academichic

Sources:

• Dress – c/o Karina
• Cami – Banana Republic
• Shoes – Banana Republic
• Hat – Banana Republic

Endnotes:

One of the many things I will miss about blogging is getting to know some really great independent retailers including small online boutiques and etsy sellers like those featured in our Boutique Consortium.  If we weren’t closing up shop, Karina would certainly be a shop we would be interested in adding to our consortium.   Karina generously sent me this “Rita” dress to review. I love the color and can already image so many ways to wear it.  For its first outing, I paired it with heels and my straw hat for lunch with a friend.

Before I tell you how I feel about this particular Karina dress, let me tell you a bit about the company.  Karina dresses are all made of heavy, stretchy microfiber that drapes beautifully, never wrinkles, and washes easily. Each dress is made in Brooklyn in a small batch - which means prints and colors come and go, so if you see one you like, don’t follow my usual shopping pattern!

My favorite part about Karina is their motto:

dresses for “every body” … celebrating women from 18 to 80 … easy wear, easy care … wear the love”

Karina is committed to making all woman look & feel  great, no matter what shape or size . They offer many different styles made for a variety of body types and lifestyles and many of the dresses are offered in sizes 0 through 20. I also love that they use women of all ages, shapes, and sizes to model their dresses!

So, now about my dress – the “Rita.”  I can already tell this cap sleeved wrap dress is going to be very versatile.  I love the cut and the color and am quite happy with the fit. It’s a true wrap dress but has enough overlap to keep my legs covered.  The waist hits at the perfect place – often not the case for me with wrap dresses – and I think the tie could easily be tucked under a belt as a way of changing up the look.

I have to admit, I was surprised at first by the material, but am now a huge fan.  It really doesn’t wrinkle, making it perfect for traveling (both wearing on the plane and shoving in a bag) and super convenient if you just don’t have time to iron in the morning!  Also, the drape on it is much more flattering than jersey – I’m not even wearing spanx!  I also think the material could be dressed up more than jersey but can just as easily be worn with flats for an active day of errands.

If you want to know more about the dresses you can also check Karina out on Facebook!

A.

The weather swings in academichic central lately have been crazy, swinging up from the fifties to the nineties in a matter of a few days. Which means my wardrobe choices have been something like this:

Sources:

Cold:

• Cardigan: Target
• Tank: Old Navy Maternity
• Skirt: Old Navy Maternity
• Wedges: Naturalizers, via DSW

Hot:

• Hat: Banana Republic
• Scarf: gift from S.
• Top: thrifted (and worn backwards)
• Shorts: consignment shop
• Shoes: Target, thrifted new
• Clutch: c/o Crystalyn Kae (don’t forget to check out Crystalyn and other independent boutiques through our boutique consortium!)

End Notes:

S.’s post on sharing — or not sharing — maternity clothes also brought to mind a recent reader question about what to bring to a clothing swap, that is, how do you decide what clothes to give away or exchange?

I love it when I go to a swap and people have brought clothing that is still a) in great condition, b) not obviously dated, and c) is accompanied with the giver’s desire to find someone who really looks GREAT in that article of clothing. When I’ve culled through my closet, either for swaps, for donations, or to simply pass along to a friend, I am pretty ruthless about putting anything that I haven’t worn within the past year into a “consideration” pile. If something is still essentially new — I bought it on clearance and wore it once but then never again — I might first consider putting that up on eBay to make a few bucks. But, most of the time it’s something that either doesn’t fit my body quite right or a different silhouette that I attempted to integrate into my wardrobe but just didn’t work out. In that sense, I guess I tend to think of clothes-swapping as an opportunity to right my past shopping wrongs, rather than simply a means of cleaning out my closet.

I was delighted to see S. wearing that turquoise top in her pictures! That top got the cut from my wardrobe because it was just wishful thinking and a lot of tugging that kept that empire waistline tucked below my bust. Since I knew that my torso length was unlikely to shorten during future pregnancies, it was time to let that top go. Now we both win! The deal is, clothes-swapping can actually be a humbling experience — to go back through your closet and acknowledge that you did not make the wisest choices. But it can also be incredibly fulfilling when you can be happy to see someone else looking like a million bucks in a garment that didn’t really do much for you.

