academichic

Sources:

Both:

• Chocolate Skinny Cords – Gap Outlet
• Teal Cardigan – Banana Republic

Day (4):

• Pink Paisley Scarf – Old Navy
• Boots – Banana Republic

Evening (7):

• Blue and Green Paisley Scarf – Echo
• Wool Pumps – Urban Outfitters
• Earrings – F21

Endnotes:

While E. was taking (and I have no doubt rocking) her comprehensive exam yesterday, I had the pleasure of spending the day with baby e.!  I chose my chocolate brown cords (which keep showing up as black in all the photographs) a warm cardigan, colorful scarf, and my black wellies.  My bright two-thirds color scheme of blue and pink and baby e.’s yellow jacket made us into quite the walking triad!

The outfit was perfect for reading books, playing with stacking cups on the floor, exploring the backyard, walking to and playing at the park.  (note: it’s labeled 4 of 30 because last week in my application daze I skipped from outfit 3 to 5).

By swapping out just a few elements, this ensemble went from ideal for a play date with e. to casual dinner-date ready.

I traded one paisley scarf for another and my wellies for my olive flannel pumps, touched up my makeup, added a pair of earrings, and was ready to go!  This version is rather matchy-matchy with the scarf matching both the olive of my shoes and the bright blue of my sweater. I love wearing these earrings and scarf together because they almost match but don’t, which I think is supposed to be a no-no of pattern mixing — well, just call me a pattern mixing rebel!  A.

11 November 2010 – Drizella, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Scarf: Ross
• Puff sleeve top: Target
• Belt: Old Navy
• Crinkle navy skirt: Gap
• Oxford booties: Civico 10 via DSW

End Notes:

Know what the puff sleeves and green-on-green combination of this outfit remind me of? Drizella, the evil step-sister from Disney’s Cinderella.

Regardless, I love the pictures of today’s outfit, taken courtesy of my husband who was home today on baby duty. As I was getting ready to head to school this morning he remarked that I matched the door.

So we took pictures.

Green, Green, Blue Green, Blue, originally uploaded by academichic.

Scarf and Shoulder Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

This skirt was a no-brainer to include in my 30 for 30. It’s navy — my current favorite neutral — and it’s a playful shape with a bit of shine that plays nicely against the coarser wool and opaque tights that (usually) typify November dressing. Of course, since it hit 80 DEGREES today, I was just glad that this was light and breezy enough to deal.

(And it looks good on a bike, too.)

On bike, originally uploaded by academichic.

1 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Green Tank Dress – Gap Outlet
• Navy Tank – Gap
• Teal Belt – Old Navy
• Earrings – F21
• Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
• Wooden Bangle – gift from S.

Endnotes:

I found this kelly green tank dress at Gap Outlet when shopping with E. It’s similar in style to E’s. homemade one, but the tank is the same color as the solid colored skirt part, which is cotton and lined.  The tank has an unfortunately placed pocket that I just couldn’t get over, yet also just couldn’t pass this one up, so decided I would take it home and make it work. I immediately arrived home pulled it out of the bag and created five possible outfits from it and then text-ed E. to share my success. You will no doubt be seeing this dress remixed several times this summer – I will be sure to post a picture of the dress as it came next time.

I was drawn to the dress primarily because of it’s color.  I love almost all shades of green but find this kelly green (with a bit of blue undertone) to be one of the more flattering on me.  I made a tight analogous pairing between the skirt and teal belt and another, more distant, analogous pairing with the belt and tank.

analogous colors, originally uploaded by academichic.

I folded the bottom of the ruffly navy tank under so that it ended around where the original tank portion of the dress ends and then belted it into place. I like that it still looks like a tank dress, rather than a skirt and top.

I wore this ensemble to attend a few graduation parties over the weekend.  The rest of the weekend I mostly spent in either running clothes or gardening/construction clothes. Here is a little sneak peak of my latest summer construction and garden project.  It’s become a bit of an obsession, so I will save the details for a post of it’s own – check back later this week!

Summer Project Sneak Peak, originally uploaded by academichic.

1 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

15 April 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Green Dress – Banana Republic
• Teal Belt – Old Navy
• Brown Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
• Wooden Bangel – Gift from S.
• Wooden Earrings – Island Souvenir
• Earring as Necklace – NY & Co

Endnotes:

I seem to be having some trouble with my photography skills lately, so the below image is a much better representation of the beautiful analogous color combination than either of the full body shots.

Green on Green, originally uploaded by academichic.

I bought this dress on super markdown (it had a couple stains) at Banana Republic a couple years ago, but have rarely worn it.  I was so excited about the dress because I love the color and the cut.  Unfortunately, while I love the color on me, there is something about the cut that just isn’t right, so I haven’t ventured to wear it too much.  But, once again a belt has swooped in to save the day!  I spent some time looking at myself in this dress in the mirror trying to figure out what wasn’t working and I realized it was that the faux-wrap part of the dress hit me too high.  I often have issues with proportions in dresses because I have both long legs and a long torso so things are often too short and the seems often hit me in the wrong places. My small waist and large butt/hips/thighs don’t help matters.  I added this wide belt to visually lower the placement of the wrap.  The belt slightly overlaps the wrap making it look much wider.  The belt also adds a fun pop of color, making this an all over more exciting ensemble.

New Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

I ran a half-marathon last weekend and then decided to do a total toning course a couple days later, so my legs are sore and my toes need special attention.  I assumed flats would be the most comfortable option, but for some reason of all my shoes (besides maybe my thick soled flip flops) these wedges proved the best option.  I wasn’t convinced they worked that well with my green and teal color combo, so I added wooden accessories to tie them in.

Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

Turns out, I am in love with this dress again – it’s fun and professional and is appropriate for both the classroom and my walk across campus in 80+ degree weather.  Plus, during a busy week, there is something to be said for an outfit primarily comprised of one piece!

15 April 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

13 April 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Floral Blouse – BR Outlet
• Belt – NY & Co
• Green Skirt – Thrifted
• Brown Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction
• Necklace – Gift from A2

Endnotes:

So, I’m finally getting around to participating in this month’s self-imposed challenge to wear more florals. Like E., I’ve had my misgivings about floral prints and tend to be drawn towards stripes, argyles, paisleys, and plaids, that is, when I venture to wear any pattern at all. Yet, I have found myself drawn to all the beautiful floral items out this Spring and am hoping to pick up a few new pieces to expand my floral collection.

Of the few floral items I do own, most tend to be more subtle like this neutral blouse with a pattern of budding white vines. I picked this top up at the BR Outlet precisely because it is so far outside my bod both in terms of print and shape.   I wore it once this winter under a cardigan, but since then have not been able to figure out how else to style it – I’m not crazy about the way it fits.  I decided to leave it unbuttoned and cross the sides over and tuck them into my skirt – I love the v-necked wrap-shirt result .

13 April 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

I paired the blouse with my grass green skirt and brown accessories because I loved the color combination. I don’t the the pairing would have worked nearly as well if I had left the blouse buttoned and billowy as intended.  The slimmer silhouette on top balances out the full flowy skirt.   I added my large enamel pendant for a bit of floral mixing.  The abstract budding vines nicely echo the pattern in the blouse.

Mixing florals, originally uploaded by academichic.

I don’t know how many floral based ensembles I can create with my current wardrobe, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.   Are you a florals person?  Are you tempted by the Spring trend?

19 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Scarf – vintage, from my grandmother’s closet
• Green top – ON, thrifted
• Blazer – J.Crew
• Black skinnies – thrifted
• Boots – Banana Republic

Endnotes:

First, some outfit remarks: This particular silk square scarf is actually from my grandmother’s collection. She decided that she doesn’t wear these kinds of bright colors anymore so she passed it down to me. It’s got a funny vintage carriage design on it with two carriage drivers in the center. This is not a design or motif that I would necessarily pick out for myself, but I realized that it doesn’t actually matter much what’s on the scarf as much as which colors are used for it. Once the scarf is folded, bunched, or tied, there’s often little more that a burst of color to be noticed. (See exhibit B here).

Today I pulled out this homage to 19th century transport because I really wanted that green edge to add to my green top + navy blazer combo. I tied the scarf using the ascot method and added black jeans and boots.

Scarf detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Ok, now on to the recent discussion we’ve been having over here. I really enjoyed E’s distinction between style and fashion and would like to add, that like E, I tend to use both high fashion and street style photography as a launching point (rather than an exact blueprint) for my own outfit creations. I would like my style to be a blend of different influences and aesthetics, not necessarily identifiable as a certain ‘look’ or ‘trend’. This is one of the reason why thrifting appeals to me so much; so many of my thrifted finds are unique and different and when I put together a stellar ‘thrifted’ outfit, I feel most successful in having performed Style rather than Fashion.

Which brings me to the topic of thrifting – I had asked in my last post about the ways that I – or you – use clothing or style as a means of resistance. And several of you pointed to thrifting as a conscious act of resistance against conspicuous consumption, or, as reader Lisa put it, as “an obvious rejection of our throw-away society”. I was struck by this comment because thrifting used to be a need-based practice for me while growing up. My clothes came from thrift stores because that’s all we could afford. It was by no means a political act back then. But as my financial circumstances have changed, the motives behind my shopping second-hand have as well. Now I thrift because I love the search and the hunt, but also because I really believe in the political practice of reusing, recycling, repurposing, and making things last.

It’s funny how resisting during totalitarian regimes would mean sneaking in foreign goods, which usually reflected the latest trends and the most modern creations, while resisting capitalism has us reaching for the old and the discarded. While these may appear like completely disparate practices, I’m struck by the similarity in the objective of both practices: it seems like both acts are done in search of individuality and out of a desire to be unique. And that bring me back to where we started – the question of Style vs. Fashion. I believe the reason so many of us prefer the term style blogger over fashion blogger is because we perceive the first to be more about expressing individuality and creativity rather than just following the masses. And as history has shown us, no matter what the political context, there is a certain irresistibility to standing out and perceiving oneself as unique and contrary to the status-quo. I guess wanting to be unique is not so unique after all. S.

19 February 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.