academichic

12 January 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Gray fleece coat: Forever 21
• Black shirt: thrifted
• Leaf print shirt: H&M
• White shorts: Old Navy
• Tights: Target
• Ruffled pumps: AM, via DSW

End Notes:

When I was in elementary school, my favorite aunt used to take me shopping on my birthday and buy me these wild outfits that were a far cry from my usual fare of solid tees and neutral shorts. On year she gave me these lime green shorts and a coordinating tee shirt with silver glitter swirls. Another time, I received hot pink printed shorts and a lighter pink tank top. They were a little much for my rather reserved nine and ten year old self, but something about them being birthday outfits gave me a boosted self-confidence and a sense of invincibility. When you’re the birthday girl, after all, no one can say anything mean about you being a flash of chartreuse.

So since today is Academichic’s first anniversary, I thought I’d invoke birthday style privileges and try out something outside my usual style box and regard of rules. Namely, white shorts in winter with black tights. Frankly, folks, I wouldn’t wear this to campus nor am I sure that I’ll ever try this again. But I feel delightfully giddy about inhabiting a different style sphere today and I’m full of new inspiration for another year of style blogging. It’s funny what giving yourself a “free pass” can accomplish mentally.

(Plus, I’m wearing the same leaf print shirt that I did a year ago in my first post!)

12 January 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Thank you, again, to all our readers for your interest and support over the past year. We hope you’ll stick with us for more machine-washable style in 2010!

12 January 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.

10 January 2010 , originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Cropped jacket – thrifted
• Maroon top – thrifted
• Tweed shorts – thrifted
• Silk leggings – gift from mom
• Boots – Banana Republic
• Cluster of pins – thrifted

Endnotes:

One of my favorite purchases this winter have been these tweed shorts. I had been eyeing the shorts+boots trend from afar for a while and was excited to find the perfect pair of shorts to try this look myself. Trying trendy items can be a bit scary – you worry about how it will look on you and don’t want to spend a lot of money on an item you might only wear one season and then decide that it’s not your style after all. It’s no surprise that shows like What Not To Wear and fashion magazines often urge shoppers to invest in ‘classic’ and ‘timeless’ pieces. But sometimes it’s just more fun to buy something ‘timely’ and of the season. Two things I always look for when making such a purchase are:

1) Price – my budget is tight as a graduate student so I will only pay as much as I won’t regret having ‘lost’ if I change my mind about the said trend item a season later.

2) Fit – no matter how cute/stylish/cutting-edge an item is, it has to fit my body well or else I’m likely to feel double out of my comfort zone. Fit is key!

These shorts made the cut on both accounts and quickly won their spot in my heart as a new favorite. Thus far, I’ve worn them styled the following ways:

Assorted pics, originally uploaded by academichic.

Alternately, when it comes to embracing a ‘trend item’, what words of wisdom do you live by? What is your list of criteria for said item to find its way home with you? S.

10 January 2010 – Short Story, originally uploaded by academichic.

22 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:
All remixed:

• Navy tank – ON
• White button down – J.Jill
• Navy vest - Cecil, thrifted
• Silk scarf as belt – erre, thrifted
• Tweed shorts – Tally Weijl, thrifted
• Boots – Dillards
• Necklace – Anthropologie

Endnotes:

Remember these shorts? I’m sure you do, since I wore them twice last week. But I’m starting to think that the old adage should not be ‘if you love something, let it go’, but rather, ‘if you love something, wear it again and again’. S.

22 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

17 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

All remixed but vest:

• Striped top – J.Crew
• Tweed shorts – Tally Weijl, thrifted
• Black silk leggings – old, gift from mom
• Boots – BR
• “L” pendant – Anthropologie
• Scrabble pendant – It’s All About The Print on Etsy (worn backwards)
• Vest – Boy’s Tracht (German folk costume) vest, thrifted

Endnotes:

Yes, same shorts again! I love these and I have no qualms with wearing something I love two days in a row. This time I’m wearing them over a pair of silk leggings, which my mom got me years ago to layer for warmth underneath pants (I don’t think she had shorts in mind), and with another thrifted goodie: This navy wool vest that is part of a boy’s Tracht ensemble (the German folk costume that involves Lederhosen and such). I was inspired by the fabulous Archibald Maximilion over at wardrobe_remix who has a child’s vest that she wears in a number of wonderful and creative ways.

Boy’s Tracht Vest, originally uploaded by academichic.

E. has noted many a times how thrift shopping allows one to steer away from a comfort zone and try things one normally wouldn’t. How right she is. When thrifting, I feel like I can take a chance on items I wouldn’t normally buy because of the affordability and the altogether adventurous nature of thrifting. There is also the element of the thrifting space – it’s usually a large shop with men’s, women’s, and children’s items all in promixity of one another, so I’m far more likely to venture into the men’s section or children’s section as I browse.

How about you? Do you shop exclusively in your designated department or do you look for pieces in unlikely places as well? Are there any particular items for which you go specifically to a department that is not your own? S.

17 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

16 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:
All remixed but shorts:

• Navy cardi – H&M
• White eyelet top – TJMaxx
• Tweed shorts – Tally Weijl, newly thrifted
• Sweater tights – DM
• Boots – Dillards
• Purple beads – F21
• “L” pendant – Anthropologie

Endnotes:

I have long been pining for a pair of tweed shorts to wear over sweater tights with boots. But seeing as how I didn’t pack any shorts with me, I thought I was doomed to sit out this trend until my return to the States. Oh, woe is me!

But then I came across the most amazing thrift store here in Munich and within five minutes of being inside, I spotted the perfect pair of tweed trouser shorts just as I had dreamt about on many a lonely nights. And they were to be mine for only 4 Euros. This was good, but also very very bad. Because now that I have discovered this magical thrift store, I am bound to return many times and my resolve of being frugal is quickly dwindling. Oh, woe is my wallet!

