academichic

Sources:

• Cardigan: Target
• Tank: Old Navy
• Skirt: thrifted maternity dress, cut into skirt
• Belt: Old Navy
• Shoes: Steve Madden
• Bracelet: gift from A.
• Book: Making Face, Making Soul / Haciendo Caras: Creative and Critical Perspectives by Feminists of Color,” edited by Gloria Anzaldúa

End Notes:

I seem to have reached my nerdiest plane of wardrobe inspiration yet. I’ve been working with Gloria Anzaldúa’s edited volume, Making Face, Making Soul / Haciendo Caras for the past few days, and it was still sitting on the dining room table when I sat down for breakfast this morning. “I really like these colors together,” I thought. “I should wear them.”

This is a fairly loose interpretation of the book cover’s color scheme (largely because I don’t really have anything in that yummy deep purpley magenta that still fits) and I doubt that anyone I see today will exclaim, “Hey, you look JUST LIKE the cover to Making Face, Making Soul!” Still, it makes me happy to be wearing a kind of secrete homage to a book full of writings that I love.

Anyone want to join me? If you’re inspired to create a book-cover outfit in the next week, leave a comment or send us an e-mail (chic at academichic dot com) of both your book of choice and your sartorial interpretation. We’ll feature submitted outfits the following week.

I leave you with one of my favorite methodological mantras in the book, from Maria Lugone’s contribution to the volume, “Playfulness, ‘World’ Traveling, and Loving Perception,” a moving and accessible essay about adopting an attitude of playfulness in order to know other women’s worlds:

Playfulness is, in part, an openness to being a fool, which is a combination of not worrying about competence, not being self-important, not taking norms as sacred and finding ambiguity and double edges a source of wisdom and delight.

Sources:

• Jacket: Banana Republic Factory
• Tank: Old Navy Maternity
• Necklace: consignment store
• Trousers: Loft Maternity, via eBay
• Shoes: Steve Madden

End Notes:

Folks, I speak from experience. Pregnancy and a stomach virus are not a great combination. Furthermore, pregnancy, recovering from a stomach virus, and caring for your spouse who has also succumbed to said virus, along with as your toddler, who, while remaining healthy thus far is considered toxic to most babysitting situations, is a tough combination as well. Still, we are all alive and eating bland food and drinking fluids. Yesterday was my first day on campus this week, and I wanted to look…not like I just got over the stomach flu.

There is something so disheartening about going back to work after recovering from an illness and having people cluck and coo, “Oh, you look AWFUL!” So, to disguise my still somewhat ashen pallor and to trick myself into thinking that I am full of energy, I decided to just throw on the most jubilant of colors and bank on the effects of reflected light.

I was so drawn to this jacket when I got it at an end of season clearance. I love it closed and cropped, open and floppy, or with extra wide lapels. Is it the most versatile jacket in my wardrobe? No. But it might be the happiest.

I also love all of the “almost matching” going on here: a hot red-orange jacket, coral beads, and magenta pumps. It’s enough to keep things cohesive but still spicy. And in the midst of all the rice and applesauce and crackers I’ve been eating lately, I’ll take spicy wherever I can find it. What do you wear when you want to avoid the post-illness doldrums?

1 April 2011 – Pants Please, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Above:

• Knit jacket: Banana Republic
• Shirt: thrifted
• Pants: Target
• Shoes: BC Footwear, via DSW

Below:

• Cardigan: Forever 21, thrifted
• Shirt: Forever 21, from last pregnancy
• Pants: Ann Taylor Loft Maternity, from last pregnancy
• Necklace: consignment store
• Shoes: Steve Madden

End Notes:

For whatever reason, this early stage of pregnancy is making me fall in love with pants again. I didn’t expect this and can’t really explain it, but I have been wearing pants a lot over the past couple of weeks, for both casual and teaching days.

I like the juxtapositions of the above outfit of the nerd chic pieces — a button down, structured jacket, riding pants, and wallabees — with the sideways view of a pregnant belly. In my head, at least, it feels playful and a little unexpected.

