academichic

13 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Turquoise slub top – F21
• Brown skirt – Old Navy, well-loved
• Wooden necklace – don’t recall
• Red wedges – Naturalizers from DSW, remixed

End Notes:

Do you ever have a hard time getting dressed when the schedule for your day is in flux? I’m not sure if I’ll be working on design projects all day inside, if the weather will allow me to work in my backyard, or if perhaps I’ll be able to sneak away to a craft store. I find it incredibly difficult to get dressed on days like today and, as a result, I’m feeling rather uninspired.

I’ve written before about how a pair of shoes can save an outfit for me. My patterned flats have done so numerous times, but another go-to pair for “blah” days is my red Naturalizer wedges.

When I snagged these at DSW two years ago I thought that they would be occasional shoes. I was wrong. Not only are they incredibly comfortable (since they’re Naturalizers they have fantastic support and padding), they manage to make even simple outfits a little bit more fun.

Do you have a “go-to” item of clothing, a pair of shoes, or an accessory that serves as a wardrobe rescuer of sorts? What is it and why do you love it so?

       

2 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Button down – Gap 
• Black jean capris – TJMaxx, remixed 
• Mug – Starbucks

Endnotes:

There is an interesting thread of dialog happening over at You Look Fab regarding ‘pushing the envelope’ vs. sticking to a personal ‘uniform’. I thought this went really well with the recent discussion we’ve been having here, in which we asked you what gets you out of your pj’s in the morning, especially if you work from home like we often do. As I see it, Step One is actually getting dressed. But Step Two – what you put on – is a whole other battle. It’s one thing to recognize that you should probably not wear the same clothes you slept in all day afterwards. But it’s interesting to think about how we approach that getting dressed part, as the ladies over at YLF are doing. 

For me, exploring my style by documenting it here and by talking about it with E. and A. has simultaneously harnessed it in to a more ‘specific’ look but also given me the courage to push the envelope more. Being more aware of my style has given me the courage to explore trends and looks I might have been afraid of before. I have a better sense of how to make them fit my sense of aesthetic. This applies particularly to my professional and evening attire.

      

2 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Where I do have a so-called uniform is in my casual wear and weekend attire. I have waxed poetic about the button-down before, so I’ll spare you the lengthy post on it, but it is my go-to ‘uniform’ item when I want to be casual, comfortable, and still a bit stylish. I find it a bit more chic than a t-shirt and jeans, but still as forgiving in shape (when unbelted) and comfortable. 

Several of the young moms who responded to E’s post mentioned the importance of getting dressed in the morning before attending to baby, older children, and other demands. It seems that in this case especially, having a go-to ‘uniform’ would come in handy. Why is it though that we often assume uniforms to be a stifling in style creativity, likely to be bland, and lacking inspiration? 

What do you think about having a style ‘uniform’? Check out the great discussion over at YLF and join in there or leave us a comment here, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic!  S. 

     

pattern close up, originally uploaded by academichic.

30 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Red Tee – Old Navy
• Grey Lace Cami – Old Navy
• Polka-Dot Silk Tie – Thrifted
• Denim Pencil Skirt – Gap
• Red Wedges – Anthropologie, via ebay
• Beaded Cuff – Hawaii
• Silver Hoops – BR

Endnotes:

For the girl who wasn’t convinced she wanted to participate in this week of mini challenges, S. has really stepped up the game. She first challenged me to wear polka-dots but when I complained that the only polka-doted item I own is a very fall/winter top, she changed the challenge to wearing red. Well, I own two red items: -this tee-shirt and these kinda-red wedges! Funny enough, when I have worn this tee before S. has complimented me on the color. I decided to meet her challenge head-on by adding some polka-dots too. I like the way the little flower polka-dots echo the red in the top.

Details, originally uploaded by academichic.

I love all the comments we received yesterday and have responded to them in a rather long comment of my own. Today I have a new topic to pick your brains about.

