30 August 2010

Posted on | August 29, 2010 | 20 Comments

30 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Black Shirt Dress – BR Outlet
Belt – BR Outlet
Red Flats – Target
Earrings – Gift from A2
Bangles – Gift from S.

Endnotes:

With a little encouragement from E. and L., I purchased this black shirt dress from BR Outlet towards the beginning of the summer. I love the wrap top, full skirt, and of course, the pockets!

I was dying to wear it all summer but never had the right occasion in the right weather, so it made it’s premier at our department start of the year breakfast. These events can be tricky to dress for because you are asked to mingle with faculty, staff, and other students, meet new students, listen to announcements, conduct beginning of the year business, and what ever else your department chair might throw your way, all while awkwarly balancing a bad cup of coffee and a less-than-stellar pastry.

I, per usual, was one of the more dressed up graduate students, but I felt comfortable and confident – what more could you ask for?

It was at this department breakfast meeting 5 years ago that I first met E. We both often tell this story of quickly picking each other out of the crowd, as we were the only two people in skirts that day. After the breakfast we decided to go buy our books together and the rest is history. I’m glad that E.’s first impression of me was of a fashionable nerd!

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.

3 August 2010

Posted on | August 3, 2010 | 13 Comments

3 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Skirt – Gap
Tank- H & M
Belt – BR Outlet
Shoes – Banana Republic
Necklace – gift
Earrings – island souvenir
Cardigan – Banana Republic

Endnotes:

Like E. and S. both said themselves, mixing neutrals is no real challenge for me. I love my neutrals and love to mix them and was in fact crowned “our neutral-on-neutral queen” by E. last fall. I’ve never shied away from black and brown, wearing it for both casual days and teaching days, and frequently pair navy with brown, with grey, or cream. But, I think my favorite neutrals palate involves mixing shades of grey, brown, and beige as I have done many, many, many, times before.

3 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

I like that nothing in this ensemble exactly matches. With the cardigan on I am wearing at least 6 different shades or either brown or grey (including beige). The cardigan spent the entire day in my bag because it is ridiculously hot here in Academichic Central – so hot, even the over-air-conditioned campus buildings didn’t require an extra layer.

My favorite part of this outfit is hands down my new suede shoes! I have been watching these shoes at Banana Republic since early this Spring, waiting for them to go on sale. By the time they were within my price range, my size was gone (online and at the three stores withing driving distance from me) so I added them to my ebay search but had pretty much given up on them. Then I got a text from L. last week telling me she had found them in my size on super sale! She picked them up for me and gave them to me when we saw each other in NYC last week. I couldn’t wait to get home and build an outfit around them. These shoes might just give the beloved brown wedges a run for their money as most worn shoes this fall!

Grey Suede Shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

I often see things for E. S. or L. when out shopping and once in a while have even just picked an item up for one of them on occasion. It’s so much fun to have three other shoppers out there who know my style (and size and proportions) so well, but also a bit dangerous for the wallet!

Do you have anyone out there with an eye out for clothes or shoes you will love? A.

3 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

30 July 2010

Posted on | July 30, 2010 | 10 Comments

30 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Dress – BR Outlet
Belt – Old Navy
White Tank – Banana Republic
Grey Flats – BR Outlet

Endnotes:

I took this picture at 6:15 am before leaving for NYC so please excuse the tired face. I am now in NYC having a great time and will post a picture or two from my visit soon. For my early morning flight I chose a comfy jersey dress in a bright color and grey flats that would easily slip off at security and allow me to walk all over the city one I arrived.

I have to admit, I felt slightly out of place at the Met Library (and in the upscale cappuccino joint nearby) in my bright colors. I probably would have looked more like a New Yorker in one of my black or grey jersey dresses or better yet my black pencil skirt. But alas, this is NOT neutrals week! So, I added my favorite belt to make a 2/3 color combo blue-green + red-violet (+ yellow-orange).

Any New Yorkers out there participating in the color challenge, proudly wearing their bright colors? Bright berry pink even?

16 June 2010

Posted on | June 16, 2010 | 24 Comments

16 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Floral Blouse – Maurices
Maroon Belt – Target
Black Skirt – Banana Republic
Black Cami – BR Outlet
Pumps – DSW

Endnotes:

As I mentioned yesterday, for the next five weeks, I am teaching every morning. In an effort to not default to the jersey dress too soon, I pulled out this floral blouse from Maurices. I picked this out earlier this Spring when I knew we would be doing a week on florals. It’s rather outside my comfort zone and, in fact, the first time I wore it, I felt like I was playing dress up as S. I decided to give it another shot today and to try and make it feel a little more me. I added the thick belt that picks up on the pink flowers and adds some structure and hardware to the ruffly sheer top (belt anything and it seems at least a little more me!)

Needing a break from lesson planning yesterday, I treated myself to an iced coffee and a little grooming. Every once in a great while (like once a year) I get my eyebrows waxed and then maintain them by tweezing. I’ve been itching to have them professionally cleaned up again and have heard several people swear by threading – including my little sister L. L has fabulous eyebrows and I generally trust her advise, so I mustered up the courage and had my eyebrows threaded! I have to tell you, I think I am a convert. It was much less painful and didn’t leave my skin raw, red, and tingly. Just thought I would share a little grooming secret. How about you? Do you have any grooming tips to share?

Florals, originally uploaded by academichic.

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!

Summer Project Sneak Peak, originally uploaded by academichic.

