Goodbye Summer…

Posted on | August 25, 2010 | 6 Comments

Goodbye Summer…, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Dress – Marshalls
Belt – BR Outlet
Flats – Target
Sunglasses – Marshalls

Endnotes:

Well, summer officially comes to an end this week as the semester begins tomorrow. I’m looking forward to the Fall, but sure will miss the summer! I successfully started a veggie garden, clocked over 400 miles with a new running buddy, met up with old friends, convinced my advisor my dissertation topic is a worthy one, and of course GOT MARRIED!!

These are pictures taken a few weeks back, while on one of the many mini summer vacations we took to visit friends and family. This is the dress I bought to wear the night before my wedding, but knew it would get a good amount of wear. I added the woven leather belt and red flats to dress in down enough for brunch and a walk around town.

Check back later this week to see what ensemble I pull together for the first day of the semester!

Goodbye Summer…, originally uploaded by academichic.

4 August 2010 – The Color Purple

Posted on | August 4, 2010 | 12 Comments

4 August 2010 – The Color Purple, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Tank: Gap Outlet
Wrap: Banana Republic Outlet
Belt: BR Outlet
Shorts: BR
Shoes: Frye
Necklace: South Moon Under
Bag: Liberty of London
Rings: family heirlooms

Endnotes:
It seems like the title “neutrals with a pop” is roughly how we here at Academichic tend to dress on a more regular basis, and this casual outfit falls firmly within my usual aesthetic. The ruffled top is the same as the one A. wore with her striped tank, but this one is taupe rather than grey and likewise goes with everything.

4 August 2010 – The Color Purple, originally uploaded by academichic.

We actually purchased these at different times, but like A. said, we shop together a fair amount and channel each other’s style easily. I removed the belt/sash that came with it in favor of this brown skinny belt because I wanted it to be more prominent. It also compliments my brown shoes.

Brown Frye Flats, originally uploaded by academichic.

You probably recall the frenzy around Frye boots a few years ago, but they also make a variety of other shoes including these darling flats. I loved them so much and found them terrifically versatile for both work and casual attire that I bought them in black as well. My mother has always told me that if you find something that you really like and it fits well, buy it in several colors! My purple tank top is an example of this philosophy and is only one of the myriad colors that Gap has on offer right now. I love these tanks and own them in an array of different colors. I’ve used them in layers, as undershirts, with cardigans, or just hanging around the house. The bright colors are excellent for bringing “pop” to any outfit and the price (around $4 on sale) makes it possible to get a variety of hues. Once I had settled on purple as my accent color I remembered this sweet little Liberty bag was in my closet. Since I would only be carrying around a wallet and cell phone today, I thought I’d use it as my purse.

4 August 2010 – The Color Purple – Accessories, originally uploaded by academichic.

Oh, how I relish these summer days without bags full of books, laptops, and papers! If you love florals and prints (as seen featured on Academichic in April this year), Liberty makes fabrics full of gorgeous colors, and as you probably remember recently collaborated with Target on a line of clothes and accessories. My necklace and rings were gifts, as is much of my jewelry in general. These rolling rings are my mother and grandmother’s from Cartier. They are totally classic and have obviously stood the test of time. I like to stack them because the thinner banded one is actually a little big for my finger and the thicker one holds it on. Although this ensemble all together is a little dressy for where I am currently, these slate-blue shorts are strictly casual.

4 August 2010 – The Color Purple, originally uploaded by academichic.

I would probably not wear them in the classroom or on campus because the length is a bit shorter than I am comfortable sporting in any kind of professional setting. What is your most comfortable length? Is it different for shorts versus skirts?

