14 March 2010

Posted on | March 14, 2010 | 28 Comments

14 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Bow Tee – Gap
• Skirt – Banana Republic
• Tights – HUE  (from E.)
• Belt – New York & Co.
• Earrings – American Eagle
• Black Heels – Madden Girl, via DSW

Endnotes:

For my last assignment for this week’s Fashion 101: Tights,  I took these patterned tights from E., send to her by her Mother-in-Law (thanks D.!).  I love the ensembles E. and S.  created this week featuring their brightly colored patterned tights, but still think I would have a hard time pulling them off.  Even these much subtler, almost monochromatic patterned tights are taking me well outside my comfort zone.

Tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

Often after a new haircut, I am feel a little more playful in my style.  So, I decided to take it and run with it and combine these whimsical tights with a full skirt, a tee with a bow, and even little bow earrings!  As I was adding all of these elements together, I was worried that it might be a little too whimsical altogether, but I think the black and grey palette keeps it age appropriate and sophisticated.

Bow Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

Are you embracing the patterned tight trend?  A.

14 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

9 March 2010 – Urban Cowboy

Posted on | March 9, 2010 | 15 Comments

9 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Gray sweater – AE, hand me down,
• Plaid button down – thrifted
• Jean shorts – thrifted and chopped by me
• Sweater tights – drug store
• Boots – Dillards
• Bracelets – Big Lots

Endnotes:

It’s no secret that I’ve fallen a bit in love with shorts this winter. But while the J.Crew models seem to be easily pulling off shorts and bare legs with their winter cardis and jackets, I live in a city where no such skin exposure is plausible.

So if I want to do the shorts and sweater combo, I have to make sure to add a sturdy pair of tights in there as well. Enter: the sweater tights. Possibly one of mankind’s best inventions along with chocolate and This American Life podcasts. They’re soft, cozy, and actually much more insulating than a pair of trousers or jeans.

Since we’re featuring tights this week for our Fashion 101 course, it’s only fitting that I start my posts with my favorite kind of tights. While sweater tights don’t come in fun patterns or peek-a-boo fishnet materials, they usually do have a nice texture that give them some added interest and they are also far more snag-proof than their lighter and thinner counterparts. And not to mention oh-so-cozy and warm.

As for a side note on the shorts – I wanted a pair of shorts that would be similar to my trouser shorts, so I went to the thrift store back home looking for a pair. I found there to be a slight problem with cutting up a pair of existing jeans in my closet –  they’re cut to be fitted and thus are much snugger around my thighs than a pair of shorts ideally would be (this works well for a trouser shorts look but is a little too tight for my taste when it comes to also wearing them this length).

So I thrifted a pair of shorts that fit well and felt nice and roomy without worrying about length too much. I then cut off about 2 inches to make them my desired length. These were also cuffed initially, and while I like that on the J. Crew models above, I was aiming for a more rough fringed finish à la Renee Sturme or Christina from Second Skin (see examples below).

If you’re looking to show off your tights this winter, why not try a pair of shorts one day instead of a skirt or dress? Don’t have a good winter pair? Thrift a pair of shorts (you can always adjust the length yourself) or DIY a pair of old jeans you no longer wear. S.

7 March 2010 – Embellished Cardi DIY

Posted on | March 7, 2010 | 10 Comments

7 March 2010 – Embellished Cardigan DIY, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Grey Cardigan – H &M, embellished by me
• Purple Tank – Gap
• Denim Skirt – Gap
• Boots – Banana Republic, via ebay

I’ve had this grey cardigan for years.  For a while it was a staple in my wardrobe (making almost as frequent appearances as my beige cardi does now) but eventually, I just stopped wearing it much.  I got bored with it, but I couldn’t bring myself to toss it in the donation pile.  When E. decided to do a cardi-embellishing project, this seemed the perfect item to breath new life in to.

Despite the fact that E’s sewing and crafting abilities are far superior, I took on a slightly more difficulty DIY…but, trust me, if I can pull it off, so can you.

To make these little flowers you will need:

• Scrap Fabric (I used a purple jersey)
• Thread in to match your fabric
• Scissors
• A Needle
• A few pins

Cut  your fabric into 1-1 1/2 inch wide strips, 4-6 inches long (I used a variety of sizes). Fold the fabric strip in half and pin it to keep it folded.

Then do a running-stitch across the bottom (where the folded ends meet).

Pull the thread on one end to gather the fabric together. Use your fingers to adjust the gathering and shape the fabric into flowers.

You can either make a few stitches to keep the fabric in this shape, or tack the flowers directly to the cardigan, shaping a bit as you go.  I played around with the placement of the flowers for a while, but eventually settled on a keeping them on one side of the neck line.  I still have some fabric left over, so I can always add a few more flowers later.

I know have the DIY embellishment bug and I’m excited to go through my drawers looking for tired pieces just begging for a few ruffles or a corsage of purple jersey!

