Controversial Topics

Works Cited--Outfit 22
skirt: gap
striped tee: urban outfitters
blazer: target
tights: hue
boots: steve madden
belt: thrifted

Mostly I try to stay away from controversial topics on this blog, but two things close to my heart deserve an exception: the labor protests in Madison and the Coen brothers. I mentioned last weekend that Christopher went up to Madison to protest, and I was able to join him up there this weekend. It was amazing to be a part of a once-in-a-generation protest and the cause is hugely, hugely important. I won't preach, but if you want to read a little more about it, Paul Krugman wrote a terrific and easy-to-understand editorial here. On a much lighter note, we had a few people over last night to watch the Oscars, and although I saw it coming, I was still crushed when True Grit didn't win anything. In my mind, the Coen brothers can do no wrong, so I spent the rest of the night moping around the house wailing about the inferiority of The King's Speech, a movie I had liked until it started winning things that I thought True Grit rightly deserved.
P.S. Please don't say anything horrible about the Coen brothers in the comments, I'm very sensitive about last night's losses and I don't think I could take it! :)

The Bean Boots are Back

Works Cited--Outfit 21
boots: ll bean
skirt: kakalina rose vintage
tights: we love colors
socks, cardigan: j crew outlet
hat: christopher's

Just when I thought I was done with my bean boots until next season, we got a few inches of snow. Instead of sulking about it (which believe me, I wanted to), I'm remembering how excited I was to get snow in early December, and I'm just enjoying one of the last days where the trees and bushes are decorated white. As for the outfit, I'm trying to break out of my just-want-to-wear-jeans-every-day slump with this bright skirt and tights, but in retrospect, I think brown tights would've probably been a little better/mellower. Live and learn, right?

Life Sentence, No Parole

Works Cited--Outfit 20
sweater, belt: j crew
white top: target
jeans: gap
boots: clarks
necklace: c/o truly sarah

If belting were a crime, I'd have a loooong sentence. Still, I can't resist belting things like tunics and sweaters because if I didn't, I'd look frumpty dumpty. For some people with amazing long legs (little sister, I'm looking at you), skinny jeans and a long tunic look amazing as-is. But I'd drown in them if I didn't try to define my waist. That's why I hope high-waisted skirts and a-line dresses never, ever go out of style, because they are so easy and flattering for me.
P.S. I can't believe the 30 for 30 is two-thirds of the way done! For the third time around, I think I've finally got the hang of it :)

Bright Tights, Bigger City

Works Cited--Outfit 19
skirt: thrifted, vintage
gray dolman top, pumps: urban outfitters
tights: we love colors
necklace: macy's

It started snowing this morning, and it was snowing when I took these photos. Snowing right all over my dreams about an early spring, bare legs, open-toed shoes, and hatless nights. I feel positively murderous toward those sinister clouds up there! But I did my best to feel springy despite the freeze with the brightest tights in my arsenal and a ridiculously pink, ridiculously big necklace. And on another note, gray is my favorite color. It goes with and complements everything. Except when it comes in the shape of big, wet, snowy clouds. Then gray should just go right back where it came from.

Monday Evening Date

Works Cited--Outfit 18
trousers: loft
belt, clutch: forever 21
dress worn as top: c/o spotted moth
trench: old navy
wedges: target
scarf: h&m

Mondays are typically very low-maintenance. Neither Christopher nor I teach, so we often spend the day working together from our dining room table, wearing sweatpants and drinking coffee while we read or grade. By 4:30 today, we were both starting to get cabin fever so we decided to finally get dressed and get some Thai food at the geriatric hour of 5:15. Jeans, a scarf, and a trench are pretty simple go-to pieces, but we had to hurry--pad thai just doesn't taste the same if you're don't get it in the 5 o'clock hour :)

Less Effort (but not quite effortless)

Works Cited--Outfit 17
jeans: gap
button-up: j crew
sweater: urban outfitters
scarf: somewhere in SF
boots: steve madden
belt: thrifted
lipstick: so chaud (MAC)