1 August 2010 – The (big) Green Apple

Posted on | August 1, 2010 | 4 Comments

1 August 2010 – The (big) Green Apple, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Tank: Sparkle and Fade via thrift store
Cardigan: Gap Outlet
Scarf (as belt): ?
Shoes: Nine West
Shorts: Banana Republic Outlet
(below)
Tank top: Banana Republic
Cardigan: Theory via Off 5th
Pants: Anne Taylor Loft
Belt: Betsey Johnson via Filene’s Basement
Shoes: Ciao Bella via DSW

1 August 2010 – The Big Apple, originally uploaded by academichic.

Endnotes:
Like E and A, I too was in NYC briefly last week, which gave me the opportunity to dress up a little more than I have been recently. I missed E’s visit, but A and I enjoyed a lovely day of museums, galleries, and of course shopping! We were having such a good time we completely forgot to document our outfits for the day, but I’ve recreated mine as another example of how to bring color into the city. Magenta and turquoise are definitely two of my favorite colors and happen to be two-thirds of a color wheel triad as well (blue-green, red-purple, and the third is yellow-orange). I included this studded belt to bring up the edginess factor and the flats and stretchy black pants doubled as chic and amazingly comfortable. Today I am back out in the country, and I wanted to create a two-thirds outfit with this green apple tank top that I had recently thrifted. The blue cardigan fulfilled the color wheel part, and the scarf-as-belt brought in purple, turquoise, and more light green.

1 August 2010 – The Green Apple, originally uploaded by academichic.

As you can see my scarf went from securely held down by belt loops to loosely knotted at the waist. I’ve often used this scarf as a belt, but I’d never tried the over-the-sweater belted look until I was inspired by my “cohort” from their scarf Fashion 101 challenge from last February. I’m learning as much as you are! Next up for Color Wheel Fashion 101: Neutrals (with a pop)!

27 July 2010

Posted on | July 27, 2010 | 20 Comments

27 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Jersey Wrap – BR Outlet
Striped Tank – American Eagle
Jeans – Banana Republic
Red Flats – Target
Dog – Camp

Endnotes:

After a wonderful visit with S. and T., an elegant wedding, and a relaxing weekend, A2, Camp, and I had to make the 10 hour drive back to Academichic Central. I wanted to be comfy in the car but needed something a bit more spiffy then sweats for the pre-car ride brunch with friends. I chose my cuffed skinny jeans, which have stretched out to a relaxed fit, a tank and this new jersey wrap. I picked this piece up on super sale at BR Outlet and love it! It’s so comfortable, is a lovely shade of grey, and has a fun ruffly lapel thing going. The belted waist doesn’t hurt either.

My pattern of choice has always been stripes and this summer I have been loving this blue and white striped tank.

Blue Stripes, originally uploaded by academichic.

I always find myself drawn to white and blue in the summer and have to stop myself from going overboard with the nautical influence. I think the classic paring of red and blue makes this simple outfit a bit more sophisticated and just happens to be a 2/3 color combination. I have a feeling these red shoes will be getting quite a bit of color-wheel play in the next few weeks!

Red Shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

What’s your summer pattern or color paring of choice? Do you too go nautical when the weather warms? Or maybe bohemian, or safari?

27 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Over the Weekend 80s Party

Posted on | July 19, 2010 | 9 Comments

80s Party, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

On L (left):

Vintage romper – thrifted in LA
Shoes – Payless
Hoops – her first pair from age 6
Bracelet – gift

On S:

Navy tank – Old Navy
Leggings – Target
Silver skirt – Express, via TJMaxx
Silver flats – Target
Off-the shoulder tee – thrifted and cut up for 80s party
Earrings – loaner from L.

On T (right):

80s workout jacket – from his closet in the 80s
Jeans – Izod, bleached for 80s party

Endnotes:

While A. was enjoying a serene (I assume) picnic in the park with her friends and A2 this weekend, T., our roommate L., and I spent a rockin’ night at an 80s throwback party. It was ace. We all pulled out our best 80s garb and improvised by making some last minute DIY alterations to complete our looks. T. actually owned this black, white, and neon orange workout jacket back in the 80s (don’t ask) and he made his white jeans by soaking a pair of old jeans from his to-donate-pile in a bucket of water and bleach solution for an hour. He even pegged his pant cuffs the way he used to have the cool girls at his schools help him do it during his 80s childhood.

