1 September 2010 – Warm Welcome

Posted on | August 31, 2010 | 8 Comments

2010 Academichic – Warm Welcome, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Jersey Dress: Even via Off 5^th
Scarf: ?
Turquoise Shoes: Sam Edelman via Off 5^th
Necklace and bracelet: family

Endnotes:
Please forgive my bland backdrop. I have just completed two days of new faculty orientation and am now heading into three straight days of full faculty meetings, so unpacking and decorating my new apartment have both been put on the back burner for now. I wore this outfit to my new bosses house for dinner tonight, and I have to say, it hit just the right note. The headmaster held a lovely dinner at his house to welcome us newbies into the community, so I wanted to be dressed up enough for the occasion of being invited to the Head’s house, but also casual enough to survive the 90 degree weather and end-of-summer vibe. Based on the attire of my cohort, it would seem that I am among the minority who are more interested in dressing, and over the last two days I have consciously calculated my outfits to ease them into my style (i.e., I’ve been holding back on the full-on belting everything that I usually enjoy, and I’ve scaled down the accessorizing to a minimum). In fact, I didn’t even end up wearing the floral skirt I showed last week because, as many of you commented, it was a little too youthful for my first impression at a new job. Granted this has been a tricky time to broker, but I’ve still held to my mantra that over-dressing is better than under-dressing. This midnight blue jersey dress is perfect for the dog days of summer because it gives me full coverage while also being breathable.

2010 Academichic – Warm Welcome detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Turquoise Shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

I decided to embellish the built-in waistband with a little pop of color and then matched my turquoise faux snakeskin flats to the turquoise, purple, and green scarf. Because this was a somewhat celebratory dinner I also put on two of my favorite pieces of jewelry – my grandmother’s ultra-modern style turquoise bracelet and my Pisces zodiac charm necklace – both of which were handed down in my family.

Pisces Necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.

Zigzag Bracelet, originally uploaded by academichic.

This bracelet is definitely a powerful piece for me, and I think the lightening bolt zigzag makes me feel a little bit like Wonder Woman, which was just what I needed when I was seated next to the Headmaster at dinner! What power-pieces do you have in your jewelry box?

30 August 2010

Posted on | August 29, 2010 | 20 Comments

30 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Black Shirt Dress – BR Outlet
Belt – BR Outlet
Red Flats – Target
Earrings – Gift from A2
Bangles – Gift from S.

Endnotes:

With a little encouragement from E. and L., I purchased this black shirt dress from BR Outlet towards the beginning of the summer. I love the wrap top, full skirt, and of course, the pockets!

I was dying to wear it all summer but never had the right occasion in the right weather, so it made it’s premier at our department start of the year breakfast. These events can be tricky to dress for because you are asked to mingle with faculty, staff, and other students, meet new students, listen to announcements, conduct beginning of the year business, and what ever else your department chair might throw your way, all while awkwarly balancing a bad cup of coffee and a less-than-stellar pastry.

I, per usual, was one of the more dressed up graduate students, but I felt comfortable and confident – what more could you ask for?

It was at this department breakfast meeting 5 years ago that I first met E. We both often tell this story of quickly picking each other out of the crowd, as we were the only two people in skirts that day. After the breakfast we decided to go buy our books together and the rest is history. I’m glad that E.’s first impression of me was of a fashionable nerd!

25 August 2010

Posted on | August 26, 2010 | 17 Comments

25 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Mustard cardigan: Target
Ruffle top: Target
Belt: thrifted
Earrings-turned-brooches: thrifted
Ring: c/o Lala B
Skirt: Banana Republic Factory
Shoes: Lauren by Ralph Lauren, via Macy’s

End Notes:

Yesterday I led a question-and-answer session for new TA’s in the humanities at my university. I actually always find these beginning of the year, transitional summer-to-fall events difficult to dress for. I want to look competent but not stuffy, approachable but purposeful.

