academichic

Sources:

• Sweater: Banana Republic
• Tunic: French Connection
• Belt: BR
• Skinnies: BR
• Shoes: Frye

Endnotes:
Can you tell how pleased I am with this outfit? For our first day back in classes I decided that despite the dusting of snow we got last night it is most definitely spring and therefore I will break out the florals! Of course, while this shirt has a pretty tropical motif, in reality it is still in the 30s and the sweater was a necessity rather than a choice.

{Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Hitentaisei Rikon (Li Gun: Chinese name) from the Shuihu zhuan, 1827-30}

This tunic is another birthday purchase from my sister (thank you C.!) and I fell in love with the bright florals, which seemed vaguely reminiscent of Japanese prints. (Thanks to reader Alison for the correction! This is a Japanese print of a Chinese story, not a Chinese print as I had earlier written. Alison says that “this is a classic example of the Japanese ukiyo-e style.”)

I didn’t even realize it at the time, but my new flower belt from BR is a perfect match! I really wanted more of this shirt to show, so I pulled my sweater to the sides. This also created a more pronounced hourglass shape with the belt pulling it all in at the waist. How do you fool the eye to accentuate different body parts?

L.

Sources:

• Shirt: Target
• Sweater: thrifted
• Skirt: Banana Republic
• Ribbon Belt: by me!
• Stockings: Calvin Klein via Filene’s Basement
• Shoes: Tahari via DSW

Endnotes:
Belts were my gateway drug into the world of style. I so envied the sleek/stylish/fun/creative belts that the other Chics wore, that I finally drank the Kool-Aid and got some for myself… and I’ve never looked back. I have pink belts, custom made belts, wide belts, skinny belts, obi belts, stretchy belts, scarf belts, metallic belts, and belts that are literally made out of metal. I have worn belts to define my waist, turn a dress into a skirt, and add color to an outfit, and I keep looking for new inspirations for using my growing collection. Needless to say, I love belts and today’s is no exception. In fact my entire outfit is based off of the colors in the belt. Pink, pale blue, gold and cream are picked up in my shirt, sweater, and shoes – unfortunately I did have to wear sheer stockings today because my brain couldn’t figure out a pair of tights that would work – Do you have some suggestions!?

I dug this fantastic vintage ribbon out of a box of sewing equipage that was my grandmother’s and have been meaning to do something with it for a while now. It is so fabulous with the bright pinks and greens, subtle blue, tiny gold detailing and stuffed (yes, with real batting!) damask flowers and butterflies that I knew I wanted it to mostly stand on its own, and making it into a belt was as easy as 1-2-3!

Click “more” for the DIY of How to Make A Ribbon Belt with Button Closure
» Read the rest of this entry «

Sources:

• Scarf – Echo
• Sweater – Banana Republic
• Tee – H & M
• Skirt – Banana Republic
• Boots – Steven Madden Intcye, via ebay
• Belt – Ann Taylor
• Bangles – gift

Endnotes:

This week we are celebrating/investigating belts!  Belts and scarves form a significant part of my daily wardrobe.  If we did a survey of all of my posted outfits, I bet we would find that an easy majority involve a scarf, a belt, or both.  The first time I saw a belted scarf, I knew it was for me.  The belted scarf has since become one of my signature looks.   I wear this paisley scarf all the time, but always with the long ends of the triangle tied up under the wide point.  Then, I saw Kendi wear a similar scarf and knew I had to try it.

For me, I think part of pulling of this particular belted-scarf iteration, means embracing the skinny belt.  I tend to opt for the wide (usually stretchy) belt more often than not, but I think the lightness of this scarf calls for a thin belt.

Do you belt your scarves?  All scarves, or only particular styles?

Sources:

• Shirt: Banana Republic
• Sweater: BR Outlet
• Skirt: BR
• Belt: J. Crew
• Purple Tights (under): Target
• Magenta Tights: no idea!
• Shoes: Gucci via DSW

Endnotes:
Like S. I had a little urge to wear something in recognition of Valentine’s Day, but I didn’t want to look like I was being too thematic. I knew I wanted to layer dark purple tights under my magenta diamond patterned ones, in what is kind of a reversal of my previous look where I layered dark purple fishnets over the magenta tights. This look is definitely a more solid statement, but the purple peeks through enough to make my legs look almost iridescent in the light.

