12 March 2010 – Sisters in Harlem

Posted on | March 12, 2010 | 14 Comments

…

Sources:

(from left to right)

On L.:

Dress: Ann Taylor Loft
Scarf: borrowed from P.
Bag: Forever 21
Patterned tights: Anthropologie, gift from Mom
Boots: Banana Republic

On P.:

Top: H&M
Skirt: Gap
Tights: Anthropologie, borrowed from L.
Shoes: Vaneli, borrowed from Mom
Bag: Coach, hand me down from Mom
Denim moto jacket: Zara, borrowed from Mom

On H.:

Coat: Ann Taylor Outlet
Dress: Ann Taylor Loft
Wine cardigan: Target
Belt: borrowed from Mom
Gray tights: Banana Republic
Boots: DSW
Bag: Target

On E.:

Scarf: Anthropologie
Denim trench: adopted from sister-in-law P.
Tights: Celeste Stein, gift from MIL
Boots: Steve Madden, via eBay

(underneath)

Navy dress: Target
Gray blazer: C&C

End Notes:

Baby e. and I are in New York for a few days, visiting my sister-in-law P. Mom-in-law and the two other sisters-in-law are here too, and we’re having a grand old time shopping, seeing the Whitney Biennial, catching a show on Broadway, eating excellent food, and just wandering about town. I had warned my sisters ahead of time that this week would be tights week at Academichic, and I knew that they would all have some great tights-based looks to share.

And I was right. Click through the jump for individual shots, details, and a gratuitous shot of baby e.

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Experimenting with Tights and Peep-Toes

Posted on | March 11, 2010 | 14 Comments

Experimenting with Tights and Peep-Toes, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Tan Cardigan – Banana Republic
Grey Tee – Banana Republic
Scarf – Old Navy
Brown Cord Skirt – Old Navy

Grey Tights – BR Outlet
Brown Lace Tights – Gift from S.
Brown Ribbed Tights – Talbots
Pink Peep-Toes – Seychelles, via DSW
Brown Peep-Toe Wedges – Steve Madden, via DSW
Navy Peep-Toes – Off Broadway

Endnotes:

I have loved wearing my favorite brown wedges with tights this winter. They are my most comfortable and versatile heels and I wasn’t ready to give them up when the weather turned cold. I have worn them many many many times with my brown and grey houndstooth textured tights. I have also paired my navy peep-toe heels with my grey sweater tights and was rather pleased with the results, so today I thought I would experiment a bit with different tight/peep-toe combinations.

Some things I learned along the way:

tights with toes that match the pattern of the rest of the tights work best
your bright toe nail polish will show through thinner tights
any combination is worth a shot

First for the navy peep-toes – I think these rather dressy navy shoes just don’t work with the rest of this outfit, so for me, it wasn’t a fair test. I tried them with brown and grey tights and liked the way the shoes worked with both tights but not so much with the overall ensemble.

I tried these lightly ribbed brown tights with all three pairs of peep-toes and (aside from the Navy) I think these tights are the safest but also the most boring option. They looked better with the pop of pink, but I still didn’t love the brown corduroy skirt on brown corduroy-like tights. I would wear either of these, but do to a bit of experimenting, I now know there are more fun options!

Pink with brown tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

Brown with brown tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

One such fun option…

I’ve had these lacey brown tights for a while now (thanks S.) but unfortunately they don’t get much wear, because I’m never quite sure how to use them. I initially thought the brown lace tights with pink peep-toes would be a ridiculous combination, but I was pleasantly surprised. I still think its a bit too busy for my tastes and don’t know that I would actually wear it, but I do wonder how it would look with a different skirt.

Pink with lace tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

Like with the ribbed brown tights, I felt the brown lace tights with the brown wedges made for just too much brown, but would again give this a try with another skirt or dress.

Brown with lace tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

My favorite combinations came from the grey tights. I pulled these out mostly because I thought they would make the best pairing with the navy shoes, but loved the look with both the brown wedges and the pink pumps. I like that the grey is a different color form the skirt, breaking up all that brown, and that it picks up on the grey tee and the dark grey in the scarf.

Brown with grey tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

The grey tights with brown wedges felt the most me (a mix of neutrals) but I went for the pink with grey because I love these shoes and don’t wear the nearly enough!

Which is your favorite? A.