The lack of red, polka-dots, and pattern in general, along with the change in weather, has me itching for a shopping trip! E. S. and I often hit the stores together and have various shopping strategies, so I see a Taking Notes on this in our future. But, I’m wondering how all of you approach shopping. Do you shop to fill gaps in your closet (ie red) or with a particular item in mind (ie a grey cropped blazer)? Do you set price limits before you go? Item limits? Do you pre-shop online to get a sense of what’s out there? Do you shop alone or with a special shopping buddy?

30 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

     

29 April 2009 – Floral, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Floral button down – Talbots 
• White tank – old 
• Cropped Jacket – DKNY, remixed 
• Jeans – ON Flirt (thanks for the tip, Clare!!)
• Grey wedges – Report, via Solestruck.com, remixed 

Endnotes:

Today’s challenge is florals. Florals isn’t that hard for me. I own a lot of florals. Admittedly, a lot of it is of the more abstract variety, but floral nonetheless. 

But A. assigned florals based on it being a “spring trend” and so I think the floral meant here is of the non-abstract and colorful spring variety. Since just a few days ago, I already wore the one dress that screams that to me, I had to find something else for today.

    

Spring Florals, originally uploaded by academichic.

This shirt is a hand-me-down and is definitely a spring floral. I liked it in theory but less so in practice and have worn it only once or twice since becoming the lucky recipient of it. I thought the colors very pretty when I got it, but I’ve had a hard time making it feel ‘me’ – so today I challenged myself to do that.

I’m making it feel more me by wearing it with dark slim fit jeans and a jacket. Yes, it’s the cropped jacket that I also had a hard time with before but its challenges pale in comparison to those presented by this Monet-ish number. But I think I like the end results of the floral with the structured jacket and jeans. And now I’m off to implement what I talked about yesterday – I’m dressed, I’m leaving the house, and I’m going to install myself at my favorite cafe with E. and get some mass studying done. S.

   

29 April 2009 – Floral, originally uploaded by academichic.

    

28 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Green button down – J. Crew, remixed
• Brown print jersey dress – Banana Republic, remixed here and here
• Yellow belt – J.Crew, remixed
• Yellow Shoes – Gianni Bini, remixed here and here
• Yellow earrings – made by me

Endnotes:

As E. mentioned, this week we’ll be on campus much less as the semester winds down and we’re working from home much more. I agree with E. that looking put together translates to feeling put together and, consequently, to being more productive. So I, too, will make an effort to keep getting dressed as I work from home and get ready to take my last comprehensive exam in three weeks. And A’s challenges will help ensure that happens! She challenged me to wear green today, a color I don’t wear very frequently, so I combined her style challenge and this very cute outfit worn by Dolofe on Wardrobe Remix to create today’s look.

   

28 April 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

But here’s the thing: This week marks the beginning of a new academic phase for me. The semester is over and I will now be working on my own and from home for the next year and a half! I will not be teaching again until Fall 2010 and I am going abroad this fall, so I will not be on a campus for quite a while.

To be honest, I am a bit scared of what that means for my appearance and attire and I am so glad that I have this blog (and your readership!) pushing me to keep looking presentable. I very much admire Andrea, who works from home and still manages to look fabulous all the time.

Bracing myself for this somewhat unique approaching situation, I have been asking myself these questions a lot and will pose them to you as well: Would you keep dressing the way you do if you worked from home? Is your style impermeable or completely dictated by your lifestyle? To what extent does seeing friends, colleagues, and familiar figures influence how you dress? What motivates you to present your ‘ideal’ self when you don’t know whether anyone acquainted with you will see it?

Maybe I’ll just have to ask A. and E. to keep sending me style challenges from afar!  S. 

  

Yellow shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

21 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blazer – J Crew
• White Tee – J Crew
• Jeans – BR, borrowed
• Green Flats – BR
• Necklace – Faces
• Bangles – various

Endnotes:

This week we are pushing ourselves to try out trends we might normally shy away from.  My look today is drawn form the pages of J Crew.  I often love many of the pieces in this catalog but have a hard time imaging myself styling them the way the models wear them.

J Crew Inspiration, originally uploaded by academichic.

