19 January 2010 – Pick a Scarf

Posted on | January 20, 2010 | 28 Comments

19 January 2010 – Pick a Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Blue-green scarf: very old, origins unknown
Blue ombre scarf: Chinatown
Patterned scarf: Chinatown, gift from SIL
Orange pashmina: France, gift from SIL
Gray dolman sleeve cardigan: Ann Taylor, gift from MIL
Belt: Gap Outlet
Mustard top: Forever 21
Jeans: Target
Wedges: thrifted

End Notes:

Baby e. and I made a trek to the library yesterday (via stroller and foot, respectively) to begin collecting books for a new semester. I wanted to look put together, should I run into professors or other grad students, but given the gray, foggy weather I was loathe to change out of my jeans and slouchy cardigan. A scarf held the promise of finishing off the outfit nicely, but I ran into a bit of trouble when trying to decide which scarf to wear.

So I tried four.

I continue to be amazed by just how much a scarf can change the whole feel of an outfit. The bright blue ombre scarf gave the look a more playful feel:

19 January 2010 – Pick a Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

The orange patterned pashmina worked nicely as an analogous color combination with my mustard top, and while I’m usually a fan of close, warm pairings I just wasn’t feeling it yesterday:

19 January 2010 – Pick a Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic

The thick, patterned scarf — mixing olive green, peacock blue, mustard, and brown — did elevate the outfit and add a certain richness. But, perhaps because the tones were too close to the gray of the cardigan, I felt a little dark and dowdy.

19 January 2010 – Pick a Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic

And so, I settled on the blue-green scarf, as shown in the top-most photograph. It created an interesting color pairing with the mustard and still popped against the gray. Still, I’m fairly confident that I’ll return to this outfit at some point and switch out scarves for one yesterday’s rejects. Which one do you like best?

Academichic Style Workshop: Holiday Party Dressing

Posted on | December 18, 2009 | 22 Comments

Dressing for parties during the holiday season is an endeavor full of unique opportunities and challenges. On the one hand, holiday parties are the perfect time to pull out fabrics, embellishments, and colors that you might not normally wear. Satin! Sequins! Red! On the other hand, determining the requisite formality of a given event — and picking an outfit to fit — can be a challenge.

A. and E. decided to have a little fun with a holiday party style workshop, trying out looks that would be appropriate at the holiday parties we’ll be (and dream about) attending.

Cocktails with colleagues:

Sources:

On A.:

Plaid shirt: Old Navy little boys
Ruffled black tank: Banana Republic Outlet
Patent leather belt: Forever 21
Pencil skirt: Banana Republic
Teal pumps: Seychelles, via solestruck.com

On E.:

Sequined tank: Target
Beaded cardigan: Banana Republic
Bermudas: thrifted, self-shortened Purple tights: Banana Republic
Black pumps: Madden Girl, DSW

End Notes:

Going out on the town for a holiday cocktail with friends is a great excuse to slip a little extra pizazz into an outfit. A., for example, rarely wears red during the rest of the year. But even she can’t resist donning this cheerful red plaid flannel shirt (from the little boys’ department of Old Navy, no less!) and dressing it up with a black ruffled tank, pencil skirt, and teal pumps. E., meanwhile, pairs up the only two sparkly tops she owns — a beaded cardigan and a sequined tank — for some festive fabulousness. Purple tights beneath bermuda shorts keeps an otherwise monochrome outfit from being too dull.

Party with Professors:

Sources:

On E.:

Ribbon tee: self-made
Jacket: Forever 21
Black ankle pants: Old Navy
Ruffled pumps: AM, via DSW

On A.:

Green ruffled blouse: Old Navy
Black wrap sweater: Banana Republic
Pencil skirt: Banana Republic
Tights: Forever 21
Pumps: DSW
Brooch as necklace: Vintage Threadz on etsy.com

End Notes:

Party-ing with professors (or bosses, as the gainfully employed might do), calls for outfits that are festive while remaining tasteful. This is not the time for too-short skirts or too-low tops. That’s not to say you need to be stuffy, however! E. puts a fresh spin on a pantsuit, wearing pants in a trendier length and pairing an embellished top with a structured jacket. A.’s green and black ensemble would be perfectly appropriate in a classroom, but the bright color and ruffle make it a sweet choice for a holiday evening as well.