On the other hand, I love the soft silhouette of a pair of wider leg trousers and a cardigan with a great drape. I kept the whole palette in soft neutrals, with the exception of the magenta pump, and I appreciate how the more subdued color scheme lets me get away with piling jewelry on top of a screenprint-embellished top.

When my weight has fluctuated in the past, pants are generally one of the first things that I eschew in favor of more forgiving skirts and dresses. It’s liberating, somehow, for me to embrace a body that’s changing every day by wearing an item of clothing that tends to bring out the worst of my body image issues. So thanks, maternity pants. I know you have a lot of haters, but right now you’re helping me love getting dressed in the morning. And that’s no April Fool’s joke.

22 March 2011 – Floral and Lace, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Cardigan: hand me down from SIL, embellished by me
• Dress: Banana Republic Factory
• Belt: Gap Outlet
• Pumps: Steve Madden

End Notes:

After I put this all together I realized that I was wearing floral, lace, and pink, all elements which, in recent western culture, have been coded as “feminine.” Interestingly, I don’t feel particularly “girly” in this outfit, despite the multiple “feminine” elements. My personal aesthetic is one that leans more towards graphic prints and lines and blocks of color, and I think that manifests itself here in the bold, flat flowers, substantial cording embellishment, and the admittedly random choice of shoe color.

Of course, as S. has pointed out before, pink and ruffles were previously cultural signifiers of masculinity and, as I argued last year, floral prints can and have had different cultural associations , like Empress Eugenie’s “political gowns” cut from floral patterns particular to Lyon or even my Caucasian father’s embracing of aloha shirts as business attire in Hawaii.This isn’t an outfit that’s going to change the world or radically subvert cultural norms, but when I realize that I am, in theory, wearing something similar to the fellow below, I have to smile and shake my head a little at how dramatically cultural signifiers can change meaning within a few centuries.

Portrait of a Man, Carle Vanloo, 18th c.

And yes, he is pattern-mixing his florals. Well played, sir. I’m taking notes.

18 March 2011 – Dancing Queen or, Happy Birthday, L.!, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blazer: C&C
• Sequin sweater: DKNY, via Beacon’s Closet
• Jeans: Old Navy maternity
• Shoes: Steve Madden

End Notes:

Happy birthday, L.! When I was trying to conceive of a birthday tribute outfit I knew that my pink shoes (though not iconic L. flats) would have to be included. While A. paid homage to L.’s love of classic pieces and S. cited L.’s penchant for florals, I decided to honor the quirky, sparkly, and witty elements that make L.’s style unique.

Thus, for you, L., I’m wearing my new “shiny” today. I’m so thankful to have you as a friend. In the academic realm, I’m glad we got to finish up our respective coursework together; would we have made it through that theory class if we were flying solo? But more importantly, you are fiercely loyal, generous, funny, and full of energy and surprises. You have been a dear and sincere friend not only to me but to husband N. as well (who says that playing darts without you is never quite the same experience) and we both miss having you here in our city.

So, from all of us, happy birthday, L.! Enjoy the rest of your time in London!

8 March 2011 – Is It Spring Yet?, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blazer: Banana Republic Factory
• Cardigan (underneath): Target
• Tank: Forever 21
• Maternity trousers: Loft, via eBay
• Pumps: Steve Madden

End Notes:

Is it spring yet? I woke up this morning wanting to wear stripes, breezy trousers, colored shoes, and lots of navy and white…all components that rank pretty highly in my conception of “spring clothing.” It’s still pretty brisk outdoors, and I had to throw on an overcoat when I went to campus, but something about this combination seemed delightfully fresh to me after lots of black and jewel tones. Do you have wardrobe harbingers of spring? I think I’m also about to pull out my lightweight scarf collection…

(An aside: The last time I was pregnant I was still afraid of stripes in my wardrobe. This time around, I’m kind of smitten with how they go all wonky across my burgeoning belly. I don’t know that I’ll feel like that in twenty more weeks, but for now it makes me smile.)

