Help me dress like my style icon?

Rose

Hi all,
One of my fav shows is Numb3rs, anyone else a fan? This is probably b/c I have the same "job" (same career/position, different field) as one of the main characters, Amita: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amita_Ramanujan
And I also LOVE how Amita dresses- smart casual- it is perfect for "our" profession, and I think we have a similar body type (I know mine, I am guessing hers). I especially love the tops the Amita character wears (blazers, cardis, etc) but can not find them in the stores. Maybe I don't have the eye to identify these items in the store, or maybe I don't have access to the same stores If anyone else knows what I am talking about re: Amita's style/wardrobe, I would love to hear where you think I could find similar items in stores.

16 years ago

Shopping

12 replies

Latest reply was from tarzy

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Hi Rose!

Numb3rs is one of my favorite TV shows, too. Which field are you in? I am in an undergraduate program in Mathematics right now.

I also admire how Amita dresses. In the most recent seasons, her style is definitely "smart casual" (at least when she is at school). I would classify her look at "modern classic," with the occasional bohemian edge (I think of it more as her Indian cultural roots showing through). Costume designers for television shows like this often buy their characters' wardrobes from different places, rather than make them, the way they do for movies. It's difficult to figure out where the item was bought exactly, unless you recognize it from someplace. If you like Amita's style, I would shop at stores like Banana Republic, J. Crew, Express, Nordstrom, NY&Co, and maybe Lucky Jeans stores and Anthropologie (for bohemian stuff). You probably are not going to find EXACTLY the same thing she is wearing, but you will find similar items, and should be able to put together your own look that is in the same vein as what Amita is wearing. Does that make sense?

Non-fashion, but Num3rs related--I miss Megan! I don't like Nikki that much. I want Megan to come back, but I think the actress had a baby and is taking a break, so she won't be back for a while (if at all). Poor Larry.

16 years ago

Rose

Active Member

Thanks for the reply Ana..and glad to know u are a fan! I am behind in Numb3rs, only discovered it recently on Netflix, I am at like season 3 or 4 or something! I am a (young, Amita's age) professor in the physical sciences at a Big University (like Amita's character), I am trying to keep some anonymity due to not wanting to be ID'd by potential students (not sure why, shyness I guess) so I won't be specific w/ my field
I have looked at all those stores-- but specifically Amita's tops are cut to have a curved-shaped on the front of the blazer/cardi, hard to explain b/c I don't know the term, but they are very fitted, shorter-length tops, not the typical more boxy, longer blazers, cardis at most stores. Do you know what I mean, am I missing something at these stores? Maybe I just need to try on more items for comparison.

16 years ago

Rose

Active Member

ps. Ana-- sweet to know you are an undergrad in Math. I like knowing other math & sci women who are also interested in style/fashion.

16 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

No worries about wanting to keep anonymity, I understand. I tutor/TA students in mathematics, and I can understand wanting to keep personal and professional fields separate.

Rose, do you know your body type? If you are an hourglass or other body type where your waist is significantly smaller than your hips or shoulders, it's possible that you will need to have items altered. I am an hourglass, and I often have items altered to fit more closely. It's definitely possible that the costume designer on the show does the same thing for Amita. I don't find J. Crew or BR blazers to long or boxy at all. Express has suiting blazers that are quite fitted, although Express doesn't offer many "novelty" blazers, the way J. Crew does.

If many of the things you try on are too long or boxy, are you sure you're trying on the right size? I'm not trying to be insulting or something, like you don't know your size, but I often find that if MANY things seem not to fit properly, it could be due to a size issue. You could also be petite on top, which is why everything is too long (although being petite is more than just items being too long). I'm just throwing it out there as a possibility. Does that make sense?

EDIT: Just saw your second post. You'll be happy to know there are actually a lot of women on this forum in the math/science/tech fields (or who have been in the past)! You are definitely not alone.

16 years ago

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I just thought of another place to look: BCBG. They might have more fitted items, too.

16 years ago

Rose

Active Member

Point taken Ana! I have really just come to realize that I have been buying my tops way too big..! And yes, I am an hourglass. In fact today I just found an alterations place where I am taking a bunch of my clothes (Nordies is great for alterations but $$ for non-nordie items). Part of it is chest size (36D), which I am sure is why I have been tops too big but I have been working hard to change that, trying on more sizes, etc and not just buying "medium" in everything, I now realize I wear a lot of size S, but do also wear M or L depending on the brand, item. Ok, point made and taken. I will take a closer look at the blazers, cardis and try on different sizes, and have them taken in if needed, to try to look like my style icon!

16 years ago

HannahC

Active Member

Rosemerin,

OK, I don't know what is the show you are talking about, and now I am very curious to know what is your position and field, of course.

I am one of the numerous women in math/science on this forum. I am a researcher in computer science, and I work in a research lab. I did quite a lot of teaching during my Ph.D. and later postdoc, but it is not one of my present duties at work. I am considering teaching a course in the university sometimes in the near future (our research lab is located on campus), but I just don't have time now.

I was just planning to search for you on the forum to ask you about the bravissimo pj tops. I remember you ordered them? How is the fit, and are they comfortable? Do you recommend them?

16 years ago

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Count me in as another Numb3rs fan! (Colby, rawr. LOL!) I too miss Megan, Ana; she had great chemistry with everyone that Nikki just doesn't. Plus her hair was always fabulous!

Rosemerin, I agree, finding jackets that fit you instead of the size you assume you are will make a huge difference. I have been losing weight recently and going into new sizes all the time, and I just started looking at jackets and suits again. I assumed that my top would be the same as my bottom, but when I put on the jacket a size smaller than that, all of a sudden I had that terrific fitted look at my waist and I realized my mistake in going big.

I've noticed with Amita that she wears a lot of layered, volume tops, and a lot of darker colors (which go with her coloring). I actually don't think you would find her tops at the more common stores like BR or J Crew, but Anthropologie and smaller boutiques might be a better source. Jackets, dark jeans, and pants you could get everywhere.

Hmm, I'm going to start watching now with an eye toward what she is wearing, because I have to admit I haven't paid super-close attention to that. I'm too busy admiring her gorgeous hair!

16 years ago

Rose

Active Member

Thanks for the continbued discussion on this. Ok, so I am pretty sure the "technical" (hehe) term for many of the lovely tops that Amita wears are "curved hem", she wears pretty extreme curved hem blazers & cardigans, which are short (hit at hip or above) and they are fitted. I found a post by Angie on the curved-hem cardigan, but it is tunic length (below). KristinKP, you are right she wears a lot of layered tops, but funny you say dark colors because I always notice her lighter tops, she wears a lot of soft pinks and peachy-beige colors I think.
http://youlookfab.com/2008/12/.....-cardigan/

HannahC- sorry for the delay, just moved across US (from postdoc to new academic position!) so I will put up the post about the Bravissimo PJ tops now!!

16 years ago

Rose

Active Member

FYI, I think Nanette Lepore makes a lot of these curved hem blazers-- problem is that hers have a lot of extar embellishment on them (unlike the ones Amita wears):
http://www.bluefly.com/Nanette.....detail.fly

16 years ago

HannahC

Active Member

Rosemerin, congratulations on your new position! These are wonderful news!

I will go look at the thread you opened for the PJ tops ...

16 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

I would write to the costume designer on the show. She may not answer, but you never know - everyone likes to know that their work is appreciated. Good luck!

Giovanna Ottobre-Melton
Costume Designer for Numb3rs
Scott Free Productions
c/o L.A. Center Studios
1201 West 5th Street #M180
Los Angeles, CA 90017

16 years ago

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