academichic

Sources:

• Ruffled Shell: Banana Republic
• Sweater: August Silk via Filene’s Basement
• Skirt: French Connection
• Shoes: Giuseppe Zanotti via Filene’s Basement
• Necklace: South Moon Under

Endnotes:
Happy Monday everyone! And now for a brief foray into pop culture courtesy of Katy Perry:

Cause baby you’re a firework
Come on show ‘em what you’re worth
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you’re a firework
Come on let your colors burst
Make ‘em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
You’re gunna leave ‘em fallin’ down-own-own

While I’m not a huge fan of her music (I’m uneasy about the sexual message of “Teenage Dream” and the veiled homophobia of “I Kissed a Girl”), I do enjoy the positive tone of these particular lyrics, and yes, I will admit to blasting it while driving around doing errands this weekend. Sometimes a catchy tune is just a catchy tune.

I happily refer to this skirt as “fireworks” because of the bursting blue and neon pink of the pattern. I’ve worn it with this top before, but not on the blog. That time I paired it with my cropped navy blazer, but I’m liking the line of the cardigan tucked in. I thought about wearing my navy blue shoes, but decided that would be matchy-matchy overkill. You all know that my policy on footwear is “when in doubt, wear metallic” so I put on these gold sparklers (get it?).

I feel very put together in this “firework” outfit and love the burst of ruffle from the shirt and the bursts of color and pattern in the skirt. What is inspiring your outfit today?

Also, what do you think about Katy Perry or other pop artists? I’d really like to hear what others have to say about the influence that pop music has and what messages are carried within it – especially for young women. I know we have very thoughtful readers and commentors, but since this can be an incendiary topic, I request that you respect me and each other in the comments section as we are all entitled to our own opinion. Thanks!

L.

15 February 2011 – Layred Tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Patterned Top – BR Factory Store
• Navy Cami – American Eagle
• Grey Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
• Navy Tights – Target
• Grey Lace Tights – Gap
• Shoes- Banana Republic
• Necklace – Gift from A2
• Earrings – Morocco, gift from a professor

Endnotes:

Yes, this is just a slight variation on the outfit I wore only a couple of months ago.  I often re-wear outfits I like, sometimes exactly as I wore them before, but I don’t usually document the repeated wears.  I loved this outfit the first time I wore it and knew I would likely repeat it, especially as the weather warms up.

15 February 2011 – Layred Tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

Since it is Tights Week here at Academichic, I decided to switch up the tights and shoes.  The navy tights worked so well with it last time so I kept them and simply layered these grey lace tight over the navy, creating a rich pattered and textured look.   I think they plays off the pattered ruffly top really well.

I chose to wear them with my grey suede peep-toes.  Last time we experimented with tights I did a long post on wearing tights with open-toe shoes and then became an addict to the look for the rest of the spring.  When I did the little experiment, I was surprised how much I liked the lace/open pattern tights with the cut-out shoes.  The one aspect I wasn’t crazy about was how my bare legs/toes looked peeking through the tights – layering fixes everything!

Layred Tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

I stuck with the blue earrings from Morocco that I originally wore with this ensemble, again because I love the way it plays off the top.  This time I added a more substantial necklace – this little mirror on a chain A2 bought for me years ago.

I’m so happy I figured out this lace/open pattern tight over solid tight deal, because I had several of these kinds of tights in the back of a drawer that are now getting to see the light of day.   A.

Sources:

• Coat: DKNY via Bluefly
• Gloves: Coach (gift)
• Scarf: Missoni via Filene’s Basement
• Bag: Crystalyn Kae
• Skinny Jeans: Banana Republic
• Boots: vintage Charles David
• (Below)
• Shirt: J. Crew (thrifted)
• Camisole: Gap Outlet
• Belt: J. Crew
• Necklace: South Moon Under

Endnotes:
We all know how quickly a cute outfit is ruined by having to put on a coat and that many a gorgeous shoe is retired in favor of boots for a long walk through the snow. We also all know how the first stages of frostbite feel when venturing out without a coat or gloves or hat and are sadly familiar with the slushy feeling of melting snow inside our cutest shoes. Is there any way to stay stylish and warm? We have received a number of emails over the last two years asking just that, and so we thought a whole week of coats, jackets, wraps, and assorted winter wear would be timely and help to answer some of these questions.