I like to wear something bright on Mondays since my students are usually tired AND today it is actually about 40 degrees, which has put me in the mood for color and spring! Have you noticed how dark your wardrobe becomes in winter? My purple cardigan darkens the overall outfit but contrasts a little with my bright turquoise shirt. The pink belt makes the outfit super matchy, but I don’t care. I like it. I feel a little bit like Rainbow Brite in this get-up, but I just couldn’t bare to remix my neutrals even with a pop of color – I needed to go all out today. Come to think of it, maybe I am Rainbow Brite. We did come into being in the same year!

Regardless of my true identity, I hope the first thing people notice besides my tights are my new purple wedges! I scored these the last time I was at DSW and they were literally hundreds less than what they had been. I figured that it was a sign from the shoe-gods that these had survived months on the shelf and were in my size. Happy Valentine’s Day to me!

I didn’t even notice that someone had pried the little gold interlocking Gs off the back until I got them home. Oh well, I’m not one for labels anyway. How have you spoiled yourself today?

10 February 2011 – Jewelry as Sign, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Purple Cardigan – Gap Outlet
• Black Wrap Dress – Banana Republic
• Stripped Tank – J Crew
• Black Tights – Target
• Pattern Tights – gift from S.
• Boots – Steve Madden Intyce
• Bracelet – Hawaii
• Pin – purchased from activist speaker
• Earrings – wedding gift from A2

Endnotes:

As S. and many readers mentioned, jewelery often functions as a sign — a sign of gender, ethnicity, class, but also sexuality, marital status, age, and many other things (clothing of course also often functions in this way, as we have many times discussed here). I thought about that as I put this outfit together for an awards ceremony at which I was presented with an honor for LGBT leadership and service.  I immediately thought of the casual outfit I wore on national coming out day and wanted to recreate it in a dressier and more winter-appropriate version.  The main elements remained the same – my purple cardigan, multi-colored bead bracelet (not exactly a rainbow), and my “queer kids rule” pin.

Pride Pin and Beads, originally uploaded by academichic.

Choosing these accessories was a no-brainier knowing that I would be surrounded by other queers and allys there to recognize me for my commitment to the LGBT community. It was meaningful and fun to show some overt queer pride through my jewelry (and color choice of “lavender”).  But it got me thinking about the other jewelry I was sporting – my small silver earnings (since I didn’t want too many statement pieces at once) and, even more so, my wedding ring.

When A2 and I got married last summer we exchanged very simple white-gold bands.  We talked a lot about how we wanted to handle the whole ring issue and both agreed we had no need for engagement rings since the decision to get married was one we made together over many years.  We choose to exchange wedding bands because we like the sentiment behind, we wanted a symbol of our commitment, and because we were looking to up-grade the cheap matching silver bands we had been wearing for years. But, something about it still made me a bit uncomfortable – its sign value.  I am not a married straight woman and in fact in most of the country, including the state in which I reside, I do not enjoy marital status.   I was uncomfortable wearing something that signaled otherwise.  I didn’t want to pass.  So, I wear my wedding band on my right hand instead of my left.  I don’t know what assumptions most people make based on this right-hand ring, but over the last 7 months a few people have asked me about it.  For the most part, these questions have led to some incredible conversations about marriage and about symbols.

So, today I suppose I am aware of the power of jewelry as sign but am celebrating the power of jewelry as conversation stater!  Has any of your jewelry ever led to a great discussion?  Do you consciously wear jewelry as sign?

Boots and layred tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 February 2011 – Jewelry as Sign, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Necklace: “Mirari” by Orno Jewelry
• Bracelets: gift
• Ring: gift
• Sweater: Theory via Off 5th
• Yellow tank: J. Crew
• Blue dress (as skirt): Even via Off 5th
• Belt: mom’s
• Tights: Target
• Boots: vintage Charles David

Endnotes:
Hip hip hooray for jewelry week! I have been known to base whole outfits around a single piece of jewelry, wear my favorite pieces when I’m in an especially stressful situation, and to add serious bling to a summer dress. This outfit falls into the first category in that the colors were inspired by the Islamic mosaics and Moorish architecture that also inspire designer Carla Smiley in her Orno Jewelry line.

