academichic

14 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Sunnies – drug store
• Silk scarf – 1 Euro find at Vienna flea market
• Eyelet top – TJMaxx
• Brown cardi – TJMaxx
• Skinnies – S.Oliver
• Flats – Palladium
• Pendant – Anthropologie
• Earrings – gift from husband

Endnotes:

These are my last travel photos from Cluj, Romania. As you can see, I wore more of the same ‘uniform’ I’ve been sporting throughout my trip to Prague and Romania. I pretty much switched between two pairs of skinny jeans, rotated through a variety of loose, comfortable tunic-like tops, and wore the same tried and tested pair of Palladium flats each day…

This look works really well for me because I’m somewhat of a straight-up-and-down rectangle, so tunics, empire waist tops, and loose blouses work really well with my shape. Someone with more of an hourglass figure might do well to pack tops that define a waist and show off some curves, but for me, it ends up working quite well to highlight my thin legs in skinny jeans and not bother trying to create curves where there are none. When I’m just trying to get dressed quickly and comfortably, that is. Style savvy-readers like Sal mentioned trying travel outfits on at home before packing and I have definitely approached my packing in that well-planned way before. But when time is short and I just want to throw things in my bag that I know will work, I stick with simple pieces that work with and not against my figure.  And with well worn-in and tested shoes. Even if it means that I wear pretty much a version of the same outfit each day. When I’m traveling, I want my surroundings to be my focus and not my outfits.

To vary my looks a wee bit and to make me feel like I’m adding a dash of style to my ‘travel uniform’, I packed a bunch of scarves and used those to add color, texture, and diversity. Scarves are great because they’re so light and small that you can pack a whole lot of them without sacrificing much luggage space at all…

I have actually been feeling a bit like a ‘one trick pony’ since so many of my outfits have been of this skinnies + tunic + flats variety and even wondered whether to post them or not, but then A.’s last post really struck a chord. I liked her honesty in saying that she doesn’t always look put-together, nor that she tries to always look put-together, and that she questions whether style bloggers ought to admit that or pretend otherwise. I have often thought about this myself (being of the not-always-so-put-together-as-I-may-like-to-pretend variety) and it seems to me that what sets fashion blogging apart from magazine spreads and professional models is the portrayal of a somewhat more realistic approach to style, fashion, clothing, and wearability. (Although the spectrum of fashion blogging runs broadly enough that arguments could be made both for and against this). Our site has always been about showing what we would wear on campus, to teach in, on research days, for office hours, or for any other given activity that we would realistically engage in. Thus, it follows that I shouldn’t have to edit out those images of me repeating the same jeans and top for the sake of creative documentation. At the same time, showing off the same look over and over defeats the purpose of creating a platform that seeks to inspire creativity and innovation in one’s approach to dressing.

If you’re still with me and I haven’t lost you with my ramblings, I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Where do you see the role of fashion blogging fitting in? Is it more of an art form and should a good blogger strive to create the kind of unique, often extravagant, and decidedly varied looks found in the pages of your favorite glossies, or rather, is it about documenting the everyday, albeit at times repetitive and perhaps even lackluster outfit creations of regular people? (And yes, I realize that I’m creating a somewhat oversimplified dichotomy here, but you get what I’m saying…)

So which type draws you in more?

Close-up, originally uploaded by academichic.

14 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

And as I leave you to ponder those questions, I will offer you a few more images of gorgeous Cluj… Hope you enjoy! S.

Cluj, Romania, originally uploaded by academichic.

Cluj, Romania, originally uploaded by academichic.

Cluj, Romania, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 June 2010 – Cluj, Romania, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Teal scarf – souvenir from Prague
• Green top – Old Navy, thrifted
• Skinnies – S. Oliver
• Flats – Palladium
• Shades – drug store

Endnotes:

After the day in Sibiu, T. and I spent some time in Cluj, Romania. I continued my pattern of dressing comfortably for lots of walking and sightseeing. Wearing those flats was a good idea too since we ended up walking up a somewhat steep hill for this gorgeous view of the city. Coffees with a view – bliss.

To add a bit of interest to my outfit, I looped this teal and silver scarf around my neck, creating an analogous color mix with the green top. I used to think analogous color mixes to be a little ‘too close for comfort’ but after doing our Fashion 101 series on colors, I’ve become quite enamored with this subtle yet beautiful color combo. I picked up this teal scarf in a little shop in Prague on my recent trip there as a little keepsake from my travels and it was nice to already pull it out and enjoy it.

Analogous Color Mix, originally uploaded by academichic.

