academichic

Sources:

• Top: thrifted new, Target
• Necklace: Old Navy
• Jeans: Old Navy Maternity
• Wedges: Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW

End Notes:

While I may not have watched the royal wedding, I did have a conversation or two about the millinery confections adorning women’s heads at the event. Relatedly, a couple of folks sent me links to the pregnant Victoria Beckham’s outfit for the day, including comments like “Egads, the SHOES!” and “Is she actually pregnant?”

In a very, very loose way (pun intended), today’s outfit is for you, Victoria. See, I’m doing the drapey thing and I’m doing the boatneck thing and I’m even doing the very tall heels thing (and though you beat me by three inches or so I’d submit that my cork wedges are far superior in comfort to your eight inch platform stilettos). Although this shirt is not my usual bump-hugging fare, I am appreciating the drape for its more subtle approach, and by wearing it backwards to create a scoop back effect I’m even adding a little bit of sexy into a day to day look.

While it’s a simple look overall, I’m tricking myself into thinking that it’s far more glamorous given its point of inspirational origin. Now what I really need is an awesome fascinator…

Sources:

• Sequin sweater: DKNY via Beacon’s Closet
• Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft Outlet
• Jeans: Old Navy Maternity
• Shoes: AM via DSW

End Notes:

First off, my prayers and thoughts are with the thousands of people affected by the tornadoes down South, especially in Alabama and in the Tennessee Valley, near my alma mater. My sisters-in-law are having to cut their semester short because of the damage, but I am so thankful that they are safe.

That in and of itself is a reason to celebrate and added an extra degree of joyful sincerity to my welcoming of my own last day of teaching yesterday. I elected to commemorate the day by dressing down and rocking my disco mama shirt. I think few things say, “Students, I’ve enjoyed teaching you this semester. Best wishes on the final exam,” like a striped sequined shirt. Plus, I was like a mobile dance party any time the sun hit my sparkles just right. It was a big hit with my students…and with little e.

As S. expressed earlier this week, sometimes it’s hard to remain inspired when it comes to dressing a changing body while also juggling a host of other commitments and expectations. I definitely slipped into style doldrums on occasion during my first pregnancy, and this time around I’m trying to have a really good sense of humor about dressing a body that seems to be different every single day (or at different points during a given day). Case in point, I embraced my inner disco ball, emphasizing the bump with shimmering horizontal stripes and accepting the fact that I would call attention to myself all day. After all, one does not frequently see a glittering ball of a pregnant woman on a university campus.

Do you express a playful or humorous side of yourself on occasion through your wardrobe? How do you do so?

Sources:

Tunic: Tucker for Target
Belt: thrifted
Jeans: Old Navy maternity
Wedges: Crown Royale Vintage, via DSW

End Notes:

It’s ended up being a crazy week in my household and while I opted for easy earlier this week, yesterday I’m went for can’t-help-but-smile.

When I was pregnant with little e., the first time that I belted below the bump was a big deal to me, both personally and stylistically. This time around, I’m more comfortable with my changing shape, and it’s time once again to embrace a silhouette that is preggers-specific.

And now, it’s time to hustle everyone off to the airport for a weekend visit to N.’s family for Easter…

PS. Here are a few other ways I’ve remixed this bright floral tunic.

Sources:

Bike tee – J.Crew
Cardi – free from swap
Skinnies – ON Maternity
Loafers – Michael Kors, thrifted
Bike – 1969 Raleigh Sports
Helmet – Nutcase

Endnotes:

It’s no secret that I’m somewhat bike obsessed. Ok, maybe a little more than somewhat. So you won’t be surprised to see that one of my favorite tees is one with a graphic print of a bike on it. I got this shirt on clearance at J.Crew at the end of last summer, only to open one of my gifts on Christmas morning and find that my mom had gotten the same tee for me at J.Crew as well. I guess she knows me pretty well. Having two of this one very loved t-shirt makes me willing to stetch one out and turn it into a maternity top.

And speaking of J.Crew, have any of you seen this recent article regarding a picture in the J.Crew catalog that’s apparently causing quite a stir? The image in question is one of J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyons and her young son engaging in a supposedly questionable activity… painting her son’s toenails pink. According to the news article, social conservatives are calling the piece “transgendered child propaganda.”  (The implications here being also that transgendered people should be shamed and not embraced). The claims range from suggestions that the young boy will need psychotherapy to recover later in life to accusations that J.Crew is exploiting the youngster to promote their “liberal, transgendered identity politics“. A bit much, right?

{image source}

We’ve talked in the past about how fashion is a powerful tool in perfoming gender and identity, be it in terms of race, sexuality, class, or ethnicity. We’ve also talked about how these accoutrements of fashion are used by adults to enforce gender performance in young children. This article is a perfect example of our culture’s obsession with visibly marking children as either male or female, feminine or masculine. The binary that shall not be disturbed.

As my husband, the feminist, pointed out – what if it had been black nailpolish on the little boy? Would that have caused as big of a stir? What is it about pink that is especially prickly when it comes to men adopting it? And what if the image had shown a little girl dressed in a baseball outfit? Would that kind of crossing of traditional gender boundaries have caused such an aggressive response? Even within culturally imposed gender norms, some boundaries are clearly more flexible than others.

