academichic

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:

• Jersey Dress: 5/48 via Filene’s Basement
• Shirt: Bebe
• Camisole: Gap Outlet
• Belt: American Apparel
• Shoes: Ciao Bella via DSW

Endnotes:
This is an example of how to convert a dress into a skirt by using a belt to hide the bottom of the shirt as if it were tucked in. I can’t wait for summer when I can wear this dress without anything over it, but for right now a little more coverage is needed. Like the dress I was wearing last week, this one is almost too short, but at this point in the year I’m so tired of my wardrobe that I’m starting to reach for things that I would otherwise hold off on wearing to school. I’ve been reaching more and more towards jersey materials and especially to jersey dresses for their comfortable fit and flexibility. Having a range of stretchy wide belts helps to accomplish tricks such as this one. Do you have any tricks for wearing specific clothing items to look like something else?

Sources:

Gray jersey dress – Target
Navy shirt dress – Motherhood Maternity, via consignment shop
Belt – Gap Outlet
Flats – thrifted
Necklace – gift from Costa Rica
Bangle – J.Crew, thrifted

Endnotes:

It seems a little funny to be talking about an outfit in light of today’s (or rather, last night’s) ground breaking events. I’m sure that all of you have heard the President’s speech by now and are following things on NPR or whatever your choice of news provider is. But in case you are stopping by the site today for some lighter topics, here is my Monday post showing last week’s outfit on my last day of teaching. Not just my last day for this semester, but my last day for quite a while. I just found out that I received the dissertation fellowship for which I had applied, meaning that I will be on fellowship all of the coming academic year while I finish my dissertation and prepare to defend next May. I’m thrilled about the break from teaching as it will allow me to focus on my writing and meet my May 2012 graduation date, but I’m also a little sad to be stepping out of the classroom for so long.

Teaching is one of my favorite things about being in this profession and I was especially lucky to have some really amazing students this past year. I enjoyed waking up and going to my classes each morning and I didn’t even mind that on some days I had to be on my feet and in front of a class for three courses in a row. Because the students made it worth it. So I know that while this break from teaching will be great for my research and writing progress (and I get to be at home with little C. her first year of life!), I leave campus and my office with mixed feelings and a bit of sadness at having to say goodbye to something I really enjoy doing.

So here’s a glance at what I wore on the last day of classes. It’s nothing that spectacular as I was once more trying to get out the door quickly. I grabbed this navy maternity shirt dress and paired it with my newly thrifted flat sandals. And then, to mix things up from how I’ve previously worn this dress, I layered a gray jersey dress underneath and left the shirt dress unbuttoned and belted.

For a pop of color, I added a red-orange belt and this colorful necklace that was a gift from Costa Rica.

Like I said the last time I posted, I’ve been running a little low in outfit inspiration and I blame it on the changing weather as well as my constantly changing body and the need to busy myself with so many other projects and tasks that fashion has taken a back seat. As I’m now facing motherhood and a year out of the office, I’m anticipating even more challenges to my getting ready and looking ‘fashionable’ each day. And to be honest, I’m not sure that I mind. So we’ll see what the coming months and adventures will bring.

Sources:

Dress – thrifted ($3)
Cardigan – NY & co.
Belt – Gap outlet
Wedges – Report, via Solestruck.com
Necklace – earring turned pendant
Bangles – thrifted and gift from dad
Bike – 1969 Raleigh Sports
Helmet – Nutcase

Endnotes:

First, a few words on the outfit: I thrifted this dress during the winter, while it was too cold to wear it, but I bought it in anticipation of it working as a maternity dress. Besides loving the wild paisley print and beautiful warm colors, I also loved that it was jersey (read: stretchy) and with a high waist. And here I am at 25 weeks (when this picture was taken) and fitting perfectly into it. I foresee this one fitting me for a while still. I cannot wait for summer, when I’ll be able to live in stretchy comfortable dresses – my favorite maternity outfit for sure.

Second, I’d like to thank you all for chiming in with such great comments and points of discussion on my post from Monday. I raised the issue of the media outcry regarding the pink-toenailed J.Crew boy and so many of you had such great things to add. I was particularly fascinated by the thread of discussion regarding the use of children in media and for advertising purposes. While I had focused on the gender talk surrounding this event, many of you noted another interesting issue at play here: using children to promote and advertise companies or products. I haven’t given this enough thought to formulate a concise opinion on this yet, but I’m glad for the incentive to ponder this.