Yesterday, I noted how I often like to peek in thrift stores for some unique yet affordable souvenirs from my travel destinations. And just today, I came across this awesome post from the creative Tricia Royal, founder of wardrobe_remix and writer of Bits and Bobbins. Check out this cool collage she’s working on using the colorful price tags of thrift store items…

I wish I had kept all my tags over the years, especially since the collection would include pieces from all over Europe, Canada, and the US. Tricia is actually looking to collect more tags from all over the world if possible and is asking for anyone willing to send thrift tag donations her way. If you thrift often or on occasion and would like to support this art project, read the full details here on Bits and Bobbins. It looks like my tags will be making their way to New York to find stardom in the art world soon. S.

10 June 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Coffees in Cluj, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 September 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except bag:

• Black cardi – Target
• Gray tank – Filene’s basement
• Jean skirt – Urban Outfitters
• Yellow pumps – Gianni Bini, via Dillards
• Bag – Etienne Aigner, hand-me-down from mom, thanks!
• Necklace - Anthropologie

Endnotes:

Today’s outfit was likewise inspired by E., who paid homage to ‘grellow‘ in a recent post of hers. I love these yellow Gianni Bini pumps, which have proven to be more than comfortable, and I have worn these with any number of colors but not once with gray. E.’s gray and yellow mix planted a seed and I think I’ve found a new favorite color combo.

To play up the yellow of the shoes, I added a tan bag and a gold and ivory vintage inspired necklace.

It was a good thing that I wore comfortable shoes today, because on an errand to Sibiu, a nearby city and a favorite of mine in Romania, I ended up doing quite a bit of walking. It was also a good thing that I had my camera and was able to snap a few shots, because I’m dying to share them with you. Sibiu was named European Capital of Culture in 2007 and I think the title is well deserved; it’s full of gorgeous old building, historic sites, cafes and restaurants, museums and bookstores. If you ever come to Romania, make sure to add Sibiu to your list! Here’s a sneak peak at what you would encounter:

22 September 2009 – Wonder Wrap, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except Wonder Wrap:

• Wonder Wrap – Blue Onion Marketplace
• Black top – thrifted
• Sunglasses – H&M
• Jeans – Flirt jean from ON
• Gray wedges – Report, via Solestruck.com
• Brown Satchel – HOBO
• Necklace – Anthropologie

Endnotes:

First of, thank you all for your kind words and well wishes for my grandparents yesterday! They’re slowly getting back on their feet and we’re enjoying our time together here, despite the reason for our visit. My grandpa returned from the hospital today, so now we’re all reunited.

This morning, before his return, my mom and I went into town to pick up a few things for dinner. This gave me the perfect opportunity to pull out some fun fall items that I’ve been itching to wear. Unlike back at academichic central, it’s much cooler here and I get to enjoy my favorite season of the year – fall.

One item I’ve been dying to wear is this charcoal jersey Wonder Wrap from Blue Onion Marketplace. Similar to the Moth Possibilities sweater found at Athropologie, this garment comes with an abundance of fabric and just as many options in how to style it.

I love this violet gray color and the soft jersey fabric and have yet to play around with it and find more ways to style it. I’m thinking of throwing this one longer end over my shoulder for a drapey evening look, what do you think?

For a snugger day time look, I experimented with different ways to wrap it and tie it around my waist. I settled on wrapping the longer end around, while placing the shorter end over the wrapped end and bringing both ends together at the side.

The loose ends are then tied together on the side, creating a closed yet still drapey finished look.

I’ve recently developed a penchant for drapey and asymmetrically cut garments, such as the Possibilities sweater mentioned above, the Banana Republic asymmetrical cardi I’ve experimented with this summer, and now this one-sleeved fabric-abundant piece that puts a smile on my face.

And now I leave you with a gratuitous shot of my grandparents’ street here in Romania. S.

Romania, originally uploaded by academichic.

    

Triad – Blue, Yellow, Red, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources: 

• Yellow top – thrifted 
• Blue cardigan – H&M 
• Red belt – Gap 
• Black Jeans – DKNY, thrifted, remixed 
• Black flats – Clarks, remixed

Endnotes:

Like E.,  I felt a little experimental trying to create a triadic outfit for this week’s Fashion 101 module.  I kept pulling our different red, yellow, and blue pieces out of my closet but all the combinations just made me feel like a walking version of the Romanian flag. I am Romanian, but my patriotism only goes so far. Finally, I did come across this combination and actually felt very pleased with it. I love how the triadic combination does make all three colors pop equally against each other, but by keeping the red to a minimum with just the belt, I feel less like a walking advertisement for my native country and more like a graduate student. -S.