academichic

29 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Jacket – F21, “borrowed” from E.
• Tank – Express
• Scarf – BR, remixed
• Skinny Jeans – Gap Outlet, remixed many a times!
• Sandals – Steve Madden, remixed

Endnotes:

Surprise E., I have your jacket!

E. left her jacket at my house the other day, so this morning I decided to give it a go.  There has been quite a bit of clothing swapping going on between us all these past two weeks and I love it!  I have four sisters and even though we all have different body types and different styles, there always managed to  be some items that could be borrowed (or begged or stolen as the case often was).

I remember early in my friendship with E. suggesting that she wear some item of clothing I knew she owned.  She was surprised, and a I think rather pleased, that I knew her closet off the top of my head.  These days, it is so easy to mentally plan an outfit for either S. or E.!  In fact, S. just emailed us both last night asking for packing help for her trip to San Francisco.  I quickly replied that weather in the 60s sounds absolutely wonderful to me!   My previous home states have enjoyed many more weeks of this kind of weather and I greatly miss it in my current location.  I love to pair cardigans or blazers with shorts or skirts and sandals.  And, I adore scarves!

I decided this morning that it was still cool enough when I left the house, and would be cold enough in the classroom, that I could let one of my favorite scarfs out for at least part of the day.

This look is stepping outside my comfort zone in a couple of ways.  This winter I learned to embrace the skinny jean, but only when paired with something long and bulky on top and boots on the bottom.   As the weather has warmed, I’ve hesitantly pulled the skinnies back out, but again only to pair it with something long and loose on top, so this close-fitting tank top with the oh-so-close-fitting jeans is new for me.  Secondly, I was, for a long time, adamantly against wearing heals with jeans.  When I discovered trouser jeans however, heels were the only way to go!  Now, I’m even coming around on heels with cropped jeans!

29 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

       

8 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed but newly thrifted skirt:

• Purple top – Old Navy 
• Forest green cami - Banana Republic
• Green cord skirt – thrifted 
• Red espadrilles – Banana Republic Outlet
• Red button pendant - Brookberrys on Etsy

Endnotes:

It’s Day Five of our reader inspired belt-less challenge and although I’ve been tempted by some belts and ties in my closet, I have to say that it hasn’t been that difficult for me to build outfits of the belt-free variety. 

I attribute this to the fact that I only started belting recently, about the time that we started blogging, so this return to a belt-less state feels familiar and routine to me. I embraced the use of belts because I realized the difference in waist-creating it can make for me, but lived long enough without the appearance of a waistline that I don’t feel that put out without one. Incidentally, a reader just asked me how I felt about this challenge (presumably because it was me who talked about wanting to create a waist in our Proportions unit), and you can read my very longwinded reply here. 

But to sum it up: I appreciate this challenge for reminding me that I once wore outfits that were not routinely finished off with a tie of some sort looped around my midsection and that they still looked fine in their loose and flowey state. BUT, my style has changed over time and now I do love the use of a strategic little belt or ribbon to create a waistline. I believe in style being fluid and flexible and reserve the right to obsess over one ‘look’ and then to move on to another, although I am glad for this challenge because it reminded me that a bit of balance when it comes to dressing (not just lifestyle) is good too!  So, thank you, Nisha! 

So on to today’s outfit – not having been inspired by a belt or a desired shape, it was driven by color instead. I love purple and green together and found red to be the perfect finishing touch to this color mix. Additionally, I lengthened my red pendant necklace with a little trick I picked up from E!

      

Pendant detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

I strung two silver necklaces together to make one longer chain for my red pendant. I’ve seen E. do this quite a few times, and not just with simple silver chains but also with the use of one (extension-purposed) silver chain and her orange statement necklace. What an easy way to get more looks out of one jewelry item!  Brilliant! S. 

