The final two looks I prepared from the BR spring line fall neatly into the categories of “Teaching Outfit” and “Night without Grading” meaning, one of these I’d wear in my classroom and the other I’d wear when meeting my friends S., E., and A. out for drinks! The first look incorporates my two (new) favorite items: the stretchy flower belt and these little olive suede studded flats (neither of which is available online but this belt and these flats are similar, and these flats have the same flower as the belt on them, are equally adorable, and come in more colors in the store). The cropped jacket with a small ruffle and wider leg trousers dressed things up and the “Market Tote” was buttery soft and definitely could hold a day’s worth of books. I had first tried out the belting over a jacket look last week with a wide woven belt and blue blazer and I’m definitely a convert. I’d seen A., E., and S. do this before, but hadn’t tried it out myself until now.

Dinner Out?, originally uploaded by academichic.

This look, however, was fun, sleek, and definitely going-out-worthy. Had I not just recently stumbled into a few pairs of skinny jeans that I really like, I would have snapped these dark wash skinnies right up. The slight sparkle of the sweater (jacket?) and the skinny spike of these platform heels seemed evening appropriate and the soft silk edge of the tank and the cardigan played nicely off this bling-tastic necklace.

Sparkly!, originally uploaded by academichic.

So that’s it for my spring time inspirations from BR. A big thanks to the great sales people who allowed me to take photos in their store and helped me out! I know there has been some fruitful debate going on about this week of academichic playing dress-up with the BR spring line, and I hope that our readers have enjoyed seeing how we took new styles and brought our own aesthetic to some spring trends. Now we can rifle through our own closets with fresh eyes!

Sources:

Dress – Gap, thrifted
Cardi underneath (for warmth and sleeves) – ON
Belt – Gap Outlet
Damask tights – Anthropologie
Wedges – vintage, thrifted
Necklace – thrifted

Endnotes:

What’s back, white, and damask all over? My tights! I got these from my mom from Anthropologie for Christmas (in a size up so that I can still fit into them as my waistline expands), and I think they’ve quickly become my favorite pair. But as much as I love them, I do find them a bit tricky to style. I tried them on with different dresses and I even attempted a few pattern-mixing looks, but all of it ended up looking too busy for me. Ultimately, I think that the easiest way to showcase a pair of really bold and patterned tights is against a simple and solid backdrop. In this case, I pulled out another trusty black dress, added black beads and black wedges, and just snuck in a pop of color with my red-orange belt.

A reader asked about wearing colorful or patterned tights on Monday, to which reader Kara replied:

I think a good way to ease into the brights is to pair them with knee high boots and a knee-length skirt so you only have maybe two inches of the tights showing. It tones it down a bit, but still uses the tights as an accessory (and warmth!).

I completely agree with that tip. As you can see from the demonstration below, I have worn these tights before with a simple black dress and black boots. In that incarnation, only a bit of the damask peaked out and the effect was much more subtle. Pairing the same tights with a black dress and with black wedges, in this case showing much more leg, let’s the tights take more of a center presence. So if you have colorful or patterned tights that you want to work into your wardrobe but are hesitant about, start small. Let only a bit of the tights peak out from between a hem line and your boots.

Also, a side note on the layering here. You may not be able to tell but this is actually a short sleeved dress. It’s too cold to wear without the added sleeves in the winter but when I tried adding a cardigan on top, it all ended up looking very bulky. Because of the tulip shape of the skirt, I prefer the more fitted upper bodice and defined waist look on top. So I layered a cardigan underneath the dress, essentially adding sleeves to it. I then used A.’s trick of layering a fitted camisole over the cardigan to keep it from bunching and shifting and to add a smoothing layer over the buttons and texture of this front closure garment. In the end, I was plenty warm with a cardigan, camisole, and dress layered over one another and with these thick wool tights. This outfit may not look like it, but it’s quite the warm and cozy little get-up.

And the bonus? I love the fact that the damask pattern is carried out on the back of the legs as well, giving your outfit that extra something as you’re walking away. ~ S.

1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Knit blazer: C&C
• Blue tee: Forever 21
• Belt: thrifted
• Skirt: thrifted
• Shoes: Dolce Vita, c/o Solestruck

End Notes:

Yesterday was my university’s first day of classes. And guess what? I wasn’t on the student side of the classroom this time. Like Tania of What Would a Nerd Wear, I finished my PhD coursework in the spring, and now the only classes I’ll be present at this semester are ones where I’ll be on the teaching side of things. (My teaching assistant responsibilities cycle through observing the large-scale lecture and then teaching my own, smaller groups of students.)

