academichic

Sources:

Top – Olian, via consignment store
Skirt – Liz Lange Maternity, via consignment store
Tank – BE Maternity
Red wedges – vintage Etienne Aigner, thrifted
Bangle – H&M years ago
Earrings – made by me
Sunglasses – my husband’s
Bag – Dots, back in high school when I worked there :)
Bike – 1970s Peugeot Mixte
Helmet – Giro

Endnotes:

Well, you may have noticed that I’ve been somewhat sparse around here lately. A variety of reasons are to blame for this: First, I’m done teaching and so I no longer have to dress up for work every day. Add to that the fact that as my belly’s growing, my wardrobe continues to shrink, and the fact that most days my activities consist of writing at my kitchen table, taking my dog on walks on the nearby trail, meeting friends for walks, or going to prenatal yoga. For all of these aformentioned activities, I’ve been happily donning comfortable workout shorts and my husband’s t-shirts (I’ve outgrown most of mine). So as you can see, not really blog-worthy material.

But the truth is that I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s been a busy academic year and I’ve still got a heavy writing load to tackle before the baby is due (along with finally getting her room ready, something we’re just now getting started on), so it’s a relief to be able to slow down and take it easy on other fronts. I love being able to just get up and stay in comfortable sweats all day if I’m only going to be walking my dog, writing from home, or lounging on the patio reading. Life is all about ebbs and flows and this is definitely my time to enjoy the ‘ebb’ of being a stay-at-home pregnant woman.

As you can see, I did get dressed yesterday as I biked to my 30 week doctor’s appointment. And it was fun to pull our this funky print shirt that I found on my consignment shop trip with E. a while back, which feels way to fun to waste on a day of dog walking and backyard lounging. I also wiggled my feet into shoes other than Birkenstocks (but let me tell you! It was hard getting that buckle fastened. I almost gave up. It wasn’t that they didn’t fit, it was that in order to put them on, I had to bend down and clear this huge belly that made it nearly impossible to reach the clasp and fasten it). And so I did enjoy a day of looking polished and presentable. But today I’m happily back to cut off (maternity) jean shorts, a tank top, those easy to slip on Birkies, and my backpack as I bike to the library for an afternoon of writing. Right after I go walk my dog in decidedly non-red wedge shoes. ~ S.

Sources:

Top – Liz Lange Maternity for Target, via consignment store
Jean skirt – Liz Lange Maternity for Target, via consignment store
Cardi – very old H&M
Brooch – vintage, via consignment store
Tights – TJMaxx
Yellow shoes – Gianni Bini
Scarf – Vintage Threadz on Etsy

Endnotes:

This skirt and top are two more finds from my maternity shopping spree with E. The best part of going maternity clothes shopping with E.? She has such a great eye for the potential in items. I found this teal top and instantly liked its color and drapeyness, but once on, the drapeyness was a little too much and it felt a little long and frumpy…

But E. suggested two ways in which this could be quickly and easily remedied. One way would be to add ruching to the sides of the fabric (see a simple tutorial here), gathering it with that puckered effect symptomatic of many a maternity shirt. I loved that solution for keeping the top structured while allowing for extra belly fabric, but didn’t think that my remedial sewing skills could produce it. So I went with the second – and easier option – which was to add an elastic band along the bottom seam bringing the fabric in that way.

This was a very quick and effortless project that only cost me a couple of dollars in elastic and a few minutes in DIY time. I used a seam ripper to cut an opening into that bottom seam and ran the elastic all the way through. Once I had the elastic in, I tried the top on to see how wide I needed my elastic to be to fit comfortably around my hips. I pinned the ends in place with a safety pin while I had the shirt still on, then sewed them together, cut the excess elastic off, and stitched the shirt seam back up. And voila! The new and improved version…

For comparison purposes, here is the top once more with the ‘Before’ and ‘After pictures…

I much prefer this more nipped in and tailored version, as it hugs the belly while still being loose and comfortable but without looking shapeless and frumpy. It’s such a minor change but still one that makes such a difference. Thanks, E., for a great idea! Being able to see the potential in items makes shopping for a maternity wardrobe (or any wardrobe) much easier, especially when scouring thrift stores and consignment shops. The selection may not always be as great as in a retail store but the pricer are much better and the possibilities after altering something to suit your shape and aesthetic make the find all the more rewarding, don’t you think?  S.

Sources:

All remixed.

• Lace print tee: Forever 21
• Denim skirt: Old Navy Maternity
• Red wedges: Naturalizers, via DSW
• Turquoise necklace as bracelet: Target

End Notes:

There are some clothing combinations that have become classics for a reason. It’s hard to go wrong, for example, with a white tee, dark denim, and a pop of red. With this simple of an outfit it’s the little details that keep things interesting: the turquoise bracelet (actually a necklace doubled over!), the stitching on the red wedges, and the lace print on the t-shirt.

I do love this lace tee and it has served me well throughout the pregnancy (here I am wearing it at 20 weeks, 25 weeks, and 30 weeks!). It reminds me a little bit of a t-shirt I had as a little girl, one with a silk screened tuxedo ruffle and suspenders in turquoise and magenta emblazoned on the front. I’m pretty sure that I loved it. A quick browse through Etsy just confirmed that such wardrobe innovation was not limited to the 1980s and, indeed, in a few weeks I will have to decide whether such attached accessories will be appropriate for my son or daughter.

After looking at these utterly adorable onesies from Sam and Coop, I think I’m going to go with “yes.”

14 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Scarf – gift from college roommate from her semester in Spain
• Pink tee – Old Navy
• Denim skirt – ON Maternity, remixed
• Wedges – Target.com, remixed and on their way to becoming favorites

End Notes:

First, I think the fab Kyla over at Blue Collar Catwalk and I must be on the same wavelength, because, I, too, am a newly converted fan of wearing large square scarves as a kind of over-sized kerchief. In fact, you will probably see my straight-up stealing Kyla’s awesome maxi dress + big scarf combo in the very near future.

(Unfortunately, I don’t think this is an accessory that will be baby-approved unless I want my scarves to double as spit-up cloths. Ah well, I’ll enjoy them in the meantime.)

Much like wearing a blazer over some drapey jersey, I love how tying a scarf like this manages to both add polish and appear casual. Someone recently asked all three of us at Academichic to describe our personal styles, and while I know what feels and looks like “me,” I found it harder to put that into words. I’m pretty sure, though, that it has something to do with why I like those aforementioned combinations and my desire to be put-together but comfortable, to be elegant while still being machine washable.

Have you ever tried summarizing your personal style into a pithy sentence or phrase? What is it?

14 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.