1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep

Posted on | September 1, 2010 | 13 Comments

1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Knit blazer: C&C
Blue tee: Forever 21
Belt: thrifted
Skirt: thrifted
Shoes: Dolce Vita, c/o Solestruck

End Notes:

Yesterday was my university’s first day of classes. And guess what? I wasn’t on the student side of the classroom this time. Like Tania of What Would a Nerd Wear, I finished my PhD coursework in the spring, and now the only classes I’ll be present at this semester are ones where I’ll be on the teaching side of things. (My teaching assistant responsibilities cycle through observing the large-scale lecture and then teaching my own, smaller groups of students.)

My perennial outfit “concept” for the first day of school is one that mixes professionalism with little unexpected punches. I wanted to look put-together and competent, but not stuffy or preppy. I started with a very traditional color palette of pale blue, khaki, and gray, but kept things fresh by wearing a soft tee rather than a button down, a knit — rather than woven — blazer, a skinny belt, and, oh yes, orange pumps. Ironically, two of my male colleagues were wearing pale blue oxford shirts on their first day as well.

But no one else was wearing orange shoes. I had the corner on that market.

1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.

So here’s the other thing. Especially after reading the comments on a recent Chronicle of Higher Ed piece on professor “hotness” and dress (you should also read La Historiadora de Moda’s response) and L.’s admission that she’s “easing” her colleagues into her style, I also felt much more self-conscious this year about how the other teaching assistants (particularly my female colleagues) perceived me. I also didn’t want to come off as “trying too hard” or “showing them up.” But of course, not matter how carefully we try to craft a message through how we dress, we are not ultimately in control of how our attire is interpreted.

For me, a missing component in that Chronicle piece on “hot professors” — and something brought up by some commentators — was the role of gender, ethnicity, age, and even sexual orientation in how professors are perceived. As I’ve said before on this blog, bodies are never neutral and the fact that I’m relatively young, slim, and female already affects how I’m perceived, even before you take clothing into account.

On the other hand, all the above equivocations and ruminations aside, it’s really, really hard to be uncertain about yourself when you’re wearing an orange shoe. To paraphrase the inimitable La Historiadora de Moda, orange shoes do not make me mighty, but they remind me that I’m mighty, not meek.

1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.

(And don’t forget to check plenty of other great back-to-school looks at the Fashionable Academics!)

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.

23 August 2010 – Rainy Days and Mondays

Posted on | August 23, 2010 | 14 Comments

23 August 2010 – Rainy Days and Mondays, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

T-shirt: American Apparel
Skirt: Calvin Klein Outlet
Belt: Old Navy Outlet
Shoes: Madden Girl via DSW

Endnotes:
One final post regarding our color wheel challenge. Since I had been putting this outfit together in my head for days, I wanted to share my monochrome blue-green ensemble. This outfit is very simple, but with the addition of a belt and heeled shoes it manages to look polished despite the easy T and skirt combo. This is another one of my super girl-y feeling skirts because it moves so well. It is surprisingly heavy since the pleating hides where several panels of material are added and you can’t see the many inner layers that help give it such a swishing motion. I was determined to get a picture of this skirt in mid-twirl, and I seriously almost fell over from dizziness at the end of this photo series! Oh, the things we do for Academichic.

23 August 2010 – Twirl!, originally uploaded by academichic.

The belt you might recognize as the same as E’s and A’s (although hers is teal) and it is one of the workhorses of my wardrobe. I wear a lot of grey and grey goes with everything, so the purchase of a stretchy grey belt was a necessity for me. I used to be very wary of mixing neutrals including metallics, so the brass buckle made me a little anxious. However, thanks to my co-bloggers I’ve realized that things like that don’t matter very much and I can still wear silver jewelry despite the color of my buckle. These shoes were also a major addition to my wardrobe this year and have proven very useful. I like the small heel because they are comfy enough that I can wear them all day, but give me a little height and my legs a little length.