My perennial outfit “concept” for the first day of school is one that mixes professionalism with little unexpected punches. I wanted to look put-together and competent, but not stuffy or preppy. I started with a very traditional color palette of pale blue, khaki, and gray, but kept things fresh by wearing a soft tee rather than a button down, a knit — rather than woven — blazer, a skinny belt, and, oh yes, orange pumps. Ironically, two of my male colleagues were wearing pale blue oxford shirts on their first day as well.

But no one else was wearing orange shoes. I had the corner on that market.

1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.

So here’s the other thing. Especially after reading the comments on a recent Chronicle of Higher Ed piece on professor “hotness” and dress (you should also read La Historiadora de Moda’s response) and L.’s admission that she’s “easing” her colleagues into her style, I also felt much more self-conscious this year about how the other teaching assistants (particularly my female colleagues) perceived me. I also didn’t want to come off as “trying too hard” or “showing them up.” But of course, not matter how carefully we try to craft a message through how we dress, we are not ultimately in control of how our attire is interpreted.

For me, a missing component in that Chronicle piece on “hot professors” — and something brought up by some commentators — was the role of gender, ethnicity, age, and even sexual orientation in how professors are perceived. As I’ve said before on this blog, bodies are never neutral and the fact that I’m relatively young, slim, and female already affects how I’m perceived, even before you take clothing into account.

On the other hand, all the above equivocations and ruminations aside, it’s really, really hard to be uncertain about yourself when you’re wearing an orange shoe. To paraphrase the inimitable La Historiadora de Moda, orange shoes do not make me mighty, but they remind me that I’m mighty, not meek.

1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.

(And don’t forget to check plenty of other great back-to-school looks at the Fashionable Academics!)

Sources:

• Eyelet top – thrifted
• Jean skirt – Urban Outfitters
• Yellow flats – Target (I totally copied A!)
• Pendant – Anthropologie
• Ring – Lala B Jewelry
• Bike – Electra Hawaii Cruiser
• Helmet – Nutcase

Endnotes:

Remember our home-made color wheel? It seems so long ago that we made it, gathering colorful clothing at my little condo and stuffing them into plates for our photographic project. I had no idea how much of a staple in my getting dressed approach that little installation would become. But since constructing that color wheel of clothes and getting dressed more color-consciously, I’ve developed a much greater appreciation of color theory and aesthetics.

So I’m excited that we’re revisiting our color modules this summer, taking a little refresher course with the newest member of our site, L. This week we’re focusing on Neutrals (with a pop). Since our last color course, I’ve come to embrace neutrals much more and so this week’s challenge is really no challenge at all. I pulled out a creamy eyelet top (so wonderful in this heat!) and my jean skirt (jeans count as neutrals in my book) and added a pop of color with a yellow shoe.

Such a subdued outfit presents the perfect palette for some statement jewelry. Enter my Lala B Jewelry ring that I’ve been wearing a lot lately. You probably noticed E’s Lala B ring, which she wears quite often as well. We got to choose a ring from Lala B and were asked to review them for our site, and I wouldn’t say this if I didn’t stand by it: their company and products are wonderful. While a bit pricer, their jewelry is well worth the investment because it’s not only beautiful but also hand-made my women artisans in Nepal. The feminist in me can’t help but love a company whose mission statement reads:

LA LA B Jewelry creates opportunities for poverty-stricken women to generate sustainable income in Nepal. Our mission is to bring about social and economic change by giving women the opportunity to participate financially in their family and society. [...] The Collection brings employment to over 150 artisans within the Kathmandu valley. Women’s lives in Nepal are dramatically elevated in society when they bring sustainable income into their families. This is exactly how LA LA B is helping.

So if you’re looking for a special gift for someone or just want to treat yourself to a unique and durable piece of jewelry, consider something from Lala B’s line of rings, bracelets, or necklaces. Not only will you be helping this socially conscious company help women in Nepal, but you’ll also be adding one heck of a ‘pop’ to your outfits. S.