Dinner with Donors:

Sources:

On A.:

Ruffled navy dress: JCrew
Black patent belt: Forever 21
Black clutch: grandmother’s
Black tights: Forever 21
Black pumps: Madden Girl, via DSW

On E.:

Gray ruffled “shrug”: “Scrunchy” scarf from Nepali by TDM designs
Black strapless dress: Ann Taylor
Black tights: Target
Black ruffled pumps: AM, via DSW

End Notes:

Alas, neither A. nor E. will be attending a holiday party that merits extra-fancy dress. But we can dream, right? Holiday parties that call for cocktail attire are the perfect time to pull out a bridesmaid dress that may be languishing in the back of your closet. E. wore this strapless dress as a bridesmaid last summer. To ground the floatier fabric for winter, she used a couple of safety pins and some ribbon to fashion a temporary shrug our of the soft cashmere “Scrunchy” scarf from Nepali by TDM Designs. Ruffles that help keep you warm and hide those pesky tan lines? Brilliant! In her chic navy dress (which she incidentally wore to S.’s wedding!), A. proves that rich jewel tones can be just as appropriate for evening as black. Black patent accessories add a little extra glamor to a dress that’s proven to be remarkably versatile through several seasons.

What will you be wearing to your holiday parties this year?

Lace Skirt Weekend Remix

Posted on | December 14, 2009 | 30 Comments

Lace Skirt Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources (for all 3 outfits):

Black nursing cami – Target
Lace skirt – Ann Taylor, super clearance
Black tights – Target

Cream long cardigan – Target
Black belt – thrifted
Mini polka dot blouse – Banana Republic Outlet
Boots – Banana Republic
Black suede ruffled pumps – AM, from DSW

End Notes:

Congratulations to Jen and Denise on winning the ripple scarves from our latest give away!

Several years ago I snagged this lace skirt for $15 or so at an Ann Taylor post-Christmas sale. I thought it was beautiful, I knew it was flattering, and…I had absolutely no creativity when it came to wearing it. I think I wore it to dinner, once, with a black sweater. Yippee. I decided that it was high time that this skirt got some real wear, and I challenged myself over the weekend to come up with three different ways to style it.

Lace Skirt Weekend Remix, originally uploaded by academichic.

For the first round, I tried to make the admittedly dressy skirt a little more casual. I like the juxtaposition of the slouchy cream cardigan with the fancy lace, but I think in a future iteration I’ll nix the boots in favor of another pair of black shoes.

Lace Skirt Weekend Remix, originally uploaded by academichic.

For round two, I let the skirt add a fun, flouncy layer to my black wrap dress that recently emerged from a tragic run-in with the dryer (I know, I know! I do so many loads of laundry now and it totally slipped my mind that it was in there. I’m now on the market for a new black wrap dress.) The too-short dress is still very flattering on the top half, and layering the skirt underneath added needed length. Even better, it added interest. Because of its gored design, the skirt has a lot of movement, lending some pizazz to an otherwise staid monochrome look.

Lace Skirt Weekend Remix, originally uploaded by academichic.

Round three is, I think, my favorite. I loved how the ruffles on the pumps echo the flare of the skirt. I loved the subtle pattern mix of lace and mini polka dots. I loved how the belt gives just enough structure in the mid-section. It lets me be a little glamorous without taking myself too seriously.

Polka Dots and Lace, originally uploaded by academichic.

AM Ruffled Black Suede Pumps, originally uploaded by academichic.

Now, that I’ve pushed past my mental creative block with this skirt, I’m itching to keep playing around. Next up? Adding some color!

An Urban Outfitters Workshop

Posted on | June 10, 2009 | 12 Comments

Sometimes in academia our professors grow concerned that we are inhabiting ivory towers too soon and provide us with “workshops” to attend. These one-time sessions are meant to be practical, more collaborative spaces for us to share ideas or learn skills. When Weardrobe sent us two items to style from Urban Outfitters it presented the perfect opportunity for us to have a style workshop with each other.

As you may have noticed, our day to day style does not fit the paradigmatic Urban Outfitters “look.” Still, we have each found items there that we love or covet and were excited to have the chance to play around with the two pieces that were sent to us: a teal dolman top and a urban renewal studded jersey necklace.

We convened at A.’s house, with S. and E. each toting a bag full of accessories, shoes, and separates…

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