Tweed Shorts, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sorry, I think I’m spending too much time buried in my nineteenth century literature and I’m developing a flair for the dramatic. But I really am excited about this shorts-over-tights look and if you need any more style inspiration for this one, just check out how all of these lovely ladies have styled their shorts this season. Today I’m also loving layered necklaces and that it’s Braid Wednesday.

Necklace detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Braid Wednesday, originally uploaded by academichic.

While it’s unseasonably warm in the library here and I could probably even pull off the shorts without sweater tights look, it’s decidedly freezing outside. So here’s a note on outerwear: A cute coat is great but will likely loose its charm once you’ve lost feeling in your frozen derriere. A warm and functional coat is a must in my book. I am now wearing this awesome one from Tahari, courtesy of my mom and dad. Thank you! It’s similar in cut to my black wool one but closer in feel to a sleeping bag and something I would recommend to anyone living in a cold weather climate or not commuting by car: invest in a good down coat! They’re not all dowdy and you don’t have to look like a marshmallow, just check out Sal’s great post for ideas and inspiration if you’re in the market for one this winter. S.

Brrrrr…, originally uploaded by academichic.

24 November 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Gray cardigan: Ann Taylor, gift from MIL
• White nursing cami: Target
• Belt: Gap Outlet
• Cream wool pencil skirt: Isaac Hazan, vintage, thrifted
• Brown tights: Old Navy
• Wedges: thrifted

End Notes:

I love it when an outfit works as well in actuality as it does in my imagination. This is one of those outfits.

When I first started stalking style blogs, I remember being startled and intrigued by the inimitable Jessica Schroeder’s embrace of white as a staple color in her winter wardrobe. And I don’t mean a white sweater or a white hat and scarf. No, I’m talking full on white or cream dresses, worn with rich burgundy or contrasting with crisp black. I thought it was beautiful and stunning and I wanted to try it myself. It took another year, further inspirational bursts from Alison the Valiant — who is another winter white genius — and a successful thrifting trip with A. where I snagged this cream wool pencil skirt to satisfy this style itch.

I wanted to create a classic hourglass shape, so I used this slouchy, dolman-sleeve sweater to exaggerate my shoulders and a wide belt to cinch in at the waist, and I let the high waist of the pencil skirt do the rest. Brown tights and brown wedges create the illusion of a long, seamless leg line. I love these old-school proportions, and I also love how I let my clothes do so much of the work for me.

24 November 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

And with baby e. in his thrifted corduroys and little tie onesie, we made a classic pair.

How do you wear white in the winter?

24 November 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

16 February 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Eggplant maxi dress: mother-in-law
• Orange cardi: Forever 21, remixed
• Green scarf: Ross, ages ago
• Boots!: Steve Madden via eBay, remixed

End Notes:

Since I’m spending today at home and at a coffee shop writing a paper I felt free to try experiment a little. This week, part of our Fashion 101 challenge is to master triadic color combinations. I am not a natural triad-wearer, so I was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this eggplant, orange, and green scheme. For some reason the combination strikes me as a little hippie-chic, which is appropriate since I’m also channeling my inner earth-mother-goddess in this maxi dress.

Now, confession. Prior my pregnancy you may have heard me smack talking maxi dresses. I may have been guilty of calling them tents. I also may have thought some unkind things about their name. And now I take it back. My belly is ready to live in this thing.

Triad: Eggplant, orange, and green(ish), originally uploaded by academichic.

  

30 January 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Brown hoodie sweater – don’t remember
• Dove gray color block skirt – BR Outlet
• Tights – Target
• Boots – Banana Republic, remixed
• Earrings – Phoenix Rising, remixed

End Notes:

We’re all sharing seven random things…

Internet meme gods, can I tag Flickrites? I would like to tag the inimitable archibald maximilion and the always well-appointed mamichan. Perhaps they can respond in the notes of a wardrobe_remix post. Onward…

1. I have a freakishly good recall of song lyrics but I am hopeless when it comes to naming the artist and album.

2.  I’m half Japanese, one eighth Scottish, and three-eighths English.

3.  I drink tea, not coffee, but I will still ask you, “Do you want to get coffee sometime?” because saying, “Would you care to take tea together?” weirds people out.

4.  I was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school and attended a very small, private undergraduate college. I loved my experiences in both, but they left me deeply skeptical of the fashion potential of jumpers.

5.  I have probably had more fainting spells than the average person and they are neither romantic nor dramatic. Usually it involves me losing consciousness in completely inappropriate places, like the dining hall at school, a bathroom filled with hard porcelain objects, or the home of a private art collector.

6.  Until college, having to speak in front of a crowd would literally make me weep. Now I love being in front of a classroom and find hour and a half lecture times to be too brief.

7.  My two primary food groups are “sweet” and “salty.” Things that fall in that elusive space between are my favorite foods in the whole world. Peanut butter M&Ms. Cinnamon Swirl Chex Mix. Egg and cheese croissants. Asian marinades. Yum.

  

Pink, Orange, and Purple, originally uploaded by academichic.

23 January 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

     

23 January 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Green button-down – J.Crew 
• Black vest – gift from mother-in-law-to-be 
• Skirt – H&M 
• Army green tights – TJMaxx 
• Green and blue striped knee socks – J.Crew 
• Boots – Dillards 
• Green chord jacket – Target

Endnotes:

Stacy and Clinton, of What Not to Wear on TLC, always talk about mixing patterns and how that’s ok when you’re sticking to the same color family. So I’ve been trying to experiment with that more without producing a schizophrenic looking outfit. I started small and timid – I paired this flowered chord skirt with striped knee socks. Baby steps. Baby steps. -S.