80s Party – L & T, originally uploaded by academichic.

Meanwhile, our roommate L. sported an awesome pink, green, and yellow striped romper that is an actual vintage piece she scored at a thrift store in L.A. a while back. L, a native Californian, was hoping to actually wear this item this summer (since rompers are definitely making a come-back) but was dismayed to see that Midwest fashion hasn’t quite embraced the romper look yet. So she played it safe and pulled it out for our 80s theme party instead, where she more than rocked the look with her matching pink hoops and perky side ponytail.

80s Party – L & S, originally uploaded by academichic.

I improvised by throwing items together out of my existing wardrobe and just making a last minute run to Goodwill for this oversized teal tee. I then had T. cut the neckline for me while I was already wearing it (to easily see how much to cut off), creating that signature one-exposed-shoulder look of the 80s. Big hoop earrings and my own big poofy side ponytail finished my ensemble.

We had such a blast listening to 80s chart toppers, pulling out any 80s slang we could remember, and hanging out with our friends. We even rode our bikes there (teens in the 80s always rode bikes and then threw them carelessly on their front lawns, right?) and, of course, posed in the Karate Kid Shower Curtain photo booth. It was totally boss. S.

Rollback to the 80s, originally uploaded by academichic.

Dressed for a Summer Picnic

Posted on | July 18, 2010 | 4 Comments

Summer Picnic, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Skirt – Gap
Ruffle Tank – J Crew
Belt – F21
Bracelets – gifts from S.
Sandals – Charlotte Russe
Basket – gift from Sister S.

Endnotes:

This weekend I spent a lovely evening with friends in a nearby park. My contribution to the picnic included plates, bowls, cutlery, cups, and a bottle of white wine (in the cooler not pictured), but I also tucked a bottle of ice water, some bug spray, sunscreen, and an umbrella into my multi-purpose red basket. My sister gave me this collapsible canvas basket for my birthday a couple years ago. I’m pretty sure she got it from The Container Store, but I recently discovered a similar item at Garnet Hill. They come in a wide selection of colors and patterns and even in different sizes. I’m adding a mini basket in blue and a large basket in brown paisley to my wish list.

I figure I could easily use one or two more, since I’ve used mine for hauling plants, shopping at the farmers market, transporting baked goods for my family or hot dinners for new parents (like E. and N.), and for packing up picnic supplies. Because it had been used for the dirtier plant hauling most recently, I lined it with a brightly patterned fresh linen for the picnic.

Picnic Basket, originally uploaded by academichic.

For my picnic-perfect ensemble, I chose a tank that would keep me cool but had enough detail for an evening out. I paired in with a full skirt so that I could sit comfortably on the picnic blanket and not worry about flashing anyone!

I love summer! Especially when spent with good friends and good food! A.

PS: Thanks for all of the interesting comments last week about slogan t-shirts. I responded to some of the questions/concerns raised in a lengthy comment of my own.

Summer Picnic, originally uploaded by academichic.

14 June 2010 – Deep Thoughts on Fashion Blogging

Posted on | June 14, 2010 | 42 Comments

14 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Sunnies – drug store
Silk scarf – 1 Euro find at Vienna flea market
Eyelet top – TJMaxx
Brown cardi – TJMaxx
Skinnies – S.Oliver
Flats – Palladium
Pendant – Anthropologie
Earrings – gift from husband

Endnotes:

These are my last travel photos from Cluj, Romania. As you can see, I wore more of the same ‘uniform’ I’ve been sporting throughout my trip to Prague and Romania. I pretty much switched between two pairs of skinny jeans, rotated through a variety of loose, comfortable tunic-like tops, and wore the same tried and tested pair of Palladium flats each day…

