academichic

Sources:

• Sweater: Theory via Neiman Marcus Outlet
• Patterned Tank: Banana Republic
• White Tank (under): BR
• Skirt: Gap (swapped with A.)
• Belt: J. Crew
• Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti via Filene’s Basement

Endnotes:
All of the individual parts of this outfit are certainly springy, but the whole thing together reminds me of a late fall concoction of ripe pumpkins, rich browns, and golden leaves – in short, A. and J.’s favorite drink: a Pumpkin Spice Latte. I wanted to add a spring-y-er element, and I needed something to cover my shoulders, so I followed in A.’s footsteps and opted for my turquoise cardigan.

A. has done some fantastic pairing with her orange pencil skirt (of which I am insanely jealous!) and while my brown skirt and orange patterned top isn’t making the same splash, it is still a nice pop of complementary colors.

What summer items or combinations have you been sporting that you associate with other seasons?

L.

Sources:

• Dress: Moulinette Soeurs via Anthropologie
• Sweater: Gap outlet
• Belt: Old Navy outlet
• Camisole (under): Banana Republic outlet
• Shoes: BR

Endnotes:
I think S. brings up a great question: How do you best dress with stress? I had wondered at the beginning of this school year if during 9 months of dressing for classes 6 days a week there would come a point at which I absolutely could not stand to get dressed in the morning. For me getting dressed is fun. Obviously I enjoy it or else I wouldn’t bother playing around with what I wear, nor would I take the time to blog about it. Certainly in these last 9 months there have been days, or weeks even, when looking at my closet has inspired more dread than pleasure, but for the most part I’ve enjoyed starting my day playing “dress-up.” As I’ve said before, I use clothes to get me revved up, keep me motivated, and put on a brave front when I’m not feeling so tough inside.

However, in these last few weeks of school, as the weather has not warmed and the rain keeps falling, I have hit my wall. I have been going back to old, faithful staples that I’ve been wearing since I was in high school: corduroys and Birkenstocks. I haven’t blogged these outfits both because I feel “frumpy” in them and because it’s definitely not corduroy season in most of the country, so who cares how I styled a pair of cords in mid-May when really you want to know how to wear sundresses and straw hats?

Anyway, today I was actually feeling motivated enough to pull on a dress, a belt, and some cute flats. Pretty good considering there is a 70% chance of rain. Oh well, it’s time for me to bundle up for another afternoon of coaching in the drizzle. I probably will change out of these super comfy flats in favor of some waterproof sneakers, but who wants to see pictures of those?

- L.

Sources:

• Lace-edged Camisole: Banana Republic Outlet
• Cardigan: H&M
• Belt: American Apparel
• Skirt: White Rice
• Tights: Target
• Oxfords: Crown Vintage via DSW
• Necklace: gift from sister

Endnotes:
Really? Tights in spring? Tights in the middle of May?! Yes folks, sad but true. The daffodils are blooming, fruit trees have burst into fluffy balls of white flowers, and my allergies are going haywire (pun intended), but the chill is not out of the air some days where I am. I had sworn off wearing tights after spring break, mostly because my waist and stomach were tired of being constricted like that, but I had to give in and break them out on Friday last week. To really feel sorry for myself I started to look back at when other bloggers around the country had packed up their winter tights for the year.

The ever hip and stylish Clare of Between Laundry Days was still wearing tights (or at least posting tight-ed outfits) in April, but has recently been enjoying sunshine and nylon-free gams.

The oft-skirted and always adorably dressed Tanya of What Would a Nerd Wear decided to freeze her kneecaps one particularly cold spring day, but she hasn’t donned tights in weeks (just look back at her recent posts!). Even my lovely co-bloggers out in academichic central were ditching their tights back in early April!

However, I do have a (reluctant) tights companion in the artistically photographed, well dressed and hilarious woman behind Hello, Monkeyface!, who also paired spring florals with tights this month, and the queen of color combos, Audi of Fashion For Nerds, also sported some firey red tights recently. Thank goodness! I really was starting to feel sorry for myself (wink wink)

On the flip-side, the always thoughtful and encouraging (and well heeled!) Sally at Already Pretty lined up some great ideas for how TO cover up even when it is warm out.

