academichic

Green and Gold, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Shirt: Banana Republic
• Camisole: BR Outlet
• Skirt: BR
• Belt: J. Crew
• Fishnets: Ralph Lauren
• Shoes: Tahari via Endless.com

Endnotes:
This outfit was a haptic fantasy for me. The soft silk crepe of the shirt and the lacy camisole, the slightly itchy wool of the skirt, my new favorite fishnet stockings and finally, and my heavy metal and leather belt presented a smörgåsbord of textures both visually and sensually. I’ve had this shirt for about a million years (real time, since the late 90s) and I think I could count on one hand the number of times I’ve worn it. But, it’s silk, and nice, and “grown up,” and blousy, so it keeps coming with me from apartment to apartment, through jobs and grad school and jobs. Finally pairing it with a pencil skirt might have saved it from the Goodwill pile for good.

Green and Gold profile, originally uploaded by academichic.

I love the structured skirt with the flowy blouse and the belt added a little more hard-core edge to really push this outfit over the top for me. The combination of olive green and metal also tapped into the military trend from this fall. The belt was an impulse purchase at J. Crew. It was on sale for $10 and I figured that I’ve been wanting a gold-colored belt, so why not try this one? I love how the metal of the belt picked up the more subtle metal chain across the shoes too. I wrapped the leather ends around in back and then double knotted them at the front so that the metal and the leather were both visible at first glance.

Textures, originally uploaded by academichic.

I was especially proud of this outfit because I managed to pull it together on the last day of classes before Thanksgiving break. Like I’ve admitted to you all several times, dressing up helps me get my head in the game rather than the opposite, which I think is what others might initially think when they see a person who cares about appearance. Style doesn’t take me away from my “life of the mind” it actually brings me closer to it, and strangely, it challenges me to consider many of the cultural, artistic and intellectual fields I’ve studied. I wish I could put that on a billboard above my head as I walk around school. Oh well, one day at a time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~L.

Everyday Dress, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Dress: BR
• Scarf: vintage (thrifted)
• Tights: no idea
• Boots: vintage Charles David
• Necklace: Tiffany

Endnotes:
Well, it’s official… I’m not marrying Prince William. I’m not usually a celebrity gossipmonger, but for some reason when I heard that the dashing Wills and gorgeous Kate Middleton were engaged I instantly had to know every detail. I was sad about the news at first, realizing that my childhood dream of being a real princess was over.

Prince William broke my heart, originally uploaded by academichic.

But I’ve always liked Harry more anyway… that red hair!

I heart Prince Harry, originally uploaded by academichic.

Anyway, back to the outfit at hand. A broad mixing of neutrals – navy and black – a perennial favorite for me. I took a page out of E.’s book when I bought this dress, which is sizes too big, but since I knew I’d be wearing it with a belt anyway, it wouldn’t matter. The only catch was that the neckline was too low in the bigger size, but this was easily remedied with a lace edged camisole that doesn’t even show in most of these pictures. I’ve become totally enamored of my scarf collection of late, and instead of a more traditional belt I find myself reaching for scarves more and more to add some interesting element to otherwise bland outfit. I also love these flat black shiny boots to add a little umph to an ensemble.

Although I admit this outfit is hardly daring – scarf or not – I dress to teach every day, six days a week, and I’ve realized that posting what I think are tame outfits could be just as inspiring to others as something on-trend or out of the ordinary. I would hope posts like this one are helpful at least in realizing that feeling stylish doesn’t necessarily have to translate into being the center of sartorial attention… or at least not every day (wink wink).

Sources:

• Dress – Banana Republic
• Belt – Old Navy
• Blazer – Ann Taylor Loft
• Shoes – Banana Republic

Endnotes:

These pictures were actually taken a couple weeks ago, when a sleeveless dress and open-toed shoes were still a viable combination.  I hesitated posting this outfit because of the horrible quality of these photos. In the end, I decided I loved this color combination and silhouette too much to not share the outfit (plus I was having a good hair day!).  It can be hard to pair what I have come to think of as this raisin-colored dress with accessories.  I knew I liked how it looked with teal, because the last time I wore it, I sported my teal pumps and a blue-green scarf as a belt.  This time around, I was going for something more teaching appropriate so I added my navy blazer and grey suede pumps, and was rather pleased with the complex mix of neutrals and jewel-toned pop.

I think sometimes, it’s hard to remember that this whole style-blogging thing is just a hobby, especially when there are so many fabulous bloggers out there with professional-quality photographs, major sponsors, and what seems like a bottomless fashion-forward wardrobe.  I find this happen in many aspects of my life.  It’s hard when running in the park on Saturday morning to remember that while I am training for my fifth marathon, I am not a professional runner, I don’t have sponsors, a trainer, or always the time to adequately stretch.  What I am, is  a professional student!  So, please excuse my short post and crappy-quality pictures, but I have a dissertation (for which I am “sponsored” and have a “trainer”) to get back to!