This look works really well for me because I’m somewhat of a straight-up-and-down rectangle, so tunics, empire waist tops, and loose blouses work really well with my shape. Someone with more of an hourglass figure might do well to pack tops that define a waist and show off some curves, but for me, it ends up working quite well to highlight my thin legs in skinny jeans and not bother trying to create curves where there are none. When I’m just trying to get dressed quickly and comfortably, that is. Style savvy-readers like Sal mentioned trying travel outfits on at home before packing and I have definitely approached my packing in that well-planned way before. But when time is short and I just want to throw things in my bag that I know will work, I stick with simple pieces that work with and not against my figure. And with well worn-in and tested shoes. Even if it means that I wear pretty much a version of the same outfit each day. When I’m traveling, I want my surroundings to be my focus and not my outfits.

To vary my looks a wee bit and to make me feel like I’m adding a dash of style to my ‘travel uniform’, I packed a bunch of scarves and used those to add color, texture, and diversity. Scarves are great because they’re so light and small that you can pack a whole lot of them without sacrificing much luggage space at all…

I have actually been feeling a bit like a ‘one trick pony’ since so many of my outfits have been of this skinnies + tunic + flats variety and even wondered whether to post them or not, but then A.’s last post really struck a chord. I liked her honesty in saying that she doesn’t always look put-together, nor that she tries to always look put-together, and that she questions whether style bloggers ought to admit that or pretend otherwise. I have often thought about this myself (being of the not-always-so-put-together-as-I-may-like-to-pretend variety) and it seems to me that what sets fashion blogging apart from magazine spreads and professional models is the portrayal of a somewhat more realistic approach to style, fashion, clothing, and wearability. (Although the spectrum of fashion blogging runs broadly enough that arguments could be made both for and against this). Our site has always been about showing what we would wear on campus, to teach in, on research days, for office hours, or for any other given activity that we would realistically engage in. Thus, it follows that I shouldn’t have to edit out those images of me repeating the same jeans and top for the sake of creative documentation. At the same time, showing off the same look over and over defeats the purpose of creating a platform that seeks to inspire creativity and innovation in one’s approach to dressing.

If you’re still with me and I haven’t lost you with my ramblings, I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Where do you see the role of fashion blogging fitting in? Is it more of an art form and should a good blogger strive to create the kind of unique, often extravagant, and decidedly varied looks found in the pages of your favorite glossies, or rather, is it about documenting the everyday, albeit at times repetitive and perhaps even lackluster outfit creations of regular people? (And yes, I realize that I’m creating a somewhat oversimplified dichotomy here, but you get what I’m saying…)

So which type draws you in more?

Close-up, originally uploaded by academichic.

14 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

And as I leave you to ponder those questions, I will offer you a few more images of gorgeous Cluj… Hope you enjoy! S.

Cluj, Romania, originally uploaded by academichic.

Weekend Warrior

Posted on | June 6, 2010 | 8 Comments

Weekend Warrior, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Graphic Print White Tee – BR Outlet
Jean Skirt – Gap
Sandals – Charlotte Russe
Bangles – Gift from S. and S’s Mom

Endnotes:

Last summer I posted a few pictures of my weekend warrior wear but never got around to posting pictures of the finished project. We laid this patio and some new sod in our backyard just in time for E.’s baby shower. This summer we added more sod and started a new project! I’ll do a long post about this summer’s weekend warrior obsession. Some of you guessed correctly after my clue from earlier this week – I’m building a raised vegetable garden.

Veggies, originally uploaded by academichic.

After a long day playing in the dirt, I got cleaned up for a trip to the farmer’s market and a casual dinner at friends. I put on my comfy go-to jean skirt and a white tee. I’m a big fan of the white tee in the summer, but it’s always nice when they have a little something extra, like an interesting neck line, ruffles, or a subtle print, like this one.

BR Outlet Tee, originally uploaded by academichic.

I added these two bangles and a pair of sandals and was ready to go. I love this dark wooden bangle S. bought back for me from San Francisco last summer and this eagle cuff from S.’s mom and have found myself wearing both of them on a fairly regular basis.