How have you been keeping warm during the mud season between winter and spring? Do you have a cut-off point for some wintery items that you refuse to wear after a certain date or season change?

L.

Sources:

• Dress: French Connection
• Shirt (under): Splendid via Nordstrom Rack
• Sweater: Banana Republic
• Pants: Anne Taylor Loft
• Shoes: Ciao Bella via DSW

Endnotes:
I realize that this is extremely similar to the first way I styled this dress when I debuted it in London (it was a birthday gift from my fabulous sister). However, the addition of skinny black ponte pants underneath made the shorter hemline feel safer, and the shirt under and sweater over provided needed warmth.

The inspiration to tie the built-in belt from the dress on the outside of the cardigan is something that my co-bloggers have been perfecting for years. E. takes the ties on a solid color jersey dress to hold down a top layer consisting of an unbuttoned patterned shirt dress; S. takes a removable sash from a jersey dress to wrap around her outer layer; and A. uses the ties on a wrap dress to integrate her cardigan into her look. You can also use ties from blouses to hold down cardigans. If you want more ideas, check out A’s tutorial on how to use built in ties over cardigans.

Sources:

• Sweatshirt – Banana Repuclic
• Tank – Ann Taylor
• Belt – from L.
• Pants – swapped (originally from Gap)
• Flats – DSW
• Basket – gift from sister S. (similar ones can be found online and at Containers and Things)

Endnotes:

The end of the Spring semester is always so hard because there is so much to wrap up (final papers and exams to grade, materials to turn in, accounts to balance, shelves to clean out, etc) yet the weather is beautiful and all I want to do is spend my days outdoors.  Luckily, this weekend I was able to take a break from grading and visit the opening day of my local farmers market.  We took our puppy and A2′s parents with us and we all had a great time on what turned out to be a lovely spring morning!

Remember this outfit from our Banana Republic challenge? I loved the slouchy yet pulled-together nature of my farmers market outfit, so when it came time to head out to the market for real, I instantly decided to try and recreate the look.  I ended up purchasing the sweatshirt cardigan after styling it and had flats and a belt that would work.  The big item I was missing was the checked tunic, and I could not for the life of me find a suitable replacement in my closet, so I ended up with a simple tank.  I let the pop of color come from my pants rather than the top.

I picked these blue pants out of a pile at a recent clothing swap E. and I hosted, because I was drawn to the bright blue color.  I didn’t like the way the pants looked on me when I fist tried them on, but I knew I could likely alter them into some thing I liked more.  I do like them better with the cuffed bottoms, but I’m not crazy about the length of them – I wish they were a bit longer, like the olive ones I wore from Banana Republic.  I’m thinking about chopping them into shorts, something like these or these (which I would cuff like the first ones but would be a bit longer).  What do you think, leave them as cuffed cropped pants or chop them into cuffed shorts?

Sources:

• Ruffled Shell: Banana Republic
• Sweater: August Silk via Filene’s Basement
• Skirt: French Connection
• Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti via Filene’s Basement
• Necklace: South Moon Under

Endnotes:
Happy Monday everyone! And now for a brief foray into pop culture courtesy of Katy Perry:

Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on show ‘em what you’re worth
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you’re a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
You’re gunna leave ‘em fallin’ down-own-own

While I’m not a huge fan of her music (I’m uneasy about the sexual message of “Teenage Dream” and the veiled homophobia of “I Kissed a Girl”), I do enjoy the positive tone of these particular lyrics, and yes, I will admit to blasting it while driving around doing errands this weekend. Sometimes a catchy tune is just a catchy tune.

I happily refer to this skirt as “fireworks” because of the bursting blue and neon pink of the pattern. I’ve worn it with this top before, but not on the blog. That time I paired it with my cropped navy blazer, but I’m liking the line of the cardigan tucked in. I thought about wearing my navy blue shoes, but decided that would be matchy-matchy overkill. You all know that my policy on footwear is “when in doubt, wear metallic” so I put on these gold sparklers (get it?).

I feel very put together in this “firework” outfit and love the burst of ruffle from the shirt and the bursts of color and pattern in the skirt. What is inspiring your outfit today?

