academichic

Sources:

• Blazer: Anne Taylor Loft
• Shirt: Sandra Ingrish via Filene’s Basement
• Belt: Banana Republic Outlet
• Pants: J. Crew (thrifted)
• Shoes: Sam Edelman via Off 5th
• Cosmetic Bag (below): Buy Her Bag, Not Her Body c/o Nomi Network
• Necklace and Bracelet: gifts
• Watch: Tissot
• Ring: Far Fetched (gift) but Jeanine Payer also makes gorgeous jewelry etched with poetry and sayings

Endnotes:
I think it might be a bit of a misnomer to call big, bold pieces “statement” jewelry since there is a whole genre of jewelry (and clothing)* out there that literally makes a statement. E. spotted this witty necklace by Tickette on Etsy, and my favorite “statement” piece of jewelry is this ring that my Uncle gave me (sorry for the poor picture quality).

On the outside it says “well behaved women” and on the inside “rarely make history” which is a slightly altered version of the phrase coined in the 1970s by the writer/professor/feminist, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, who said that “well behaved women seldom make history.” Even though the writing is small and only I know what’s on the inside of the ring, it is still special to me and makes me feel powerful for some reason. Do you have any jewelry that has text on it? What kinds of explicit “statements” does your jewelry make? Do you feel different when you’re wearing it?

On another note, like S. I’ve been getting some good use out of my little cosmetic bag from the “Buy Her Bag, Not Her Body” line that was donated to us for review by the Nomi Network, a “non-profit organization working to eradicate sexual slavery and the trafficking of women.” I decided to use mine to collect all those little odds and ends that seem to float around in the bottom of my purse or school bag.

This bag is definitely generous and can carry a lot. It’s good for my purse or the inside of my laptop bag, but it doesn’t fit as nicely in the front pocket as say one of their wristlets might. However, the durable fabric, made of recycled rice bag material, and bright colors mean that it hasn’t been scuffed up or been lost in the bottom of my bag yet! If you’re looking for a socially conscious gift in the near future, please check out Nomi Network’s full array of accessories and help support their very worthy cause.

Thanks to you all for the great discussions during Jewelry Week! There are still so many topics we could get into both stylistically and aesthetically as well as the political, gender, social, cultural, and symbolic power of jewelry. I know I’ll be thinking more about what I put on as well as how I perceive the accessories of those around me. Being single and in my late 20s I often joke that I have “ring-dar” as the left ring finger of everyone is the first place that my eyes go, but now hearing about how many other cultures do things and how people are choosing to change things up I am reminded that I should be careful about drawing conclusions about anyone based on accessories or appearance, period. A good thing to remember!

Please don’t forget to register to win a Mirari Necklace by Orno Jewelry and stop back this weekend for two great Weekend Workshops!

~L.

*If you’d like to read more opinions from the chics about clothing with text please see S.’s post which started a productive debate last summer about “slogan T’s”. A.’s post also about her stance in favor of T-shirts that state things clearly. And E.’s post about her reservations surrounding wearing any clothing that states opinion or takes a side.

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.

Weekend Casual, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Sweater: Banana Republic
• Jacket: Ann Taylor Loft
• Scarf: vintage Burberry
• Skinny Cords: DKNY via Filene’s Basement
• Shoes: Puma

Endnotes:
I realize that you all don’t see me in casual outfits all that often, but I do dress in a more relaxed fashion for my Saturday classes. Since it is a half-day I tend to keep my outfit preparation minimal. I wore this last Saturday, and while winter seems to have blown in over the weekend, this ensemble was truly autumnal. I picked up these skinny cords at Filene’s Basement, which, at least for me, is a never-ending treasure trove of designer clothing at ridiculously low prices. I’ve lamented more than once that Filene’s has ruined me for shopping since rarely even at outlets do the prices come close to Filene’s (I promise they are not paying me to say all this!). Anyway, so these petite cords were a fab find, I scored a pair in black as well, AND they required no hemming. The color, which doesn’t come through very well in these pictures, is a grey/purple… something J. Crew might call “dove” or more likely “turtledove” given the season!

Weekend Casual Buttoned up, originally uploaded by academichic.

This little jacket is definitely a staple for any closet. I wear it with jeans to dress them up, cords as another (albeit preppy) layer, or full skirts (ala A. in this post). Finally, I was still a little chilly despite the shirt, sweater and jacket on top, so I grabbed my favorite scarf. Yes, this scarf is Burberry and instantly recognizable as an uber-trendy item (or at least very well branded). However, my scarf is special to me because it was my grandmother’s. Sure it has moth holes and places where her cigarette burned the coarse wool and general wear-and-tear from decades of use and love, but it’s Granny’s scarf and that’s what matters. (That’s me on her lap!)

Granny’s Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

My mother keeps asking me if I want a new one, one without holes, but I refuse. What special pieces are you holding on to that are in ill repair but you’d never give up?

11 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Pashmina scarf – small shop in Romania
• Brown cord jacket – thrifted
• Pale pink top – TJMaxx
• Tweed shorts – thrifted
• Thermal tights – Romania
• Boots – Dillards

Endnotes:

E. and I must have been on the same wave length when we decided to pair a shimmery scarf with a brown corduroy jacket. This gorgeous orange and red pashmina has gold thread woven throughout it, which gives it a sparkly finished look, making it a bit more formal and elegant than your average scarf. But the brown corduroy blazer is such a decidedly day-wear item that it mitigates the formality of the shimmery scarf and creates a look that is somewhat posh but still library friendly.

This pashmina is also large enough that it functions as a make-shift turtleneck collar when worn underneath the jacket. Last time I wore it, I belted the ends to keep them from shifting around too much. This time, tucking them underneath the jacket keeps this look in place and secure.

