7 September 2009 – Old School

Posted on | September 8, 2009 | 18 Comments

7 September 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed but earrings.

Nursing tank: Old Navy
Belt: Gap Outlet
Floral skirt: thrifted
T-straps: target.com
Vintage flower earrings: Vintage Threadz on etsy.com

End Notes:

I don’t usually do vintage chic, but yesterday’s outfit had some kind of old school feeling going on. Maybe it was the fact that my mom had t-straps like this almost thirty years ago or that the lime-and-coral color combination in the skirt’s print had a little bit of a seventies vibe, but it seemed natural to belt the skirt up high and to pair these vintage flower earrings — another treasure from Vintage Threadz on Etsy — with the whole thing.

Vintage Flower Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

When I first snagged this skirt at a local thrift store, I only wore it with brown. It seemed a safe choice with such a bold, colorful print. This past winter, however, before the baby bump really popped, I wore it with rich plum and saturated blue green. (I’m realizing, somewhat belatedly, that the reason the blue green makes sense — in the scarf in February and in this tank top currently — is because it serves as a complementary color to the red orange flowers in the skirt.)

It’s easy to fall into a rut when trying to pair things with a particularly bold print. Now that I fit into this skirt again, I’m taking suggestions for what to partner with it. What would you like to see? Just how versatile can a salmon and chartreuse floral skirt be?

7 September 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

18 August 2009 – Ode to S.

Posted on | August 18, 2009 | 7 Comments

18 August 2009 – Ode to S., originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except belt

Yellow-Green Top – BR Outlet
Sleeve-less White Blouse – Gap
Purple Belt – Gap
Grey Pants – Banana Republic
Pink Shoes – Seychelles, via DSW

Endnotes:

I think split complimentaries is one of the hardest color schemes to pull off and I managed to make it more challenging by trying to wear it on a day when I needed to be office appropriate for a series of meetings.

The complimentary colors I am working with are yellow-green and red-violet but I have split the red-violet into pink (red) and purple(violet). This is a whole lot of color for me – and bright color at that!

I am considering this color combination a little ode to S. on her two-week wedding anniversary. I think she is the ultimate queen of bright colors, which she manages to mix in ways I would never think of but always look stunning on her. Pink and purple are also S.’s wedding colors and these fabulous pink shoes are the shoes I purchased for to wear for her wedding.

I think I plan to wear these shoes a lot and know that I will always think of S.’s special day when I do. I think it is only appropriate that I premiere them as part of my regular wardrobe on a Tuesday!

Happy 2 week anniversary S. and T.! -A.

Pink Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

31 July 2009 – Friday Casual

Posted on | July 31, 2009 | 1 Comment

31 July 2009 – Friday Casual, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

White tank – J.Crew, remixed
White tuxedo front top – J.Crew, remixed
Shorts – Old Navy
Blue sandals – Birkenstock, remixed
Bike – Nerp, remixed

Endnotes:

Today’s Complimentary Color pairing is a recent favorite of mine: orange and blue! I fell in love with orange-and-blue back in January when E. posted this photo only the third week into this project of ours. I instantly loved the way these two colors played off each other and have been a believer ever since.

Incidentally, as I spent a happy morning coffee time perusing other style blogs, I came across this gorgeous blue and orange combination sported by one of the lovely ladies of Sisters and Dresses. She’s also wearing a shorts and tailored top combo, but with an entirely different effect than my version thereof. Check out her post for more orange and blue style inspiration! S.

30 July 2009

Posted on | July 30, 2009 | 10 Comments

30 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed

Red-Orange Cardigan – Gap
Teal Top - BR Outlet
Black Skirt – BR Outlet
Brown Belt – Ann Taylor
Brown Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
Earrings – Gift
Brown Bag – China Town, NYC

Endnotes:

Much like yellow, I don’t own anything in true orange. Instead, I prefer the way a red-orange, rust-orange, or this more coral color, looks with my hair color and skin tone. I love all shade of blue and green, and particularly favor a good blue-green. Before these Fashion 101s, I would never have thought to pair this color with a shade of orange and still don’t feel completely myself in this outfit. I loved the way S. wore these complimentary colors on Monday and E’s version, also from Monday, so figured I should give it a try. To make it feel a bit more me, I am also mixing my neutrals!

Have you taken inspiration from any of our outfits and then made it your own? If so, send us a picture and tell us about it!

29 July 2009

Posted on | July 29, 2009 | 17 Comments

29 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed

Purple Cardigan – Gap Outlet
Yellow and White Stripped Skirt – H & M
White Tee – Gap
Sandals – H & M
Earrings – F21

Endnotes:

Today’s shades, purple and yellow, are true complimentary colors – straight form the crayon box. Purple is one of my favorite colors and I also really like the way it looks with my hair and skin tone. Yellow, however, is a whole other story! I like yellow on my walls, in my flowers, and in theory, I like it in my wardrobe too. In practice, it just isn’t for me. I have yet to find a shade of yellow that I am willing to wear near by face. When we first introduced these color challenges, I quickly identified some holes in my own closet color wheel and most of them were in the yellow to red family. I purchased some yellow bangles and let that complete any combinations that would require yellow.

Yellow and Purple, originally uploaded by academichic.

Are there any colors that you love on other people or on the hanger but never on yourself?

29 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

29 July 2009 – Coleus and Impatiens

Posted on | July 29, 2009 | 11 Comments

29 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Gray nursing tank – Target
Magenta cardi – H&M
Gray grosgrain ribbon – craft box
Green jersey skirt – Target
Patterned flats that make everything better – Old Navy

End Notes:

In theory, I like the complementary color scheme of pink and green. It’s a sweeter, non-holiday version of the proper complements, red and green. But, as I explained back in April, pink is just not my color. So while I loved how A. did preppy chic yesterday with her pink polo and green accessories, I feel more comfortable moving one step over on the color wheel to pair red-violet and yellow-green.