A.

Symposium Wear, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Dress: Banana Republic
• Belt: Old Navy Outlet
• Shoes: Banana Republic
• Jade Necklace: my design
• Silver Ring: gift
• Jade Bracelet: gift

End Notes:
I purchased this dress last fall for a symposium in which I was a participant. This was my first graduate school foray into greater academe, and I bought this dress with the event in mind. I knew I wanted to look nice and certainly professional, but seeing as how the symposium was being held at a very forward thinking modern art museum, I figured that a suit was not the best way to go. As usual, Banana Republic had just what I needed.

Symposium Wear, originally uploaded by academichic.

The knee-length skirt, high neck, and cap sleeves of this dress all meant that I wasn’t showing too much skin, but the print kept the look fresh and steered well clear of the “polyester suits of yore” of which there were certainly a few on display.

Neckline and Cap Sleeves, originally uploaded by academichic.

The high waist also meant that this dress was made for wide belting! The bold black, purple, and cream print needed little embellishment, and I have been wearing this outfit with mostly black shoes and belts ever since. However, in the spirit of a new school year I decided to go way out on a limb and wear grey (can you tell I’m very sarcastic?). I had just bought these shoes with a 35% off coupon for Banana Republic that I had been holding on to for literally months.

New Grey Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

These shoes might look familiar as they are indeed the sister shoe to the blue suede shoes I’ve had my eye on (which they apparently don’t sell in stores!). The wool material makes this a cozy fall/winter shoe and the stacked wooden heel is exactly the right height for daywear. I’m in love. I decided to do some neutral mixing with this outfit and in addition to the grey accessories threw in some of my favorite stones.

Jade and Silver, originally uploaded by academichic.

I adore green and the color of jade can vary widely from deep mossy greens to bright jewel tones. This bracelet was a gift all the way from China and the ring is from Peru thanks to my sister, who is a fabulous traveler and always brings me the best presents! The necklace is a product of another hobby of mine: beading. I find it meditative and creative at the same time, and much of the jewelry I wear is my own. This outfit was certainly the right fit for the symposium I was at last year, and once again has hit the mark this time as a terrific teaching ensemble. How have you transitioned pieces that were purchased with a specific event in mind into your daily wardrobe?

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!)

5 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Flutter Tank – J Crew
• Black Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
• Black Pumps – DSW
• Necklace – made from a gifted earring

Endnotes:

I don’t know if the color of this top is exactly a neutral – its a kind of putty color that sometimes looks olive. J Crew calls it “mink.”  I’m a sucker for all the lovely shades of grey J Crew has invented but “mink” is less than helpful as a color description.  But, I’m using it as a neutral and considering this a mix of black and brown.  I wore this top with navy last time, but I think the black makes the “mink” look so much richer.

The top came with a thin waist-creating tie which I removed for this iteration. I tucked the base of the top into my high-waisted skirt and let the flutters drape over the top.  I think it makes this otherwise sweat detail a little more dramatic, even edgy.  I usually think of mixed neutrals as creating a generally soft look or sometimes a very polished professional look, but in this third stab at the color wheel challenge, I wanted to push my use of neutrals into a new kind of look.   I think “edgy mink” is definitely new for me!

4 August 2010 – Kind of Neutral, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Top: Target
• Belt: Old Navy
• Skirt: Banana Republic Factory
• Ring: c/o Lala B Jewelry
• Bracelets: gift
• Sandals: Jeffrey Campbell, via Rue La La

End Notes:

For this week’s color module on neutrals I really wanted to push myself to combine neutrals in a new-to-me way. So, I steered away from my preferred navy+brown+gray or black+brown combinations in favor of playing with neutrals that have a bit more of a specific color cast to them: an olive-heading-towards-gray top, a violet-heading-towards-gray skirt, a gray belt, and cognac sandals.

Neutrals, originally uploaded by academichic.

Perhaps because I grew up in Hawaii, where, as a teenager, mainland style rules like “no white after Labor Day” were as foreign as the idea of actually wearing a belt and closed toed shoes, I went off to undergrad blissfully unaware of the supposed taboo against mixing neutrals. As I struggled to figure out how to dress for multiple seasons for the first time, I remember distinctly thinking — thanks to my color theory exercises in 2D design! — that I should be able to wear my brown cardigan with my black long sleeved shirt. After all, a neutral color is created by mixing multiple colors together, so that means it should be able to “go” with any color, including another neutral. So, I wore my black shirt and brown sweater together and one of my roommates — a Texas debutante — almost had a heart attack. She — and I, by extension — was only saved by someone else pointing out that JCrew had recently started styling models wearing black and brown together.

