Sources:

Button down – ON, thrifted
Cardigan – thrifted
Belt – thrifted
Tank top – BE Maternity, via Target
Skinnies – ON Maternity
Boots – Banana Republic
Elephant pendant – had since childhood
Bag – Vintage Sears bag, $1 garage sale find

Endnotes:

Does this outfit look familiar? Well, if it doesn’t, let me just remind you of where you might have seen it last. I loved how E. took one of the looks she created with the items from Banana Republic’s Spring line and recreated it with garments from her own wardrobe. It got me wondering whether I could do the same. I figured that this look should be pretty easy to recreate seeing as how it’s composed of mostly pretty basic wardrobe pieces. So my plan was to go in my closet and look for…

A dark button down or tunic, dark skinny jeans, a brown leather belt, dark flats or dark boots, and a bright yellow bag. This last item wasn’t going to be a challenge for me since I already own the perfect bright yellow vintage bag, but if you were looking to recreate this look, I’d say that any bright color bag should do. The idea is to bring in that pop of color with an unexpected tote or purse.

As you can tell from the snow on the ground and from the fact that it’s snowing in these pictures, it’s nowhere near Spring where I live, so I opted for black boots over the dark flats and I also picked up a black cardigan for that extra warmth. And here is my version with items from my closet and slightly more winterized than the BR Spring line iteration…

What do you think? I think it worked out perfectly for a casual Saturday outfit and I’m excited to retry this look come Spring without the cardigan, the sleeves rolled up, and a lightweight pair of flats.

On a related note – I’m wearing my newly thrifted belt, which I am just loving, and am offering you this item as a clue to what this week’s theme is going to be… Yup, you guessed it! It was only a matter of time before we did a Belts Week here at academichic, right? Hope you enjoy the rest of the posts to come on this topic! S.

Sources:

• Cardigan – Banana Republic
• Navy Skinny Cords – Banana Republic
• Grey Tee – J Crew
• Boots – Steve Madden
• Necklace – vintage, gift
• Ring – long-term loan from sister M.
• Earrings – gift from A2

Endnotes:

Today’s outfit is one of those that just doesn’t translate that well in photographs.  It’s a fairly simple ensemble with a rich complex mix of neutrals (oatmeal, dark grey, navy, and putty) that was totally lost in the beautiful afternoon sunlight.  I brightened my neutrals and polished my tee + cords by adding a statement necklace and a statement ring.

This past summer I saw this vintage teal necklace at an antique shop while vacationing with my family and then it showed up in my stocking on Christmas!  I love the size and color of the beads, but have been struggling with how to incorporate it into my wardrobe.  I had tried it on many times with various teaching outfits and dressier ensembles, but kept opting for some other jewelry instead.  I decided to try it with the super casual tee-shirt + skinny cords combo and really like the effect (rather J Crew I think).

Necklace and Ring, originally uploaded by academichic.

At the last minute I grabbed this large sea-foam green plastic flower ring, which I “borrowed” from my sister a year or so ago.  I don’t usually mix multiple large pieces of jewelry (this is especially true of earnings and necklaces).  I think it was something about the vintagey feel of this ring and the analogous color combination of the ring and necklace that made me throw it on before heading out the door.

Flower on Floral!, originally uploaded by academichic.

Jewelry can be the perfect way to elevate a really simple ensemble and an easy way to have a little fun with your wardrobe!  I used to be a necklace girl, wearing mostly studs in my ears and the same two silver rings.  In the last couple years,  I’ve become more of an earrings girl – I often wear large colorful earrings.  I’ve also been wearing a fair amount of bracelets, but my necklace collection has not gotten as much play as it should and I definitely wouldn’t mind acquiring a few more statement rings.  What about you, do you wear more of one kind of jewelry over the other?  Do you wear large earnings and necklaces together?  What about big rings and bracelets on the same hand?

8 February 2011, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 December 2010 – "Bobi" Scarf, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Sweater: Banana Republic
• Sweater Vest: BR
• Scarf: Napali by TDM Designs
• Jeans: J Brand via DSW
• Boots: vintage Charles David

Endnotes:
Just a few quick pics and words before I too head off for holidays with family and friends. Unlike E., who has to very thoughtfully plan and pack for extended travel, my packing mostly consists of throwing things into a bag, dragging out my laundry basket, and getting my cat into his carrier before driving off to various New England towns. I asked my father if I was too old (27) to be bringing home my laundry. He assured me that until I have my own machine actually in my apartment or house it was still ok in his book. Phew! Anyway, this outfit was not planned for anything other than driving for several hours. A light cashmere vest layered over a light sweater and a scarf gave me several options for temperature control (as well as created a analogous pair of green shades).

