Three Firsts, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Shirt Dress: American Apparel
• Blue Dress (under): Even via Off 5th
• Belt: Anthropologie
• Scarf: gift
• Shoes: Steve Madden via DSW

Endnotes:
So many firsts in this post! First time remixing/layering dresses, first time tucking my scarf into my belt, and first picture in my classroom. Even though I’m not participating in Kendi’s 30 for 30 (as A. and E. are) this time around, I have been inspired by all the layering and remixing that my co-bloggers are doing. I’ve never tried the layering a dress over something longer, but I own a few cotton dresses that have shrunk and become short enough that I’m reluctant to wear them to school, and I thought they might work for just this experiment. I tried to ease myself into this by keeping to block colors and neutrals.

Three Firsts, originally uploaded by academichic.

The scarf-tucked-into-the-belt look is one that A sports frequently and I’ve attempted it before, but never with any success. The key for me was finding a scarf that was thin enough that it didn’t feel like it was adding a lot of bulk to my front.

Belted Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Finally, as I’m sure you’ve noticed I took my pictures today in my classroom. A few of you commented last time I posted that you wished that I could take pictures in natural light, and believe me I wish for that too! I’m really torn about this right now – Like E., A., and S. have all discussed, I’ve kept my style blogging quiet. My family and close friends know, but it’s not general information that I give out. Especially since I’m just starting a new job with many time consuming commitments, I didn’t want people to think that blogging was taking up time that I should be grading or prepping or giving extra-help – and it doesn’t, generally. However, I also believe that when working in a boarding school (or really in any walk of life), one must make time for personal commitments and have outlets beyond the campus. For me at this moment style blogging is a respite from all school related stresses. I guess my reluctance also comes down to the fact that we’re not just talking about colleagues knowing about Academichic – there are students involved too, and I’m very apprehensive about them finding out and questioning my professionalism. Anyway, all this was to say I also wish I could take pictures in natural light, on the beautiful campus that surrounds me, in front of the fall foliage and ancient brick walls that form my new home. However, I’m not ready for my pupils to know about my leisure activity, and so I’ll be taking photos inside for a while longer. For other bloggers out there, do you have similar struggles about revealing your site to others?

15 April 2010 – Jailbird, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Striped top: Old Navy
• Black shirt dress: Old Navy
• Belt: thrifted
• Wedges: Naturalizers, via DSW

End Notes:

(On a completely unrelated note, a few folks have asked for a tutorial on turning old jeans into a skirt, ala my outfit from earlier this week. I made this way back at the end of my undergrad career, so I’m a wee bit fuzzy on the details, but I’m guessing I followed something fairly close to this tutorial here. Good luck refashioning!)

When it comes to layering with dresses, the natural tendency is to add something on top: a cardigan, a jacket, or even another top. But, there are also ways to under a dress (and without it looking like a jumper!).

S. is pretty much my dress-layering hero. She’s layered dresses over dresses, dresses over skirt-and-top combinations, dresses over long sleeved shirts, a dress over a button down shirt, and dresses over tops with interesting necklines.

She’s inspired both A. and I to try our hand at dress layering, and now she’s had me curious about layering tops-of-interest under dresses, like I did with my mustard blouson top and a printed red and white button down.

I really like the effect of these ruffles popping out from under a sleeveless dress. The result is a nice balance of graphic and sweet and poof! I am wearing stripes without feeling too wide, nautical, French, or jailbird-ish.

S., this layering is for you!

15 April 2010 – Jailbird, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Vintage shift dress – was my grandmother’s
• Black shirt dress – H&M
• Brown belt – F21
• Purple tights – grocery store
• Boots – thrifted in Romania

Endnotes:

I found this vintage shift dress in my grandmother’s closet and since she no longer wears it, I claimed it for myself. She’s had this dress for longer than she can remember and I have faint memories of her wearing it from when I was little. I never paid much attention to it before, but seeing it now, I kind of fell in love with it. It’s got a great boat neck cut, white gum drop buttons that run down the entire left side of it, and Asian inspired artwork that runs along the hemline of it.

Dress layers, originally uploaded by academichic.

Admittedly, the teal, lime, and orange color scheme is a little loud and a little intimidating, but the details and cut make it so fabulous that I’m sure to wear it by itself come summer. For now, I mitigated some of its brightness by layering it under my black shirt dress and adding other neutrals such as a dark brown belt and dark brown boots. This entire ensemble is a somewhat strange conglomeration of disparate items, but over all I think it works. It feels quirky and fun and that’s not a bad way to start of the year, right? How would you wear this vintage shift dress, what would you pair it with? Do inspire me! S.

1 January 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Gray dress- Target, remixed
• Black shirt dress – H&M
• Gray tights – DM
• Black rushed flats – Kenneth Cole, remixed
• Earrings worn as necklace – TJMaxx, remixed
• Vintage onyx and pearl ring – gift from mom, remixed

Endnotes:

I went into H&M this past weekend to get a pair of tights, when I spotted this black shirt dress on clearance for 15 Euros. Having just relayed my love of shirt dresses to you, I was still on a shirt dress high and decided I had to ‘splurge’ and get this one. I’m glad I did because I can already envision all the ways this will remix with my current items.

Earrings necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.