    

24 March 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.13 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Navy Chinos – J Crew
• Purple Tee – F21
• Skinny Belt – Anne Taylor
• Strappy Sandals – Steve Madden
• Necklaces – various pieced together
• Bracelet- Gift from S.
• Earrings – Gift from E.
• Bag – Old Navy

Endnotes:

I’m trying out another J Crew look today.  This month’s catalog is filled with women dressing up chinos and and a colored tee with heels and multiple necklaces. And, just as they are rolling up the loose fit jeans, they are cuffing slouchier chinos and pairing them with heeled sandals.

24 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

I still feel a little like I am playing dress with my cotton navy pants pegged this way but got such nice encouragement from you all on Monday, I figured why not!

Necklaces, originally uploaded by academichic.

22 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Cardigan – Gap
• Black Pants – BR Outlet
• Silver Top – Limited
• Black Sandals – “Hand-me-down” from sister
• Necklaces – Hawaii, and gift
• Clutch- Eddie Bauer

Endnotes:

I spent most of today in sweats- catching up on laundry, grading, and other various tasks! So, now I am more than ready for a mid-week evening out.

As we are play with making spring trends work for us this week, I have been using my breaks from grading to flip through my catalogs and various fashion websites. I am intrigued by the safari/tribal trend for this spring. Like S. observed in J Crew, this trend similarly seems to embrace a certain tension. I’ve seen quite a few sequined skirts paired with safari style jackets.

Tonight I’ve decided to push a rather safe evening look (silk top and black pants) by introducing some subtle safari flare. While maybe not exactly the current style, the roll and button sleeves and khaki color give this cardigan a safari feel. The Hawaiian beads, shell necklace, and straw clutch are my attempt at the faux-tribal.

Have you jumped on the safari bandwagon (or jeep as the case may be)?

Necklaces, originally uploaded by academichic.

  

14 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Pink cowl neck, grey jersey dress, tan cardi, and pink pumps all remixed.
• Silver skinny belt – Banana Republic

Endnotes:

This week we’re focusing on what we like about our bodies, and one thing I have always liked about my body is my legs. I have always loved wearing skirts and dresses and have thought that my nice thin ankles and shapely legs were worth showing off.

But once I started running, I started seeing my legs in a whole new light; not only do I find them aesthetically pleasing, but now I appreciate them for their athletic power and performance ability. These puppies carried me for 21 straight miles just over a week ago as A. and I approached the end of our marathon training. This Sunday, I will ask that they carry me for 26.2 miles in an ongoing treck across city streets and park trails just so I can say they did. Running has made me appreciate my body for its performance, stamina, and amazing edurance of pain. I now see my legs for not just their beauty (oh yes! they’re hot!) but also their incredible function. S.

April 13 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Black Pants – BR Outlet
• Grey Tee – Urban Outfitters
• Black Pumps – Nine West
• Earrings – Gift from sister M.

Endnotes:

This week we are focusing on our best features, so today I present you my hight, my collar bones, and my hair. I am tall, 5’9, and I love it!  I was always the tallest kid in school but I don’t think I ever minded too much and now I often embrace my height with high heels.

I have protruding bones all over my body regardless of how much weight I loose or gain but the collar bones are the only ones that actually make me look elegant and not just boney!

My hair (like for many of our readers) falls on both my hate and love list.  I work hard to have good hair, to tame the mane.  Nothing makes me happier than a good hair day and my  treat to myself is an expensive haircut. I always appreciate a good compliment but when someone calls me skinny or compliments my long legs I can take or leave it because these come relatively naturally to me ,but a compliment on the hair will make me love you forever!

Sal’s great post last week about smiling in style post pictures has got me thinking and because this week we are being  positive about our bodies, I will be going for all smiles all week!

The Hair, originally uploaded by academichic.

   

13 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed but dress:

• Brown top – American Eagle 
• Blue shift dress – Banana Republic 
• Boots – Dillards 
• Silver circle necklace – J.Jill 
• Brown ring – souvenir from New Orleans, gifted by fiance 

Endnotes:

This week we’re thinking about, showcasing, and discussing our best features. This is a worthwhile exercise to do on a regular basis, since we tend to hone in so much more on what we don’t like, rather than remembering what makes us smile about our appearance. I’ve loved reading all your comments and lists on our post on this topic ! 

