4 November 2009

Posted on | November 5, 2009 | 20 Comments

4 November 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Sweater Vest – BR Outlet
Green Sweater – BR Outlet
Skinny Jeans – Banana Republic
Boots – Banana Republic, via DSW
Necklace – Gift from Sister, M
Bakelite Earrings- Banana Republic
Bag – Urban Outfitters

Endnotes:

Now, I don’t want you to think that I am complaining about the sun for even one second, but . . . it has made taking outfit pictures a little challenging. I love you just the same, Sunshine!

I wear these brown plastic earrings often but have never really pointed them out. As a historian of modern and contemporary art, I need to just point out their fabulous material – Bakelite!

Bakelite Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

My mom bought me this sweater vest over a month ago for birthday. Little sisters M. and L. (she rocks the vest often) and E. (I’m pretty sure she doesn’t own a single vest) have all been encouraging me to try the vest for years now…

I love the way sweater vests look on other people and do think it generally fits with my style, but I hadn’t been able find the one that worked for me. They were to short, too long, too tight, too loose, had too much hardware,etc. and then I found this one! It’s the perfect length, has the perfect v-neck, tiny buttons, and the great braided weave detail.

sweater vest, originally uploaded by academichic.

I still couldn’t figure out how to wear it – hence the month delay on its premier. I like it with the skinnies and dark sweater underneath and also imagine it becoming a great layering piece as the weather gets colder.

What are your thoughts on the sweater vest? Are you a fan or is it too preppy for your style? Any suggestions for what to pair it with?

4 November 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 October 2009 – Minimal

Posted on | October 23, 2009 | 12 Comments

23 October 2009 – Minimal, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Black sweater dress: Target
Gray skinnies: thrifted, skinnied by me
Gray suede wedges: Gap Outlet
Turquoise earrings: vintage beads from a wee shop in Wheaton, IL

End Notes:

As simple as this outfit is, it’s really a stretch for me. Not only are my pants ankle length, but I am also wearing a fairly shapeless sweater dress-slash-tunic without a belt. I know, I know. I’m totally living on the edge.

Angie from You Look Fab calls this surrendering the waistline. And it really is. If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time you know that all three of us love to belt at the waist. Even when I was pregnant, I kept right on belting up to the bitter end. Letting this fairly shapeless sweater shift just hang out like this goes against my basic style instincts and the little Stacey and Clinton demons in my head.

Vintage Bead Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

And yet here I am. The skinnies add some needed edge and the wedges give some needed lift and length. What is really a basic outfit in terms of pieces and color becomes much more interesting because of the more unexpected play with proportion. And while it was tempting to figure out more accessories to add to the mix, I think this look achieves its greatest impact by embracing its inherent minimalism.

(And the better to show off my new-as-of-this-morning haircut, too!)

23 October 2009 – Minimal, originally uploaded by academichic.

22 October 2009 – Let’s Go NaNoWriMo!

Posted on | October 22, 2009 | 25 Comments

22 October 2009 – Pop of Pink, 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.

20 October 2009 – Secrets Revealed

Posted on | October 20, 2009 | 16 Comments

20 October 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Sleeve-less White Shirt – Gap
White Tee – H & M
Blue V-Neck – H & M
Black Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
Brown Belt – Ann Taylor
Brown Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction
Silver Hoops – Banana Republic
Necklace – Gift from A2

Endnotes:

Here at Academichic Central, we had a bit of a heat wave today. While I was happily settling into my fall wardrobe, it’s nice to be able to wear my favorite wedges with bare legs (perhaps one last time).

New Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

As I got dressed this morning, I thought of E.’s earlier post on the “surface spectacle,” in which she describes a process of tucking and securing that is eventually hidden by a seemingly seamless surface layer. I am all about layering! I consider my self a bit of an expert at it, actually. I love the look of visible layers like the tuxedo pleats under my sweater, but am also a seasoned user of the invisible layers.

I have layered this sleeveless tuxedo shirt under many a things, but it certainly works better under some items than others. Because it is a square cut (all wrong for my proportions) and not all that long, under a shape-hugging sweater like this, it needs to be held in place. So, I wore a white tee-shirt over the sleeveless shirt and then tucked both into my secret weapon…

Layers, originally uploaded by academichic.

Now, as you well know, I love pencil skirts and have found them to be rather flattering for me. This black pocketed beauty is the one I was pining over last month when I praised the pencil skirt. While the cut of the pencil skirt works well for me, anything that fits my lower body closely poses a problem. I have hips and thighs and they are NOT all muscle! My secret solution – SPANX! That’s right, I wear spanx and I love them. The way I see it, I am not trying to change my body with this little garment (they are extremely comfy, by the way), rather, the smooth surface spanks create, allow me to embrace my hourglass/pear figure and flaunt those hips!