Smiley, originally from Lebanon, studied architecture in Canada before she designed her first line of silver jewelry. For this ensemble, I started with the necklace that my sister got me for Christmas and then built from there (pun intended). I first came to love these bright geometric mosaics when I encountered a mihrab niche in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC). The bright blues, turquoise, yellows and greens appealed to my eye. For this look I knew I wanted to wear multiple shades of blue and my yellow tank, but the layering that this outfit took on was unplanned. I put on my blue dress, then the tank over it, then tucked the tank into my obi belt so that the dress was now a skirt, and then put my sweater on top to hide the sleeve of the dress/tank and voila! The red tights also made a triad and I couldn’t resist. I actually got a “whow” on this in the dining hall today. I told the person I took that as a complement.

I finished off the outfit with two more pieces of jewelry that are vaguely architectonic. The bracelets, which look very modern in their stark lines and solid weight, are from Santa Fe. The ring, a gift from my sister, is from Peru.

As you can tell, I love jewelry and over the years have collected many necklaces, rings, bracelets, and recently pins. I also am a “beader” and have several necklaces that I strung myself. Be sure to come back on Friday for our give-away surprise and Saturday for my Weekend Workshop on how to make a necklace hanger! Check out more academichic baubles on Flickr. Enjoy the rest of jewelry week!
~L.

27 January 2011, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Navy Sweater – Gap
• Grey Skirt – Banana Republic
• Purple Tights – BR Factory Store
• Scarf – Old Navy, gift
• Olive Pumps – Urban Outfitters

Endnotes:

Today was one of those days when I pulled half my wardrobe out before deciding on this rather simple outfit (yes, it is still strewn across my bed and floor).  I knew I wanted to take advantage of our small heat wave (high of 40 degrees today) and wear heels instead of boots.  Once I had picked my shoes  I decided to pull a bold scarf and then build a simple outfit around that.  I ended up wearing my purple tights only because I couldn’t find my navy ones, but I think I like the bold mix of fuschia, olive, and purple grounded with navy and grey.

27 January 2011, originally uploaded by academichic.

27 January 2011, originally uploaded by academichic.

I think this last-minute and rather fortuitous color combination worked much better than Tuesday’s outfit, which was though out the night before…

Pop of Colbalt Blue, originally uploaded by academichic.

Pop of Colbalt Blue, originally uploaded by academichic.

Tartan and Cords, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Sweater: Theory via Off 5th
• Scarf: gift (from Scotland)
• Belt: Fossil
• Watch: Tissot
• Corduroys: DKNY via Filene’s Basement
• Boots: Florence, Italy

Endnotes:
Snow day! Well, not really since I work at a boarding school, but wow did we get a lot of snow yesterday. I bundled up in boots and a scarf to keep out the cold and channeled cozy feelings while watching the flakes fly. As I’ve said before, part of my desire to embrace skinny style pants was the ability to tuck these into boots without lots of bagginess or ballooning around the knees.

Brown Boots, originally uploaded by academichic.

I’m not a big boot wearer with skirts, but I am breaking myself into the pants and boots look both for utilitarian purposes (warmth, walking in the snow, etc.) and stylish ones as well. I suppose that this outfit qualifies as mixing neutrals since the basis is grey and brown with the only real color coming from the muted oranges, blues, and yellows of the tartan scarf. I love this scarf and it was a gift from my best friend when she returned from a trip to Scotland years ago. Just this year I’ve started to wear my outdoor scarves as regular daywear as both accessories and to warm up outfits that might otherwise be drafty. For instance I’ve been using scarves to help sweaters, such as this crewneck cardigan, become turtlenecks.

Tartan, originally uploaded by academichic.