I’ve had this blazer for a while now but have never worn it with pushed up sleeves and a white tee, but loved the way it looked in the catalog.  I am still hesitant about these oversized cuffed jeans but am trying them out.  The “boyfriend look” is one I’m having trouble getting behind for many reasons not the least of which is that I just don’t like the term!  Today I am wearing my girlfriend’s jeans which are two sizes bigger than I would normally wear but create the slouchy look that seems to be in this spring.   As S. said, the flats are still a necessity one-day-post-marathon.

scrunchy-slouchy, originally uploaded by academichic.

       

20 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Brown sweater – Gap 
• Grey sweater tie – from another sweater (like E., I keep all my ties that come with garments separate to mix and match as I see fit)
• Jean skirt – Urban Outfitters, remixed 
• Purple top – BR outlet 
• White 3/4 sleeve top – American Eagle 
• Damask flats – Old navy, remixed 
• Chandelier pendant – “It’s all about the print” on Etsy 

Endnotes:

Today’s outfit started with the shoes (it had to be flats!). As A. mentioned, we ran our marathon yesterday and it was awesome! The feeling of crossing the finish line of my first marathon was incredible! And thank you to all of you who left comments with good luck wishes before our big day! 

Post-race, I’m moving at a much slower pace. I’ve been walking pretty slowly and I’ve finally and slowly come to writing this post. But as tired and slow as I am, I feel wonderful. Also slow paced: my ideas for getting dressed this morning. So I copped out and turned to E. for style inspiration and copied this signature layering look of hers.  

20 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.   

I love the look of just the sleeves peaking out from under this tank, creating a seamless layer and extending the life of a summer item by adding sleeves to it. 

Necklace and neckline detail, originally uploaded by academichic.   

In addition, I’m wearing this cute pendant that I got from “It’s all about the print” on Etsy.  I got three, because they were only 6.95 a pop, and there was a ‘buy two and get one free’ March special going on when I purchased them. (I think that same offer was extended to April sales!) I liked all the different designs the seller had and I was smitten by them being made of Scrabble pieces.  I love Scrabble and love that my additiction is no longer just limited to playing the game – now I can accessorize with it as well. S.

Scrabble piece pendant, originally uploaded by academichic.

       

7 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

       

Vest up-close, originally uploaded by academichic.

       

My favorite velvet flats, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blue button-down – Gap, b-day gift for my 16th birthday! (so many many remixes…)
• Vest – Ann Taylor, remixed
• Pants – Banana Republic, “Ryan” fit
• Velvet flats – J. Vincent, remixed
• Pendant – Anthropologie, remixed

Endnotes:

In this week’s Fashion 101 we’re discussing our own body issues and how we create proportions that appear more pleasing to each one of us. As I’ve noted, my issues are with my midsection and yesterday, I pointed to the usefulness of a skinny belt in emphasizing a waistline.

Today, I present you with my profile view and what I consider to be the ideal waistline for my body shape:

As you can see, no amount of crunches will change my natural tummy curve (and believe you me, I’ve been doing crunches since I knew what crunches were). So instead, I do what Clinton on What Not To Wear recommends: attack the belly! I try to avoid low-rise or high-waisted skirts and pants and instead look for a mid-rise waist that sits right on top the most protruding part of my belly.* Yesterday’s skirt is a perfect example of a wide mid-rise waist - the most ideal waist-line for me:

 

2 April 2009 – A Day Without Belting, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Mustard top, brown surplice dress, blue pendant, and boots: all remixed.

End Notes:

This morning I was reaching for yet another cardigan-over-jersey-dress with boots — after all, my Thursdays are terribly long and it’s supposed to rain later today — when I grew suddenly bored. Really, E., another cardi over a dress? I mean, it’s chic and comfortable and all, but are there any other ways that a dress can possibly be worn?

After staring at my dresser drawer for a good long time (and unsuccessfully trying a shirt under the dress) I decided to layer this blousey mustard top over my basic brown dress. I panicked briefly when I realized that I couldn’t belt this look. No belt?! No waist or bump definition? Is this really a wise choice?

But I like it. I think the draping of the blouse and the banded bottom lets you know that, indeed, I have a shape under the poof and the colors are soft and warm together. So, as I try to figure out why this works for me today, I’m considering this a warm-up exercise for our upcoming Fashion 101 on Proportions!

 

2 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.