academichic

   

Plaid Shirt, originally uploaded by academichic.

Endnotes:

We have been so lucky to get so many wonderful items on loan from the weardrobe closet. The concept behind the closet is that you get to see how other stylish people wear the same item in many different ways, and you help “inspire fashion creativity”. We here at academichic love the idea behind this since we’re always looking to each other and other style bloggers for inspiration. 

We all tried our hand at the versatile Possibilities sweater from Anthropologie, and yesterday, E. and A. both showed how they rocked the same plaid tunic in different ways. A. and I also experimented with this cute plaid button down from Urban Outfitters, which I wore under my khaki shirtdress and she paired with her cuffed skinnies and purple cardi. We both used boldly colored shoes to emphasize the bright and beautiful shades of purple and pink in the shirt pattern, while using the neutral of the khaki and jeans to add balance to the outfits.

 

It looks like we weren’t the only ones who thought that this brightly colored top deserved an equally bright and fun shoe to go with it. Fellow style blogger Jess of What I Wore styled this same shirt a couple of weeks ago, and we just love the fun gold sandals she paired with it:

may 16 outfit 2, originally uploaded by Midwest Jess.

One shirt, so many options!  It’s easy to fall into a habit of wearing the one item in your closet in the same way with the same color combination over and over, so this style experiment has been a great reminder that even something as basic as a button down can go a long way in creativity and versatility. Thanks, Jess, for providing a third and fabulous example of how this item can be worn! S.

27 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Endnotes:

Yesterday E. mentioned she could use a little challenge to help her get dressed this week.  She got some great suggestions, but because both E. and S. are quite mentally taxed this week with it being the last week of the semester, we have decided to go with Sal’s suggestion.  I will be the official “challenger” this week and will send both E. and S. email style challenges each night.   They, in turn, can send me challenges or I will give myself a challenge for each day this week.

My first challenge for E. was to wear “pink – not magenta- pink!”  For S., I have chosen green.  These are not their respective go to colors so a challenge it should be!

S. sent me a challenge last night – “wear stripes.”   I don’t own much that is patterned but I do have a few stripped pieces so worked hard to pull more than one striped item into today’s outfit. This outfit went through many revisions this morning, but even though it looks a bit like a middle school uniform, I am happy with the results.

28 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

STRIPES, originally uploaded by academichic.

  

2 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Button-down shirt: borrowed from the husband
• Skinny jeans: Gap Outlet, remixed
• Red wedges: DSW
• Necklace: self-made

End Notes:

We’re still in a warm spell, and I’m taking full advantage of it, even if today is just a paper-writing day.

I’m trying out some of those “stretch your non-pregnancy wardrobe further” tricks, curious if any of them will work for me. This one is: “raid your husband/boyfriend/nearby male’s closet.” I admit that there have been a few Sharon Stone moments in the past where I’ve tried — and ridiculously failed — to borrow one of my husband’s button downs. I still feel rather floppy and silly in this one, but I think my new preggers boobs help give a little shape while hiding the still-sneaky bump. And red shoes go with everything, right?

  

Necklace Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

  

Red Wedges, originally uploaded by academichic.