academichic

   

12 February 2009 – indoor, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Black cardigan – Target, remixed 
• White belt – Banana Republic 
• Fuschia skirt – Gap 
• Houndstooth tights – Target 
• Black boots – Banana Republic, remixed over and over
• White bracelet – H&M 
• Blue coat – Banana Republic
• Book – Frauenarbeit und Presse, Ulla Wischermann 

Endnotes:

It may not look like it, but this is neutrals with a pop, since I am wearing black, white, and fuschia. Initially, I thought the fuschia would add a burst of color to a simple black-and-white outfit, but I think the white belt upstages this skirt. So although we’re considering white a neutral, it seems like it’s the one providing the ‘pop’. Oh, those brazen neutrals, they don’t cease to amaze. That is what I’m learning this week.

So I really wasn’t trying to cheat the neutrals challenge, at least not for the indoor version of this look. The outdoor version, now that’s a whole different story…. -S.

  

12 February 2009 – outdoor, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Navy dress, gray wedges, and purple cardigan: Gap Outlet
• Earrings: Phoenix Rising

End Notes:

I’m returning my first round of graded quizzes to my students today, and I needed a look that says, “I graded fairly and I am not a pushover.” A neutral with a pop of color seemed to fit the bill. I’m taking a cue from A.’s striking pairing of purple and cobalt blue and translating it for our neutrals week challenge, using this rich violet cardigan to add a splash of color to a simple, navy jersey dress. An added bonus? Tying the open cardigan in place with this sash distracts from my increasingly-protruding but not-yet-obviously-pregnant belly.

Layering Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

   

Neutrals with a pop of color – 2, originally uploaded by academichic.

  

Belt and dress detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources (above):

• Brown and white wrap dress - Banana Republic 
• White tank – old 
• Brown woven belt – Forever 21 
• Orange-red cardigan – Zara 
• Grey tights – TJMaxx 
• Brown boots – Dillards

Sources (below):

• Grey dress – thrifted 
• Black 3/4 sleeve top – Express 
• Pink tights – TJMaxx 
• Blue fishnet tights – TJMaxx 
• Black boots – Banana Republic 
• Circle necklace – J.Jill 
• Silver earrings – TJMaxx 
• Purple clutch – gift

Endnotes:

This week we’re trying our outfits comprised of neutrals or neutrals with a pop of color. Although I rarely wear all neutrals, I realized that I quite often will wear mostly neutrals and then add one bright item. I love the burst of color against a more muted background, and here are two examples of recent outfits I’ve worn producing that effect (the above one for teaching, the one below was my New Year’s outfit).

To challenge myself this week with Module 2 of our Fashion 101, I will aim to create interesting ensembles of entirely neutrals. Although I really can’t promise that a little bit of bright color won’t sneak its way in… -S.

 

Neutrals with a pop of color – 1, originally uploaded by academichic.

Module 2: Neutrals (with a Pop)

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.

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