• Black Short Sleeved Blazer – F21, remixed
• Grey Skirt – Gap, remixed
• Teal Ruffle Top – BR Outlet, remixed
• Red Wedges – Anthropologie, via ebay, remixed
• Earrings – Gift

This morning I was standing in my closet completely at a loss as to what to wear. I had a to take the pup for her grooming, go to a morning meeting with E., a professor, and some administrators, and then was planning to work a bit in the library before having dinner with my girlfriend’s parents. I had just pulled out my standby denim skirt and was trying to figure out how to creatively build an outfit around it when I received a text from E. that read: “Just feel like I should tell you that I’m dressing up for our meeting today since he never takes us seriously.” Who the “he” is doesn’t really matter, the point is, I was inspired to put together a professional look that said: “I mean business, take me seriously!”

The short black blazer was the first thing I pulled out, but didn’t want to look too much like I was wearing a suit, so avoided both my black pencil skirt and black pants. I love the way paring two neutrals instantly makes work wear more interesting. I added the ruffle-neck teal top because the high neck gives it a kind of “sexy secretary” look, but the color (especially matched with the red wedges) is fun and reflective of my personal style and my creativity, one of the qualities I was brought on to this project for.

I also want to note that even with full freedom to wear a belt today I refrained and even spent much of the day with the jacket unbuttoned and the shirt blousing out.

And finally, please notice the patio stones below my feet – the mysterious backyard project I keep mentioning is almost complete!

10 Responses to “12 May 2009 – Take Me Seriously!”

1. Kaylyn
   May 12th, 2009 @ 2:50 pm

   Very nice! I think it definitely says “take me serious, but I’m still a fun person”. I love the teal top!

2. deepikaur
   May 12th, 2009 @ 2:58 pm

   Awesome look! Definitely digging the outfit. Hope the meeting went well!

3. Erin
   May 12th, 2009 @ 5:03 pm

   Was wearing glasses part of the “take me seriously” strategy? Just curious.

4. admin
   May 12th, 2009 @ 5:58 pm

   Thanks!

   Erin – wearing glasses was part of my “running out of disposable contacts” strategy!

   A

5. Fab50Plus
   May 13th, 2009 @ 3:56 am

   Great job at being both serious and stylish! (So often those two things are seen as opposing goals!) The teal is just the right punch of color!

   Well done!

6. Sal
   May 13th, 2009 @ 4:48 am

   The ruffles were the perfect way to offset the conservatism of the blazer. Hope you two had luck being taken seriously in your meeting!

7. Trisha
   May 13th, 2009 @ 10:20 am

   Great job. Your outfit says take me seriously but it isn’t overpowering. You look great.

8. Kate
   May 14th, 2009 @ 8:14 am

   Did the outfit get you the response you were hoping for? Sadly, I think (here in my isolated bubble of academia) ‘cute outfit’ and ‘take me seriously’ are mutually exclusive. Do you think ‘he’ can differentiate between your standby denim and this gray skirt?

   Do you ever check out the chatter about academic dress codes on the message boards of the chronicle of higher education website? I’d be curious to know what you think.

9. A
   May 14th, 2009 @ 4:20 pm

   Kate -

   I haven’t checked those message boards out but will – thanks!

   The meeting actually went very well. I don’t know that “he” necessarily noticed the difference between my denim and grey skirts, but I think I did look very professional and I do think that helped put me on a more even playing field even in his mind. More importantly though, I felt confident and I think that effected how I handled the meeting.

   A

10. 2 July 2009 - The Business of Being Ready : academichic
    July 2nd, 2009 @ 7:14 am

    [...] month or two ago, A. and I did dress up for a meeting with an administrator who has frequently and frustratingly refused to take us… One reader who is also in academia wondered if our efforts were in vain. “Do you think he can [...]

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