Ultimately, I think a lot of these questions relate back to the notion of building a versatile, workable wardrobe that does what you want and says what you want it to say. Although these hot and cold outfits are fairly different from each other, I do think that they give some insight into how my style has changed a little since my last pregnancy. I’m a bit more daring with trends — shorter shorts with a draped top, for example — and I’m finally on board with stripes. I’m a hat lady now, too. On the other hand, the brightly colored shoes are still a big part of my repertoire, and I don’t see myself swapping those out any time soon!

How do you decide what ends up in a swapping pile?

Tip to the Weekend, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Straw fedora: Banana Republic
• Dress: Banana Republic Factory (last blogged when preggers with little e.
• Jade ring: Chinatown vendor
• Bracelet: gift from A.
• Belt: from another dress
• Platform wedges: Crown Royale Vintage, via DSW

End Notes:

I would say that it was “unseasonably warm” in Academichic Central over the weekend, but if I’ve learned anything during my time living here it’s that crazy temperature swings define spring. So… ninety degrees in April called for an easy dress and a melange of accessories.

Last summer I became a hat lady, and I added to my hat collection this year with a little straw fedora. I’m wearing it as-is in these pictures, but I’m already plotting ways to personalize it a bit more (suggestions welcome).

I’m also bringing back my (admittedly small, but present) bracelet collection. I tend to eschew bangles and bracelets when I’m wearing long sleeves, but I enjoy the extra “oomph” they provide with bare arms.

I also continue to be in love with these platform wedges. I know they might not be practical through the end of my pregnancy, but they’re so architectural that they give me the structure that I crave when my summery dresses go all loosey goosey on me.

Do you have accessories that you love to bring out in warm weather?

This was my other favorite from the looks I styled with Banana Republic’s new Spring line. I had a hard time deciding between this one and my other one that I ended up submitting to their Facebook page contest. This outfit incorporates so many of my favorite elements – light airy colors, lace, pearls, a statement necklace, floral flats, a pop of coral color, and that laid-back boho look.

It also includes one less expected item – this fedora hat. I’m not much of a hat person but after seeing E. style this little beauty, I couldn’t resist giving it a try myself. As you can see from the pictures, I had a blast styling this item and can’t wait to see the many other ways in which E. will rock this fedora in the coming months.

Unfortunately, this gorgeous dress from Banana Republic’s Heritage Collection is not available online, just in their stores. But here are the coral flats I added, the Pearl Drama necklace, and the straw fedora I wore.

Which of my two dress looks would you have submitted to the Banana Republic contest? This one or the wrap dress look?

25 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Dress: Banana Republic Factory
• Belt: from another dress
• Hat: Banana Republic Factory
• Yellow sandals: Old Navy

End Notes:

As mentioned earlier, I am all about the embellished dress + belt + sandals + floppy hat combination for summer picnicking, and I think I found a winner in this putty brown dress with a macrame neckline paired with accessories in unexpected colors.

25 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

25 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Certainly, being the mom of a grabby little boy has compelled me to temporarily retire many of my favorite accessories — especially necklaces and big earrings — and as a result I think I’ve become increasingly enamored with built-in accessories (like embellished necklines) or baby-safe accessories that pack a big punch (like a belt or bright shoes).

But let’s talk for a moment about sizing. I tried this dress on a month or two ago at a visit to the Banana Republic Factory store in my usual dress size and was really disappointed. The neckline did nothing flattering for my figure, the dress overall was too short, and the shape was neither structured enough to wear unbelted or flowing enough to be a “look.”

When I went back a few weeks later, the dress was on the clearance rack, but this color was only available in a large. S. has successfully purchased and styled a dress that was several sizes too big for her, and I’m so glad that I followed her example and tried on the large. The fuller cut let the neckline fall in a more flattering line and the resulting drape was far more conducive to belting (though I had to cut off the little threaded “belt loops”).

What do you think? Is buying several sizes up essentially another way of “altering” a garment? Or does it go against the notion of fit being key? What are some things to be aware of when buying “too big”?

25 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

25 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

30 May 2010 – Weekender, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Hat: Banana Republic Factory
• Dress: Banana Republic Factory
• T-straps: Target.com

End Notes:

Ah, this is the kind of summer dressing that I find so, so easy. A dress, shoes, and now a big floppy hat. There is something so wonderful about just being able to throw on a dress — with a built-in accessory like this embellished neckline! — and just call it a day.