Because, you know, if JCrew does it then it’s a-okay.

Anyway, that was the beginning of my neutral mixing, and I have since unsettled many a sister-in-law and friend by blithely wearing black and navy, brown and gray, or black and brown together.

On the other hand, to make a bad pun, I’m kind of neutral about this whole outfit. I think it’s an interesting play on neutral tones and it’s a little different for me, but I’m not sure if I’m totally sold on it. Still, these color wheel modules are doing what they’re supposed to: encouraging me to experiment with new pairings and to figure out how to successfully translate theory to practice, even if the practice is a little shaky.

4 August 2010 – Kind of Neutral, originally uploaded by academichic.

3 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Skirt – Gap
• Tank- H & M
• Belt – BR Outlet
• Shoes – Banana Republic
• Necklace – gift
• Earrings – island souvenir
• Cardigan – Banana Republic

Endnotes:

Like E. and S. both said themselves, mixing neutrals is no real challenge for me.  I love my neutrals and love to mix them and was in fact crowned “our neutral-on-neutral queen” by E. last fall.  I’ve never shied away from black and brown, wearing it for both casual days and teaching days, and frequently pair navy with brown, with grey, or cream.  But, I think my favorite neutrals palate involves mixing shades of grey, brown, and beige as I have done many, many, many, times before.

3 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

I like that nothing in this ensemble exactly matches.  With the cardigan on I am wearing at least 6 different shades or either brown or grey (including beige).  The cardigan spent the entire day in my bag because it is ridiculously hot here in Academichic Central – so hot, even the over-air-conditioned campus buildings didn’t require an extra layer.

My favorite part of this outfit is hands down my new suede shoes!  I have been watching these shoes at Banana Republic since early this Spring, waiting for them to go on sale.  By the time they were within my price range, my size was gone (online and at the three stores withing driving distance from me) so I added them to my ebay search but had pretty much given up on them.  Then I got a text from L. last week telling me she had found them in my size on super sale!  She picked them up for me and gave them to me when we saw each other in NYC last week. I couldn’t wait to get home and build an outfit around them.  These shoes might just give the beloved brown wedges a run for their money as most worn shoes this fall!

Grey Suede Shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

I often see things for E. S. or L. when out shopping and once in a while have even just picked an item up for one of them on occasion. It’s so much fun to have three other shoppers out there who know my style (and size and proportions) so well, but also a bit dangerous for the wallet!

Do you have anyone out there with an eye out for clothes or shoes you will love?  A.

3 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

9 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Leaf pendant: c/o Vintage Threadz
• Top: Banana Republic Factory
• Belt: from another dress
• Skirt: ages old, from Ross
• Bracelet: gift from Anna
• Turquoise pumps: Steve Madden, gift from MIL

End Notes:

Today I got to do one of my favorite things: teach a class with A.! We had a “focus” day on Manet’s infamous painting Olympia and talked through — and demonstrated — a range of methodologies that have been applied to this well-known work. The fact that you can approach a single work of art in so many different ways is one of those nerdy delights that cements my certainty that I am an art historian at heart.

Turquoise Steve Madden Ulltra Pumps, originally uploaded by academichic.

A not-quite-as-nerdy delight? Pairing these bright turquoise pumps with an otherwise neutral outfit. All hail, the pop of color heel. Since I wasn’t going to be by baby e. in this outfit, I decided to accessorize a little more than I have lately, using blue green and green jewelry to tie the outfit together a bit more. And, oh yes, I’m pattern mixing my florals in the top and the bracelet. It’s wild, really.

Bracelet, originally uploaded by academichic.

I’ve been flipping through old outfits, imagining what they might look like with a turquoise shoe and getting excited about the possibilities. I think it might be time to return to the color wheel for another round…

9 July 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

30 April 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

• Argyle Sweater – Banana Republic Outlet
• Grey Skirt – Old Navy
• White Ruffle Blouse – Gap
• Belt – made by me with Blue Onion Flower Pin
• Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
• Earrings – American Eagle

Endnotes:

Yesterday was my last day of teaching for the semester!  I still have 40 final exams to grade, but nothing to prep.  So I now have a little over a month off of teaching before summer courses start and I will be teaching everyday!  I’m most excited about this time off from teaching because it means I can finally devote more time to dissertation research.  But, I also hope to be able to get in a bit more cooking, gardening, and other things that tend to fall by the wayside when the workload is heavy.

Floral and Argyle, originally uploaded by academichic.

This outfit is essentially the same outfit I wore this Fall, but I swapped out my solid beige cardigan for my argyle one.  I love that this cardigan contains all of the colors of the soft neutral palette created by the first version of this ensemble.  I  was also excited to pull out my hand-made floral belt for my last look of florals month!  A.

J-Crew inspired flower ribbon belt, originally uploaded by academichic.