academichic

1 June 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except the top.

• Gray skirt – Target
• Turquoise top – BR Outlet
• Patterned flats – Old Navy
• Leaf necklace – Polli, gift from my husband

End Notes:

I know, I know, it’s another jersey skirt and jersey top combination. But you just try being pregnant on the first 90 degree day of June. I had this top pre-preggers, but I pulled it out today, curious if it would fit over the bump. It does, and I rather like it. But the thoughts that ran through my mind as I stood in front of the mirror this morning bore testimony to how my attitude towards clothes is changing as I prepare for motherhood:

• Thought #1: I love this color! Why don’t I own more things in this shade?
• Thought #2: Hey, I have a chest! Pregnancy and this shirt are a killer combo!
• Thought #3: Ooh, I bet this shirt would work for breastfeeding.

The form-function debate is one that I think will only become more important to me with a baby in tow, but it’s certainly not an issue that only concerns mothers nor is it limited to our current day. Some of S.’s dissertation research actually considers historical cases of fashion and functionality’s tenuous relationship through the lens of gender studies. But my question to you all is: what is an item of clothing that you own that hits that perfect balance between form and function? Something that looks super-stylish but is also surprisingly practical?

1 June 2009 – Mom on the Move, originally uploaded by academichic.

Polli Leaf Necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.

12 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except for necklace.

• Cream jacket – thrifted
• Yellow top – F21
• Gray trousers - Ann Taylor Loft Maternity, via eBay
• Metallic wedges – Target.com
• Necklace – Polli, a Mothers’ Day gift from my husband!

End Notes:

This morning A. and I had a series of meetings pertaining to an exhibition that we, along with a senior faculty member, are curating for the fall. At some previous meetings with the exhibition’s primary funder I felt like we were regarded more as students and less as co-contributors. So this morning as I got ready I texted A., “Just feel like I should tell you that I’m dressing up for our meeting today since [name redacted] never takes us seriously.” Ah, the power of clothes. The good news is that our meetings went very well and we got a lot accomplished! I’m not going to say that the blazer can take all the credit, but it certainly helped me feel more assertive and put-together.

The whole outfit was actually inspired by this spread in the latest issue of Lucky Magazine:

DSC_8637, originally uploaded by academichic.

I loved the idea of lightening up a jacket-and-pants combination and it reminded me of this thrifted cream blazer, previously worn in a high contrast outfit with a black tunic. I generally eschew pastels since they refuse to play nicely with my skin tone, but I thought that this yellow top might still do the trick. And indeed, pairing the cream with canary yellow changes the whole effect of the jacket and I’m keeping things soft with my favorite gray trousers.

Jacket Texture Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

The necklace is new: a gift from my sweet husband for Mothers’ Day. He purchased it from a little boutique in our neighborhood downtown, but the maker is Polli, an Australian company that offers beautiful jewelry in organic designs with a modern sensibility. I’ve admired their work frequently, and I love this leaf pendant and the idea that my little family is, indeed, growing. You will likely be seeing this quite a bit in the future!

Polli Leaf Necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.