Sources:
All remixed except newly found vintage purse:

• White tuxedo front shirt - J.Crew
• Jersey dress – Banana Republic
• Purple cardi - H&M
• Brown woven belt – F21
• Purple tights – Rewe
• Boots – Dillards
• Clutch bag – “AEG Kanis” found at Oxfam in Munich

Endnotes:

Yesterday’s outfit was an exercise in layering and staying comfortable and warm. While you can add layers for warmth in a way that doesn’t reveal all the different items you have on, I always find it more fun to play with layers that show themselves. Experimenting with different necklines is one of the easiest ways to add warmth while also producing striking visual interest.

Layering detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Yesterday’s outfit looked far more visually complex than it was, since it was really just neutrals (brown and white) with a pop of color (purple). But the interest came from the mix of pattern (in the dress) with textures (the ruffle in the top, the woven belt). While mixing patterns can seem a bit scary,  I find that mixing textures in a simpler and far less intimidating approach to achieving visual interest in one’s outfit.

27 November 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

My favorite part of the ensemble was this newly acquired red leather clutch, which I came across at the Munich Oxfam for only 6 Euros. I want to say it’s vintage but I’m never quite sure about these things. I just know that it appears old, I couldn’t find the brand when I searched for it online, and it came with a little key for the lock, which I only found hidden in one of its pockets after I had arrived home.

Vintage bag , originally uploaded by academichic.

I now leave you with a couple more shots from the Munich Christmas Market at Marienplatz. If you ever visit Austria or Germany and can time it to coincide with the Christmas Market season (mid November – December), I promise you will not regret it! S.

Munich Christmas Market, originally uploaded by academichic.

Glühwein, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Black cropped jacket – thrifted, remixed
Striped top – J.Crew, remixed
Black skirt – ON, thrifted, remixed
Pink tights – my mom’s from the 80s
Boots – Banana Republic, remixed

Endnotes:
This week, while perusing the blogosphere, I found out about NaNoWriMo on Madame Owl’s site. For those of you who, like me, have never heard of this before, it’s National Novel Writing Month. Except that it’s quite international and participants from all over the world join the fun (or madness – depending on how you look at it). The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in one month.

Well, as if writing a dissertation wasn’t enough, I decided rather impulsively (this is a pattern for me) to sign myself up! But I have good (to me) reasons for this:

As an academic, I am NEVER told: “Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that’s a good thing.” This from the official NaNoWriMo website. Also from the project’s ‘rules’: “Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It’s all about quantity, not quality.”

I have been shamelessly seduced by the idea of writing something for the sake of quantity and mass output at a time in my life when every word is weighed and scrutinized and quality and succinct writing is key. (Here I’m referring to my dissertation proposal, over which I have been laboring since this summer, and which can be described as the antithesis to the NaNoWriMo project).

I have also decided to embark on this writing marathon, because I liked what writer and blogger Andrea wrote about this process: “One of Nanowrimo’s many benefits is that it prepares you for a steady, productive writing life, and reinforces the fact that doing some writing every day will eventually produce a novel.” I like to think that this steady daily writing will also reinforce the fact that someday I will produce a dissertation.

I am also curious to see how simultaneously working on a work of fiction and one of fact, research, and theory will influence either writing process and whether I can come out sane at the end of the month. Who knows? Maybe I’ll discover a hidden passion or I will be damn glad to return to “just” my dissertation when November is over. And whatever happens, no one has to see this “novel” but myself, there is no NaNoWriMo reading committee waiting at the end, no degree riding on this, and no hope of tenure or a decent job attached to the pressure. Sounds like a cinch.

I will not be blogging about this here or disclosing my story, but I wanted to let you know about this because it will surely affect my state of mind over the next month and might even be reflected in my outfits (what’s a go-to crazy writer uniform?) I am also hoping that I might entice some of you to be impulsive and to join me on this crazy journey…right…are you with me….? Let’s Go NaNoWriMo!

Proportions, originally uploaded by academichic.

And a last note on today’s outfit – it was an exercise in proportions as well as in colors. One of my favorite color combinations is neutrals with a pop, especially a pop of pink! And whenever I wear this swingy cropped jacket, I look to pair it with a more fitted and structured bottom section. I also only recently came around to wearing cropped jackets since I am short-waisted and thought they would stump my torso even more. I have discovered, however, that cropped jackets work for us short-waisted ladies as well when worn with a longer – elongating! – top underneath. If the underneath layer hits about mid-hip, it created the illusion of a longer waist, allowing the cropped jacket to indeed appear cropped. Sounds simple, right? S.