1 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

27 May 2010

Posted on | May 27, 2010 | 6 Comments

27 May 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

White Tee – Banana Republic
Skirt – American Eagle
Belt – Gap
Sandals – Charlotte Russe
Wood Bangle – Gift from S.

Endnotes:

On behalf of E. and S. I have to apologize for our collective absence from the site this week! S. is traveling with husband T. and E. has started a summer class. My only excuse is that I have been writing, running, cooking, baking, house repairing, and gardening and don’t look nearly as adorable when I garden as E. does. Today I am finally leaving the house to go somewhere other than the park with the puppy or to Home Depot.

All the running and gardening has resulted in a nice tan, so I’m wearing white to show it off. Don’t worry, I wear SPF 30 everyday, but I don’t mind a bit of color.

27 May 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

I’m trying something a bit different with my belt today. I tried belting this skirt high and tucking my tee in, but the proportions were all off, so I’m wearing my belt slung low and loose and love the slouchy relaxed feel.

I’m off to a dissertation reading group meeting, but want to direct you all to a great post written by Sal today about feminism and fashion. I couldn’t agree more and don’t think I could say it any better, so won’t try – go check it out!

27 May 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

14 May 2010

Posted on | May 14, 2010 | 6 Comments

14 May 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Dress – Old Navy
Back Halter – Old Navy
Belt – Old Navy
Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
Earrings- F21

Endnotes:

For my final DYB post, I am dressing for my arms. One of the most fascinating and wonderful things about this project has been to see how many different ways there are to love your body. Many bloggers wrote about embracing the parts of their body that serve an important function, as S. and I did with our legs, and E. with her mom arms. Others wrote about learning to love something society or shopping has taught them not to, like my ass and E.’s skin tone. And many wrote about loving a body part they have had to work, have invested time and energy into making it what it is. That’s the case with my arms!

Arms!, originally uploaded by academichic.

I have naturally long limbs and after years of running muscular legs, but my arms are not naturally muscular (and I have no baby lifting to make them strong). I have long been admiring the fabulously toned arms of a good friend (and running buddy and colleague). Her arms look amazing all the time! After complimenting her on them many times and on a few occasions admitting my jealously, she offered to help me work on my arms. I joined her a couple times at a total toning class on campus and then we went to the gym and she laid out a training schedule for my arms (I love running schedules, so this was right up my alley).

I have been working on my shoulders, triceps, and biceps on and off now for a few weeks and already see such a difference. My super-armed friend suggested I wear a halter to show off my progress. I’ll report back in a month or so with hopefully even toner triceps. Next, I’m on to my back!

14 May 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

13 May 2010 – Learning to Love It

Posted on | May 14, 2010 | 26 Comments

13 April 2010 – Learning to Love It, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Tee-Shirt – Ann Taylor
Skirt – J Crew
Belt – New York & Co
Bracelet- Gift from sister M
Pumps – DSW
Earrings – American Eagle
Puppy = Camp

Endnotes:

Firs, a side note: taking pictures of this outfit yesterday was like a comedy of errors. We have been getting some serious thunderstorms in Academichic Central and so I had to take my pictures on my covered deck where I was out of the rain but not the wind. My dog, Camp, hates thunderstorms and becomes extremely needy during them so, sorry for the strange cropping and the puppy interruptions.

Today I am dressing my butt, my backside, my bottom, my ass! I used to hate this entire region of my body – until very recently actually. It’s large and makes jean shopping impossible. But, thanks to a good friend I have recently come to appreciate my butt, and particularly the way it looks in pencil skirts. It’s still a struggle to say that I love it (it would be a lie if I didn’t tell you that I often wish it were smaller, tighter, firmer) but I’m learning to love it.

Learning to love it!, originally uploaded by academichic.

The pencil skirt has become a part of my academic uniform, I own many and wear them often. I have always noted that I like how pencil skirts work for my body, but today I am celebrating how well my body works for pencil skirts. I have the perfect pencil skirt shape – curvy! I first came to appreciate my butt for adding to my hourglass shape, but after repeatedly hearing how great my ass looks from this friend, I am finally coming to love my butt in its own right.

13 April 2010 – Learning to Love It, originally uploaded by academichic.

As an added bonus, I’m liking how my collar bone and looks in this new t-shirt I picked up on sale at Ann Taylor. Expect to see this one remixed again soon!

Be sure to enter our DYB giveaway and to check back later today for yet another giveaway! A.

T-Shirt Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 May 2010 – Dressing My Waist

Posted on | May 10, 2010 | 21 Comments

10 May 2010 – Dressing My Wasit, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Blue Button Down – J Crew
Jeans – Banana Republic
Black Cami – Gap
Black Belt- NY & Co
Black Heels – DSW
Bracelets – gifts from S. and S.’s Mom

Endnotes:

I have a belt obsession. It’s no secret. I will belt anything and everything. I love to belt. But, here’s the thing, belts look good on me. I belt to emphasize my waist, which is one of the best parts of my body. I have a soft spot for button down shirts – it’s something about the classic simplicity of them – but they are not usually the most flattering on me. Much like I did with my boxy button-up blouse a few weeks ago, I left this shirt unbuttoned, crossed it over, and belted it around the smallest part of my waist. I’m quite pleased with the effect.

Tow added bonuses: the bright blue of this shirt makes my blue eyes pop and these dark skinny jeans combined with black pointy-toed heels make my legs look long and slim. I’m planning to dress for both of these features later this week, but I am unabashedly claiming them all as good parts in one post!

I am a little concerned that these jeans may be creeping into jeggings territory – but, that’s for another post.