academichic

22 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed

• Navy Blazer – Forever 21
• Teal Tank – BR Outlet
• Grey Skirt – Old Navy
• Navy Peep Toes – Off Broadway
• Scarf – Gift from Kimberly

Endnotes:

I wore a very similar outfit to this just about a week and a half ago.  I loved the color pairing of teal with my new grey skirt and the way the pencil skirt and a pair of higher heals made my legs look.  I simply chose a blazer instead of a cardigan and switched out my brown wedges for navy pumps.

New Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

This is an ensemble built of basics!  I have worn this teal cami over and over as a layering piece and on its own.  The slim fit makes it versatile and while the color is rather specific, it is one of my favorites, making it a go-to item.  The skirt can be dressed up or down and paired with just about any color.  I also expect it to be a good three season piece.  The blazer has seen more wear than just about any other item in my closet (except my denim pencil skirt of course).

I am constantly on the look out for a neutral colored versatile skirt and a well-fitting blazer.  They remain on the top of my shopping list.  What items do you consider your most important basics?  What items could you always use more of?

To add a little something extra to this all-basics ensemble, I tied this lovely floral scarf around my waist.   I find scarves to be one of the best ways to change up a look and add visual interest to a rather simple outfit.   We plan to do a longer post on the many ways to wear scarves, but until then, check out our scarf set on flickr for inspiration. -A

22 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

14 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except flower

• Grey Skirt - Old Navy
• Cardigan – BR
• White Blouse – Gap
• White Tank – BR
• Wedges – Kennth Cole, via DSW
• Belt – Flower broach from Blue Onion Marketplace + Ribbon

Endnotes:

While nothing I am wearing today actually comes from J. Crew, this is very much a J. Crew inspired ensemble!

J Crew Inspiration, originally uploaded by academichic.

Today I have three meetings on campus: with a curator, one with a dean, and one with the chair of my department and the graudate advisor.  In between meetings, I am dropping by to visit E. and baby e. and E.’s always-fashionable sister-in-law, P. Each of my meetings will cover three very different projects that needs working on this summer.  I am being pulled in all different directions today and need an outfit that works for each. I want to be  bright and cheery, yet still business-like, for my meeting with the dean, professional but creative for the meeting with the curator, serious and studious for my meeting with the chair, and soft and cozy for my meeting with baby e..  This is a tall order, I know, but building the ensemble from a mix of neutrals seems to have been the perfect approach.

14 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

I finished the look with this handmade belt (totally inspired by  J. Crew) made from an old, unused ribbon, and one of the beautiful flowers sent to us from Blue Onion Marketplace.  If you would like to make your own, hurry over to this great little online boutique and receive free shipping through July when you use the reader code: ACADFREESH.  Happy shopping! -A.

Belt detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except flower pin

• Teal Tee – F21
• Lace Cami – BR
• Skirt - American Eagle
• Sandals – F21
• Bag – Gap
• Flower -Blue Onion Marketplace

Endnotes:

Today I am just running a few errands and studying at a coffee shop.  I have had this skirt for years and  love it.  The problem is, I struggle with what to pair it with.  I have worn it a few times this spring and summer with a brown tee.  I tend to get stuck in a rut when it comes to my few patterned pieces and i just repeat the same ensemble.  I have no problem mixing and matching solids, but prints still scare me a bit. I’, attempting to mix it up today with this teal tee but I think the bag really steals the look today!

Do you share a similar anxiety over pattern? How do you cope?  What would you pair with this print?

Print detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Check out my fabulous fabric flower sent to us from Blue Onion Market Place!

Vintage looking fabric flowers have been all over the J. Crew catalogues for a while now, but my latest trip to the mall, I also spotted them attached to tanks and cardigans at Gap, H & M, and the like.  For my tastes, this particular flower is a bit large for the shoulder (though I know S. could pull it off beautifully), so instead I have attached the pin to my favorite old straw bag.   I think it really gives this bag new life and makes it a bit more special.

Blue Onion Marketplace has generously offered our readers free shipping on flower pin orders (enter code: ACADFREESH).  Check out the great selection of beautiful vintage flowers!

Bag with flower, originally uploaded by academichic.

8 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except new skirt and new shoes!

• Teal Tank – BR Outlet
• Grey Skirt – Old Navy
• Wedges – Kenneth Cole, via DSW
• Cardigan – J Crew Outlet
• Necklace- Hawaii
• Bracelet – Gift from S.

Endnotes:

When I wear a new article of clothing, A2 calls it a “premier.”  I love this term!  It makes wearing my new item all the more exciting.  I think I have E. premiering her new clothes now too.   Today I premiered the skirt and the shoes!

New Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.

