Sources:

Orange necklace- consignment store
Gray tank – BE Maternity
Teal top – inherited from E.
Skinnies – ON Maternity
Flats- Target
Bag – Kenneth Cole Reaction
Bike – 1969 Raleigh Sports

Endnotes:

This is what I wore last Friday to meet a friend at a coffee shop for cappuccinos and some German conversation. I inherited this teal pregnancy top from E., who wore it during her first pregnancy. When she went through her pregnancy clothes for this time around, she purged some items that she knew she wouldn’t be wearing again, and I was lucky enough to inherit them. I have two thoughts on sharing and inheriting maternity items:

• It’s great!
• It can be a ‘false triumph’

1) The advantages:

It’s great if you have friends who can share their maternity items with you because it saves you from having to spend too much money on items that you’ll wear for a limited amount of time. I compiled the majority of my maternity wardrobe from thrift stores, consignment shops, hand me downs, and only a few actually new items (my maternity jeans and a few ‘workhorse’ layering tanks). It’s also a great thing if you have friends who share your sense of style and aesthetic and who will give you pieces that you would have likely bought for yourself.

2) The disadvantages:

It can trap you into wearing something that doesn’t work for you because it’s free, you feel guilty spending money on clothes that won’t get worn for too long, and you feel bad turning down a thoughtful friend. Don’t fall into this trap! If you’re not as lucky as I am to be inheriting clothing from someone as stylish as E., (or maybe the gift giver is stylish, but it’s just not your style), politely decline. Someone else may really appreciate the offerings, and it doesn’t have to be you. I often hear women say that they don’t care what they wear or how something fits when it comes to maternity clothes because it’s temporary and they already have misgivings about their changing and growing body that less than ideal outfits ranks low on their list. I think that particularly at this time, when you want to feel good about your body, you should ruthlessly cull things that don’t serve that purpose. It’s ok to rotate between the same five dresses or maternity tops if you feel truly great in them when you wear them. When it comes to maternity wardrobes, my take is that less (but great) really is more.

So if version #2 above best describes how you feel about maternity hand me downs, do yourself a favor and just say no.

Have you encountered this dilema with shared clothing or hand me downs in general? What have you done in those situations?

And on a non-related side note, I’ve received several questions about cycling while pregnant. I’m always happy to answers those questions directly within the comments on this site, but I also wanted to point out that I write more at length about this topic on my bike (and life) blog, Simply Bike. You can read my latest post on cycling into the third trimester here. ~S.

Sources:

Cardigan – Banana Republic
Dress worn as tunic – Target ages ago
Leggings – JC Penny
Plaid flats – Target
Necklace – lone earring turned pendant (see here for more jewelry repurposing ideas)
Bike Tote – J.Crew, gift from A.
Bike – Peugeot Mixte

Endnotes:

This week has been my first week at home after the semester ended and it’s been wonderful. Although I’m still working out final grades and finishing up loose ends from home, it’s been so great to sleep in a little later, take breaks to walk my dog, meet friends for coffee, or ride my bike to the nearby park and simply sit and read for pleasure.

I gave myself a free pass to take it easy this week and not worry about dissertation stuff or deadlines and just enjoy a break from work. Starting next week, I plan on implementing a daily writing schedule that I aim to keep until the baby’s born (when things will change again) that will hopefully force me to make significant and regular progress.

And since this week has been all about taking it easy and not having to go to campus, my outfits have reflected that and I’ve been living in my favorite preggers uniform: dress turned tunic over leggings with flats. I picked up a couple of inexpensive leggings at JCPenny and I’m really happy with the quality and feel of them. They’re not maternity, just a size up from my usual, and worn rolled down beneath my belly. I’ve come to realize that I hate the feeling of a waist band on top of my belly so even my pregnancy items with a full panel I roll down and wear ‘below the bump’. Having the belly free of constraint and able to ‘breathe’ has been the most comfortable to me.

And you may have noticed that I am wearing the same gray jersey dress that I wore in my last post, but this time as a tunic under a cardigan. This simple gray dress is a perfect layering piece. It doesn’t look that great on its own but works wonders as a layering item (see here for more examples), all the more since it’s in such a versatile neutral color. What items in your wardrobe play that role of ‘jack of all trades’?

