academichic

Sources:

Both:

• Chocolate Skinny Cords – Gap Outlet
• Teal Cardigan – Banana Republic

Day (4):

• Pink Paisley Scarf – Old Navy
• Boots – Banana Republic

Evening (7):

• Blue and Green Paisley Scarf – Echo
• Wool Pumps – Urban Outfitters
• Earrings – F21

Endnotes:

While E. was taking (and I have no doubt rocking) her comprehensive exam yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending the day with baby e.!  I chose my chocolate brown cords (which keep showing up as black in all the photographs) a warm cardigan, colorful scarf, and my black wellies.  My bright two-thirds color scheme of blue and pink and baby e.’s yellow jacket made us into quite the walking triad!

The outfit was perfect for reading books, playing with stacking cups on the floor, exploring the backyard, walking to and playing at the park.  (note: it’s labeled 4 of 30 because last week in my application daze I skipped from outfit 3 to 5).

By swapping out just a few elements, this ensemble went from ideal for a play date with e. to casual dinner-date ready.

I traded one paisley scarf for another and my wellies for my olive flannel pumps, touched up my makeup, added a pair of earrings, and was ready to go!  This version is rather matchy-matchy with the scarf matching both the olive of my shoes and the bright blue of my sweater. I love wearing these earrings and scarf together because they almost match but don’t, which I think is supposed to be a no-no of pattern mixing — well, just call me a pattern mixing rebel!  A.

7 October 2009 – Ode to A., originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Turquoise cardigan: Gap
• Blue green top: BR Outlet
• Brown skirt: BR Outlet
• Red Wedges: Naturalizers, via DSW

End Notes:

S. and I are paying homage to A-style today, and this is my interpretation of an A-worthy outfit. While S. riffed off of A.’s adept layering of ruffles under a cardigan, I’m playing with some of A.’s signature colors: shades of blue green. A. definitely knows how to work this color palette, and she always looks great in it.

A. has become my dearest friend in my department over the past few years and has helped keep me sane through some storms of academic drama. We work extraordinarily well together, whether we’re co-teaching a class, planning a lesson, curating an exhibition, or just tandem shopping. She’s a hard worker, incisive thinker, warm teacher, and supportive friend.

Happy birthday, A! Here’s to another year of impeccable style and fashion-forward feminism. Will you be premiering one of your birthday gifts today?

7 October 2009 – Ode to A., originally uploaded by academichic.

14 August 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Endnotes:

For today’s analogous color mix, I’m venturing over to A.’s side of the color wheel and wearing green and blue together. It’s not a combo I often wear, but one I should definitely give more consideration. This outfit began with this bright green puffy-sleeved tunic that I thrifted while visiting my friend A.P. recently. We managed to squeeze in a bit of thrift store shopping as a nod to our olden days together and it was great. When I first picked up this top, I thought it was way too loud and way to puffy-sleeved, but I tried it on anyway. Both A.P. and I loved it on and I love it even more today. So if I may be pedantic for just a moment:  judging clothes on a hanger is often misleading. Try stuff on!

To create an analogous color play, I added this blue and green scarf around my very messy hair today. I’m also excited to wear my new earrings, which T. gifted me on our wedding day.

And yet another wedding item: my flip-flops. I bought these as a back-up shoe in case my heels became too uncomfortable after hours of standing or if I had to drive the MG home and needed a more sensible shoe. I didn’t need to resort to them, but it was still worth the $12 investment to have them on hand just in case. I can’t imagine anything worse than worrying about blisters and achy feet when you’d want to be enjoying your wedding day. Plus, it provided a nice little excuse for me to peruse the shoe section at Target, which is always a (pretty affordable)  treat. S.

9 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except skirt.

• Blue-Violet Top – H & M
• Grey Tank – F21
• Navy Jersey Skirt – Target
• Red Orange Shoes – Old Navy
• Green Necklace – Gift from A2

Endnotes:

I’m going casual-comfy today with layers of jersey and a pair of flats.  However, I am taking my cue form E. and attempting to transform jersey with exciting color play.  The red-orange worn with green and blue make for a split complimentary, or if you count this as red-orange, blue-violet, and yellow-green, I’m sporting a triad!

Both E. and S. have some great jersey skirts in their wardrobe , which I have long coveted.  I have tried on, what feels like, a million jersey skirts over the years but was never able to find one that I was comfortable in.  That is, until I stumbled across this one at Target. I tried a size up and have been wearing it over and over again ever since!  The moral of this story – don’t give up on an item or style just because you have tried on one version. It’s amazing how much a difference size, cut, or fabric can make. Try, try again!

Yesterday a few readers inquired about the shopping habits of the Chics. We promise to share our methodologies and tips for shopping in a Back-To School Shopping post later this summer.  What would you like to know about our shopping habits and strategies? Do you have any great tips to share with us?

Necklace and Nekline, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Navy Blazer – F21
• Green Faux-Wrap Dress – BR
• Brown Cami- Gap
• Skinny Belt – Anne Taylor
• Brown Pumps- Nine West
• Necklace – Earring turned necklace (I lost the other one)
• Earrings – Gift

Endnotes:

I don’t know that this necessarily fits any current spring trends (although this blazer is perhaps a bit safari).  This wee we are also thinking about how we adapt shapes and styles we a see on each other and on our w_r muses.   It’s funny, S. E. and I all own variations on many of the same items – our essentials lists overlap in serious ways.  But, because we do all have such different body types, when we own the exact same piece of clothing we each tend to wear it a bit differently. More often than not, we like similar looks but have to create them with pieces that work for us, that make us feel comfortable and confidant.

E. and S. both have cropped navy blazers but they are rather different in shape.  Today’s outfit is very similar to S.’s Monday outfit but while she wore an empire-waist dress and empire-waist jacket that faltered her body beautifully, I have gone with a faux-wrap and a cinched waist jacket to play up my hourglass tendencies.

Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.