7 March 2010 – Embellished Cardigan DIY, originally uploaded by academichic.

28 February 2010

Posted on | February 28, 2010 | 11 Comments

28 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Scarf – courtesy of echo
• Brown tank – Old Navy
• Cardi – J.Jill
• Brown cords – Ann Taylor Loft
• Boots – Dillards
• Yellow bag – vintage, garage sale find

Endnotes:

For a last nod to our scarf month, I’m excited to showcase my new Echo scarf that I received courtesy of Echo Design. A. and E. already showed off their beautiful new Echo scarves, wearing them as a belt and as an Ascot tie respectively. I tied mine in the European knot and wore it loosely as a pop of silvery-blue with this brown and chartreuse outfit. I love how light and breezy it is and how the slight crinkled effect and unfinished edges gives it a casual and worn-in look.

Echo scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Echo Design generously sent us a last scarf for a reader giveaway, which we will offer in a last scarf month giveaway post this coming week, so stay tuned for that! We also have new themes coming for the month of March, more Fashion 101s, and more DIY posts, so check back tomorrow to find out what’s to come in the new month. Meanwhile, I hope you’re enjoying the weekend and having a great Sunday. S.

28 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

14 February 2010 – Cozy Sunday Scarf

Posted on | February 14, 2010 | 7 Comments

14 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Scarf and Hoodie, originally uploaded by academichic.

14 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

6 February 2010

Posted on | February 6, 2010 | 7 Comments

6 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

4 February 2010

Posted on | February 4, 2010 | 10 Comments

4 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Gray sweater – Merona, thrifted
• Embellished tee – hand made by E.
• Jeans – Old Navy Flirt
• Boots – Dillards
• Scarf – Nepali by TDM Design
• Bag – 1 Euro reusable shopping bag made from recycled plastic bottles, drug store

Endnotes:

I mentioned last week that I received a care package with goodies from A. and E. With it arrived my Nepali by TDM Design scarf, which I couldn’t be more excited about. This lightweight silk scarf will be perfect this spring or summer but I can’t help finding ways to work into my wardrobe already. While the rest of my outfit is comprised of sturdy, sensible winter fabrics – jean, wool, leather – the silk scarf adds that dash of light and airiness that softens the whole look. It’s all about juxtaposition, people…

Nepali by TDM Design scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

I think this outfit in particular shows how a scarf can really change the feel and look of a basic ensemble. Without it, I’m just wearing a basic gray sweater, jeans, and a tee. With it, I look a little more polished and put together for my ventures out of the house. It’s amazing what a difference a little bit of well placed fabric can make.

And while we’re on the subject of scarves, I want to point you over to Audi’s site to check out this great little video in which she demonstrates two ways to wear a scarf that are slight deviations from the European Loop and the Loop & Tie methods we used earlier this week – I’ve never seen either of these ways of tying a scarf, so I am thrilled that Audi’s video how-to gave me new ideas for this month.

Once you’ve watched that, you might want to check out his awesome link that came from reader Beth T. on my post yesterday. It takes you to Hermès’s guide on the many ways you can wear a scarf. More new-to-me scarf tying techniques that I was sure to bookmark. Check those out, perhaps you’ll find some new ideas on how to wear a scarf as well.

And then hold that thought and come back tomorrow for your chance to win a Nepali by TDM Design scarf of your own in our first Scarf Month Giveaway tomorrow! You can snatch you own awesome Nepali scarf on which to practice all those new scarf-tying techniques. S.

4 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

4 February 2010 – Winter Escape

Posted on | February 4, 2010 | 21 Comments

4 January 2010 – Winter Escape, originally uploaded by academichic.

4 January 2010 – Winter Escape, originally uploaded by academichic.

Neutrals, originally uploaded by academichic.

4 January 2010 – Winter Escape, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 January 2010 – Short(s) Story

Posted on | January 10, 2010 | 23 Comments

10 January 2010 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Cropped jacket – thrifted
• Maroon top – thrifted
• Tweed shorts – thrifted
• Silk leggings – gift from mom
• Boots – Banana Republic
• Cluster of pins – thrifted

Endnotes:

One of my favorite purchases this winter have been these tweed shorts. I had been eyeing the shorts+boots trend from afar for a while and was excited to find the perfect pair of shorts to try this look myself. Trying trendy items can be a bit scary – you worry about how it will look on you and don’t want to spend a lot of money on an item you might only wear one season and then decide that it’s not your style after all. It’s no surprise that shows like What Not To Wear and fashion magazines often urge shoppers to invest in ‘classic’ and ‘timeless’ pieces. But sometimes it’s just more fun to buy something ‘timely’ and of the season. Two things I always look for when making such a purchase are:

1) Price – my budget is tight as a graduate student so I will only pay as much as I won’t regret having ‘lost’ if I change my mind about the said trend item a season later.

2) Fit – no matter how cute/stylish/cutting-edge an item is, it has to fit my body well or else I’m likely to feel double out of my comfort zone. Fit is key!

These shorts made the cut on both accounts and quickly won their spot in my heart as a new favorite. Thus far, I’ve worn them styled the following ways:

Assorted pics, originally uploaded by academichic.

Alternately, when it comes to embracing a ‘trend item’, what words of wisdom do you live by? What is your list of criteria for said item to find its way home with you? S.

10 January 2010 – Short Story, originally uploaded by academichic.

7 January 2009

Posted on | January 8, 2010 | 19 Comments

7 January 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

7 January 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

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Three feminist PhD candidates at a Midwest university, on a crusade against the ill-fitting polyester suit of academic yore.

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