Oh, and I have to say a word about the accessories here… since I haven’t been carrying my laptop, lunch, books, etc around with me this week, I’ve left my sturdier bag behind and have taken to carrying my awesome new tote that A. sent me recently. She found this at J.Crew and thought of me as it contains all of my favorite things on it… a book, a bike, and running shoes. I love this bag and treasure it even more so since it comes from A., my long time running partner, with whom I often trade book tips, and who has recently purchased her own yellow mixte to start commuting to campus. Thus, these things not only represent hobbies of mine but also the many ways that A. and I have connected as friends over the years. Thanks, A! I love my new tote and the fact that you thought of me!

As for the necklace, it’s an earring who’s partner I lost and that has been repurposed as a pendant. I simply pushed the little ear loop ‘closed’ and ran the silver chain through it, and voila… (see more ways to creatively repurpose your jewelry here!).

Sources:

• Long Sleeved T: Splendid via Nordstrom Rack
• Camisole: Banana Republic Outlet
• Sweater: BR
• Scarf: gift
• Pin: grandmother’s
• Corduroys: DKNY via Filene’s Basement
• Socks: gift
• Oxfords: Crown Vintage via DSW

Endnotes:
Robert Frost had it right when he said in the poem “Two Tramps in Mud Time”:

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.

Yesterday was chilly and rainy and grey. In the words of Tina Fey: blerg. I hope this is the last time I’ll be wearing cords this spring but you never know. I started this outfit with my socks. Yes, knee high, wool socks with sheep on them that my dad gave me many moons ago after he visited the Hebrides (which are islands off of the Scottish coast, in case you’re not up on your geography). Of course, since I started with the socks I decided that they needed to be displayed and so I cuffed my trousers.

This combination of sea green, grey, blue, and tan is one of my favorites and I’ve gotten a lot of wear out of this scarf (also from Scotland) over the winter. My chunky, cabled, cotton sweater was just warm enough, and this time I decided to tack the built in ties to the inside using safety pins and instead use a silver pin to hold the sweater together.

I’m pleased with the result and was cozy and warm for the whole dreary day. And best of all, I got to wear my Oxfords again! Yippy!

L.

Sources:

Paisley top – dollar clearance at consignment store
Red-orange cardi – Zara many years ago
Skinnies – ON Maternity
Loafers – Michael Kors, thrifted
Earrings – made by me
Bike – 1970s Peugeot Mixte

Endnotes:

It feels like Spring is finally coming to my corner of the Midwest and it’s been great in terms of wearing lighter layers and – finally – shoes that aren’t boots! It’s so nice to just pull on a pair of jeans, a top, and a cardi and hop on my bike to ride to campus. The last time I wore this paisley top, I pulled off some bold pattern mixing with a striped cardigan. This time, I worked off the specs of red in the design and added a bright red-orange cardigan.

It’s funny to look at these pictures and think that I do not look very pregnant at all. While in other pictures, my belly looks huge. I’m now 24 weeks pregnant, over half way there. The last time I brought up the discussion of pregnancy in academia, a very lively discussion ensued, which you can find here. In that last post, I mostly talked about the reactions of colleagues and ‘superiors’, while today, I’d like to just briefly talk about my students’ reaction to my growing belly.

I noted last time that I thought my students were wonderful. They’ve asked lots of questions and showed much interest in talks before class. But once class starts, I haven’t noticed any difference in the level of concentration and ability to stay on topic. I’ve heard academics talk about how the pregnant body can be a source of distraction in the classroom, but I’m not sure how this would play out. I’ve really enjoyed my students’ thoughtful questions and comments and I’ve been happy to share little details about the baby with them. But once class begins, we’re business as usual. And I’m definitely very visibly pregnant ‘in real life’ now, no matter how deceiving these photos look.

Just like last time, I invite you to share your observations, experiences, and comments on this topic. Have you been the inhabitant of a pregnant body in the classroom? What were your experiences with this? S.

Sources:

Scarf – Banana Republic, same one as styled by A. here
Trench coat – my grandmother’s from the 70s
Top – Anthropologie, hand me down
Skinnies – Old Navy Maternity
Loafers – Michael Kors, thrifted
Earrings – gift from A.