To kick things off I thought I’d share my #1 go-to coat of the moment. I had been looking for a dressier knee length coat for a while, but I wasn’t satisfied with the plain button up styles and blocky shapes I had encountered. My mom actually bought this for me online at Bluefly, and it has turned out very well. I was a little apprehensive about the ruffle at first, but now that I’ve been wearing this coat all winter I love the details. To me the ruffle embellishment makes this coat more fun and the ruffle collar also holds my scarf nice and close around my neck to keep out the cold. The cut and length are flattering for a petite frame; Although, I did have to have the sleeves shortened.

Check out the Caterina coat by Via Spiga and the Cheryl style coat by Tahari for two more knee length coats with some personality.

To play off of the ruffled collar I decided to wear another ruffled shirt. I picked this up over the weekend at a consignment shop (along with a few other things I’m sure you’ll be seeing soon), and immediately knew I wanted to pair it with my turquoise camisole for a layered look. The belt was just for fun and to make my legs look longer by making my waist appear higher. These jeans are also relatively new. They were on sale at BR for $13 and happened to be in my size. After so many months of looking for skinny jeans I seem to have scored three really great pairs in the last month! With wool socks and these leather boots my feet and legs stayed warm and dry as I was doing my Sunday errands yesterday.

Stay tuned for more outerwear posts this week!

~L.

Red Ruffles, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Sweater: Elizabeth
• Scarf: thrifted
• Belt: J. Crew
• Skirt: J. Crew
• Tights: Kensie via Filene’s Basement
• Shoes: Tahari via Endless.com

Endnotes:
Another day of ruffles for me! I’ve had this sweater since college and haven’t worn it much because the ruffle always made me feel a little clown-ish. However, now that ruffles are all over the place I thought it deserved another try. Adding the volume of the scarf helped to offset the edging around the v-neck, which also made me feel a little more secure.

Red Ruffles and Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

The skirt is classic J. Crew and I’m not usually a fan of lighter colored shoes with tights, but for some reason my beige wedges were calling to me after I’d put on these delicious ribbed sweater tights (made of bamboo fiber!).

Tights and Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

I wasn’t sure what to do about making a waist for myself since the skirt sat pretty low, but had button details and tabs around the band. I didn’t want to tuck in my sweater, so I decided that the sweater could cover up the top of the skirt and I’d belt higher up in my silhouette to lengthen my legs and cut some of the bulk from my looser sweater. I took this inspiration from S. who did a great post in the Spring of 2009 about proportions and creating a waist using a skinny belt.

Red Ruffles, originally uploaded by academichic.

How do you create a waist when wearing a bulky or non-fitted sweater? ~ L.

2010 Academichic – Sabrina, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• All: Banana Republic
• Shoes: Ciao Bella via DSW

Endnotes:
As I was typing up this post it became glaringly apparent how many of my clothes come from Banana Republic! I chalk it up to the fact that their petite sizes fit me perfectly and my aesthetic jibes well with theirs. Case-in-point, this fitted knit tweed jacket with shawl collar, pockets, and single button closure. I very rarely will spring for something that is a new item (and therefore full price) at BR and prefer to hit the sale and clearance racks even at the outlet. However, over the summer as I was envisioning my new teaching life come the fall, this jacket was too good to wait for (although, it is now on sale in both tweed and black versions) and to top it all off the style name is “Sabrina” which happens to be my favorite movie of all time. I snatched it up immediately, and with the help of their 40% off sale it was still expensive, but at least I could tell my self I hadn’t paid full price.

8 December 2010 – Sabrina pockets, originally uploaded by academichic.

When styling this jacket I couldn’t help but imagine the gorgeous and impossibly skinny Audrey Hepburn in the classic black and white film Sabrina. In a pivotal scene near the end of the movie she shows up to Humphrey Bogart’s office wearing black capris and flats and proceeds to tie a dishtowel around her waist and cook dinner (start at 2:30 in this clip).