So what’s your secret?

Belted pencil, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 September 2009

Posted on | September 24, 2009 | 8 Comments

24 September 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed

Open Cardigan - J Crew
Teal Tank – BR Outlet
Polka-dot Tee – Banana Republic
Jeans – Banana Republic
Tan Wedges – Gap Outlet
Pendant – Grandmothers

Endnotes:

Several of you asked about the fit/ciut of these jeans when I wore them on Monday. They are Banana Republic Classic Skinny (a size larger than I would buy in trouser cut). A friend actually picked them up on super sale ($8 I think) because she thought I might like them. When she gave them to me, I was happy to receive any gifted clothing, but had low expectations for them, given the difficulty of finding jeans that fit, particularly straight or skinny jeans, but somehow, these worked!

I wore them cuffed the other day and have plans to wear them tucked into my boots once the weather finally cools off, but was hesitant to wear them un-cuffed with regular shoes. I used to think this style worked only for the straight line body and not at all for my curvy legs. I tried to balance the look with a more voluminous cardigan and while I started the day off rather self conscious, I was quite comfortable in the look by the time I made it to campus.

I also think this styling of the jeans makes them more work appropriate. I still wouldn’t teach in them (though plenty of my colleuges teach in jeans) but this year I am advising an undergraduate student group and their meetings are at night (often past my bed time in fact) and on the day I usually don’t have to be on campus for anything else. So a nice pair of jeans and a low wedge seemed the perfect choice.

Layers, originally uploaded by academichic.

2 September 2009

Posted on | September 2, 2009 | 10 Comments

2 September 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Cropped jacket – thrifted, remixed
Art Deco brooch – thrifted
Green tee – H&M, remixed
Trouser jeans – Old Navy, remixed
Plaid pointy-toe flats – Target, remixed

Endnotes:

I’m looking forward to fall and being able to pull out cozy jackets and cardigans again. This past spring, we experimented with trends and how we can make them work for our body types, and I finally jumped on the cropped jacket bandwagon. Being short-waisted, I just didn’t think this could work for me, but there are certain tricks that can be applied to mitigate this ‘tiny torso’ problem of mine. The most important one being: wearing a longer top underneath that hits about mid-hip in order to still crate a longer torso line. Were I to wear this with a top that ended at my waist or with a tucked in top, you’d think my top portion ended just below my chest. Not really a look I’m going for.

Being conscious of proportions makes it much easier to incorporate trends or looks that may seem scarily out of one’s comfort zone. I apply the same methodology to my use of accessories. E. started an interesting discussion about brooches the other day and many of you agreed that brooches are a little more challenging of an accessory. I love brooches as a way to add interest to a top, as a make-shift button closure, or as a pashmina fastener around your shoulders. This summer, I followed A’s example and even starting wearing brooches as a belt accessory. The key is in the proportions: when wearing a brooch, I opt out of a necklace or bold earrings and let my pin take center stage. This just works for me because I prefer an understated look in terms of jewelry. If you’re bold and love wearing more, than go for it! But for the accessories-timid like myself, keeping it simple can make ‘brooching the subject’ a more doable task. And once you embrace brooches, you realize how many gorgeous vintage ones are out there for the taking in thrift stores and consignment stores alike. S.

For the love of the pencil skirt

Posted on | September 1, 2009 | 11 Comments

Last week, when I wore my favorite denim pencil skirt, which I have remixed for all seasons, I wrote about wanting another pencil skirt to add into the rotation with my denim stand-by and my newer grey chino pencil skirt. I love that both of these can be dressed up or down and can be worn with any color and across at least three seasons.

I have found, much to my surprise, that the pencil skirt is a very flattering shape for me and it has become one of may favorite pieces for a professional look. I wear my denim, black cotton, and grey cotton skirts all the time – as I am sure you have noticed. I have also gotten some good wear out of my pinstripe pencil skirt, but this is a much dressier look (perfect in place of a suit for conferences or interviews), and I love to wear my blue felt skirt in the winter. Now I want more!

Many of you left comments asking for recommendations on where to find a classic and versatile denim pencil skirt and requesting that I share my fall pencil skirt wish list with you.

Well, first the denim pencil skirt:

I love mine! I bought it almost two years ago at Gap after trying on a number of denim skirts at several different stores. I remember I also really liked one at Banana Republic, but the Gap one was significantly cheaper. Gap doesn’t currently have the same skirt (mine was called trouser, or something of the like) but, they do have one that looks like it would serve the same purpose. Ann Taylor Loft also seems to have a few options that look promising.