Also, what do you think about Katy Perry or other pop artists? I’d really like to hear what others have to say about the influence that pop music has and what messages are carried within it – especially for young women. I know we have very thoughtful readers and commentors, but since this can be an incendiary topic, I request that you respect me and each other in the comments section as we are all entitled to our own opinion. Thanks!

L.

Sources:

Cardigan – Banana Republic
Dress worn as tunic – Target ages ago
Leggings – JC Penny
Plaid flats – Target
Necklace – lone earring turned pendant (see here for more jewelry repurposing ideas)
Bike Tote – J.Crew, gift from A.
Bike – Peugeot Mixte

Endnotes:

This week has been my first week at home after the semester ended and it’s been wonderful. Although I’m still working out final grades and finishing up loose ends from home, it’s been so great to sleep in a little later, take breaks to walk my dog, meet friends for coffee, or ride my bike to the nearby park and simply sit and read for pleasure.

I gave myself a free pass to take it easy this week and not worry about dissertation stuff or deadlines and just enjoy a break from work. Starting next week, I plan on implementing a daily writing schedule that I aim to keep until the baby’s born (when things will change again) that will hopefully force me to make significant and regular progress.

And since this week has been all about taking it easy and not having to go to campus, my outfits have reflected that and I’ve been living in my favorite preggers uniform: dress turned tunic over leggings with flats. I picked up a couple of inexpensive leggings at JCPenny and I’m really happy with the quality and feel of them. They’re not maternity, just a size up from my usual, and worn rolled down beneath my belly. I’ve come to realize that I hate the feeling of a waist band on top of my belly so even my pregnancy items with a full panel I roll down and wear ‘below the bump’. Having the belly free of constraint and able to ‘breathe’ has been the most comfortable to me.

And you may have noticed that I am wearing the same gray jersey dress that I wore in my last post, but this time as a tunic under a cardigan. This simple gray dress is a perfect layering piece. It doesn’t look that great on its own but works wonders as a layering item (see here for more examples), all the more since it’s in such a versatile neutral color. What items in your wardrobe play that role of ‘jack of all trades’?

Oh, and I have to say a word about the accessories here… since I haven’t been carrying my laptop, lunch, books, etc around with me this week, I’ve left my sturdier bag behind and have taken to carrying my awesome new tote that A. sent me recently. She found this at J.Crew and thought of me as it contains all of my favorite things on it… a book, a bike, and running shoes. I love this bag and treasure it even more so since it comes from A., my long time running partner, with whom I often trade book tips, and who has recently purchased her own yellow mixte to start commuting to campus. Thus, these things not only represent hobbies of mine but also the many ways that A. and I have connected as friends over the years. Thanks, A! I love my new tote and the fact that you thought of me!

As for the necklace, it’s an earring who’s partner I lost and that has been repurposed as a pendant. I simply pushed the little ear loop ‘closed’ and ran the silver chain through it, and voila… (see more ways to creatively repurpose your jewelry here!).

Sources:

• Dress: J. Crew (thrifted)
• Sweater: Zen via Filene’s Basement
• Belt: Anthropologie
• Shoes: Tahari via endless.com
• Necklace: gift

Endnotes:
I’ve worn this dress a lot since I bought it at a consignment shop this winter (same place that A. picked up her fab new blouse!), and I’ve consistently struggled with what to do about the ruffle around the neckline.

Well, genius that I am, I decided at 7:00am yesterday morning that the back part of the ruffle had got to go, so I took out my trusty scissors and happily took out the stitching holding on the back half. Why I hadn’t done this earlier, I’m not sure. Why I chose to do it at 7:00am in the morning while still a little delirious, I’m also not sure about. Regardless of the mysterious ways my addled morning-brain works, I’m happy with the results.

I’ve also had this sweater for a while and it was just about to go in the “swap-heap” before it was rescued for this outfit. It seemed good in theory to have a lightweight, cashmere, mushroom-brown cropped sweater, but in practice it has proven less practical. I’m not sure that this one outfit will totally redeem it, but it will at least survive until next fall because (drum roll) I’m packing up my winter clothes this weekend! I’m doing this in preparation both for spring (to finally arrive) and for a clothing swap I’m organizing next week. No better time than a season shift to clean out the old closet! A. and E. are hosting a swap soon as well, so keep your eyes out for some upcoming weekend workshops on the topic!

