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.

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.

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.

Layers, originally uploaded by academichic.

Belted pencil, 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.

A.

Layers, originally uploaded by academichic.

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.

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

Bangles from S., originally uploaded by academichic.

Earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Flower Dress – Old Navy
• Black Halter – Old Navy
• Woven Belt – Thrifted, remixed
• Black Sandals – H & M, remixed
• Earrings – Hand-Me-Down from sister M., remixed
• Yellow Bangles – Gap Outlet, remixed

Endnotes:

After spending most of the weekend working, I was ready for a nice evening out.  The weather was beautiful last night, so we decided to enjoy dinner and Margarita’s on the patio of a local Mexican restaurant.

I purchased this dress on sale at  Old Navy a couple weeks ago, but as it isn’t exactly teaching-appropriate, I haven’t had much of a chance to wear it.  I was a little uncomfortable with the skin-exposure, so put a black halter tank under the dress (a favorite trick of mine), which I think also gave the cotton, summery day-dress more of an evening feel.  The black accessories further helped to elevate the elegance of this ensemble.  The belt was a necessary addition for changing the empire waist to a high waist — a much more flattering silhouette for me.  -A

Back, originally uploaded by academichic.