This outfit is also an example of how the choice of a neutral can change the overall effect of the color palette. A white cami would have given this a crisper feel. Brown probably would have taken the whole “organic inspiration” bit too far. But this heather gray keeps everything softer and more subtle.

And… I match my potted coleus and impatiens. Nature is, of course, a fantastic source of inspiration for color pairings. I started wearing orange and purple together, for example, after realizing that they looked quite fantastic in a sunset sky. What color ideas have you found in nature? Have they always translated to outfits or are there some combinations that are better left outdoors?

29 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

28 July 2009

Posted on | July 28, 2009 | 10 Comments

28 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Polo – J Crew
Denim Pencil Skirt – Gap, endlessly remixed
Pink Tank – Gap
Green Flats – Banana Republic, remixed almost as much as the skirt
Bracelet – Faces Green Necklace

Endnotes:

When I sported a white polo for a little golf outing a few weeks back, reader Jessica asked how I might style a polo off the course. Well, here you have it. This J Crew polo is much softer than the average polo and feels more like a worn-in tee-shirt. I love the detail of the little pocket and extra buttons. I also love the color of this top – a pinky peachy almost coral. I think on the color wheel, it falls closest to pink (a shade of red) thus making its compliment green.

Red(ish) and Green, originally uploaded by academichic.

I wore a similar outfit when we explored complimentary colors back in February. Using the same necklace as my pop of green, this time I have wrapped it around my wrist several times to create an oversized bracelet. I loved S.’s big blocks of bright color yesterday and promise to give that approach a try at some point this week, but for now am easing into color mixing by grounding my look with a neutral base in the denim skirt.

28 July 2009

Posted on | July 28, 2009 | 7 Comments

28 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Lace trimmed cami – BCBG, remixed
Drop waist tank – ON, remixed
Skirt – Calvin Klein, remixed
Red espadrilles – BR Outlet, remixed
Red cardi – thrifted, remixed

Endnotes:

This week we’re reviewing Complementary Colors and the Two-Thirds Rule. For today’s outfit, I chose to mix red and blue, which make 2/3 of a red-blue-and-yellow triad. While I find red and blue to look fresh and summery together, I have a hard time adding that extra bit of yellow to make it a triad. So it suits me just fine that we’re only working with 2/3rds of triads this week.

Red and blue have always struck me as crisp and summery when paired together, especially when added to a good dose of white. Perhaps it’s the allusion to marine colors or the French flag that makes me really fond of this color mix. It makes me think of the French Riviera, the ocean, sailboats and seagulls. So donning this color combo today was guaranteed to put me in a good mood and excited for my evening plans.

For an added bit of glam, I chose this skirt for its sequined hemline and my red espadrilles that give me a few extra inches of height. Were I someone who could pull off red lipstick, this would be just the outfit for it. But alas, I’m not that glamorous, so chapstick it is. Nevertheless, I’m off to toast the town…

Bonne soirée, mes amis! S.

27 July 2009

Posted on | July 27, 2009 | 13 Comments

27 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed.

Teal tank - Ann Taylor
Brown cotton skirt – BR Outlet
Orange patterned scarf - Target
T-straps – Target.com

End Notes:

This week we’re playing with complementary and two-thirds color schemes and I’m starting the week out with perhaps my favorite complementary color mix: blue and orange. I’ve worn this color pairing several times in the past; I think it has a certain freshness that works well for crisp winter, bright spring, and hot summer.

On the other hand, straight-from-the-crayon-box blue and orange veers a little too closely to sport’s team colors for my taste. Does that ring true for anyone else? I think that’s why I shy away from pairing orange with a cobalt blue and instead lean towards blues that are either lighter or have a little bit of green in them. In today’s outfit, the patterned scarf also helps to keep things from feeling too collegiate by adding some visual interest, not just a slash of color. And while the scarf-as-a-belt has to be untied every time I feed my son, it’s a painless style sacrifice I’m willing to make. At least for now.

Also, I am pretty darn excited to be wearing a full skirt again. Voluminous skirts were not doing me any favors once my preggers bump really popped, and while I love a sleek pencil skirt or bermuda short on my bottom half I’m thrilled to have something to twirl in again.

27 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

26 July 2009

Posted on | July 26, 2009 | 1 Comment

26 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Top – TJMaxx, remixed
Skirt – Boden, thrifted, remixed
Tan wedges – TJMaxx, remixed
Sunglasses – H&M, remixed

Endnotes:

I’ve been packing, storing, organizing, and I’m all moved out of my condo. But not before joining A and her girlfriend A2, and E., her husband N. and their baby for a brunch party. Like A., I opted for a skirt and pretty top as the perfect brunch outfit. This skirt and lacey top combo proved a welcome break from the shorts and tanks worn while loading and packing boxes.

Tomorrow, we start our second review session on Color and this will present a two-fold challenge to me. Not only will I try out complementary or two-thirds color combinations, but I will do this while my wardrobe is in a state of nomadic chaos. The first time we embraced these color challenges, I had a perfectly stocked and color-coded wardrobe at my disposal. Now my clothes are in part with me at my fiance’s house, in part in storage at my condo., and in part at my parents’ house from where they will take off for Germany with me. So with a much more limited and chaotic wardrobe, I will attempt to review our color module for this week in ways that hopefully will not look limited nor chaotic. Stay tuned! S.

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