Ultimately, I ended up with an outfit comprised of pieces from multiple different “registers” of formality that — I think — still formed a coherent whole. I started out with my denim pencil skirt: a classic shape in a casual fabric. Then, I softened it up with a draping, ruffled top (originally used as a maternity top!). But then I added structure to the drape with a skinny belt that almost disappears in the gray froth and a cropped cardigan. I finished everything off with some “shiny” for polish: a chunky cocktail ring, enamel floral earrings used as mini brooches, and patent taupe wedges.

25 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Caylin Wedge, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, originally uploaded by academichic.

When I write it all out like that it sounds really complicated, but it actually came together very organically. That might be because in a lot of ways this is a reiteration of my monochrome olive outfit a few days ago. (I’m not concerned, though, since I’ve been steeping myself in critiques of the bourgeois notion of originality, ala Rosalind Krauss via Walter Benjamin. Ah, qualifying exams.) And besides, I’d call this a revision rather than an imitation.

Do you have a secret for stylish dressing in this transitional period between summer and fall?

25 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 August 2010 – Olive You

Posted on | August 23, 2010 | 13 Comments

24 August 2010 – Olive You, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Top: Target
Necklace: Forever 21
Belt: thrifted
Skirt: Banana Republic Factory
Wedges: thrifted

End Notes:

Like A. and L., I had to let our color challenge spill over into the following week. I just wasn’t feeling a monochromatic look last week. But, never fear, I have prevailed. And with green, no less.

Ruffle and Necklace Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

I usually wouldn’t wear a chunky necklace with a top that already has neckline details, like this one. One of the benefits of a monochromatic color scheme, however, is that it lets you play a little more with the “more is more” concept. Layering a yellow-green statement necklace over olive ruffles adds some textural interest within a limited color palette. (I also could have added baby e.’s yellow-green sippy cup to the mix, but I figured I already had enough going on.)

Also, I didn’t tuck in my top. Given my propensity for high-waisted everything, this is a departure for me. Granted, I’m still defining my waist — and adding some lovely drape and blousing — with a skinny belt, but the overall effect of a peplum of sorts is fetching, and it still keeps my never-ending torso in check. One of my fall style resolutions is to play more with drape and volume, and this is a good start, albeit a baby step.

Do you have any fall style resolutions?

24 August 2010 – Olive You, originally uploaded by academichic.

18 August 2010 – New Faculty Orientation Outfit

Posted on | August 18, 2010 | 15 Comments

Sources:

White tee – H&M
Wrap skirt – Boden, thrifted in San Fran
Yellow flats – Target
Necklace – thrifted

Endnotes:

No, your eyes are not failing you; this is neither a monochromatic ensemble nor do the colors make a split complimentary combination. I am sporting a triad (pink-blue-yellow) on my skirt, but even that’s a week too late.

I really tried to make a color challenge happen yesterday morning. I stood in front of my closet door and stared at the contents for a while before giving up and reaching for a trusted combination I knew I’d feel good in; this gorgeous Boden skirt, a simple white top, a navy cardi, and these yellow flats for a unexpected pop of color in the shoe. You see, yesterday was my first day of new faculty orientation and I was going to be meeting a bunch of new colleagues and university people and I just wanted to look both professional and comfortable (i.e. – like ‘me’) and the color challenge just wasn’t working with me on that one.

So while I knew I was dropping the ball on the color challenges, I went with my gut and picked the outfit that spoke to me. (Essentially a summer version of this fall favorite). I decided to post this because I think it’s a realistic depiction of how getting dressed often goes; you envision the expectations of others, you try to live up to some picture in your mind of how you should look, and you end up feeling frustrated when it doesn’t all come together the morning of. Even worse, that sometimes ends up ruining your day before you’ve stepped out the door or you end up wearing something you think you ‘should’ wear and feeling uneasy in it all day.