Finally, I’ve enjoyed reading all of your comments on S.’s post about pregnancy in academia. Like a few others in the comments, I recommend the book Mama, Ph.D., edited by Elrena Evans and Caroline Grant, for anyone interested in hearing even more voices on the subject of mothering in academia. The book includes incredibly poignant narratives from women who had children in grad school, pre-tenure, or post-tenure, women who chose not to have children, and women who left academia altogether after becoming mothers. I’ve raised a few eyebrows by announcing that I’m pregnant again in graduate school, but overall the response has been very supportive from my professors and colleagues (and institutionally I will get New Child Leave and have my clock “stop” for half a semester). I don’t like to think of myself as “having it all,” though, because I am very cognizant that what I consider to be “success” in my academic career is not how other women will want to define it. But that’s kind of the point. Thanks to the women who worked against tremendous odds in decades prior, these choices are now available to me. The cards may still be stacked against someone like me getting tenured at an R-1 or writing THE book that redefines my field, but if I can model a faithful scholarship-life balance to my students and my children while nurturing inquisitiveness, integrity, and creativity…I’ll count that as my success.

Pink and a Jumper, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Dress: Evan via Off 5^th
• Shirt: Banana Republic
• Shoes: Coach
• Belt: BR Outlet

Endnotes:
Day 3 of Blogging for Breast Cancer aWEARness! Now that the weather has cooled, I’m trying to stretch my summer dresses into the fall. I thought this jersey might look good as a jumper of sorts, and I wanted to change things up from the customary black pencil skirt I have paired with this shirt before. It worked pretty well, and I quickly got over my childhood flashbacks of jumpers – something I haven’t worn since my mom used to put me in Talbot’s from head to toe. The pink shoes were a gift from my mom – she found them on super sale somewhere and knowing my love of pink, thought they would be perfect for me. I haven’t gotten a whole lot of use out of them, but they are fun on occasion, and boy are they pink!

BreastCancerAwearness, originally uploaded by academichic.

8 September 2010 – Wardrobe Workhorse, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Dress: Target
• Pumps (both colors): Steve Madden
• Scarf: c/o Nepali by TDM Designs
• Necklace (below): F21
• Jacket (below): H&M, thrifted
• Yellow sandals: Old Navy
• Baby carrier: Ergo

End Notes:

The smart and stylish ladies over at Scholar Style Guide have declared this week “Wardrobe Workhorse Week, as they think about what items (or genre of items) they get the most use out of in their wardrobes. While I’m a little late to the party, I love this idea and I immediately thought of several specific items in my closet that have actually surprised me with how frequently they show up in my wardrobe rotation.

Back in July, I paid homage to this navy jersey dress for being an utterly remixable wardrobe staple despite the fact that it is not what I would generally term a true “basic.” To reiterate, when I first purchased this dress I was basically worried that it wasn’t bland enough to be a staple.

I was wrong.

Besides my previous examples of adding pops of color and layering under and over the dress…

I can also make it on trend:

8 September 2010 – Wardrobe Workhorse, originally uploaded by academichic.

I can fancy it up:

8 September 2010 – Wardrobe Workhorse, originally uploaded by academichic.

Or wear it with a baby carrier to run errands:

8 September 2010 – Wardrobe Workhorse, originally uploaded by academichic.

What makes this dress so versatile without being boring? Details like the full shoulder and wide sash give it personality, but neither of those elements are particularly attention-grabbing. The v-neck gives it potential for layering below and the slim skirt gives it potential for layering on top. In terms of color, navy is a soft, sophisticated neutral that plays well with others without being garish. Finish all this off with the fact that its washable cotton jersey, meaning it’s baby-friendly and biking friendly.

Move over, LBD, my Little Navy Dress is getting it done and taking names. Are you participating in Wardrobe Workhorse Week? What are the items you get the most use out of in your closet?

8 September 2010 – Wardrobe Workhorse, originally uploaded by academichic.

(Styling today is courtesy of baby e. who picked out my blue suede shoes from the closet, put them next to my feet, and then baby-signed “please.” He’s got good taste.)

18 August 2010 – Split Take Two, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Dress: Max & Cleo, from BCBG Outlet
• Scarf: thrifted
• Shoes: Steve Madden
• Sunglasses: vintage

End Notes:

(With apologies for the harsh sunlight) Like S. I stood in front of my closet for a while trying to think of a monochromatic outfit that didn’t turn me into a muppet…and came out empty handed. On the other hand, I think I’m getting the hang of split complements.