I also appreciated the viewpoint brought by those who noted the paradox between all the anti-bullying talk we’ve had in the media lately and the bullying tone and comments made by those same personalities regarding this boy and his mother now. How quickly we seem to forget that just a few months ago, everyone was talking about the need to educate our youths and to ensure bully-free zones in our schools and communities. Dan Savage, one of my favorite writers and podcast personalities, started the It Gets Better Project with his husband Terry. President Obama contributed a video along with many straight allies and well known public figures. Yet here we are, still listening to certain members of the media openly and unabashedly engaging in the kind of bullying that we were trying to eradicate.

I don’t really have an answer or a message for all of this, I just wanted to highlight the great point raised by so many about the role of bullying in this discussion. I’m hopeful though, that despite the inevitable setbacks, our society can keep moving forward towards acceptance and respect for all its members. I have to be hopeful. I’m bringing a new little member into this world and I have to believe that we’re progressing and not regressing in our worldviews and ways of interracting with each other.

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:

• Wrap Dress: Banana Republic
• Tank (under): BR
• Scarf: Filene’s Basement
• Shoes: Bandolino via DSW
• Rose Pin: grandmother’s
• Necklace: by me

Endnotes:
I’ve written before about building an outfit around one element and this is how this look came together as well. It was all based on a pin that was my grandmother’s, which I cherish for its connection to her as well as what it stands for.

Let me explain. This pin, which is made of both yellow and rose gold, was my grandmother’s favorite. I distinctly remember her wearing it on the lapel of her blue suit when we would go out for lunch on Sundays, and it was always the first thing I’d pick out of her jewelry box when I was little and would snuggle up in her bed in the morning and go through her things the way little kids do. The reason I love it even more is because of the story that goes along with it: She was a young woman in her 20s living alone in Toronto when she needed to have her wisdom teeth removed. She decided that to reward herself for going through the ordeal alone she would buy a nice piece of jewelry – and this is what she bought. I think I like this story so much because it reminds me of how strong, independent, and young she was, and also because sometimes we do need to reward ourselves for the things we go through in life. Whether it’s a fancy dinner out with friends, a weekend trip, a piece of jewelry, or a bowl of ice cream and a night on the couch, I think that it’s good to every once in a while say to myself, “Nicely done, L., nicely done.”

In this outfit I’m using this fantastic pin to hold the bottom of my wrap dress together since I wasn’t too keen on flashing my slip around school. I kept up with the rose theme and added in a pink tank and this flowy scarf that is tiny florals on one side and stripes on the other. It’s hard with wrap dresses to wear a belt, but I’ve done this before with a lighter scarf that just goes on top of the built in ties and is loosely knotted.

When’s the last time you did something nice for yourself?

L.

Sources:

Red cardi – free from swap
Dress turned tunic – Old Navy
Jeggings – TJMaxx
Flats – Joseph Seibel
Necklace – Earring turned pendant
Bike (below) – 1969 Raleigh Sports

Endnotes:

I’ve been wearing a lot of Jeggings on weekends and on non-teaching days. I never thought an item composed of the words ‘leggings’ and ‘jeans’ would enter as frequently into my vocabulary as it has, but given the comfortable fit and forgiving waistline, it’s become a staple in my casual preggers wardrobe.

These pictures were taken last Friday, which is my one non-teaching day of the week. I spent the day first cycling to my midwife appointment, then wasting a bit more time enjoying the warm weather and biking around our downtown, until finally settling into a coffee shop for some dissertation chapter revisions. Jeggings were a perfect fit (literally and metaphorically) for the kind of day I had. I paired them with a summer dress turned pregnancy tunic and comfortable flats and was good to go.

Have you embraced leggings or jeggings as part of your wardrobe? I think it’s great that these items are making a comeback because I loved them as a kid in the 80s/90s and I love them yet again as an adult. But I do have to add that I would never wear them as an alternative to pants while teaching or doing anything that would require me to look professional and I also only wear them paired with tops long enough to cover my bum.

What’s your take on the leggings/jeggings trend? – S.

1 April 2011 – Pants Please, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Above:

• Knit jacket: Banana Republic
• Shirt: thrifted
• Pants: Target
• Shoes: BC Footwear, via DSW

Below:

• Cardigan: Forever 21, thrifted
• Shirt: Forever 21, from last pregnancy
• Pants: Ann Taylor Loft Maternity, from last pregnancy
• Necklace: consignment store
• Shoes: Steve Madden

End Notes:

For whatever reason, this early stage of pregnancy is making me fall in love with pants again. I didn’t expect this and can’t really explain it, but I have been wearing pants a lot over the past couple of weeks, for both casual and teaching days.

