academichic

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?

2 March 2010 – Cardi, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Cardi – TJMaxx
• Lace top worn backwards – Maurices
• Jeans – Filene’s Basement
• Boots – Dillards
• Bracelets – Big Lots
• Earrings – made by me

Endnotes:

The generous folk over at Maurices recently sent us a few gift cards, one of which we gave away to you a while back, and three which were for us to redeem for something of our choice. Not having a Maurices in Germany, I tucked away my gift card until my trip home, when I was finally able to go to their store and pick something out.

Until recently, I really wasn’t too familiar with Maurices, but I was really pleasantly surprised to walk into their store and find so many things that appealed to me: professional yet stylish blazers and jackets, many beautiful drapey cardigans, fun evening tops, and pretty accessories. Their prices are comparable to those of H&M, Forever 21, or Zara’s, and they carry everything from smalls to cute plus- size clothing. I chose a few tops and jackets to try on eventually narrowed it down to this green lacey top I got and this pink ruffled evening top, that would have also made a fun addition to my wardrobe. I chose the green lacey top because I think I can get more mileage out of it, particularly since it lends itself to being worn backwards (as I did here – with the lace in the front) or the intended way, with the lacey embellishment in the back.

2 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Lace detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Before deciding to wholeheartedly recommend Maurices to you, I came home and did what any decent scholar would do – I researched the company I was about to endorse…

» Read the rest of this entry «

10 August 2009 – Analogous Florals, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Floral Blouse – American Eagle
• Grey Denim Skirt – Old Navy
• Lace Cami – BR Outlet
• Black Flats – Urban Outfitters
• Green Belt – Tie from H & M Shirt Dress

Endnotes:

I love the analogous color pairing of blue and green and sport it often.   Here I am letting my blouse do all the mixing work for me, but have pushed the green blue mix a bit further by choosing a bright blue (almost teal) cami and a green tie-belt rather than my usual neutral staples. I also would just like to note, the albeit subtle, pattern mix happening between florals.

Analogous florals, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 August 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Endnotes:

This week we’re reviewing Triads and Analogous Colors. Before we began these color challenges, I had never even heard of a triad (I’m no Art Historian like A. and E.) and would have been hard-pressed to tell you which colors form a triangle on the color wheel. But since constructing our color wheel of clothing I can not only point to a triad but I’ve also come to have a favorite triad: purple, green, and orange.

I know I’m cheating just a bit today by using a turquoise top to count for the green but I’ve been really dying to wear this pretty lace-embellished top again. I’ve worn this particular triad ‘straight out of the crayon box’  here, and near-triads like today’s outfit here and here. It does seem like it’s easier to create near-triads, where one color is just a darker or lighter hue than its undiluted version. Or with a color that’s slightly to the left or right of the actual triadic one, like today’s blue-green of my top. It seems to mitigate or soften the otherwise very bold color mix. But even so, I’ll be anything but a wall flower wearing this bright and punchy color combo today! S.

24 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

• Yellow Striped Skirt – H & M, remixed
• White Blouse – Forever 21, borrowed from E.
• Brown Belt – BR Outlet, remixed often
• Brown T-Strap Sandals – H & M, remixed
• Beads – Hawaii

Endnotes:
A crazy week of teaching transitioned right into a crazy weekend of party planning, party hosting, and party attending. E.’s shower on Saturday was lovely and while I never got a chance to post my outfit, you can see what both E. and I wore when we do our extended shower post later this week.

Yesterday I went to another party – a birthday party for a friend’s one-year old. It was an afternoon BBQ and it was sunny and beautiful out.

For the second time, I am attempting this proportion of bloused top with more fitted bottom thanks to anohter borrowed item from E.s pre-pregnancy closet. I like what the big brown belt does for this otherwise very pale and flowy ensemble.

24 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

30 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Red Tee – Old Navy
• Grey Lace Cami – Old Navy
• Polka-Dot Silk Tie – Thrifted
• Denim Pencil Skirt – Gap
• Red Wedges – Anthropologie, via ebay
• Beaded Cuff – Hawaii
• Silver Hoops – BR

Endnotes:

For the girl who wasn’t convinced she wanted to participate in this week of mini challenges, S. has really stepped up the game. She first challenged me to wear polka-dots but when I complained that the only polka-doted item I own is a very fall/winter top, she changed the challenge to wearing red. Well, I own two red items: -this tee-shirt and these kinda-red wedges! Funny enough, when I have worn this tee before S. has complimented me on the color. I decided to meet her challenge head-on by adding some polka-dots too. I like the way the little flower polka-dots echo the red in the top.

Details, originally uploaded by academichic.

I love all the comments we received yesterday and have responded to them in a rather long comment of my own. Today I have a new topic to pick your brains about.

The lack of red, polka-dots, and pattern in general, along with the change in weather, has me itching for a shopping trip! E. S. and I often hit the stores together and have various shopping strategies, so I see a Taking Notes on this in our future. But, I’m wondering how all of you approach shopping. Do you shop to fill gaps in your closet (ie red) or with a particular item in mind (ie a grey cropped blazer)? Do you set price limits before you go? Item limits? Do you pre-shop online to get a sense of what’s out there? Do you shop alone or with a special shopping buddy?

30 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

30 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Cardigan- Banana Republic
• Turquoise Beads – Limited
• Red-Violet Tee – Forever 21
• Lace Cami – Banana Republic
• Brown Trousers – Banana Republic
• Brown Pumps – Steve Madden

Endnotes:

Sometimes I plan out what I am going to wear the night before, often mentally going through my closet as I fall asleep. Other times I think about it while in the shower in the morning. These outfits are usually altered once I start physically pulling the items out of my closet but it gives me a place to start. This morning I was showered, hair and makeup done, half a pot of coffee consumed, 5 papers graded, and I still had no idea what I was going to wear.

I stared at my open drawer and this red-violet top poped out at me so I worked from there – thank you color wheel! I chose neutral pants and shoes because I wanted to look professional for a day of meetings and other campus events but checked the color wheel and saw that red-violet paired with blue-green, and yellow-orange make a triad. I threw on this turquoise necklace and had 2/3 of a triad (although one might argue the amber-brown in the necklace has yellow-orange undertones). The necklace led me to the cardigan of a similar color and voila I was dressed!

If you have enjoyed our Fashion 101‘s then check out the updated page and our new Taking Notes page. New installations coming soon!

Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.