23 August 2010 – Grey, originally uploaded by academichic.

It has taken some adjustment, but I’m getting used to how delightfully cool the weather can be in New England even in summer – I’ve taken to carrying a light cardigan with me and don’t have to wear tanks all the time. Lately it’s not only been cool, but also quite rainy, which somewhat inspired this marine blue pairing. If I’d had my whole wardrobe at my disposal, I would have tossed on my grey cardi or my navy blazer from Ann Taylor Loft (not the same as A’s, but similar!). As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve just moved into my new apartment, but I’m still bouncing around New England visiting relatives and friends, and hence, I don’t have access to my whole closet all the time. I have really enjoyed color wheeling for the last four weeks, and I do think it will make me think more about my options when it comes to colors and combinations. However, I’m looking forward to school starting so I can share my daily teaching outfits with you all. This week I’ll be deciding what to wear for my first day of faculty meetings – exciting!

18 August 2010 – Split Take Two

Posted on | August 18, 2010 | 19 Comments

18 August 2010 – Split Take Two, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Dress: Max & Cleo, from BCBG Outlet
Scarf: thrifted
Shoes: Steve Madden
Sunglasses: vintage

End Notes:

(With apologies for the harsh sunlight) Like S. I stood in front of my closet for a while trying to think of a monochromatic outfit that didn’t turn me into a muppet…and came out empty handed. On the other hand, I think I’m getting the hang of split complements.

Pink, Yellow Green, and Blue Green, originally uploaded by academichic.

A pink shoe (from the red wedge of the color wheel), a blue-green dress, and a yellow-green scarf as a belt…and voila. Again, it’s kind of quirky and maybe I feel a little bit like a mix of Strawberry Shortcake and Kate Spade, but it’s also punchy and fun and puts an unexpected twist on the frequently preppy pink-and-green pairing.

Vintage Sunglasses, originally uploaded by academichic.

Plus, I’m wearing my new-to-me sunglasses and their funny inverted temples-with-wings, and they make me love whatever I’m wearing. My husband makes fun of my “bug eyed” sunglasses, but I remain devoted and I was tickled to find this pair at my favorite local vintage shop.

Several of you have commented on our “scientific” approach to color combinations and declared that you go by your gut instinct when it comes to mixing colors. I’m kind of fascinated by the implicit binary opposition between “scientific” and “emotional” approaches. Ever since middle school, I’ve been uneasy about the whole “right brain” versus “left brain” categorization and the suggestion that method and structure are somehow diametrically opposed to creativity and expression. Seriously, in seventh grade I had a little crisis (because that’s what seventh graders do) over what “side” brain I had and wanted to know if I could just claim a middle ground. A third space, if you will. (It ended up being something of a prophetic moment, I suppose.)

I’ve always thrived in situations where I have parameters or a methodology that opens up a new place or way to explore something. I find that structure feeds my creativity, or that a methodology helps me articulate and extend my intuition in really interesting and productive ways. I think this is a big reason why I’m in graduate school. I am passionate about shifting paradigms or interpretations of artworks within the boundaries of my discipline, using the methodologies that are available to me. Thus, the spill-over into my wardrobe “methodology” is hardly unexpected. I think that some of my favorite outfits have been ones that were created in response to some kind of challenge or within certain parameters!

Do you think that structure and creativity, “science” and “instinct,” are binary opposites? How do your proclivities — either for method or intuition or both — manifest themselves in how you dress?

18 August 2010 – Split Take Two, originally uploaded by academichic.

17 August 2010 – Monochromatic Orange!

Posted on | August 17, 2010 | 18 Comments

17 August 2010 – Monochromatic Orange!, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Rust Top – Banana Republic
Denim Pencil Skirt – BR Outlet
Red-Orange Belt – BR Outlet
Navy Blazer – Ann Taylor Loft
Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
Bag – Crystalyn Kae
Earrings – Gift from A2

Endnotes:

That’s right, not only am I sporting orange, but I’ve pulled together three items in orange! I usually leave oranges and reds to E. and S. (although I do think L. pulled if off beautifully) but there is something about this unique rust color that I think works for me. Then, A2 bought me these lovely little orange earrings and I decided what better way to embrace the Fashion 101 Challenge then to do Monochromatic Orange!