Finally, getting to the title of my post – I know I wear belts a lot, and I completely blame A. for this habit. I told you during belt week that belting is the gateway drug to becoming style obsessed (in a non-self destructive, good kind of way). However, my waist is not always happy being squished, and depending on how much I’ve consumed, my belts can get a little bit tight — until I found this belt on clearance at Anthropologie when A. and I were shopping in Boston. I know that plastic is generally not good for the environment, but stretchy, forgiving materials are very good for my post-winter but pre-spring training body, and this belt is plenty stretchy and very comfy.

Does your body noticeably change over the course of some seasons?

Sources:

• Powder Blue Cardigan – J Crew Outlet
• Sea-foam Green Blouse – Banana Republic Factory Store
• Brown Skirt – Thirfted (NY & Co)
• Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
• Belt – tie from a dress
• Earrings – China Town, SF

Endnotes:

Sometime in the next few weeks E. and I will be hosting another clothing swap.  At our last clothing swap I let go of a lot of items I hadn’t worn in quite some time, even items I loved.  I was happy to know they would go to a good home.  As we prepare for our next swap, I am slowly pruning my closet and creating a good sized pile in one corner of my room.  Well, actually, it’s two piles: one definite pile and one maybe pile. I decided to make a maybe pile and them attempt to wear them before the swap.  If I can happily incorporate the item into a ensemble in the next couple weeks, I’ll hold on to it.

This ruffly-front sea-foam green blouse is the first item to be tested in this way.  Sadly, I think it failed.  I love the color of this blouse and the piping detail down the front, but that’s where it ends.  It doesn’t fit me all that well (a bit tight on top and loose and shapeless at the bottom) and it’s a bit too see-through for my likes. I tried layering it under a cardigan to deal with the fit on top and the see-through issue, but then really did not like how the ruffles fell. So, I’m thinking this blouse needs a new home.

As it turns out, I think I’m also on the fence about this skirt.  I picked this up at a giant thrift store for $4.  I don’t do well in those places and so I bought it with out trying it on.  I’ve been looking for a longer, full skirt in a neutral color (or non-neutral for that matter) for quite some time now and for $4 it seemed worth the risk.  I do like its color and length but I wish the fullness started at the waist and when I hike it up to make it do that, it’s too short.  I think I will give this one another shot before it ends up in the definite swap pile.

How do you decided what to keep and what to giveaway when you are pruning your closet?  Do you give the maybe items one last shot?

Sources:

• Long Sleeved T: Splendid via Nordstrom Rack
• Camisole: Banana Republic Outlet
• Sweater: BR
• Scarf: gift
• Pin: grandmother’s
• Corduroys: DKNY via Filene’s Basement
• Socks: gift
• Oxfords: Crown Vintage via DSW

Endnotes:
Robert Frost had it right when he said in the poem “Two Tramps in Mud Time”:

The sun was warm but the wind was chill.
You know how it is with an April day
When the sun is out and the wind is still,
You’re one month on in the middle of May.
But if you so much as dare to speak,
A cloud comes over the sunlit arch,
A wind comes off a frozen peak,
And you’re two months back in the middle of March.

Yesterday was chilly and rainy and grey. In the words of Tina Fey: blerg. I hope this is the last time I’ll be wearing cords this spring but you never know. I started this outfit with my socks. Yes, knee high, wool socks with sheep on them that my dad gave me many moons ago after he visited the Hebrides (which are islands off of the Scottish coast, in case you’re not up on your geography). Of course, since I started with the socks I decided that they needed to be displayed and so I cuffed my trousers.

This combination of sea green, grey, blue, and tan is one of my favorites and I’ve gotten a lot of wear out of this scarf (also from Scotland) over the winter. My chunky, cabled, cotton sweater was just warm enough, and this time I decided to tack the built in ties to the inside using safety pins and instead use a silver pin to hold the sweater together.

I’m pleased with the result and was cozy and warm for the whole dreary day. And best of all, I got to wear my Oxfords again! Yippy!

L.