For today, I created a monochromatic look by layering this black dress over my gray jersey dress. To keep with the monochrome, I turned these two onyx earrings into a necklace by stringing the first one on a silver chain and the second one onto the first earring for a cascading effect (A. inspired me to try this after seeing her repurpose earrings as necklace pendants several times).

Vintage Ring, originally uploaded by academichic.

My mother’s onyx and pearl ring and black flats with gray tights complete the monochromatic ensemble. While this may have been simple and subdued in color, I think it’s the details that make this outfit stand out; the ruching on the shoes, the jewelry, and the deep pockets on this dress (who doesn’t love a dress with pockets?).

Shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

And while we’re on the subject of colors, thanks to some of you for pointing out that fuchsia is spelled *fuchsia* and not fuschia. I’d like to pretend that it was my subconscious Germanization of the spelling, but that would be a lie.

To recap, since fashion blogging, I have learned the correct spelling of the following words:

• Polka-dot (not Polk-a-dot)
• Corduroy (not Chorduroy)
• Fuchsia (not Fuschia)

and I have also spent way to much time thinking about Gray vs. Grey.
S.

16 November 2009 – Two Dresses Redux , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:
All remixed:

• Pink cowl neck top – Nine West
• Khaki shirt dress – Target
• Brown woven belt – F21
• Brown tights – DM
• Boots – Dillards
• “Dance” pendant – It’s All About The Print on Etsy

Endnotes:

As E. is in the process of pointing out with her shirt dress challenge, shirt dresses are very versatile garments. (Read: you get a lot of bang for your buck!) I have worn this khaki shirt dress as a trench of sorts layered over another dress, for a more casual look over a button-down shirt, as a way to tone down a triad over a skirt and tee combo, and today, over this bright pink cowl neck top for a dressy-casual approach. I’m now excited to see what E. does with her shirt dress for more inspiration of how to ‘remix’ this favorite item.

And speaking of remixing, Jentine just wrote a lovely post on why ‘remix’ is such a kinder term than perhaps other alternatives. Well put, Jentine! S.

Dance, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed:

Gray jersey dress – Target
Khaki shirt dress – Target
Yellow belt – J.Crew
Gray wedges – Report
Tan bag – Etienne Aigner
Beads – thrifted

Endnotes:

I’m relatively new to this whole dress layering thing, but I’m catching on fast. Layering dresses is a great way to add warmth, length, or to simply remix your wardrobe in yet another creative way that makes you feel like you have far more clothes than you actually do.

Last Friday, I layered these two dresses for reasons One and Three named above. I joined my mom for a quick trip to Brasov, another near-by city that rocks, for her meeting with an old friend for coffee. Brasov has a very different feel (and look) from Sibiu and even the style on the streets seems more edgy and fashion-forward. I love spending a good hour sitting at a cafe in the main square watching people walk by and taking note of their outfits. I have a feeling that my own style will invariably change the longer I’m in Europe and under the influence of my surroundings here, and I will leave it up to you to discern the differences.

For now, while I may not have Sartorialist-like photos of the people of Brasov to share with you, I will leave you with a few shots of the city instead.  S.

16 May 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Khaki shirt dress – Target 
• Green tee – H&M 
• Purple cord skirt – AE, remixed 
• Red-orange belt – Gap, remixed 
• Orange gladiators – AE, remixed 
• Wood and leather necklace – AE

Endnotes:

Ever since I thrifted this orange shirt dress a while ago (and realized how wonderfully versatile they are), I’ve been on the look out for another shirt dress in a neutral color to add to my wardrobe. Ideally, I wanted one in navy or black, I’m not really a khaki wearer. But when I found this one for $8 on clearance at Target, I decided that I was willing to compromise. Added persuasion factor: it was the last one left and in my size. It was meant to be.

And the khaki color does make it feel somewhat Safari-ish, which is one of this spring’s looks, so who am I to fight it? I think the wooden and leather  necklace along with the French braid also add to the Safari-ish feel. Although, what I’m more excited about is that I’m wearing a triad (a rare but always fun color combo!).

    

Wood and leather necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.

And while I’m thrilled about my new shirt dress, the triadic color combo of today’s outfit, and the BBQ graduation party I’m going to this afternoon, what’s I’m most thrilled about is that I completed my third and final comprehensive exam and I am done with all of my requirements but my dissertation! I’m not quite ABD* (since I still have to get my dissertation proposal written and approved), but I, along with A., am now ABP! I couldn’t be happier about this! S. 

*ABD = All But Dissertation (and yes, that’s official terminology although it sounds silly).

**ABP = Coined by E. and stands for All But Prospectus, which is where A. and I both are in our academic career right now.

  

16 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

5 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

(In order of layering:)

• black dress – Banana Republic 
• pale yellow tank top – TJMaxx 
• purple dress – TJMaxx 
• black cardigan – Old Navy 
• yellow belt – J. Crew 
• black boots – Banana Republic 
• yellow bracelet – gift

Endnotes:

This is outfit two of the Complimentary Color Challenge, a.k.a. Module 1 of How to Combine Colors.  This outfit was largely inspired by A.’s outfit yesterday,in which she also layers a purple dress over a black dress,  so I can hardly take creative credit. Since I teach in this outfit and the purple dress is too short for an appropriate teaching ensemble, I took my cue from A. and layered it over a black dress to add length. I love how the yellow pops against the purple and black and think I will definitely do this color combination again! -S.