Pink with grey tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

11 March 2010

Posted on | March 11, 2010 | 10 Comments

11 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Striped top – Ralph Lauren, hand me down
Sweater – J.Crew
Brown tank – ON
Purple cord skirt – American Eagle
Black thermal tights – from Romania
Knee socks – Target
Boots – Dillards
Bag – thrifted

Endnotes:

While we all three are quite quick to ditch the tights and throw on knee socks with boots at the slightest rise in temperature, we don’t very often experiment with the socks over tights and with boots look. Which is a shame, since I’m finding this option to not only add warmth but also a fun pop of color to a simple black pair of tights. Last winter, I had many more colorful and patterned pairs of tights to play with but most of those got stuck somewhere in storage during my move and I was reluctant to invest in more than just a few basic pairs in neutrals for this season. But I’ve found that even a simple black pair can be considerably spruced up with the addition of a pop of color from a pair of knee socks. (And they can also be used for a wee bit of pattern mixing as is the case with the stripes and floral example below).

For this look, I layered a pair of mustard colored socks to play off the deep purple of the skirt, creating a muted complimentary color pairing. While I rarely wear purple and yellow in their crayon box variety together, I’ve learned from E, that slightly muted or saturated versions of the complimetaries can create beautiful combinations together.

Layers, originally uploaded by academichic.

Layers II, originally uploaded by academichic.

I also like how the mustard yellow echoes the color of the oversized wood buttons of the sweater, bringing the top and bottom of this outfit together through this shared color match. And all aesthetic reasons aside, adding knee socks over tights is really just so practical when you’re trudging through snow in cold temperatures and need to keep those feet warm and toasty. S.

11 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

9 March 2010 – just add tights

Posted on | March 9, 2010 | 17 Comments

9 March 2010 – just add tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Long Cardigan – Banana Republic
Grey Jersey Dress – BR Outlet
Teal Cami – BR Outlet
Boots – Banana Republic, via ebay
Tights – Talbots
Earrings – souvenir

Endnotes:

I wore almost this exact ensemble back in October. I loved this combination of tan sweater with this grey printed jersey dress and pop of teal so much it even made it onto my year-one top 10 list. I have no problem repeating outfits I like, especially when I’ll be seeing a different group of people, but I usually don’t post them the second (or third) time around.

I decided to re-post this ensemble because the addition of tights, makes it a perfect outfit for this week’s Fashion 101 on Tights. I don’t think the these particular tights change the look of the outfit all that much (particularly since only a small amount of them shows between hemline and boot top), but combined with my teal scarf and rain trench, they did make the ensemble a little more weather-appropriate.

Somehow, I don’t actually own a pair of solid brown tights. Instead, I have several different textured pairs in varying shades of brown. So, this winter when I have been doubling up on my brown tights. I love to layer my think ribbed tights over a sheer houndstooth pair creating an interesting pattern and rich color and providing a little more warmth.

Layered tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

Tight layering has been long been a favorite trick of all of us Chics. I have layered black over hot pink to tone down the color; purple over grey to richen the color, and various pairs for warmth. How have you layered your tights?

9 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

9 March 2010 – Urban Cowboy

Posted on | March 9, 2010 | 15 Comments

9 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Gray sweater – AE, hand me down,
Plaid button down – thrifted
Jean shorts – thrifted and chopped by me
Sweater tights – drug store
Boots – Dillards
Bracelets – Big Lots

Endnotes:

It’s no secret that I’ve fallen a bit in love with shorts this winter. But while the J.Crew models seem to be easily pulling off shorts and bare legs with their winter cardis and jackets, I live in a city where no such skin exposure is plausible.

So if I want to do the shorts and sweater combo, I have to make sure to add a sturdy pair of tights in there as well. Enter: the sweater tights. Possibly one of mankind’s best inventions along with chocolate and This American Life podcasts. They’re soft, cozy, and actually much more insulating than a pair of trousers or jeans.

Since we’re featuring tights this week for our Fashion 101 course, it’s only fitting that I start my posts with my favorite kind of tights. While sweater tights don’t come in fun patterns or peek-a-boo fishnet materials, they usually do have a nice texture that give them some added interest and they are also far more snag-proof than their lighter and thinner counterparts. And not to mention oh-so-cozy and warm.

As for a side note on the shorts – I wanted a pair of shorts that would be similar to my trouser shorts, so I went to the thrift store back home looking for a pair. I found there to be a slight problem with cutting up a pair of existing jeans in my closet – they’re cut to be fitted and thus are much snugger around my thighs than a pair of shorts ideally would be (this works well for a trouser shorts look but is a little too tight for my taste when it comes to also wearing them this length).

So I thrifted a pair of shorts that fit well and felt nice and roomy without worrying about length too much. I then cut off about 2 inches to make them my desired length. These were also cuffed initially, and while I like that on the J. Crew models above, I was aiming for a more rough fringed finish à la Renee Sturme or Christina from Second Skin (see examples below).