Bangles, originally uploaded by academichic.

So, are you a weekend warrior? What’s your summer project? Check back later this week for a full report on my new vegetable garden!

Weekend Warrior, originally uploaded by academichic.

2 June 2010 – Wedding Attire

Posted on | June 2, 2010 | 52 Comments

2 June 2010 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Black dress – Banana Republic
Cord as belt – was my mom’s from twenty or so years ago
Gold clutch – Banana Republic
Gold sandals – Antonio Melani
Pashmina – shop in Romania
Coral earrings – gift from dad

Endnotes:

This past weekend, T. and I attended a friend’s wedding here in Romania. It was in a beautiful spot in the mountains and the whole affair was pretty elegant and formal. The last time I posted my friend’s wedding-guest attire, many readers chimed in with concern at wearing black (or white) to a wedding. While I respect that different cultures have different customs, those comments came as a surprise to me. And neither my mom (this being a Romanian wedding, I thought I’d ask her first) nor others I have since asked about this ‘taboo’ had ever thought anything of wearing black to a wedding. In fact, at this particular black-tie event, the maid of honor wore a beautiful ankle-length black gown, which looked stunning next to the long white dress of the bride.

Thus consulted, I decided that my little black dress of the more formal variety would be just the thing for this event. I love the rushed semi-circle neckline and how it ends just above the knee. I gave it a bit of shape by belting it (otherwise it’s just too loose and shapeless), and added gold and red accessories to complete the look. Gold sandals, a gold clutch, and a pashmina in warm red and orange colors with gold thread woven throughout give the black dress a bit of a ‘warmer’ look.

Details, originally uploaded by academichic.

The wedding was wonderful and T. and I had a great time. In true Romanian fashion, there were over 250 guests present and the party lasted until the early morning hours. Among those many attendants, women could be seen wearing all sorts of dresses in all sorts of colors. Including many black, some off-white lace, and plenty of colorful numbers. But not one could hold a candle to the bride, who looked absolutely stunning. (And I would argue that not even the guests wearing the off-white dresses ever stood the chance of being confused for the attendant of honor – the bride.)

I would love to hear more of you chime in on this topic – do you feel strongly about certain colors being ‘taboo’ for a wedding or for a certain type of celebration? Alternately, how were those impressions formed? Where did you learn of those ‘taboos’? S.

1 June 2010

Posted on | June 1, 2010 | 20 Comments

1 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Green Tank Dress – Gap Outlet
Navy Tank – Gap
Teal Belt – Old Navy
Earrings – F21
Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
Wooden Bangle – gift from S.

Endnotes:

I found this kelly green tank dress at Gap Outlet when shopping with E. It’s similar in style to E’s. homemade one, but the tank is the same color as the solid colored skirt part, which is cotton and lined. The tank has an unfortunately placed pocket that I just couldn’t get over, yet also just couldn’t pass this one up, so decided I would take it home and make it work. I immediately arrived home pulled it out of the bag and created five possible outfits from it and then text-ed E. to share my success. You will no doubt be seeing this dress remixed several times this summer – I will be sure to post a picture of the dress as it came next time.

I was drawn to the dress primarily because of it’s color. I love almost all shades of green but find this kelly green (with a bit of blue undertone) to be one of the more flattering on me. I made a tight analogous pairing between the skirt and teal belt and another, more distant, analogous pairing with the belt and tank.

analogous colors, originally uploaded by academichic.

I folded the bottom of the ruffly navy tank under so that it ended around where the original tank portion of the dress ends and then belted it into place. I like that it still looks like a tank dress, rather than a skirt and top.

I wore this ensemble to attend a few graduation parties over the weekend. The rest of the weekend I mostly spent in either running clothes or gardening/construction clothes. Here is a little sneak peak of my latest summer construction and garden project. It’s become a bit of an obsession, so I will save the details for a post of it’s own – check back later this week!