On Saturday, my beau got up at 5 a.m. to go to Wisconsin and participate in the protests and I stayed home, spending my day in stretch pants writing a fellowship application (glamorous, I know). He came back late last night, looking exhilarated but exhausted, so this morning, I got dressed in the dark while he slept on. As a result, my hair is dirty and I grabbed whatever was near the front of the closet, but it's a pretty accurate depiction of what I look like on the weekend. On the recommendation of my most stylish friend from college, I'm also trying out a new lipstick color--it's an orangey-pink (kind of like the super-pretty shade that all those tousled J Crew models are wearing in the spring lookbook). Christopher, of course, is skeptical, but it's growing on me. To end on a note more important than lipstick: are you up in Wisconsin? Christopher is thinking of heading back next weekend (with me in tow) if the protests are continuing. It's an exciting time (albeit terrifying, too) for American political history!

A Little Sponsor Love for your Sunday

I'm lucky enough to have some great sponsors for What Would a Nerd Wear, and I'd love to highlight some of the terrific things on offer from them right now*. So if you aren't on a shopping hiatus like I am, be prepared to drool a little on your keyboard right now.



Spotted Moth has the prettiest dresses (I have the Draw the Line dress and I love it). No surprise, I love the ladybird dress because it's mustard yellow :) And that little blue number on the right is going to be the first thing in my shopping cart come the end of the 30 for 30. I am dying for some structured, patterned dresses for the spring.



I got to cart around the traveling bag (far left) earlier this winter, and let me tell you, it's gorgeous. Soft, supple, and the perfect size. I know it's dorky, but I kind of want a backpack for spring--this leather one (center) would be a little more sophisticated than my high school Jansport :) And a girl can never have too many clutches. P.S. The amazing Adrianna is offering 10% off all Le Mode purchases with the discount code: Nerd10 (valid through the end of February).



I posted earlier about Five Bamboo and how much I liked their Blueberry dress (right), and now their shop is stocked with a bunch of great new things, including the Artemis dress (left), which I already know would be a hit with Christopher and would look great with a chunky necklace and wedges.

And if you're looking for an inexpensive way to spruce up your hairstyle or trench coat, I think a headband or flower pin from It's Vann would be just the thing :)

*Full disclosure: I know that there can be complex relationships between blogs and their advertisers, but I screen each sponsor to make sure I like its products and I find it a good match for my style and readership. I turn down lots of sponsorship requests each month, because it's important for me to only work with small businesses which I would patronize regardless. If you have any questions about how my sponsorships work, or you have a rad little business that wants some blog-style exposure, please feel free to email me. xoxo

Knees, Please

Works Cited--Outfit 16
dress: anthro (gift from chrisopher)
sweater: bcbg (gift from former roommate, what can i say, i have generous friends)
boots: steve madden
socks: target
brooch which you can't see but makes the outfit, i swear: vintage, thrifted

It's 61 degrees in February and my knees are bare (take no notice of the snow I'm standing on, it melted by noon). Hello, global warming, won't you stay awhile (but then go away in June, please)? This dress has gotten a lot of wear so far--my students might think I don't own anything else because I've worn it four times already. Or maybe I'm such a skilled remixer that they don't even notice it's the same dress. Let's hope for the latter. Happy weekend! I hope it's warm enough for your knees to come out and play, too :)

Remix Round-Up: Halfway Point

Here's a little round-up of the last 15 outfits (made out of 30 pieces). I can't believe we're halfway through already.











Now comes the hard part of remixing--the first half is always breezy and the second half is when you have to flex your creative muscles to make your picks feel new again. Luckily, I feel like I still have a lot more ideas and I'm excited to work on the next 15 outfits.

Why Am I So Dressed Up?