Ok, now once more, let’s go NaNoWriMo! S.

Pink!, originally uploaded by academichic.

Endnotes:

I’m back! I’ve spent the last week living out of a car and out of a tent, traveling with my husband and two visiting Austrian friends to some of the many amazing national parks and monuments this country has to offer. While the sights and hikes have been breathtaking, the outfits have definitely been not. Not to mention that I had no access to my laptop, phone, or electricity for the past nine days – bliss.

But now that I’m back, I’m fascinated by the dialogue that started last week just after my departure and I’d like to add my two cents: I too, like A., have only told a few people about this blog of ours (my husband, my parents, and exactly three friends – one here in the US, my Austrian friend I’ve just been traveling with, and one in Romania).

In fact, I was faced with an interesting dilemma towards the end of this past spring semester. An undergraduate student who I’ve come to know well and who was getting ready to begin graduate work this fall confided that she did not know how to dress for graduate school and that she needed help in developing a more professional look. Part of my wanted to yelp, ‘I have just the site for you! I blog about this almost daily!’ I felt like our units on proportions, color, teaching attire and countless others could express to her much more than I could say in a brief half hour conversation. But another – equally persuasive inner voice – hastened to warn me that she was still my student and perhaps would not be too thrilled to find out about her instructor’s style blog. In the end, I did not reveal my ‘secret project’ and probably was not able to answer her questions or provide her with too much help during our brief conversation. Although I do not equate time or attention spent on appearance with diminishing intellectual capabilities, I still feel acutely aware of society’s and fellow academics’ tendencies to do so and wanted to spare myself the potential judgement. Such is my dilemma – I know that the system is flawed and don’t ‘buy into it’, but in true Foucaultian fashion, I also know that I can not exist outside of that system.

On a related note – the question of engagement rings and wedding bands has come up in numerous comments and here is where I stand on that. T. and I opted for a non-diamond engagement ring for numerous reasons, and as a result, most people did not realise that I was engaged when seeing my ring finger. We are so trained to read certain symbols as carrying certain meanings that we often do not even consider the possibilities of alternate meanings or alternate symbols. But I did not choose a non-diamond ring as a way to hide or downplay my marital status in the interview room (and in fact now wear a very conspicuous wedding band inherited from my mother).  While I may not be brave enough yet to freely share this project with others in my professional or personal life, I do not believe that I should ever hide or deny something like my partner or desire to have children from potential employers. I may be likely to downplay my interest in clothes and style, but I am much less inclined to do so with my family and personal priorities and believe that any work place that would not support my having a life outside of academia does not deserve the hard work and commitment I would put into serving that department. S.

Neutrals:

While here at Academichic Central we are struggling to beat the heat with cool neutrals, our lone all-neutrals submission came from a far away reader in a winter climate.  We love how Missy P made her winter white really pop by pairing it with layers of rich brown form head to toe.

Neutrals with a Pop:

We are all jealous of Missy P’s beautiful coat collection, particularly this striking red wool coat which provides the perfect pop in a mix of cozy neutrals. What a great way to add some color to a dreary winter day!

In Dawn’s own words: “I decided to mix navy, black & cream with red, and felt fabulous breaking one of the central commandments of style!”  We adore this  fabulous example of why some rules are just meant to be broken!

Two-Thirds of a Triad:

This beautiful predominately neutral look – made extra special with the addition of two pops of color – is a perfect example of the two thirds rule- Esstea explains: “I love how just those two little bursts of color played off each other and made the neutral charcoals and blacks look zippier.”  We couldn’t agree more!

We also love this take on the two-thirds rule: Pairing the brightest pink in her closet (red) with her darkest navy denim (blue), Esstea creates yet another stunning color combo. Very chic!

Water Girl put together a two thirds of red-blue-yellow triad, writing:  ”I love blue and red together, but always struggle with making sure I don’t look like a 4th of July firecracker”. Well no problem here! This belted jacket and pretty skirt combo are nothing if not chic and put-together!

Krissie’s take on the blue-yellow-red triad combined blue and yellow in this elegant professional look. Taking her cue from A’s DIY flower and ribbon belt, she finished off this ensemble with her own version in rich brown hues.