At said faculty orientation, I attended a very interesting session on planning for your first week. The instructor noted that all it takes is fifteen minutes for a first impression to be made. So it’s important to set the stage of how you want the year to go in those first fifteen minutes of class. If you don’t want your students coming to class looking disheveled or wearing pjs, then you might not want to show up looking like you’ve just rolled out of bed either – that sets the tone for the semester to come. I think this applies to other things as well; how you show up to an interview will set the tone for that hour, how you show up on a date will likely set the tone for the dinner and drinks to come, and how you show up to meet your partner’s family will likely affect how they understand you until they get to know you better.

This is not to say that there is a correct way to look for any given activity (there is a plurality of looks that work for most given contexts). It’s just to say that first impressions matter and that it’s not weird that we end up spending so much time thinking about what we put on in the morning. I opted for something that made me feel good, feel like myself, and was university-appropriate in my agenda despite knowing that it wasn’t what I was ‘supposed’ to wear for the day (I say that very tongue-in-cheeck since our color challenges are self-imposed and I hardly thought that E., L, or A. would begrudge my rogue outfit choice here).

How do you figure out how to best present yourself in a first-impression situation and do you remember to strike that balance between dressing as you should and dressing as you want? S.

PS: I met a lovely reader at faculty orientation who recognized me from the site and came to say hi. Hi, Rachel, it was great to meet you!

12 August 2010 – Super Hero Triad and Super Hero Hair

Posted on | August 12, 2010 | 15 Comments

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

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.

11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment

Posted on | August 12, 2010 | 21 Comments

11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Scarf: courtesy of Echo Design
Top: Target
Skirt: Target
Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell

End Notes:

Triadic color combinations — three colors that are equidistant from each other around the color wheel — do not appear frequently in my outfit choices. It’s one of those combinations that can quickly veer into Crayola territory when the colors are too bright or the colorblocking is too severe. But, as with my earlier foray into saturated complementary colors, I decided that color module weeks deserve a bold effort.

11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment, originally uploaded by academichic.

It’s nice when a pattern does half (or in this case, two-thirds) of the work for you. This oblong scarf from Echo Design already pairs a mustardy-gold with a true red, and with a navy top they form a fairly traditional color combination. Had I worn a khaki or white skirt on the bottom, this could have been an exceedingly classic outfit.

But, for whatever reason, I wasn’t feeling particularly demure when I got dressed, and I was far more interested in finding what I like to call “my inner S.” You know, the super cool, bohemian, quirky chic look that S. does so well. So on went a turquoise tulip skirt (which knocks the triad off by just enough to be interesting) and funky cut-out sandals and…oh yes, I tried to wear a scarf wrapped around my head.

11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment, originally uploaded by academichic.

And I liked it.

Unfortunately, between my super slippery hair that denies bobby pins purchase and baby e.’s grabby hands, the head scarf had to relocate to my neck. But I did find it kind of exhilarating to venture off from familiar style territory by trying a more quirky look in a classic color scheme. It’s like a meta-style-juxtaposition.

Any tips on keeping a scarf in place around your head, especially when you have a shorter hair cut or slippery hair?

11 August 2010 – Boho Experiment, originally uploaded by academichic.

11 August 2010 – Cool Colors

Posted on | August 11, 2010 | 8 Comments

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?

Product Review: Crystalyn Kae Bag

Posted on | August 11, 2010 | 3 Comments

Sources:

gray striped top – thrifted
black linen skirt – H&M
belt – H&M
yellow flats – Target
Green clutch – courtesy of Crystalyn Kae

Endnotes:

I recently received this clutch bag from Crystalyn Kae to review. If this name rings a bell, it’s because A. has been using one of their totes as her daily campus bag and has reviewed it here.

Since I’m biking to campus these days, I usually go for my backpack to hold my laptops, books, and various other necessities. Upon arriving home, it’s been so nice to dump that backpack in a corner of my living room and transfer my basics – wallet, keys, cell, ipod, chapstick – into a small little clutch. And this one is just perfect, I’ve been in love with it since it came in the mail.