As for my list, I’ll start with one feature today and will keep thinking about more things to add as the week progresses. I have relatively narrow hips and one of my favorite styles is the shift dress! The shift dress works great with my shape because it’s all about being up and down with no attention paid to the waist! I know that narrow hips is not something that first comes to mind when thinking of “your best”, but it’s something that I’ve always been aware of with my body and have worked to my advantage. 

  

Ring detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Ok, to now shift gears entirely – I just finished “It sucked and then I cried” by Heather Armstrong, fellow blogger over at dooce.com. (And yes, I use the term “fellow” loosely, since she’s in the Oprah realm of blogging…) I loved it! It provides a hilarious, frightening, sobering, yet inspiring account of parenting – I give it the S. two thumbs up.  Care to share any good books you’ve come across lately? S.

      

10 April 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Black blouse – Calvin Klein 
• Peal necklace – J.Jill
• Blue cardi – H&M
• Blue/grey trouser – Banana Republic
• Black ribbon – origin long forgotten 
• Red pointy pumps – Matisse, thrifted

Endnotes:

Ever since I discovered the benefits of belting my tops (to create a waistline), I have gone a bit belt-crazy. I not only use actual belts, but scarves, ribbons, ties, and any long-enough pieces of fabric that can be repurposed to wrap around my torso and give me that much desired waistline. 

Today I am using a black ribbon, the origin of which is long forgotten, to cinch this cardi and blouse combo. I like the added flair of the ribbon and bow, like it’s saying to my students: ‘Look, I’m this university’s gift to you’ – which is how I’m certain they all think of me, right?

     

Bow detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

I also picked up this little trick from E.; belting a cardi without buttoning it. Letting the two sides hang down on their own breaks my midsection into several slimmer vertical sections; the benefits of which are apparent. (This trick also comes in handy when a cardi no longer fits you and you want to avoid that buttons-ready-to-pop look when pulling the two sides together!) S.

    

Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

9 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Pink Wrap Shirt – H & M
• Grey Tank – Old Navy
• Charcoal Cords – Gap Outlet
• Green Flats – BR
• Necklace – Hawaii

Endnotes:

The trouser pants are a pear’s best friend – they are by far the most flattering cut of pants for me.  In this particular case, I could probably do with out the flap pockets as they add a little more to my profile than I need.

I took this picture without putting my hand on my hip or in my pockets, which are my usual photo tactics for reducing hipage.   Now don’t get me wrong, the hips and thighs are still there, they aren’t going anywhere, but they do look a little more reined in than they would is say a pair of bootcut pants. The thick corduroy of these pants also keep them form clinging in the wrong places and help with creating those long straight lines I long for.

As I mentioned yesterday,  fabric is an all too important consideration in fit.  I love a good bargain as much as  the next poor grad student and I can’t get enough F21 and H & M tops,  but rarely can I purchase bottoms there (or any other reasonably priced place).  The quality of the fabric of my pants and skirts is essential. I also find that these less expensive clothes are not designed for “a woman’s body,” as my mom has unfortunately been referring to my body since I was 13 and forced to leave the juniors’ section well behind me!  I think this just means a body with hips!

A pair of heels also work wonders to reduce the thighs (again can’t do much for the hips- they are bones after all!), but seeing as I am 5’9 with rather long legs, if they don’t make the pants in long or tall, flats it is!

This shirt works well for me because of the wrap which emphasizes the smallest part of my waist and because it flares out a bit at the bottom camouflaging the suddenness of the change in size from waist to hips. It is important to point out here that while this ties under the bust, it is not an empire waist shirt. It does not float away form the body under the tie but rather stays flat against my stomach.  The traditional empire waist shirt flows into my widest part making it seem like I am wide all the way down.  This, again, has to do with the fact that this is a sturdy fabric rather than a flowy one.

Proportions, originally uploaded by academichic.

Proportions in Profile, originally uploaded by academichic.