academichic

Sources:

Above:

• Cardigan: Banana Republic Outlet
• Belt: thrifted
• Dress: Ann Taylor Loft, with purple strip added
• Wedges: thrifted

Below:

• Tank: Target
• Skirt: Old Navy Maternity
• Sandals: Target
• Scarf: gift from S.

End Notes:

You know how some people can layer on accessories and look all put-together but not matchy-matchy or overdone? Yeah, I’m not one of those people.

I tend to be a single accessory kind of girl. I wear a hat. Or I wear a necklace. Or I wear a belt. I’m actually not that gifted at simultaneously wearing a necklace AND a belt. Sometimes I forget about jewelry altogether and just count on my bright shoes to see me through. And usually I’m okay with that.

Take the above outfit, for example. I think the graphic color blocking and the combination of coral, gray, and purple is striking enough that I don’t particularly miss having loads of accessories thrown on there. I admit, it would have been cute with some bangles and maybe some earrings, but I didn’t feel boring.

On the other hand, sometimes I’m guilty of adding an accessory because I feel like I should. Case in point, adding a patterned scarf to an otherwise simple striped tank and denim skirt combination. It’s not bad, per se, but it felt forced to me and in the end I think I really preferred the version without the scarf.

Maybe it’s because the scarf made me feel like I should be asking for directions to the nearest yacht. And I don’t quite know what to do with that. What kind of accessorizer are you? Do you focus on a key piece or two, or do you prefer to layer for depth and interest?

In any case, there you have it. Fifteen outfits from fifteen garments (plus free access to shoes and other accessories) and lots of stress-free dressing while I banged out a dissertation chapter draft. And while these weren’t the most ground-breaking, stylish outfits I’ve ever worn, they allowed me to feel put together and present while things other than getting dressed took necessary precedence.

If you’re wondering what I took away from this experience, it’s this: purple and coral are fabulous together.

Sources:

• Striped tank: Target
• Belt: swapped with A.
• Skirt: thrifted as a dress and chopped
• Literal necklace: Tickette, gift from husband
• Wedges: Naturalizer, via DSW

End Notes:

There are a lot of things I love about this outfit — the colors and stripes, the red shoes, the silhouette — but there are also a lot of things I might regret shortly.

Like the fact that a tiny part of me is worried that I’ll look like a member of the Red Hat Society, sans hat, because I’m wearing red and purple together.

Or the fact that I — as an almost 30 year old mother — definitely wore pigtails for part of the day in order to get my hair off my neck in some unbearable heat. Am I too old for pigtails?

Or the fact that I’m maybe-kind-of-sort-of-half-heartedly trying to grow my hair out right now. My avuncular hair dresser, whom I adore and trust, encouraged me to aim for a longer hair length. And while I love the idea, in theory, of being able to throw my hair up into a ponytail, it’s been so long since I’ve had anything other than a bob that I’m a bit at sea right now.

And now you know all my secret fears. But tell me, what tips do you have for that awkward in-between stage of growing out your hair? Are there hair fastening devices I should know about at this point? If a ponytail is still stumpy are there other options — besides pigtails — for lifting hair off the neck? Tell me what I need to know!

Sources:

• Striped tank: Target
• Striped cardigan: Target
• Necklace: Tilly Bloom
• Jeans: Old Navy Maternity
• Flats: DSW

End Notes:

After days of warm weather, a band of thunderstorms and tornados swept through our area, leaving much cooler weather (and some hail, but thankfully no significant damage) in its wake. Since I wasn’t expecting this when I chose my list of 15 rotating garments, I made a game-day call, switching in my long striped cardigan. I actually think this could be a better choice anyway, since it adds some length to my otherwise cropped collection of top layers.

I always think of Tania, of What Would a Nerd Wear whenever I wear this red striped shirt. Actually, Tania, I think this could be a totally “you” outfit, if I had a big bun on top of my head (or if you had a bun in the oven). Oh, the punning!

In any case, it was a simple outfit for a quiet day of chapter writing. As I settle into a routine of writing consistently from home and continue to adjust to a changing body, I am growing to appreciate more sincerely the little touches of an outfit that can make me smile when I look up, bleary eyed, from a book. Stripes stretched across a bump makes me smile. A cat wearing a Victorian dress makes me smile. The fact that I’m pattern mixing when no one else — save all of you, I suppose — will see me, makes me smile.

I end with the words of the inimitable Jack Donaghy: “It’s called power clashing. And I do it because I can.”

Sources:

• Coral cardigan: Banana Republic Factory (from last post-partum)
• Striped tank: Target
• Belt: thrifted
• Skirt: Mimi Maternity, via eBay (from last pregnancy)
• Orange pumps: Dolce Vita, via solestruck.com
• Necklace: Figs and Ginger, Mother’s Day Gift from husband N. and little e.