I purchased this grey chino pencil skirt last week at Old Navy to alternate with my go-to denim pencil skirt.  I never have any buyer’s guilt over practical items like this.  It’s a neutral, it’s three season, it’s a shape I know I love, and it was cheap.  The shoes felt like a bit more of a splurge!  I bought them while on vacation this weekend so I immediately questioned my purchase upon arriving home and unpacking them.  They were a great deal (marked down to $25), they are a neutral, and are, as it turns out, extremely comfortable!  But still the tinge of consumer remorse remains.  Do you suffer from buyer’s guilt?  Do you feel the need to keep the tags on new items for a few days?  Do you need someone to convince you your purchases where good ones?

8 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

2 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

On S.:

• Purple dress -  Soprano, via TJMaxx
• Grey tank – Hanes
• Black sandals – Target
• Long necklace – AE
• Short necklace – garage sale find
• Sunglasses – H & M

On A.:

• Khaki Shorts – J Crew
• White Top – borrowed from E.
• White Strapless Cami – BR
• Brown Woven Belt – BR Outlet
• Sandals – Old Navy
• Necklace – Express

Endnotes:

On our way to visit family, A2 and I stopped to see S. and T. for a day!  It was so nice to see both of them and they showed us such a great time.  Between her MG trip and my sister’s visit, S and I had lots to catch up on. After a much needed run (read gossip session) and a delicious brunch on T.’s deck, T. and S. took us to a near by park to let the dogs run around and go swimming.  S and I love that Indie and Camp are buddies and found great entertainment in watching them race from the end of the dock to the shoreline.

After our park visit, we took the dogs home and headed to a wonderfully quaint little restaurant for dinner before hitting the road.  Because I will be living out of a small bag for the next week, I needed an outfit yesterday that could take me from lake (with two playful wet dogs) to nicer dinner, and finally to the car for a few hours of driving before arriving at our final destination.  These khaki walking shorts are a summer staple for me, but the bloused-out tucked-in look still feels foreign to me.  I love the big lace collar on this and the paring of crisp white with khaki and I think this might count as a mix of bohemian with preppy.   S. looked adorable in her little purple jersey bubble dress.  She saves this dress for days away from campus because of the length, but I think it makes the perfect versatile summer dress. – A.

2 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 June 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except bangles

• Blue Cami – Gap
• Brown Cami- Gap
• Skirt- Thrifted, originally from F21, altered by me
• Belt- BR Outlet
• Bangles – San Francisco Souvenir from S.

Endnotes:

The weather is still pretty hot and humid here so tanks and skirts or sleeveless dresses are dominating my wardrobe these days.

I’ve written a bit about the role of accessories in my wardrobe and asked for your feedback as well.  Many of you mentioned building outfits around an accessory, most often shoes it seems.   I received these lovely bracelets from S. as a gift from San Francisco and knew I just had to wear them right away.  This outfit was built around these beautiful wooden bangles:

Bangles from S., originally uploaded by academichic.

The skirt I am wearing was a little (impromptu and hasty) DIY project; I cut the top off of a thrifted dress.   I wore this piece as a dress back in March and wrote about my many problems with it, not the least of which was that it was just too short for my comfort level.  I literally took a pair of scissors and cut right above where the elastic empire waist used to be.  It now has to sit pretty high on my wist to be the right length, which means, I end up with an unsightly bulge around my middle.  It also, rather unflatteringly, bubbles out form the elastic, giving me a large puffy rear!

I still love this pattern and am not yet giving up and turing it into scrap for another baby onesie.  But, I need help form all you creative readers out there.    Any ideas?  Here is its current iteration, in the raw:

DIY, in need of more DIY, originally uploaded by academichic.

5 June 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed except the shoes!

• Cardigan – BR
• Ruffle-front Tank – Gap
• Pinstripe Skirt – J Crew
• Skinny Belt- Ann Taylor
• Earrings- BR
• Shoes – Off Broadway

Endnotes:

Today was the last day of the intense summer course I was teaching.  They had their last quiz, I said some final words, they filled out evaluations, and then we went to the museum together.

This outfit was very much built around my new shoes.  I found these on super clearance a few weeks ago but then with our flats challenge, followed by our lab-appropriate challenge, I haven’t really had a chance to premier them until today.  I don’t usually like peep-toes on myself.  I always like the idea of them, but then I try them on and it’s all over.  These, however, have a very small peep, so just a bit of my pink polish shows through, which I love.  Despite being a good three inches, they are incredibly comfortable too!

I’m hoping this look only added to my student’s evaluation of my level of professionalism, knowledge,  and class preparedness.  If only there was a question about the instructor’s sense of style!

New Shoes!, originally uploaded by academichic.