I like the result because unlike a true turtleneck these ones can be removed or loosened throughout the day to accommodate the wild temperature swings between my apartment, office, and classroom. I love the colors in this tartan, and I think that is what my friend was attracted to as well. However, today I had a colleague come up to me at lunch and ask if I was a Buchanan because she was and recognized the tartan that I was wearing. I had no idea which clan’s tartan I was wearing, but it got me thinking about a kind of cultural appropriation that we don’t often think of. S. brought this up in April last year with a post about wearing gold jewelry and being asked if she was a gypsy. A. also wrote on this regarding how purposeful appropriation operates in terms of camp and kitch, and finally E. brought up the point that our bodies are not neutral and they too contribute to certain assumptions that are made about the clothing we wear. While asking someone who is white, has red hair, and is wearing a tartan if she is descended from a particular Scottish clan is different than these other examples, it made me wonder about all sorts of cultural assumptions that we make about the people around us. In this case, I was being identified as “same” not “other”, and the woman was very excited that she had potentially found a member of her extended family. This piece of tartan was originally used as a unifying feature of a clan and as this story illustrates can be seen as means for community building even today. I was surprised at my colleague’s question and it reminded of the things that both my clothes and my body might say about me intentionally or not. I know that style, fashion, and clothing in general does not spring to life out of a vacuum and instead is influenced by other cultures, periods, regions, and ethnicities. My intention in reflecting on this is to question why or how being asked if I was Scottish because of my scarf is the same or different from someone remarking that S. looked like a gypsy because of her gold earrings?

~L.

Tartan and Cords, originally uploaded by academichic.

Pretty as a Peahen, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• All: Banana Republic
• Pin: grandmother’s
• Tights: Target
• Shoes: Ciao Bella via DSW

Endnotes:
I feel like this outfit was based on a very A. kind of palette…. Or E.… or S., but for the most part purple plays only an accessory role in my wardrobe as does darker iterations of teal like this shirt. I find this odd since, if asked, I’d mention both of those colors as favorites.

Plumage, originally uploaded by academichic.

Anyway, I’m on the hunt especially for more prominent purple pieces to add to my closet. The bottom half of my outfit is pretty darn bland, but that’s what happens on mornings when 8:00am class is calling! I tried on my purple fishnets over these tights (similar to this look from December), but it didn’t work so I ended up all in black. I think if I wear this outfit again I’d opt for my dark grey pencil skirt (that A. has as well).

Peahen side, originally uploaded by academichic.

The scarf around my waist was a last minute attempt to break up the otherwise lengthy torso created by the cardigan, but this scarf is not long enough to tie, so I secured the ends with a silver pin. The scarf I wore as a belt last week was huge, so folded in half diagonally it reached around and tied in the front, but a reader commented that many scarves are not so generous. For shorter scarves, pinning or looping once around, knotting and tucking in the ends works as another way to make the scarf work as a belt.

Pinned Scarf Belt, originally uploaded by academichic.

My favorite details from this outfit, and indeed the inspiration for the title of this post, are the “petals” (according to BR) that cascade down the front of this blouse. To me they looked like peahen plumage and the color scheme of teal and purple also seems peacock-esque. Perhaps next time I should wear some bright blue or turquoise jewelry to really go all out.

On the Move, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Scarf: gift from SIL, Chinatown
• Cardigan: Old Navy
• Tank: Old Navy
• Belt: thrifted
• Skirt: Banana Republic Factory
• Tights: Hue
• Shoes: Mia from DSW

On baby e.:

• Cardigan: Anthropologie, gift from a sweet friend
• Pants: Target
• Shoes: Target

End Notes:

All of the chics are still off enjoying time with family, but I thought I’d check in briefly to let you all know that I’ve enjoyed looking at your outfit suggestions created from my limited packing list and they’ve helped to keep me clothed in non-boring outfits since we’ve been in Houston! Thanks!

My days have been filled with cooking (and eating) delicious food, playing “telephone pictionary,” laughing and telling stories, and watching baby e. learn how to slide backwards down carpeted stairs. We’ll be back in the swing of things soon. In the meantime, I hope that many of you have been able to spend equally delightful time with those you love.