Works Cited--Outfit 15
sweater: urban outfitters
skirt, tights: gap
belt: old navy
wedges: target
necklace: macy's

One of the strange side-effects of dressing a bit differently than people around you is garnering the "Why are you so dressed up?" question. I'm sure it comes from a well-meaning or curious place but I'm stumped about how to respond. Do you say "thank you"? Or the evasive but honest "No reason, I just like to feel put together"? Or a teasing-but-pointed "Why are you so dressed down?" I try not to ask this kind of question to others because I feel like it makes people feel self-conscious, especially when someone is trying to put more effort into his/her appearance and might feel apprehensive about a wardrobe-change (how about "You look great!") But I still don't know the best way to respond to this innocuous question! Especially when I'm not "dressed up" for anything special, unless you count cuddling with E.M. Forster and making a sunny bike-ride to the library wedge-worthy :)

Spottieottiedopaliscious

Works Cited--Outfit 14
blouse, sweater: h&m
jeans: gap
belt: thrifted
necklace: forever 21
boots: steve madden

I saw the adorable Paige wearing this sweater with jeans and a blouse and loved the contrasting shapes of extra-long cardigan with a hip-length patterned top. For whatever reason, it hadn't occurred to me to pair this cardigan with jeans, so I was grateful for the inspiration. I don't often wear jeans when I'm teaching but with a polka-dot blouse, necklace, and cardigan, it felt formal enough (and in any case, more formal than most of my bright-eyed Uggs-and-sweatpants-clad students).

My Valentine

Works Cited--Outfit 13
dress: h&m
sash: american apparel
wedges: target

Christopher was ridiculously sweet on Valentine's day and surprised me with a huge bunch of flowers and a Steve Miller Band record for our new record player (this is extra sweet because he hates Steve Miller Band even though I lurrve them). And he agreed to take schmoopy dressed-up photos with me before dinner. And then he let me take awkward mid-bite photos of him during dinner.



And he liked my Minnie Mouse-esque bow. Now that is true love.

Giveaway: New Jade Necklace from Truly Sarah!

I know it's Valentine's day, and everyone deserves a little present (or the chance to win one)? How would you like to win this gorgeous necklace from Truly Sarah? Sarah was kind enough to send me one (I wore over the weekend) and it is delicate and gorgeous in person and will look so pretty with a white tee and sandals when spring comes. Plus, we can be twinsies!

All you have to do to enter is:
Make a little visit to Sarah's blog or shop and leave a comment below.
Sarah is also offering everyone 15% with the code: valentinesday (so you can get a little something for yourself or nudge your beau to do so :)

I'll pick a winner at random next week. Good luck! xoxo

Happy Valentine's Day!

Works Cited--Outfit 12
dress, sweater: h&m
belt: mommed
tights: loft
socks: c/o american apparel
boots: clarks

I know there are legions of people who loathe Valentine's day, but I am not one of them. I've always loved making silly cards for my friends and my mama has made a yearly tradition of sending me and my sister surprise Valentine's day packages (I was mischievous and opened mine early this year :). I am a really affectionate person, so any day that gives you a chance to give a little extra love to the people around you is okay with me. And on that note, I made something for you...



P.S. I finally picked my 30th piece for the 30 for 30--this red dress, which so perfect for Valentine's day I'm going to wear it tonight, too.

Why I Will Never Have a Hot Rod Car

yes, i am preternaturally pale and also completely bare-faced (hey, it's saturday!)

Works Cited--Outfit 11
sweater: bcbg (gift from friend)
tee: target
necklace: c/o truly sarah
trouser jeans: loft
pumps: urban outfitters
socks: c/o american apparel

Sometimes I get a little tired of the same standing-in-a-gray-street pictures, so today Christopher's brother suggested that we try posing on the hood of the car, in an homage to girl-and-hot-rod photography (here's a silly example) just to mix things up. Strangely, nerd-and-beat-up-suburu doesn't have quite the same effect...

Gred?

Works Cited--Outfit 10
skirt: vintage, thrifted
striped tee: urban outfitters
belt: mommed
scarf: the pashmina store online
tights: (i've had since high school, probably 1999 j crew)
boots: steve madden

I am a little wiped out by this week and there's a lot more coming my way next week, so I'll keep it short and sweet today. Sometimes I find inspiration in unlikely places--the other day, I saw a girl at the gym with bright red shorts and a gray tee and I found myself smitten with the color combination, so I recreated it for teaching (in slightly less sporty shapes). Now I think gray + red (gred?) is my new favorite mix--it's pretty without trying too hard...at least, I hope so!