If you’re looking to show off your tights this winter, why not try a pair of shorts one day instead of a skirt or dress? Don’t have a good winter pair? Thrift a pair of shorts (you can always adjust the length yourself) or DIY a pair of old jeans you no longer wear. S.

5 March 2010

Posted on | March 5, 2010 | 10 Comments

5 March 2010 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Navy button down – H&M
Print dress – Banana Republic
Purple cardi – H&M
Thermal tights – from Romania
Boots – thrifted

Endnotes:

I took these pictures a while ago back in Germany and just never got around to posting them. But it’s only fitting that I post them now during our Cardigan 101 week, since they illustrate an important contribution of the cardigan to one’s wardrobe: tempering a bold pattern.

Since the cardigan’s open front allows you to adjust how much of the layers beneath show, it functions much better than a sweater in covering up some of the underneath layer while still allowing a desired amount to peak out. This works especially well for mitigating a bold print or pattern with a solid block of color.

Early in the week, I experimented with a patterned cardi and pattern mixing. While a patterned cardi is certainly a fun item to own, I would suggest starting with some solid colored cardigans when first building a basics wardrobe. This item works well with patterns and prints and can do some of that mitigating work if you’re intimidated by too much print in your outfit. And it also works oh-so-well with other solid colored items, creating fun color block effects, analogous creations, or monochromatic color schemes. It’s tough to go wrong with a simple solid colored cardigan, even if you’re a novice to layering or color mixing. S.

4 March 2010

Posted on | March 4, 2010 | 11 Comments

4 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Neckscape – BabyEtte on Etsy
Plaid button down – AE, thrifted
Navy cardi – H&M
Skinnies – thrifted
Boots – thrifted
Bag – thrifted
Cat – Louie

Endnotes:

Yesterday, A. shared some of her secrets for layering a cardigan over a button down shirt, answering a common question we’ve received lately. Since she’s already given some great advice on the matter, I have only a little to add to the topic: I layer cardigans over button downs often because both cardigans and button downs reside merrily and plentifully in my wardrobe and so they’re bound to meet frequently. I find that it’s easiest to leave the cardigan unbuttoned when the button down is of a heavier or bulkier material (as is the case here). When the button down is of a lightweight fabric and is close fitting, then buttoning the cardigan is easy and doesn’t result in any bunching.

When dealing with heavier layers that are best left loose and unbuttoned (as is the case today), I find that balancing out the bulkier top half with close fitting pants or skinny jeans makes for the best proportions. While a belted cardigan over button down creates that nice definition up top which works well with a fuller skirt, a loose and bulkier top layer necessitates more structure at the bottom. It’s that ‘pick one’ rule: have one loose and flowey element countered by one close-fitting and structured element. S.

Neckscape by BabyEtte, originally uploaded by academichic.

4 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

4 March 2010 – Layering Cardigans

Posted on | March 4, 2010 | 17 Comments

4 March 2010 – Layering Cardigans, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Black nursing top: Target
Black ankle pants: Old Navy
Booties: Civico 10, via DSW
Purple sweater coat jacket thing: H&M

Magenta short sleeve cardigan: H&M
Open gray cardigan: TJ Maxx
Beaded black cardigan: Banana Republic
Purple cardigan: Gap Outlet

End Notes:

For my Cardigan Fashion 101 tutorial, I decided to tackle the still-elusive skill of layering cardigans. Way back in the fall I saw a little blurb on Style Bakery about layering cardis. And yes, it’s taken me this long to really work through this in my own closet. I started with a basic blank canvas of a black top, black pants, and (my new) booties (which I love) and decided that the most versatile outer cardigan I owned was this purple jacket-cardigan hybrid that has a substantial weave and a surprising degree of structure. Okay. So, what to layer underneath?

My first try is the picture above: a close-fitting magenta cardigan. It creates a nice analogous color scheme with the darker purple and functions almost like a little waistcoat might. Maybe cardigan layering isn’t as hard as I feared?

My next impulse was to try the old flowy-under-structure trick, so I threw on an open gray cardigan. I was not terribly excited by the results. I think the bottom layer was a bit too long. On the other hand, it created an unusual shape pairing, which I may embrace on a more adventurous day (and probably with full length pants to mitigate the endless torso issues).

Iteration 2: Floppy + Structured, originally uploaded by academichic.

I did like the color and texture pairing, however, so I tried tucking the cardigan into my pants and then blousing it. I liked this pairing: still some unexpected shapes, but with a bit more control. Though this might be a pain to readjust all day, it might be worth it.