Bike – 1969 Raleigh Sports

Endnotes:

It’s Spring Break! And the weather is actually playing nice and making me believe that Spring is coming. Most of our snow has melted and I was actually able to get away with loafers and no socks! While my mornings so far have been happily spent in sweats and pj’s while I sit at home writing my dissertation, I have been getting dressed for brief sojourns out of the house in the afternoons. And this has been my go-to look for break: comfortable jeans, some kind of top, a lightweight Spring scarf, loafers or flats, and my favorite spring jacket – my grandmother’s trench coat.

As a nod to Braid Wednesday, I’m also wearing my hair in two braids wrapped around my head. I usually cross the braids over at the nape of my neck and then bring the ends upwards, pinning them with bobby pins on top of my head…

And if Spring isn’t ready to arrive in ‘real life’, it’s certainly arrived in my wardrobe and in my house. I’m finding myself drawn to floral prints and Spring-inspired accessories (like these tiny bird earrings I’m wearing) even more than usual. T. and I are getting our garden ready and our little seedlings are growing like crazy by the windowsill indoors. We can’t wait to transplant them outside and start our first garden and I can’t wait for bare legs and bike rides without a coat and for summer dresses that will be especially indulgent to my growing midsection.

What are you looking forward to this Spring? S.

]]> http://www.academichic.com/2011/03/16/16-march-2011-spring-break-uniform/feed/ 8 http://www.academichic.com/2011/02/11/11-february-2011-making-a-statement/ http://www.academichic.com/2011/02/11/11-february-2011-making-a-statement/#comments Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:33:22 +0000 admin http://www.academichic.com/?p=19788

Sources:

• Blazer: Anne Taylor Loft
• Shirt: Sandra Ingrish via Filene’s Basement
• Belt: Banana Republic Outlet
• Pants: J. Crew (thrifted)
• Shoes: Sam Edelman via Off 5th
• Cosmetic Bag (below): Buy Her Bag, Not Her Body c/o Nomi Network
• Necklace and Bracelet: gifts
• Watch: Tissot
• Ring: Far Fetched (gift) but Jeanine Payer also makes gorgeous jewelry etched with poetry and sayings

Endnotes:
I think it might be a bit of a misnomer to call big, bold pieces “statement” jewelry since there is a whole genre of jewelry (and clothing)* out there that literally makes a statement. E. spotted this witty necklace by Tickette on Etsy, and my favorite “statement” piece of jewelry is this ring that my Uncle gave me (sorry for the poor picture quality).

On the outside it says “well behaved women” and on the inside “rarely make history” which is a slightly altered version of the phrase coined in the 1970s by the writer/professor/feminist, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, who said that “well behaved women seldom make history.” Even though the writing is small and only I know what’s on the inside of the ring, it is still special to me and makes me feel powerful for some reason. Do you have any jewelry that has text on it? What kinds of explicit “statements” does your jewelry make? Do you feel different when you’re wearing it?

On another note, like S. I’ve been getting some good use out of my little cosmetic bag from the “Buy Her Bag, Not Her Body” line that was donated to us for review by the Nomi Network, a “non-profit organization working to eradicate sexual slavery and the trafficking of women.” I decided to use mine to collect all those little odds and ends that seem to float around in the bottom of my purse or school bag.

This bag is definitely generous and can carry a lot. It’s good for my purse or the inside of my laptop bag, but it doesn’t fit as nicely in the front pocket as say one of their wristlets might. However, the durable fabric, made of recycled rice bag material, and bright colors mean that it hasn’t been scuffed up or been lost in the bottom of my bag yet! If you’re looking for a socially conscious gift in the near future, please check out Nomi Network’s full array of accessories and help support their very worthy cause.

Thanks to you all for the great discussions during Jewelry Week! There are still so many topics we could get into both stylistically and aesthetically as well as the political, gender, social, cultural, and symbolic power of jewelry. I know I’ll be thinking more about what I put on as well as how I perceive the accessories of those around me. Being single and in my late 20s I often joke that I have “ring-dar” as the left ring finger of everyone is the first place that my eyes go, but now hearing about how many other cultures do things and how people are choosing to change things up I am reminded that I should be careful about drawing conclusions about anyone based on accessories or appearance, period. A good thing to remember!