I like the juxtapositions of the above outfit of the nerd chic pieces — a button down, structured jacket, riding pants, and wallabees — with the sideways view of a pregnant belly. In my head, at least, it feels playful and a little unexpected.

On the other hand, I love the soft silhouette of a pair of wider leg trousers and a cardigan with a great drape. I kept the whole palette in soft neutrals, with the exception of the magenta pump, and I appreciate how the more subdued color scheme lets me get away with piling jewelry on top of a screenprint-embellished top.

When my weight has fluctuated in the past, pants are generally one of the first things that I eschew in favor of more forgiving skirts and dresses. It’s liberating, somehow, for me to embrace a body that’s changing every day by wearing an item of clothing that tends to bring out the worst of my body image issues. So thanks, maternity pants. I know you have a lot of haters, but right now you’re helping me love getting dressed in the morning. And that’s no April Fool’s joke.

29 March 2011 – Then I Realized, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Coat: Banana Republic Factory
• Dress: Baja, via Beacon’s Closet
• Tights: Target
• Flats: Banana Republic

End Notes:

I actually wore this exact outfit, plus my new big green bag, when I was in New York a couple of weeks ago. To be precise, I wore this on March 17. While in midtown. Apparently, my head was so engaged in archival research that I neglected to realize that March 17 was St. Patrick’s Day and, well, let’s just say I was far from the only person wearing green and orange when I emerged from the subway on 5th Ave and 53rd. I received a lot of compliments on my outfit while wending my way towards the Museum of Modern Art, though, along with quite a few high fives from undergrads.

Angie, from You Look Fab, once posted about occasionally “surrendering the waistline”, that is, eschewing a nipped midsection in favor of purposefully drapey, flowy, or boxy silhouettes. One of my personal style goals for this pregnancy is to not become overly dependent on belting (at least until the end :), but to continue experimenting with silhouettes, even ones that are outside of my usual repertoire. I was tempted to belt this dress over the bump, but in the end I decided to be okay with letting the coat provide a hint of structure while I went waistless underneath. (I think this will be such a fun, mod dress post-preggers, though. Don’t you?)

Finally, my shoes. I love these embellished ballet flats, and every time I where them, I tell my husband that I feel like I have stars on my toes. I used to be so afraid of stud embellishments — probably because of bad seventh grade memories that involved a Bedazzler — but here I love them and they’re proving to be a great everyday flat.

So…happy belated St. Patrick’s Day, all. And here’s to you, New York, for letting me and my color seem at home for one day.

Sources:

Coat – Merona, via consignment store
Maternity dress – Motherhood, via consignment store
Belt – thrifted
Red-orange necklace – thrifted
Red bracelet – H&M years ago
Red tights – TJMaxx
Loafers – Michael Kors, thrifted
Red earrings – Welt Laden in Salzburg, Austria

Bike – 1969 Raleigh Sports

Endnotes:

I’m becoming increasingly drawn to navy as a favorite neutral. I particularly like how it works with reds and browns. This navy shirtdress was one of my finds during a shopping spree with E. over my last visit to academichic central. E. took me to her favorite maternity consignment store and we had a blast perusing their maternity outfits while swapping pregnancy stories. At the time, I had just started to feel my baby move and I remember how delighted I felt to have E. (a second-time mom) confirm that those pops really were the baby.

That day, we came away with a few good maternity finds. Among which was this stretchy navy shirt dress that came with those built-in belt straps that are sometimes more nuisance than help. E. also found a gorgeous dress that day, which also came with built-in straps, and she recorded how she made those work here. I decided to take the plunge and remove them altogether.

You can see how the dress looks with the navy built-in straps in comparison to it being worn with a different, contrasting belt. I think I much prefer the latter, which breaks up the vast amount of solid fabric and gives the eye a focal point. So I knew I wouldn’t miss the navy straps, since I was likely to never wear it ‘as is’…

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Sometimes built-in belts works wonderfully and A. even did a demonstration of how you can use them to tie in a cardigan or outside layer. But I think that for the built-in straps to work well, they have to be of a more substantial width. The thin ‘shoestring’ kind just don’t seem to do it for me. What do you do with the built-in belts, do you keep them or cut them?

S.