End Notes:

There’s a lot of almost-not-quite sentiment wrapped up in this outfit. I wore it when proctoring my students’ final exam on Monday, meaning that my semester is almost-not-quite over as I’m currently wading my way through stacks of blue books. Then there’s the color combination of a coral cardigan and orange shoes, almost-not-quite matchy matchy or clashy clashy. (Incidentally, I like that I managed to wear the same shoes on both the first and last days of this academic year.)

Even this cardigan is an almost-not-quite. It almost-not-quite fits me when I’m a year post-partum. It’s too big on top and falls at an awkward length on my torso, meaning that I cycled it out of my rotation. But when I’m preggers or just-post-preggers, it hits just below my new, higher waist and provides adequate space for uh, newly ample bust. Behold:

Back to my theme. I am almost-not-quite halfway through a draft of the first chapter of my dissertation. I almost-not-quite have a new baby. And I definitely have some other big changes happening on the home front, and we’re currently in the almost-not-quite of those transitions. In the midst of all this, my husband and little e. gifted me with a sweet little necklace for Mothers’ Day this past Sunday, a reminder to cherish the right-now-very-definitely.

Husband N. found it at our local craft alliance, a silver necklace by Figs and Ginger, with three birds on a branch. As little e. tells me every time he sees the necklace: “Mama Bird, Dada Bird, and E-E bird!” It’s a precious, wearable encapsulation of our (now limited) time as a family of three, and as much as I am ecstatic to welcome a new baby into our home there will always be something beautifully special about little e. making me a mama for the first time.

Clearly, our clothes and jewelry can be so invested with memories and significance. What memories do you wear?

Sources:

• Sequin sweater: DKNY via Beacon’s Closet
• Cardigan: Ann Taylor Loft Outlet
• Jeans: Old Navy Maternity
• Shoes: AM via DSW

End Notes:

First off, my prayers and thoughts are with the thousands of people affected by the tornadoes down South, especially in Alabama and in the Tennessee Valley, near my alma mater. My sisters-in-law are having to cut their semester short because of the damage, but I am so thankful that they are safe.

That in and of itself is a reason to celebrate and added an extra degree of joyful sincerity to my welcoming of my own last day of teaching yesterday. I elected to commemorate the day by dressing down and rocking my disco mama shirt. I think few things say, “Students, I’ve enjoyed teaching you this semester. Best wishes on the final exam,” like a striped sequined shirt. Plus, I was like a mobile dance party any time the sun hit my sparkles just right. It was a big hit with my students…and with little e.

As S. expressed earlier this week, sometimes it’s hard to remain inspired when it comes to dressing a changing body while also juggling a host of other commitments and expectations. I definitely slipped into style doldrums on occasion during my first pregnancy, and this time around I’m trying to have a really good sense of humor about dressing a body that seems to be different every single day (or at different points during a given day). Case in point, I embraced my inner disco ball, emphasizing the bump with shimmering horizontal stripes and accepting the fact that I would call attention to myself all day. After all, one does not frequently see a glittering ball of a pregnant woman on a university campus.

Do you express a playful or humorous side of yourself on occasion through your wardrobe? How do you do so?

Sources:

• Shirt: Banana Republic
• Blazer: BR
• Scarf: secondhand from mom
• Belt: Anthropologie
• Trousers: BR
• Shoes: Cole Haan via Filene’s Basement

Endnotes:
I can’t stop pattern mixing! I’m totally addicted. I’m a little disappointed with myself for not wearing this adorable knit herringbone blazer more often this winter, but I’ve been given another chance since it’s in the 40s and going to snow tomorrow. Like my outfit on Monday, today I mixed patterns but stayed in the same color family – granted this one is not the most daring being a completely black, white, and grey palette, but stripes, herringbone and polka-dots are a big move for me.

Maybe I like this because they are all regular and geometric? But I loved the abstract floral and simple striped skirt on Monday. Hmmmm…

What’s been your most daring pattern mixing to date? What do you think is the most successful pairing?

L.

(Apparently for some reason today I was only able to look to my right while I was taking pictures. Weird.)

24 March 2011 – Spot the Flower, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Cardigan: Gap
• Tank: Target
• Skirt: Anthropologie, via eBay
• Tights: Banana Republic Factory
• Shoes: Steve Madden, via DSW

End Notes:

Don’t strain yourself looking for florals in today’s outfit. When the weather turned cold and cloudy — after several days of beautiful sunshine — I had to scrap my original floral print-based outfit in favor of some warmer elements. (In this, I must salute L., who’s proudly wearing flowers despite the dusting of snow in her part of the country!)

But, I am mixing stripes, so that has to count for something, right?

I just won this cozy Anthropologie sweater skirt off of eBay last week for only $15. I initially thought that I would have to wait until post-partum and cooler fall temperatures to wear it, but turns out it can sit just fine above my bump (at least for a little while longer!) and the idea of wearing a sweater on my bottom half was just too delicious to resist. I added my Where’s Waldo horizontal stripes up top, then wrapped everything together with a turquoise cardigan and a flower earring-turned-brooch.

Detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Admittedly, there’s a lot going on here and I suspect that in photographs all these stripes may have me looking slightly more like an extra for Alice in Wonderland than I do in person. But, I find that outfits like these — that push my usual instincts about pattern out the door — are frequently a lot more fun to wear and get me to see my closet in a new way.

Plus, no belt today. Can I get a kudos?

24 March 2011 – Spot the Flower, originally uploaded by academichic.

18 March 2011 – Dancing Queen or, Happy Birthday, L.!, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blazer: C&C
• Sequin sweater: DKNY, via Beacon’s Closet
• Jeans: Old Navy maternity
• Shoes: Steve Madden

End Notes:

Happy birthday, L.! When I was trying to conceive of a birthday tribute outfit I knew that my pink shoes (though not iconic L. flats) would have to be included. While A. paid homage to L.’s love of classic pieces and S. cited L.’s penchant for florals, I decided to honor the quirky, sparkly, and witty elements that make L.’s style unique.

Thus, for you, L., I’m wearing my new “shiny” today. I’m so thankful to have you as a friend. In the academic realm, I’m glad we got to finish up our respective coursework together; would we have made it through that theory class if we were flying solo? But more importantly, you are fiercely loyal, generous, funny, and full of energy and surprises. You have been a dear and sincere friend not only to me but to husband N. as well (who says that playing darts without you is never quite the same experience) and we both miss having you here in our city.

So, from all of us, happy birthday, L.! Enjoy the rest of your time in London!

10 March 2011 – Where’s Waldo or, Geek Chic, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blazer: C&C
• Literal necklace: Tickette, gift from husband
• Tank: Target
• Jeggings (!): Target
• Shoes: BC Footwear, via DSW

End Notes:

Due to baby sitter illness, little e. and I got to spend an unexpected day together, and I thought I’d finally show you what’s been my defacto weekend/casual day uniform for the past few weeks.

I loved every single outfit that Tania of What Would a Nerd Wear made using her striped red shirt during this last round of 30 for 30, so when I saw this tank at Target I grabbed it, knowing that I already had a great source of inspiration for remixing it. Previously, red stripes would have made me feel a little too “Where’s Waldo”-ish, but I’m currently fancying a little bit of a geek chic aesthetic and they fit in perfectly here with cuffed jeans, sensible shoes, and a literal necklace. All I really need is a pair of black rimmed glasses, right?

Thanks, digital technology.

I actually don’t wear glasses at all, and in undergrad I went through a brief stage where I fretted that people weren’t taking me seriously as a “smart girl” because I had good eyesight. Thankfully, I got over that, and now I’m sure ocular degeneration will occur on its own in good time anyway. That said, I’m also fairly sure that my husband — who is a bonafide geek — will read this and reprimand me for terming it “geek chic” since I clearly fall squarely in the nerd realm. And no, little e. doesn’t even stand a chance.

But at least he still laughs when his mom dances.

8 March 2011 – Is It Spring Yet?, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Blazer: Banana Republic Factory
• Cardigan (underneath): Target
• Tank: Forever 21
• Maternity trousers: Loft, via eBay
• Pumps: Steve Madden

End Notes:

Is it spring yet? I woke up this morning wanting to wear stripes, breezy trousers, colored shoes, and lots of navy and white…all components that rank pretty highly in my conception of “spring clothing.” It’s still pretty brisk outdoors, and I had to throw on an overcoat when I went to campus, but something about this combination seemed delightfully fresh to me after lots of black and jewel tones. Do you have wardrobe harbingers of spring? I think I’m also about to pull out my lightweight scarf collection…

(An aside: The last time I was pregnant I was still afraid of stripes in my wardrobe. This time around, I’m kind of smitten with how they go all wonky across my burgeoning belly. I don’t know that I’ll feel like that in twenty more weeks, but for now it makes me smile.)

Finally, I’ve enjoyed reading all of your comments on S.’s post about pregnancy in academia. Like a few others in the comments, I recommend the book Mama, Ph.D., edited by Elrena Evans and Caroline Grant, for anyone interested in hearing even more voices on the subject of mothering in academia. The book includes incredibly poignant narratives from women who had children in grad school, pre-tenure, or post-tenure, women who chose not to have children, and women who left academia altogether after becoming mothers. I’ve raised a few eyebrows by announcing that I’m pregnant again in graduate school, but overall the response has been very supportive from my professors and colleagues (and institutionally I will get New Child Leave and have my clock “stop” for half a semester). I don’t like to think of myself as “having it all,” though, because I am very cognizant that what I consider to be “success” in my academic career is not how other women will want to define it. But that’s kind of the point. Thanks to the women who worked against tremendous odds in decades prior, these choices are now available to me. The cards may still be stacked against someone like me getting tenured at an R-1 or writing THE book that redefines my field, but if I can model a faithful scholarship-life balance to my students and my children while nurturing inquisitiveness, integrity, and creativity…I’ll count that as my success.