Dress detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

I definitely went through an anti-dress stage in junior high and high school, followed by a I-can’t-find-dresses-that-fit-me stage in undergrad. But over the past few years dresses — especially jersey dresses — have come to be an essential part of my wardrobe. And it’s funny how my favorite dresses don’t necessarily share a similar aesthetic. Their unifying characteristic is simply that they function beautifully as a single piece outfit.

And isn’t that what makes them perfect for holiday weekends with the family?

30 May 2010 – Weekender, originally uploaded by academichic.

P.S. Baby e. insisted on being in this final picture. He recognizes cameras and will strike a pose whenever someone pulls one out. Future style blogger for sure.

25 May 2010 – Le Chapeau, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Hat: Banana Republic Factory
• Eyelet top: F21
• Belt: vintage, from mom
• Shorts: Banana Republic Factory
• T-strap wedges: Target.com

End Notes:

The sun has been shining bright and hot in Academichic central over the past few days, which means it’s been the perfect weather for debuting the latest addition to my summer wardrobe: this floppy paper straw hat. I was so drawn to this hat when I saw it in the store and I tried it on initially as a kind of joke. But then, I just fell in love with its swooping lines, wide brim, and overall playfulness and A. — ever my faithful shopping partner — encouraged me to step out of my style comfort bubble and go ahead and purchase it.

I’m imagining wearing this to picnics in the park, walks with baby e., and an outdoor dinner with my husband, along with less idyllic pursuits such as weeding my backyard. Still, it currently takes me a little pep talk to go outside with such a dominant, eye-catching head-topper, so today, I kept the rest of my outfit clean and classic: a white eyelet top, high waisted navy shorts, and tan accessories.

25 May 2010 – Le Chapeau, originally uploaded by academichic.

Of course, the hat’s primary purpose is to protect me from the sun, something that I’ve grown more conscious about over the last few years. Now that I have soft baby e. skin to care for too, I’m especially aware of the dermal benefits of hat-wearing.

But I need your help! This is the first “real” hat (aka, not a baseball cap or knit cap) that I’ve owned, and I need tips on to care for it to ensure that a long, sun-blocking life. Certainly there is an abundance of information via Google, but I’m interested to hear your tried and true methods for storage, cleaning, or protection.

Will you be wearing a sun hat this summer?

25 May 2010 – Le Chapeau, originally uploaded by academichic.

 
22 June 2009 – Monument Rock, originally uploaded by academichic.     

Sources:

All remixed:

• Blue dress – H&M 
• Black sandals – Target 
• Hat – Target 
• Sunglasses – H&M

Endnotes:

One of the highlights of today’s drive was our stop at Monument Rock in Kansas. We spent most of the day driving through Kansas, which I can sum up in one word – flat – and we battled temperatures hovering at around 100 degrees all day. (1979 car = no air conditioner!) Then, after much flatness and many cows, lo’ and behold these breathtaking chalk formations in the middle of fields of nothingness. Stunning! At 70 feet tall and over 80 million years old, they have an eerie way of making you feel quite small and insignificant. But in a good way. If you’re ever in Western Kansas, brave the four mile gravel road drive and go see these beauties!

 

18 June 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.          

Sources:

All remixed but hat:

• Purple tank – Old Navy
• Teal shift dress - Banana Repubilc
• Sandals – Target
• Yellow vintage bag - Garage Sale find
• Purple necklace and bracelet - Yves Rocher
• Hat – Target
• Dog – Indie

Endnotes:

This Sunday, T. and I leave for a week long road trip to Colorado with his family and the MGs. I posted a picture with T’s MG before, but I didn’t mention that his reason for owning one is that he grew up as the child of major MG enthusiasts and that he’s always been around people restoring, appreciating, and promoting old historic vehicles. Since being in a relationship with T., I’ve become an MG enthusiast by proxy. It’s really not so bad. Besides being forced to learn the difference between an MGB, an MGA, TDs and TFs, I get to partake in the yearly MG trip to some delightful destination in a caravan of wonderful historic cars, driven by T’s mom (yellow), T’s dad (orange), T’s brother (maroon), and T and me (black). This is us two years ago on our way to San Francisco, at a stop-over in Kansas.

This year, we’re driving with several more MG participants on our way to Colorado, so if you see a caravan of seven or so historic vehicles heading West, wave! Chances are, I’ll be waving back to you from the little black one…

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