Please don’t forget to register to win a Mirari Necklace by Orno Jewelry and stop back this weekend for two great Weekend Workshops!

~L.

*If you’d like to read more opinions from the chics about clothing with text please see S.’s post which started a productive debate last summer about “slogan T’s”. A.’s post also about her stance in favor of T-shirts that state things clearly. And E.’s post about her reservations surrounding wearing any clothing that states opinion or takes a side.

Sources:

Cardi – Tulle, thrifted
Paisley top – dollar clearance at consignment shop
Jeans – ON Maternity
Boots – Dillards
Bangles – thrifted
Necklace – thrifted (“edited down” by me)
Tote – Nomi Network

Endnotes:

When the Nomi Network contacted us and asked us to review a few of their items and learn more about their campaign, we were all intrigued by this interesting logo: “Buy Her Bag, Not Her Body”. So what is the Nomi Network and that provocative statement all about? Well, in their own words…

Sex trafficking thrives where there are large populations of unskilled workers and few employment opportunities. Nomi addresses these issues by equipping at-risk women with valuable skills and creating a market for their products. This demand for their products provides steady employment and a stable income. Empowered with financial independence, these women are no longer available or attractive to sex traffickers who target poor and vulnerable women. In order to effect lasting change, Nomi coordinates the efforts of women vulnerable to sex-trafficking, manufacturers, retailers and consumers to give women an alternative to sex trafficking.

The Nomi Network site estimates the market of ‘illicit human trafficking’ to be around $32 billion. Nomi’s signature bags are made by survivors or at-risk women who are given a chance to earn an income through the manufacturing of these fair trade items. The proceeds go towards job training, skill teaching, and education for these at-risk individuals.

We are excited to be working with Nomi by reviewing their products and spreading the message about such a valuable organization. And it’s an easy product to get behind – not only do we appreciate the work that purchasing such a tote would fund, be we also love the bags themselves. I am using the Slogan Zip Tote here, which can be zipped down into a neat little pouch…

… and then unzipped to a full sized bag that can hold as much as my laptop, wallet, students’ papers, cell phone, and Kindle as shown here…

It’s made of recycled rice bag material and comes in this burnt orange color scheme or in dark blues. When used in its tote form, the zipped pouch becomes a pocket on the outside of the bag (on the back, non-logo side). I love how spacious it is, how sturdy the straps feel, the beautiful color scheme, and the logo and information readily available on it, making it a great conversation starter. And it comes with a very affordable price tag of $30. I love my tote and can see getting a lot of use out of it – be it to cart things to campus now or to carry my towel, books, and sunscreen to the lake come summer.

In fact, if you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift for the feminist in your life, we think these would make the perfect present! Not only is it a stylish bag, it also would warm the wearer’s heart knowing that the purchase of their gift helped fund such a worthy cause.  Take a look at this and the other fair trade items in Nomi’s shop as you’re stocking up on your Valentine’s Day presents! ~S.

Sources:

• Cardigan – Anthropologie, gift
• Green tank – BR Outlet
• Tiered blouse – BR, hand-me-down
• Grey skinnies – ON Maternity
• Boots – Banana Republic
• Necklaces – thrifted

Endnotes:

The fun thing about fashion is that it’s dynamic. It’s always changing. I think that personal style should be the same way – free to change, develop, contradict itself, and surprise. Sometimes change comes on its own, unprompted and unmediated. Other times, it happens in a deliberate and self-imposed manner. Lately, I’ve decided to self-impose some style challenges that appeal to me right now – work more pattern mixing into my outfits and make more frequent use of bold, bright jewelry to ‘spice’ up my looks.

{images: Anthropologie}

Whenever I need a visual aid in either of those matters, I turn to the Anthropologie catalogues, which execute both pattern mixing and bold statement pieces beautifully. I wish I could afford more of their pieces, especially their beautiful jewelry, but since they’re a bit out of my price range, I try to find similar items at my local thrift stores. These two necklaces were recent thrift store finds in my attempt to bring more bold statement pieces (in terms of jewelry) into my wardrobe.