This outfit started with this shimmery pashmina and the brown cord jacket and was really color-driven in its creation: I wanted to keep with the rich brown and orange hues so I added my brown boots, these tweed shorts, and a pale pink top that almost functions like a neutral (it doesn’t compete with any of the existing colors). This is one of those looks that really came out as I envisioned it: warm and rich in its color scheme and casual and comfortable in function. The ideal pairing, n’est pas? S.

11 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 November 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Corduroy jacket – Ross
• White nursing cami – Target
• Gray skinnies – thrifted, skinnied by me
• Purple scarf – Chinatown
• Vintage flower pin – courtesy of Blue Onion Marketplace

End Notes:

I loved S.’s take on adding a little whimsy to an outfit, and while I would hardly describe my style as “whimsical,” I wanted to challenge myself to add a little playfulness to a look. Yesterday was the perfect opportunity to try. With a teething baby on hand and errands to run, it was one of those days where I just needed to put clothes on and I lacked the creative juices to make it a look.

10 November 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Enter, from stage left, one of the beautiful vintage flower pins — graciously sent to us from Blue Onion Marketplace — that I finally managed to get my hands on. I tried pinning the flower to my jacket, but ended up feeling a little silly. But when I attached it to my floral scarf…ah! Perhaps the bulk of the scarf helped to mitigate the otherwise admittedly large scale of the flower. Or perhaps it was just better overall placement. I kept everything else slim and sleek, letting the flower and scarf play the starring role for the day.

And I don’t know if I’ll give the flower pin all the credit, but yesterday ended up being not half bad.

10 November 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

16 July 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Lace trimmed cami – AE, remixed
• Grey tank – BR
• Asymmetrical Pockets skirt – AE
• Orange gladiators – AE, remixed a ton
• Woven bag – Dots, from high school days
• Bangle – gift from dad

Endnotes:

When introducing our Neutrals Review for this week, one reader asked whether we would consider olive or khaki green a neutral. My answer is yes! If jeans count as a neutral than so does this khaki green corduroy skirt, in my opinion. When paired with gray and white, it still creates a soft and muted color palette, allowing the orange sandals to play the part of the color ‘pop’. What do you think?

Fearing that outfits comprised of mostly neutrals can seem muted and even…dare I say it? … boring, I like to add interest by paying attention to the details. A.’s outfit the other day more than proves my case that a soft and understated color palette a boring outfit does not make when the right details are added.

To make this casual look feel more interesting, I layered two tanks with contrasting necklines (lace-trimmed white under scalloped gray) and chose a skirt with an interesting cut rather than color. The asymmetrical non-matching pockets give this simple cord skirt a unique finish. Thus, I may only have mixed gray, white, and khaki green but still felt like I had a cleverly detailed ensemble on my hands. Add an interesting piece of jewelry and I’m good to go. S.

  

1 June 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Fuschia top – Banana Republic, remixed
• Patterned Cardi – J.Jill, remixed
• Pink scarf – H&M
• Trouser jeans – Old Navy, remixed
• Yellow pumps – Gianni Bini, remixed a ton
• Cord jacket – thrifted (pictured below)
• Green tote – Kenneth Cole, remixed (pictured below)

Endnotes:

So I left the crazy Midwest heat behind for the cool and breezy winds of California – how ironic! It seems wrong to see E. and A. sweating it out back home while I bundle up with jackets and scarves here on the West Coast. And you all have been very helpful in suggesting layers, it’s been the perfect way to manage the temperatures since being here. As you can see, I have lots of layers on today and am ready to add or remove them as needed. 

It’s been a wonderful day for me, and once more, I’d like to thank you all who gave me such great suggestions for things to do and see here. I spent the day in the Haight area of San Francisco, taking in the beautiful sights and browsing the many gorgeous vintage stores. While most of those were more eye candy for me (a bit out of my price range, but so lovely to admire), I hit the jackpot at the Haight Street Goodwill. Thanks, Sal, for the tip! I walked in and instantly saw the many treasures just waiting to be appraised. I walked away with a couple of goodies and without breaking the bank!

Then, with purchases in tote, I walked around to gawk at all the gorgeous homes and stunning architecture on all the side streets.

 

1 June 2009 – San Francisco, originally uploaded by academichic.

If I lived here, I’d never need style inspiration from any source other than my daily commute. Who needs fashion magazines when the houses showcase the most amazing color combinations and are chic beyond belief. S. 

   

23 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Orange chord dress – thrifted 
• Maroon pumps – Etienne Aigner, thrifted, remixed 
• Orange star pendant – Gabriel Brothers

Endnotes:

A. and I have been on the look-out for this style of a dress for a while now, and this weekend, I lucked out! I took some items to sell at a local consignment store and used the credit I received to purchase this dress and a pair of shoes. (Consignment stores always give you more money if you opt for store credit than if you ask for cash). 

The reason I’ve been coveting a piece like this is that it’s so versatile. You can wear it like this in the summer, or with boots and a cardi (or long-sleeve tee underneath) in the colder months. You can also layer it over another dress, as these two inspiring wardrobe-remixers have done: E. Haze and treesaw1973. As I’m starting to think about my year abroad and packing for several seasons and occasions, and keeping it all to the two suitcase allowance of flight companies, I’m becoming more strategic with and demanding of my wardrobe: Can I make several different looks out of this one item? Check! Can it be dressed up or down? Check! Will it work with me as the weather changes? Check! Will is write my dissertation for me? Ok…so maybe that’s asking a bit too much.  S.

  

Seeing stars, originally uploaded by academichic.

  

Red Shoes Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.