These black pants and ballet flats are my attempt to capture a tiny fraction of her style.

Ruffles profile, originally uploaded by academichic.

The ruffled top also has a story as it’s my first full-on embrace of the ruffles trend that has permeated fashion for several seasons now and which my co-bloggers wear with such panache. I also like the point that A. brought up yesterday about her cascade of ruffles reminding her of a gentleman’s shirt from the 17th century. This top was a final sale on the clearance rack because it had a stain on it. I thought that I could get it out and with a little cold water and some Woolite I had a $70 silk ruffled shell for $7! However, to extend the season of a sleeveless item like this I decided to try layering a long sleeved T-shirt under it since in all likelihood I wouldn’t be removing my jacket anyway. This worked like a charm, and I liked the little edge of black peeking out as well as how the ruffles popped out over the lapel of the jacket when it was buttoned.

8 December 2010 – Sabrina buttoned, originally uploaded by academichic.

Some questions for you all: I was really proud of myself for salvaging something that was “defective” according to the store – What pieces have you rescued and resuscitated from the sale racks? Have you cut down something that was too big? Shortened a skirt? Converted items from shirts to tanks? I’d love to hear some of your stories to inspire more saves like this one! Thanks!

~ L.

14 November 2010 – Date Night, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Wrap Sweater – Banana Republic
• Black Skirt – Banana Republic
• Grey Ruffle Tank – J Crew
• Tights – HUE
• Shoes – Steve Madden Girl, via DSW
• Earrings – F21

Endnotes:

A2 and I bought theater tickets for last night months ago, so I knew when picking my 30 items to remix, I would need some items that could be easily dressed up.  I love this full, black, wool-crepe, skirt with satin trim — but rarely wear it.  I’m not sure what my mental block on it is.  I decided adding it to the remix would force me to figure out ways to wear it.

For my date night at the theater, I paired it with a wrap sweater, ruffle top, bold earrings,  and these fabulously whimsical HUE tights:

HUE Floral Tights, originally uploaded by academichic.

I’ve been finding it such a challenge to get pictures taken since daylights savings.  I actually got all dolled up well before I needed to, just so I could squeeze a couple pictures in before the sun completely disappeared.  As is, I ended up mostly with washed out flash pictures or blurry long-exposure pictures.

The pay off?  Daylights savings helps with my morning productivity (my most productive time already) so I had all three of my fellowship applications turned in yesterday morning, well before our date night!

14 November 2010 – Date Night, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 November 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• T-shirt: Banana Republic
• Wrap Shirt: BR Outlet
• Trousers: BR
• Shoes: Tahari via Endless.com
• Belt: J. Crew
• Necklace: gift

Endnotes:
Unlike E. and A. I am not participating in Kendi’s 30 for 30 Challenge this time around, but will certainly jump in the next time this challenge comes our way. That being said, this outfit is a remix of several items that would definitely qualify as top choices for my 30 for 30. The ruffled wrap shirt is perfect mid-weight for this seasonal transition time of year. It also allowed me to try out a metallic leather skinny belt I had recently purchased at J. Crew.

10 November 2010 – close up, originally uploaded by academichic.

I’d been eyeing their variety of skinny belts for a while, and finally, most recent paycheck safely deposited, I sprang for a gold one and a silver one (remember, my mom always says to buy things in several colors if you really like it!). Don’t forget to ask for the “Educator’s Discount” at the register — 15% off can really help (Ann Taylor Loft also does this if you sign up)! Anyway, I was a little apprehensive about wearing heels with skinny pants, but I ended up really liking the extra length they gave me. What do you all think about heels with skinny or “cigarette” style pants?

~L.