To credit my husband with one more astute observation – that little boy is growing up with his mother greatly involved in the fashion industry. He likely observes her work with fashion much of the day. Nailpolish, an accessory, is just an extension of her daily work accoutrements. He most likely just wants to be a part of his mother’s life and involved with the things she’s passionate about. His wanting his nails painted should more likely be viewed as an extension of his love for his mother and his desire to share in her interests and activities. It’s sad that such a sweet demonstration of mother-child enjoyment is being demonized like this. Jon Stewart agrees with me, he also had a few things to say on the topic.

Perhaps you don’t agree and are oppsed to little boys wearing pink nailpolish. If that’s the case, I’d love to hear why that is. I welcome discussion from all perspectives on it and I hope that my making it clear where I stand on this debate doesn’t discourage others who disagree to chime in with their response. What is your take on the J.Crew image and the consequent media response to it? – S.

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:

• Tunic: Forever 21, consignment shop
• Tank: Target
• Necklace: Tilly Bloom
• Pants: Loft Maternity, via eBay
• Platform wedges: Ralph Lauren, via Macy’s

End Notes:

Sometimes when I get dressed to teach our introductory course to modern art I amuse myself by creating little sartorial art history jokes that are funny to, well, me. And maybe A. and L.

Yesterday, for example, I thought that this brushstroke patterned tunic had a kind Fauvist feel to it, ala Henri Matisse’s Woman with a Hat (1905).

But, just to keep things interesting, I decided to accessorize with a little pendant from Tilly Bloom, whose “emporium of the ecstatically esoteric” never fails to delight with surrealist-inspired jewelry. A colleague today did a double take at my necklace and queried, “WHAT is on your necklace?” It’s not every day that you get to answer, with a straight face, “a cat wearing a Victorian dress.” And then A. chimed in, “It’s Surrealist,” as if that explained everything.

Thanks, postmodernism, for letting this juxtaposition of Fauvist color and Surrealist crazy exist side by side in my wardrobe.

Plus, this is a really loose, overall drapey silhouette for me, which is a little bit surreal as well, no?

Sources:

• Jacket: Banana Republic Factory
• Tank: Old Navy Maternity
• Necklace: consignment store
• Trousers: Loft Maternity, via eBay
• Shoes: Steve Madden

End Notes:

Folks, I speak from experience. Pregnancy and a stomach virus are not a great combination. Furthermore, pregnancy, recovering from a stomach virus, and caring for your spouse who has also succumbed to said virus, along with as your toddler, who, while remaining healthy thus far is considered toxic to most babysitting situations, is a tough combination as well. Still, we are all alive and eating bland food and drinking fluids. Yesterday was my first day on campus this week, and I wanted to look…not like I just got over the stomach flu.

There is something so disheartening about going back to work after recovering from an illness and having people cluck and coo, “Oh, you look AWFUL!” So, to disguise my still somewhat ashen pallor and to trick myself into thinking that I am full of energy, I decided to just throw on the most jubilant of colors and bank on the effects of reflected light.

I was so drawn to this jacket when I got it at an end of season clearance. I love it closed and cropped, open and floppy, or with extra wide lapels. Is it the most versatile jacket in my wardrobe? No. But it might be the happiest.

I also love all of the “almost matching” going on here: a hot red-orange jacket, coral beads, and magenta pumps. It’s enough to keep things cohesive but still spicy. And in the midst of all the rice and applesauce and crackers I’ve been eating lately, I’ll take spicy wherever I can find it. What do you wear when you want to avoid the post-illness doldrums?

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:

• Sweater: Calvin Klein via Marshalls
• Shell: Banana Republic
• Camisole: Gap Outlet
• Trousers: Gap Outlet
• Necklace: gift from sister
• Belt: Betsey Johnson via Filene’s Basement
• Shoes: Ciao Bella via DSW

Endnotes:
Finally it seems like spring is coming. It was in the 50s all weekend and the snow we got on Friday is almost all melted. We are most certainly in “mud season”. I was dressing in a hurry this morning (gotta love Monday) so I quickly grabbed black pants, black flats, a black cami, a black sweater, and something to lighten the look so my students wouldn’t think I was in mourning. I picked this purple silk shell, which has vaguely floral abstract lines in lavender, and boom: an outfit that plays with proportion as well as texture.

In terms of the proportions of this outfit, the fact that the shell cuts across my hips at their widest point and the empire waist accentuates my long torso should make this a terrible combination. But I think adding the belt really helps to break up the line. As for my hips, I have no reason to hide them or my muscular thighs. These babies have run a marathon and will soon be training for another one.

As for textures, to contrast with the lace edge on the cami, the soft silk of the top, and the floral print, I decided on my stretchy studded belt and a hematite necklace my sister gave me when I saw her in March. I’ve done this kind of texture mixing before when I paired a fine wool pencil skirt with a flowy silk shirt, lace edge cami, and chunky metal chain belt, and I like the effect. I’ll see what I can come up with this week. Do you have any texture mixing tips or triumphs?

L.