I recently purchased a black/grey denim skirt from Old Navy. I do like this one, but it will by no means be replacing my beloved Gap skirt.

Now, for my pencil skirt wish list:

I hope this list gives all of you some shopping ideas for yourself, but as my birthday is just over a month away, this list also serves as a birthday wish list for my mom!

The J Crew Corduroy Skirt:

I love the slim sleek cut of this, making it very professional and even dressy, while the corduroy allows it to be a perfect fall teaching skirt.

I have always loved corduroy – over the years as corduroy has come in and out of style, I have stayed true to my favorite material. I have many corduroy pants, a couple corduroy skirts, my share of corduroy jackets, and even a few corduroy accessories, including a few totes, a pair of flats, some slippers, and a headband. I think I could more than qualify as a member of the Corduroy Appreciation Club!

Moving on from the corduroy tangent, my next wish list item…

The Banana Republic Classic Pencil Skirt:

This is dressier than the black skirt I own and I love the pockets and the wide, high waist band. I’m not sure how this one would actually fit but I can imagine it looking great with both summery sleeveless blouses and thicker winter sweaters with tights.

The Banana Republic Classic Skirt:

Now, this is technically not a pencil skirt but I have found that some BR “A-line” skirts actually fit me more like a straight skirt. I haven’t tried this one on either, so I’m not sure how those pleats in the front would work for me but I love that it comes in navy!

The Ann Taylor Plaid Skirt:

I took this picture from the website but can’t actually find this exact skirt for sale. This is really stepping outside my comfort zone when it comes to skirts, but I do love that it is plaid and purple! Let me know if you figure out how to purchase it.

I would also like to note that New York & Company has a ton of very affordable pencil skirts in several fabrics and cuts and with some fun color choices.

What item will make several appearances on your fall wish list? A.

27 July 2009

Posted on | July 27, 2009 | 9 Comments

27 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Jersey Dress – Old Navy, altered by E.
Lace Trimmed Tank – Anthropologie
Brown Belt – BR Outlet
Sandals – Steve Madden

Endnotes:

For my first attempt at reviewing the two thirds rule, I have chose red and blue, two thirds of the red-yellow-blue triad. While I have worn Crayola red and blue together, like E. I prefer slight variations on the crayon box choices. I think this muted blue and strawberry red make for a less jarring color combination.

I love the shade of blue of this jersey dress and the how cool I can stay on yet another hot summer day. However, this was far from the perfect dress for me when I picked it up on sale last month at Old Navy. While, I am fairly tall, I have found that the maxi dress or skirt is not a style I can get behind. I love the look on both S. and pregnant E. but have yet to find one I feel comfortable in. So, I bought this Old Navy maxi dress for its color, fabric, and great price and then had E. help me alter it to better fit my proportions and comfort level. Thanks E!

Do you ever purchase something knowing you need to alter it before you wear it? What other criteria must it meet before you buy a not-yet-ready-to-wear piece?

26 July 2009

Posted on | July 26, 2009 | 4 Comments

26 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

Black Top – Gap
Black Layering Tee – Gap
White Skirt – J Crew
Black Sandals – H & M
Earrings – F21

Endnotes:

I haven’t worn this skirt in years but was dressing for a summer brunch and this seemed the perfect choice. The struggle came in figuring out what to pair it with. I like dressing this skirt down a bit with a graphic tee or just a bright solid color on top, but needed something a tad more polished for brunch. I love the white embroidery on this wrap shirt but am not sure that the shape works that well with the rather voluminous skirt.

One of this past Spring’s trends, which I think has carried into summer, is the surprisingly bold combination of black and white. I do find this paring to be rather elegant and may be wearing it more regularly this summer. However, this has to mark the end of my love affair with neutrals as this week we start another color review session!

26 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

22 June 2009

Posted on | June 22, 2009 | 6 Comments

22 June 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed

Maroon Tee - BR
Navy Walking Shorts - J Crew
Green Flats – BR
Wooden Bangles – Gift from S.
Earrings – Gift from E.

Endnotes:

A couple weeks ago, E. told of a story of her evolving relationship to shorts.
I came around to the walking shorts pretty quickly. After puberty, I never really felt comfortable in short shorts because of my proportions. I wore longer cargo shorts or hiking shorts while in college but these never managed to look very chic. When Bermuda or walking shorts became popular for women under 50, I was all over it! I have several pairs now that I spend the summer rotating through.

I still haven’t figured out a way to wear them with heels and dress them up like both E. and S. do so beautifully. But, I do think this top, with its rich color, high quality fabric, and interesting neckline, paired with my shiny green flats take this outfit up a notch! -A