10 November 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 September 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blazer: Gap, gift from MIL
• Top: Target
• Belt: (in picture below) thrifted
• Ponte pants: Ann Taylor
• Pumps: Madden Girl, via DSW

End Notes:

I think all of you had great thoughts for L. yesterday regarding her colleagues’ responses to her “dressing up.” In preparation for an upcoming series of posts, I’ve been reading a lot of older articles from the Chronicle of Higher Ed regarding academia and sartorial choices. While it seems that many people are willing to admit that it is unfair to equate care for one’s appearance with a lack of intellectual rigor, the actual advice dispensed tends to accept this state of affairs as normative: “Don’t look like you’re trying too hard but don’t look like you didn’t try at all.” Not so helpful.

My favorite quote from a 1998 article on professorial fashion comes from Nell Painter, then-professor of history at Princeton.

“There are prejudices against people who look too Jewish, too working-class, too Italian, too black, or too much of anything different.” She adds, however, that “if you look too WASPish, that’s probably all right.”

All of this has very little to do with my outfit today, except for this one question: are skinny or slim cut pants appropriate for the classroom and/or office?

I love these straight leg black ponte pants from Ann Taylor, but, as I am today, I have tended to wear them only for more casual outfits that I would not consider teaching appropriate. Weirdly, though, I always seem to wear them with a blazer. I’ve been happy to let these pants exist in my casual-but-not-too-casual register of wardrobe-dom, but now that even Ann Taylor is styling “work looks” with skinny black pants, I’m wondering if skinnies are mainstreamed, demystified, desexified, or de-whatevered enough to be considered professional garb?

But did you get what just happened there? For a garment to become “appropriate” for teaching or the office, I implied that it has to achieve some sort of vaguely defined neutral status as not “too anything.” But who is making that judgment? Is there really a “neutral” category for clothes (or how people wear them)?

What do you think? Are skinny pants appropriate office or teaching wear? In what scenarios? If you think they’re okay now, would you have thought that two or three years ago? If you think they’re inappropriate, what are your reasons?

And here I am, thoughtfully contemplating this question:

24 September 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 August 2010 – Olive You, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Top: Target
• Necklace: Forever 21
• Belt: thrifted
• Skirt: Banana Republic Factory
• Wedges: thrifted

End Notes:

Like A. and L., I had to let our color challenge spill over into the following week. I just wasn’t feeling a monochromatic look last week. But, never fear, I have prevailed. And with green, no less.

Ruffle and Necklace Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

I usually wouldn’t wear a chunky necklace with a top that already has neckline details, like this one. One of the benefits of a monochromatic color scheme, however, is that it lets you play a little more with the “more is more” concept. Layering a yellow-green statement necklace over olive ruffles adds some textural interest within a limited color palette. (I also could have added baby e.’s yellow-green sippy cup to the mix, but I figured I already had enough going on.)

Also, I didn’t tuck in my top. Given my propensity for high-waisted everything, this is a departure for me. Granted, I’m still defining my waist — and adding some lovely drape and blousing — with a skinny belt, but the overall effect of a peplum of sorts is fetching, and it still keeps my never-ending torso in check. One of my fall style resolutions is to play more with drape and volume, and this is a good start, albeit a baby step.

Do you have any fall style resolutions?

24 August 2010 – Olive You, originally uploaded by academichic.

5 August 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Flutter Tank – J Crew
• Black Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
• Black Pumps – DSW
• Necklace – made from a gifted earring

Endnotes:

I don’t know if the color of this top is exactly a neutral – its a kind of putty color that sometimes looks olive. J Crew calls it “mink.”  I’m a sucker for all the lovely shades of grey J Crew has invented but “mink” is less than helpful as a color description.  But, I’m using it as a neutral and considering this a mix of black and brown.  I wore this top with navy last time, but I think the black makes the “mink” look so much richer.

The top came with a thin waist-creating tie which I removed for this iteration. I tucked the base of the top into my high-waisted skirt and let the flutters drape over the top.  I think it makes this otherwise sweat detail a little more dramatic, even edgy.  I usually think of mixed neutrals as creating a generally soft look or sometimes a very polished professional look, but in this third stab at the color wheel challenge, I wanted to push my use of neutrals into a new kind of look.   I think “edgy mink” is definitely new for me!