December 23rd, 2010 § §
I leave today for a multi-leg holiday trip. First, it’s off to Houston and weather in the upper 50′s to visit the in-laws for a week. Then, we’re jetting off to Honolulu where baby e. and I will get to spend twelve glorious days recuperating from this past whirlwind of a semester.
My husband has a fervent hatred for airline baggage check fees and an endearingly firm belief in my ability to pack for a trip of such length in just two carry-ons between the three of us. (There are a couple of key points to make about feasibility here. First, these are warm(er) climates, so there’s less bulk to pack. Second, we’ll definitely be doing laundry. Like, every six days. And third, we bought many of our Christmas gifts online and had them shipped to their respective residences.)
In any case, we’ll be traveling, per usual, with our trusted Tom Bihn Aeronauts. Some time next week I’ll have a post showing how I fit everything into this nifty bag. But for now I’ll show you what I’m taking and….drumroll….solicit your help in coming up with 20 outfits, no repeats, for two climates and a range of different events.
Ta da.
Okay, so the above has some imaginative license taken with it. These are not all necessarily THE items I’ve packed, so much as items that approximate my actual garments. For example, my black skirt is a homemade deal, not $185. And the taupe jersey dress is actually this one with the macrame neck detail. But you get the idea, right?
I’d love to see your ideas for how I can remix over the next twenty days or so. You’ll have to have a Polyvore account (or log in through Facebook) to save your outfit. Once you hit “publish,” your creation will be saved in the mini-editor’s gallery as well as on your own Polyvore account.
Give me some ideas for:
- Christmas Eve service in Houston
- Anniversary date night in downtown Houston
- Traditional Japanese New Year’s meal in Honolulu
- Lunch with high school friends in Honolulu
- Whatever else you feel like!
Category: Style Workshop, Taking Notes
Tags: E.
December 17th, 2010 § §
It’s that time of year again when holiday parties abound and seasonal social events give us the opportunity to break out the sparkles, satin, and sequins. However, tailoring an outfit to the appropriate formality of the gathering can be challenging. E., A., and L. decided to put together some outfits that could work for the holiday parties we’ll be attending (or at least imagining attending!).
Cocktails with Colleagues:
On E.:
- Sweater: Banana Republic
- Skirt: made from Wet Seal dress
- Belt: thrifted
- Tights: Target
- Booties: Steve Madden via DSW
- Scarf: vintage store in Chattanooga
On L.:
- Dress (as tunic): Sweetees
- Pants: Anne Taylor
- Belt: Betsey Johnson via Filene’s Basement
- Shoes: Steve Madden via DSW
On A.:
- Ruffle Tank: J Crew
- Blazer: Express
- Jeans: Banana Republic
- Pumps: Seychelles
- Brooch: Vintage Threads, etsy
Endnotes:
Meeting up with friends is a more common event, but the holiday season is a great reason for jazzing up an outfit more than you might normally. As you can see, each of us is wearing a little more sparkle than usual. E. pairs her full black skirt and sweater with more dramatic lace tights and booties and tops it off with a golden scarf. L. takes her black ponte pants up a notch by wearing this grey and silver sequined dress as a tunic of sorts and a patent leather belt and heels complete the look. A. plays with textures and wears a rich velvet blazer over a ruffled shirt and denim jeans. Teal shoes add a little pop of color, and she uses a sparkly brooch to keep the blazer in place.
Party with Professors:
On E.:
- Blazer: Forever 21
- Blouse: Forever 21
- Skirt: Gap
- Tights: Target
- Booties: Steve Madden
On L.:
- Shirt: Banana Republic Outlet
- Dress: Banana Republic
- Belt: Betsey Johnson
- Stockings: Calvin Klein via Filene’s Basement
- Shoes: Steve Madden
On A.:
- Shirt: Anne Taylor
- Belt: F21
- Skirt: Banana Republic
- Tights: Target
- Pumps: Steven Madden Girl
End Notes:
Cocktail parties with professors or bosses can be especially hard to navigate since the level of formality is ambiguous and outfits tend to be a little more conservative while also festive. Short skirts and low tops should probably be shelved in this situation, but style and fun need not be! E. uses a shirt with cascading ruffles and textured tights to accent her more structured black jacket and full crinkly navy skirt. A. too mixes black with navy pairing a more casual blue embellished T and tights with her black satin-banded skirt and shiny patent belt. L. breaks all the “rules” of redheaded style by wearing a bright red bubble dress. What you might not realize is that this dress is strapless, but belting a tailored black shirt over it makes this look more understated (and less prone to wardrobe malfunctions!).
Dinner with Donors:
On A.:
- Dress: J. Crew (customized by E.)
- Belt: sister’s closet
- Tights: BR Factory Store
- Pumps: Madden Girl via DSW
- Necklace: borrowed from E.
On L.:
- Dress: vintage (thrifted)
- Belt: Betsey Johnson
- Stockings: Calvin Klein
- Shoes: Steve Madden
- Necklace: gift
On E.:
- Dress: Banana Republic
- Belt: borrowed from A.
- Tights: Target
- Booties: Steve Madden
End Notes:
While we don’t often have reason to dress up to this extent, it is still fun to imagine going to a holiday fete at a museum or dinner at the chancellor’s house. A. “winterizes” the beautiful (and customized!) dress she wore to her autumn wedding party by adding grey tights, a black belt with sparkly buckle, and black patent shoes. A statement necklace of several strands of grey beads draws attention to the lovely neckline of the dress as well. E. also plays with a dramatic neckline in this one-shouldered satiny magenta dress. Geometric textured tights, booties, and a simple belt add more structured elements to the delicate and diaphanous material of the dress. L. embraces the 2010 trends of jewel tones and lace in this vintage sapphire colored dress layered with shimmering lace. A wide patent belt creates a defined waist, and a simple necklace accentuates the scooped neckline while highlighting her collarbone.
As always, we don’t pretend to be experts on this! What will you be wearing to your holiday parties this year?
Category: Dresses for Evening, Night Without Grading, Style Workshop
Tags: A. > E. > evening wear > L.
January 20th, 2010 § §
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:
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:
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.
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?
Category: Color Combinations, Layers Upon Layers, Pants Please, Research Casual, Style Workshop
December 18th, 2009 § §
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?
Category: Academichic Product Review, Dresses for Evening, Night Without Grading, Skirting the Issue, Style Workshop
Tags: A. > E.
December 14th, 2009 § §
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Category: Mixing Patterns, Night Without Grading, Reaching New Heights, Skirting the Issue, Style Workshop
June 10th, 2009 § §
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…
» Read the rest of this entry «
Category: Color Combinations, Our Best Flatware, Pants Please, Proportionally, Reaching New Heights, Skirting the Issue, Style Workshop
Tags: Style Workshop > urban outfitters > weardrobe