Why do I love it so much? Here’s a handy top ten list to explain:

10) The wrist band makes it easy to carry while leaving my hands free
9) It’s surprisingly roomier than it looks
8) Its awesome pleats and folds give it a cool ‘relaxed’ look
7) But it’s still elegant enough that I would use it for a night out too
6) How can you go wrong with a little vintage fabric insert (mine’s striped and corduroy)
5) [Each bag comes with a different fabric embellishment in the center]
4) It’s hand-made in the US (Seattle) so I’m supporting local artisans
3) It’s vegan-friendly
2) It’s simply gorgeous
1) No one else has one like mine

I’m not much of a clutch wearer, I tend to prefer large roomy bags and totes, and still I’ve found myself using this on a daily basis. Since my life resides in my wallet, cell, and ipod (gone are days of large paper organizers and address books), this little clutch is all I need to grab my must-haves.

If you’re thinking of treating yourself to a new bag, I highly recommend checking out Crystalyn Kae’s site. Especially if you’re concerned about shopping locally (from the US) and getting a gorgeous looking bag that is not made of animal products. They come with a one year warranty and shipping to anywhere in the US is free.

Have fun perusing all the different colors…

Or the different sizes…

I used my green bag with yellow accents to create an analogous color combination with my accessories today. Since it’s analogous week over here, I took my neutrals outfit (black, gray, white) and added touches of green and yellow for some interest. While A. voiced her reservations regarding warm color analogous schemes, I can say the same about cool color ones. I typically gravitate towards reds, purples, and fuchsias but went for yellow and green today instead. A yellow bracelet and yellow flats mixed with the green and yellow clutch add a little pizazz to an otherwise subdued color combination.

Are you experimenting with analogous pairings this week? If so, what are your favorite combinations? And are they tried and tested old favorites or are you pushing yourself to try new things? S.

9 August 2010

Posted on | August 9, 2010 | 16 Comments

9 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Sheath dress: H&M
Belt: from another dress
Bracelets: gift
Pumps: Steve Madden, via Macy’s super shoe sale

End Notes:

This week we’re reviewing triads and analogous color combinations. An analogous color scheme takes two (or more) colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. I think for our purposes, an analogous scheme could be either a veryclose pairing with a tertiary color — like green and blue green or red and red orange — or it could be neighboring colors on a simplified color wheel — like yellow and orange or green and blue.

So today I’m “premiering” (as A. would say) my magenta pumps — let’s call them red violet for the sake of our color wheel — and pairing them with a purpley gray sheath dress that I’ve recently unearthed from my closet. I also added a true purple belt to push the ambiguously colored dress more towards violet and to underscore this tight analogous pairing.

9 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

(And yes, these shoes are just the magenta version of the blue pumps I’ve worn recently. It was one of those pick-your-own-birthday-gift situations and I couldn’t refuse. Not only are they great colors, they’re also quite comfortable with the rounded toe, padded footbed, and a heel that’s low enough to walk around in but high enough to give my calves a nice boost. I’ll admit, though, that my feet seem to just fit Steve Madden shoes and boots really well, so some of my comfort might be from finding a brand that jives with my particular foot shape.)

Back to the dress. Between pregnancy, breastfeeding, and re-learning my postpartum body, I haven’t worn a sheath dress in over a year and a half. It had been so long, in fact, that I totally forgot how much I actually adore sheaths. It’s a body conscious shape that makes me feel really sleek and put together and powerful. As Emeril Lagasse would say: “Bam.” Sure, this is not really bend over and pick up baby e. friendly nor do I think I can ride my bike in this particular dress, but I am about ready to toss function out the door in favor of pursuing a previously loved-then-lost form.

I think I’m going to shortly launch a search for a back-to-school sheath that has a little stretch in it. Suggestions for where to look — particularly from fellow long-waisted ladies — are definitely welcome.