. I took the plunge as it were, into the skinny pant trend some time this spring. I was very apprehensive at first – How could they not make me look top heavy? Do I really want my hips so exposed? Aren’t these glorified leggings? However, I had so admired the combination of skinny black pants and cute flats as well as skinny jeans tucked into boots that I finally gave in and with the help of A. and E. purchased what have become a staple of my wardrobe. I have yet to find a pair of skinny jeans that I adore, but I’m working on it! As E. noted in her first post about these pants they are structured enough to hold their straight leg and give you fabulous line AND stretchy enough to allow for comfort and complete flexibility. Even more importantly for us petite women, they are exactly the perfect length!!! These are a 2 Petite and fit like a dream. I’ve found that Ann Taylor and Banana Republic petite sizing is pretty dead on for me at 5’3”. And finally shoes, which to me can really make or break an outfit.

2010 Academichic – Black Flats, originally uploaded by academichic.

These black flats are super comfy and the detailing of cut leather flowers and leaves takes them from plain to pretty. I love these flats, but for this outfit I would have really liked some navy blue heels. A. and I have often bemoaned the fact that navy shoes are hard to find and often associated with being a flight attendant. However, these blue suede shoes from Banana Republic have been singing their siren song to me for a few weeks. I’m almost tempted to cave and pay full price for them because I want them so badly, but I am forcing myself to hold out for a little longer to see if come fall/winter they will drop in price. Oh, how I want blue suede shoes! What pieces for Fall do you have your eye on? Have you adopted skinny pants?