Complimentary Colors:

Orange and blue, complimentary colors often sported by both S. and E., seemed to be by far the most popular complimentary color submission. Here Krissie is employing the little trick of letting a pattern do the color mixing work for you with this beautiful abstract print skirt.

Redcactusflower was inspired by E.’s recent orange and blue outfit to wear a color combination she wouldn’t normally try. We love the sleek look of this ensemble with the structured tan skirt and the unexpected burst of orange from this gorgeous bauble necklace.

Clare’s casual version of a blue and orange complimentary look is bold and summery. We love the slight variation on the ‘true’ colors with her choice of red-orange and blue-green and we’re also mighty impressed by how not even an arm cast can dim her sense of style! Rock on, Clare!

Jessica took a different approach to the same red-green complimentary color combination by pairing a pink top with a mint green floral skirt. The delicate beaded necklace of pinks, browns, and greens brings this entire outfit seamlessly together.

Thank you, all, for your wonderful submissions! We’ve really enjoyed being inspired by you and hope that our readers will find equal enjoyment in perusing these beautiful pictures and stunning color combinations.

Sources:

All remixed except flower:

• Black dress – BR Outlet
• Scarf as belt – J.Crew
• Black wedges – Connie, thrifted
• Flower pin – Blue Onion Marketplace

Endnotes:

As A. already mentioned, we’re reviewing our Fashion 101‘s on color and this week we are tackling neutrals and neutrals with a pop. The last time we wore neutrals (with a pop), I was under the mistaken impression that a pop of color could only be had when adding a bright or punchy item to the mix. Such as bright purple tights to a black and grey outfit or a pair of bright pink shoes to an all brown look. I’m now realizing that a pop can be soft and unassuming and still be an effective and unexpected accessory to an all-neutrals ensemble. As is this pale blue flower added to my blue scarf worn as a belt:

We received these beautiful flower brooches from Blue Onion Marketplace and I couldn’t have been more excited to use one of them to ‘pop’ my all-neutrals outfit today. I’ve worn a similar pink flower pinned to my jean jacket before and A. used hers to dress us a summer tote, so I wanted to explore another way of wearing it today. Pinning it to my scarf belt gave this little black dress and extra touch of summery whimsy, don’t you think? If you’re itching for one of these of your own, check out Blue Onion Marketplace and use the reader code ACADFREESH at checkout to get free shipping for the month of July!

And on the subject of neutrals with a pop, what is your favorite way to add a burst of color to an all-neutrals outfit? What ‘neutrals + pop of color’ puts a smile on your face? S.

Blue flower pin, originally uploaded by academichic.

When we first explored the color wheel and experimented with various color combinations, we found it to be extremely helpful in lending us new eyes with which to see our wardrobes. This was so useful the first time around, that we decided to revisit the color modules and to challenge ourselves to a review session using our summer wardrobes. (Since E. recently gave birth to baby e., she’ll be excused from the review session unless she decides to join in from time to time.)

This coming week, we will review Neutrals and Neutrals with a Pop. To read more about this color mix lesson, click here…

Neutrals — black, brown, gray, tan, and navy (okay, and white too) — are the staple of most wardrobes. And for good reason. They can easily mitigate more piercing color combinations, toning down an outfit and providing cohesion. They can also produce rich and textured outfits by themselves when layered and combined with just each other. With this module, we explore how ensembles comprised entirely of neutrals achieve a rich and interesting look, and how a simple pop of color brings an unexpected boost to an otherwise softer neutral palette.

Neutral Colors:

In painting, neutrals are made by mixing disparate colors together. Mixing red and green paint together will give you a brown, mixing red, yellow, and blue together will push you towards black, and so on. The fact that neutrals actually contain many colors is part of what allows them to look good next to any color.

Neutrals, originally uploaded by academichic.

Like Stacy and Clinton always say on What Not to Wear, “neutrals go with everything,” including each other. Injunctions against wearing black and brown or brown and gray or black and navy together simple aren’t true. When mixed together in a range of shades and textures, an all-neutral outfit can be minimal but sophisticated. Pairing two neutrals in different textures such as jersey and lace or silk and wool can create a clean look. A. is our resident expert on wearing multiple neutrals, dexterously mixing a variety of fabrics and shades.

Neutrals can provide a softer look on their own, or serve as a background for another color. When pairing one “pop” of color with an all neutral palette, the neutrals allow the brighter color to add a wow-factor.

Pop of Pink, originally uploaded by academichic.