23 December 2010 – "Bobi" Scarf closeup, originally uploaded by academichic.

This scarf is made of bamboo fiber and is offered by Napali by TDM Designs (another name that you might recognize from reviews and giveaways we’ve done in the past). This style is called “Bobi” and is a square, which threw me for a while, but it’s still big enough to do most of the slouchy knots that I prefer. They do also make it in a longer version. I’ll be doing a more thorough review of another scarf of theirs next week.

23 December 2010 – Jeans!, originally uploaded by academichic.

You can’t really tell from these pictures but I’m wearing jeans… new jeans! Like A. I’ve looked for good “skinny” jeans for a while now and had all but given up hope when I came across these J Brand “cigarette” style jeans at a recent Filene’s Basement spree. The cigarette style means that they are basically straight leg from the knee, thus avoiding jegging status while being fitted through the hip and thigh. And they are perfect for tucking into boots, something I had been wanting to try for a while. These exact jeans had been on my radar ever since I read a spread in a fashion magazine this summer where every woman who was interviewed for a piece on “now styles” mentioned her J Brand jeans. I’d never heard of them. Needless to say months later, I happily found them for about $150 less than what they retail for, which made paying $12 to get them professionally hemmed seem like not a big deal. I love when that happens! What I love even more is spending time with my family and friends, which is what I’m off to do now (but not before kicking up some of this fresh powdery snow)!

23 December 2010 – Snow day, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 February 2010 – To Infinity, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Infinity scarf: courtesy of Kangaroo Knits
• Cardigan: Target
• Jeans: thrifted, skinnied by me
• Boots: Banana Republic

End Notes:

I wore essentially this same outfit back in December. It’s a collection of neutral basics that form the perfect backdrop for a focal point scarf. Last time I used two colored scarves to add some brightness, but today I stayed monochrome and used this thick infinity scarf, sent to us by the gracious Margie of Kangaroo Knits, to add such volume and texture.

23 February 2010 – To Infinity, originally uploaded by academichic.

This reversible scarf — black with a silvery gray edges — has a wonderfully substantial feel and it is dangerously addictive as a plaything. There are an astonishing number of ways to wrap and tie the scarf, and I waffled between a lush cowl or a more tightly wrapped collar.

23 February 2010 – To Infinity, originally uploaded by academichic.

Either way, it’s a fantastic, multifunctional accessory and cozy to boot and I wish I could keep it permanently. Yes, it’s true. This infinity scarf will be up for grabs as our final Friday giveaway of scarf month so be sure to check back to enter.

(Of course, if you can’t wait til then, Margie has some gorgeous colored versions available as well! Saffron! Turquoise! Salmon! Gah!)

Sources:

• Blue scarf – TJMaxx, remixed
• Tan bag – Etienne Aigner, remixed
• Skinnies – thrifted, remixed
• Boots – BR, remixed
• Sunglasses – H&M, remixed
• Trench – vintage, from my grandmother’s closet!

Endnotes:

Greetings from Bavaria! I made it and I’m settling into my new ‘home’ here. It’s been a crazy few days, but I love this city and I love getting to use so much of my German as I’m desperately trying to take care of everything needed before I can settle happily into my research.

As far as first (style) impressions go, these Münchner sure know how to dress! I’m seeing a ton of very stylish men and women and taking note! And talk about the many chic cyclists on the roads.  As for my own outfit of this past weekend, it’s been a simple skinnies-boots-and-coat combo that manages to feel both practical and comfortable without screaming ‘tourist’.

A while ago, when I acquired this yellow bag, I asked readers how one knows when something is truly vintage. Well, this time, I know. This classic trench is definitely vintage since I can date it back to at least 1974, when I have photographic evidence of my grandmother wearing it:

These pictures were taken in Budapest in 1974 with colleagues of hers on a work trip. Can you spot her in the group shot below? (She later had the coat shortened to the length you see on me today).

This trench has made many more appearances in our family photo albums, as it was my grandmother’s one “good” spring and fall jacket. She’s often told how how “back then” you had “one good item” and you just took good care of it. She’s certainly done that since I was able to find it in perfect condition on this recent visit and claim it for wear.

Her point about having less things but of distinction calls to mind the difference between today’s consumer culture with emphasis on more, more, more and perhaps a more ‘vintage’ mindset of acquiring fewer pieces with quality and longevity in mind. Although I like the latter approach better, I must confess that thrift shopping and the ease with which one can collect and acquire things today makes me more of a participant in the prior category.

How to do you feel about this dichotomy, do you see yourself consciously opting for one approach over the other? And in this age of ready-made clothing, thrift-store abundance, and ebay-auction-accessibility, can these same ‘vintage’ mores still be applied? While you ponder those questions, I leave you with one more picture of my beautiful grandmother at age twenty-three, photographed with a monographed “V” for her name, back in 1950. S.