At first I thought I’d wear either one or the other necklace with this top and cardigan. I held up one to my neck and then the other and compared the results. Then I realized that I could layer both and truly embrace my new style resolution. What do you think?

Happy weekend, everyone! And stay tuned for the first Weekend Workshop later today! ~ S.

Silk Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Button down: Banana Republic Outlet
• Scarf: vintage Hermes
• Belt: ?
• Grey pinstriped slacks: Banana Republic Outlet
• Silver Shoes: Corso Como via Shopstyle.com

End Notes:
This outfit was inspired by a resolution I made to finally wear this beautiful vintage Hermes scarf that my mother had given me for Christmas. My mother often wears gorgeous brightly colored silk scarves tied around her neck and shoulders and folded in half with the point down the back. However, I was in search of some more innovative ways of incorporating this piece. I’m not sure that what I came up with is revolutionary, but it worked for me. I folded it diagonally and gathered it into a narrow strip. I decided to put this inside my collar, sort of like a man’s cravat, and then loosely tie it at the chest.

Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Keeping it inside my collar served to make the look more sleek, as it seemed too bulky outside. I also like that it is kind of a faux necktie. My fitted shirt is another workhorse of my wardrobe and is the type of staple that I stock up on when I find one that I like. This one was at the BR outlet in a Petite XS (a rare size!) and fits perfectly, so of course, I bought two in white and one in black. You cannot go wrong with a crisp, fitted white button down!

2010 Academichic – Grey Pants, originally uploaded by academichic.

I have had these trousers for a while, but they were too long when I purchased them. In a time saving maneuver I decided to try Singer Instant Hems ‘n Cuff Tape which is an iron-on adhesive that holds fabric together. These only needed to come up one cuff length so there wasn’t too much weight pulling at the tape. I think if I’d needed to take up more, I would have reinforced the hem with some quick stitching. Finally, metallic shoes for everyday.

Silver Shoes and Lotus Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Silk scarf – erre, thrifted in Munich
• Brocade blazer – Koan, thrifted in Munich
• Tee – gift from e.
• Jeans – S. Oliver
• Boots – Banana Republic
• Bag – Liz Claiborne, thrifted
• Earrings – gift from husband

Endnotes:

Just like last year, I’m listing my legs as one of my favorite things about my body. It’s hard not to love something that’s carried me through the hundreds of miles it took to train for two marathons, several half marathons, and the odd 5Ks and 10Ks along the way. And just this coming Sunday, I will be lining up once more at the start of a half marathon here in Europe, willing my legs to do their best as they carry me the 13.1 miles it takes to get to the finish line.

Running has had a tremendous effect on how I view my body. I used to focus on it solely from an aesthetic perspective (the indulgence of the young and the healthy, right?) But viewing it from a mere aesthetic vantage point meant that I focused far more on its limitations and flaws than on its triumphs and achievements. Forget the physical makeover that came with running – let’s just talk about the mental makeover for a minute: I now appreciate my body (and particularly my legs) for their amazing physical capability. This merging of form and function has given me new eyes through which to view my body and I can no longer harp on some insignificant flaws – like a few cellulite dimples here or some thigh-jiggling action there – when these two machines of pure strength and endurance continue to carry me over so many miles and through all kinds of weather, just to test what I am capable of.

Braid Wednesday, originally uploaded by academichic.

Pattern Mix, originally uploaded by academichic.

(Have you experienced a shift in perspective that has made you appreciate your body for its function as well as its form? Without having gone through this myself, I hesitate to make this assertion, but I think that childbirth must have a similar effect. I’m also guessing that having recovered from a serious illness or accident must make someone appreciate their body for its amazing healing capabilities, its endurance, and its strength – qualities that I would all call beautiful.)

To celebrate my legs, I’m wearing my favorite jean style as of late – the skinny jean. It was right around the time I got to Germany that I fully embraced the skinny jean and started wearing it with or without boots to tuck the jeans into. And to think that I was afraid of this trend when it first started, when I should have been happy all along to embrace a style that highlights one of my best features – my legs.  Thanks, skinnies! S.