Orange Branch Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

Both the earrings and the top have quite a bit of red in them so I added my red-orange belt and a few neutrals to complete the outfit. I like how the orangey tone of my cognac tote bag from Crystalyn Kae, adds to the monochrome and draws out a similar shade in my old stand-by brown wedges. Monochromatic does NOT mean you need to dress from head to two in one color but rather that the only non-neutral you wear is one color. Personally, I think neutrals are essential for keeping a monochromatic ensemble from looking to costume-y. Here I chose to mix my neutrals – brown and navy, which I think adds a bit of sophistication to this orange number.

Earlier this summer, I asked for suggestions on where to find a cropped navy blazer to replace my increasingly faded and misshapen one. A couple readers pointed me to Ann Taylor loft, where I found this 3/4 sleeve cropped blazer with a striped lining – perfect! I’ve had it all summer and wore it a bunch in the classroom and have a feeling it will get tones of year-round use.

What’s a color you usually shy away from? Do you have one item in that color you keep returning to?

17 August 2010 – Monochromatic Orange!, originally uploaded by academichic.

16 August 2010 – Splitting Complements

Posted on | August 16, 2010 | 21 Comments

16 August 2010 – Splitting Complements, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Top: Ross
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Belt: Old Navy
Skirt: Banana Republic Factory
Pumps: Dolce Vita, c/o solestruck.com

End Notes:

I think that this week’s color module — on monochrome and split complementary color schemes — is our most challenging, especially in the summer where there are fewer layering possibilities. Furthermore, trying to figure out what exactly constitutes a split complementary color scheme kind of makes my head spin.

Basically, a split complementary color combination means that you pick a color, draw a line straight across the color wheel to its complement, and then ignore that complement in favor of the colors on either side. For any given color on the color wheel, there are three split complementary color schemes possible.

Allow me:

Here I’m using blue-green as my main color. The complement of blue-green is red-orange, but the split complements are red and orange.

Blue Green, Orange, and Red, originally uploaded by academichic.

But, blue-green could also be on the “split” side of the equation. For example, if red was my main color, then the split complements would be blue-green and yellow-green (on either side of red’s “true” complement, green).

Red, Yellow Green, & Blue Green, originally uploaded by academichic.

Or, as I managed to cobble together today, when orange is the starting point, the split complements are blue-green and blue-violet, on either side of the “true” complement, blue.

Orange, Blue Green, & Blue Violet, originally uploaded by academichic.

Whew. I do think that split complementary color schemes, despite being a bit complex initially, have a big pay off. They’re unexpected and a little quirky and they have both the lush feel of analogous pairings and the pop of a complementary color scheme. Perhaps I need to introduce a personal mandate to wear a split complement at least once a month?

16 August 2010 – Splitting Complements, originally uploaded by academichic.

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.

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.

9 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

5 August 2010

Posted on | August 5, 2010 | 16 Comments

5 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Flutter Tank – J Crew
Black Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
Black Pumps – DSW
Necklace – made from a gifted earring

Endnotes:

I don’t know if the color of this top is exactly a neutral – its a kind of putty color that sometimes looks olive. J Crew calls it “mink.” I’m a sucker for all the lovely shades of grey J Crew has invented but “mink” is less than helpful as a color description. But, I’m using it as a neutral and considering this a mix of black and brown. I wore this top with navy last time, but I think the black makes the “mink” look so much richer.

The top came with a thin waist-creating tie which I removed for this iteration. I tucked the base of the top into my high-waisted skirt and let the flutters drape over the top. I think it makes this otherwise sweat detail a little more dramatic, even edgy. I usually think of mixed neutrals as creating a generally soft look or sometimes a very polished professional look, but in this third stab at the color wheel challenge, I wanted to push my use of neutrals into a new kind of look. I think “edgy mink” is definitely new for me!