Iteration 3: Controlled Flow, originally uploaded by academichic.

Next up, I put beaded cardigan beneath. I think there’s a nice contrast between the thick, rougher texture of the purple wool and the more delicate, subtle beading on the black cardigan. I wonder if it would more effective if I used a cardigan where the embellishments ran vertically down the front, thus giving them a bit more visibility. As it is, though, it worked as a surprising bit of sparkle for daytime wear.

Iteration 4: Grandma + Beading, originally uploaded by academichic.

Finally, I tried another close-fitting cardigan in a slightly lighter shade of purple. I like the v-neck of this cardigan, though I think the magenta cardi makes for a more interesting color scheme overall.

Iteration 5: Purple + Purple, originally uploaded by academichic.

The verdict? Layering cardigans can be as simple as thin-under-bulky, but surprising combinations can be crafted through some trial and error in front of the mirror. And once again, I wish I had a patterned cardigan to play with!

3 March 2009

Posted on | March 4, 2010 | 6 Comments

3 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Grey Open Cardigan – Pretty Good, from Marshalls
Green Sweater – Banana Republic
Brown Corduroy Skirt – Old NAvy
Beads – Limited
Tights – BR Outlet
Maroon Wedges- Anthropologie, via ebay

Endnotes:

I loved the simplicity of today’s outfit and remained comfortable and at ease sin it all day. It’s not often that I wear such a flowy and open piece with out belting it, but I have found that this cardigan works well with a structured straight skirt with a visible waistline.

17 July 2009 – Playing Catch Up, originally uploaded by academichic.

Today I layered the short sleeved cardigan over a longer sleeved sweater and was quite pleased with the color block effect on my arms.

Cardigan Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

I’ll also say something about tights here, since the weather may not cooperate with tights week (not that I am complaining by any means!!). Reader DJ asked how I managed to wear my denim skirt over tights with out the skirt riding up. I often layer my denim and corduroy over tights and I never wear a slip. Unfortunately, my only advice is to test it out. I have found that some tights/skirt combinations work well, while others don’t at all. These grey tights seem to work under everything and I think it is their medium texture – that is, they are not too smooth and shiny but also are not as textured as say my sweater tights.

2 March 2010

Posted on | March 2, 2010 | 10 Comments

2 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Striped Cardigan – J Crew
Plaid Shirt – Gap
Skirt – Old Navy
Grey Tights – BR Outlet
Wellies – Banana Republic
Belt – Thrifted
Earrings – Gift

Endnotes:

I was inspired by S.’s pattern mixing from yesterday to do a little of my own. I don’t own many patterned cardigans (mostly stripes) so I started with the cardigan and then went to my closet full of patterned plaid, striped, and floral button downs. I tend to be a bit more timid with my pattern mixing that either S. or E. so I stuck with a simple color palette of grey black and bright blue. I love the subtle small stripes against the bold large buffalo plaid.

Stripes on Plaid, originally uploaded by academichic.

Reader Kaite asked for advice on layering a cardigan over a button down. I have sported this look many times so I thought I would share some of my observations.

For today’s outfit, I chose a long loose cardigan and left it un-buttoned; buttoned-up it created to many lumps. I added the belt under the cardigan to remind you of the waist under all the loose layers.

The easiest cardigan/button-down combination is a sturdy cardigan layered over a close-fitting sleeveless button-down. I often wear my sleeveless white button-down under a variety of layers, including cardigans. Similarly, a sturdy sleeveless cardigan (sweater vest) will work well over a long sleeve button-down, this avoids arm lumps.

I have found that two types of cardigans work well for layering. First, larger cardigans that flow away from the body won’t look ton bulky, because you will be able to see that the bulk clearly comes from the cardigan and not your body. Today is a good example of this – of course when in doubt, belt!

Second, a sturdy material or a tightly woven sweater will work much better than cardigans that hold less of a shape. When the cardigan is thick and sturdy you can smooth out any lumps underneath. Whit these sweaters, you can belt over all of you layers, as I did with my argyle and light pink cardigans below. If the cardigan is less sturdy, leave it unbuttoned so that it floats away from the button-down, as I did with the black cardigan above and the purple one below.

As with everything, try different combinations on! A cardigan might work really well over some button-downs but not at all over others. Try belting both over and under the cardigan and try it out both buttoned and un-bottoned. If you really want to layer a cardigan over a button down and can’t seem to get rid of the bumps, you can always but a tight fighting cami in between the button down and cardigan to smooth everything out.

Do you have any tips you can share? A.