Pink, Yellow Green, and Blue Green, originally uploaded by academichic.

A pink shoe (from the red wedge of the color wheel), a blue-green dress, and a yellow-green scarf as a belt…and voila. Again, it’s kind of quirky and maybe I feel a little bit like a mix of Strawberry Shortcake and Kate Spade, but it’s also punchy and fun and puts an unexpected twist on the frequently preppy pink-and-green pairing.

Vintage Sunglasses, originally uploaded by academichic.

Plus, I’m wearing my new-to-me sunglasses and their funny inverted temples-with-wings, and they make me love whatever I’m wearing. My husband makes fun of my “bug eyed” sunglasses, but I remain devoted and I was tickled to find this pair at my favorite local vintage shop.

Several of you have commented on our “scientific” approach to color combinations and declared that you go by your gut instinct when it comes to mixing colors. I’m kind of fascinated by the implicit binary opposition between “scientific” and “emotional” approaches. Ever since middle school, I’ve been uneasy about the whole “right brain” versus “left brain” categorization and the suggestion that method and structure are somehow diametrically opposed to creativity and expression. Seriously, in seventh grade I had a little crisis (because that’s what seventh graders do) over what “side” brain I had and wanted to know if I could just claim a middle ground. A third space, if you will. (It ended up being something of a prophetic moment, I suppose.)

I’ve always thrived in situations where I have parameters or a methodology that opens up a new place or way to explore something. I find that structure feeds my creativity, or that a methodology helps me articulate and extend my intuition in really interesting and productive ways. I think this is a big reason why I’m in graduate school. I am passionate about shifting paradigms or interpretations of artworks within the boundaries of my discipline, using the methodologies that are available to me. Thus, the spill-over into my wardrobe “methodology” is hardly unexpected. I think that some of my favorite outfits have been ones that were created in response to some kind of challenge or within certain parameters!

Do you think that structure and creativity, “science” and “instinct,” are binary opposites? How do your proclivities — either for method or intuition or both — manifest themselves in how you dress?

18 August 2010 – Split Take Two, originally uploaded by academichic.

9 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Sheath dress: H&M
• Belt: from another dress
• Bracelets: gift
• Pumps: Steve Madden, via Macy’s super shoe sale

End Notes:

This week we’re reviewing triads and analogous color combinations. An analogous color scheme takes two (or more) colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. I think for our purposes, an analogous scheme could be either a veryclose pairing with a tertiary color — like green and blue green or red and red orange — or it could be neighboring colors on a simplified color wheel — like yellow and orange or green and blue.

So today I’m “premiering” (as A. would say) my magenta pumps — let’s call them red violet for the sake of our color wheel — and pairing them with a purpley gray sheath dress that I’ve recently unearthed from my closet. I also added a true purple belt to push the ambiguously colored dress more towards violet and to underscore this tight analogous pairing.

9 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

(And yes, these shoes are just the magenta version of the blue pumps I’ve worn recently. It was one of those pick-your-own-birthday-gift situations and I couldn’t refuse. Not only are they great colors, they’re also quite comfortable with the rounded toe, padded footbed, and a heel that’s low enough to walk around in but high enough to give my calves a nice boost. I’ll admit, though, that my feet seem to just fit Steve Madden shoes and boots really well, so some of my comfort might be from finding a brand that jives with my particular foot shape.)

Back to the dress. Between pregnancy, breastfeeding, and re-learning my postpartum body, I haven’t worn a sheath dress in over a year and a half. It had been so long, in fact, that I totally forgot how much I actually adore sheaths. It’s a body conscious shape that makes me feel really sleek and put together and powerful. As Emeril Lagasse would say: “Bam.” Sure, this is not really bend over and pick up baby e. friendly nor do I think I can ride my bike in this particular dress, but I am about ready to toss function out the door in favor of pursuing a previously loved-then-lost form.

I think I’m going to shortly launch a search for a back-to-school sheath that has a little stretch in it. Suggestions for where to look — particularly from fellow long-waisted ladies — are definitely welcome.

9 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.