Comments on: 2 July 2009 – The Business of Being Ready

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:48:24 +0000

At work I dress the part, which right now is “female professor in old white male-dominated department”. So, I guess I dress for the people who are going to decide my promotion and the students whose respect I need to maintain. I like Lubenica’s comments above.

By: Lubenica

Lubenica — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:55:24 +0000

I think there’s an important question in “Can academics ever dress for themselves?” I would argue that the answer is no. If it’s not the pressures of your academic tribe, it’s your own idea of your academic identity that normally determines how you dress.

Just contrast scholars in women’s studies and scholars in business schools. Working in one of the latter, I can assure you that there are clear differences between sociologists and economists, for instance.

Speaking of which… the Chronicle (http://chronicle.com/jobs/blogs/onhiring/1129) has an interesting post on this… the reply comments, as always, more interesting than the initial post!

By: Audi

Audi — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:38:36 +0000

I’d be lying if I said I never gave any consideration to what others think of the way I dress. I dress ‘up’ (meaning I actually put an effort into it) in a workplace where jeans and t-shirts are pretty much the norm, not only because I prefer to stand out but also because I think that dressing up represents an outward show of respect towards your fellow humans. Although exactly WHAT I choose to wear is primarily for me and me alone, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with making an effort for those who will view you — whatever that effort translates to.

By: AcademicUnChic

AcademicUnChic — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:48:48 +0000

My workplace is a shorts and flipflops kind of place. Despite this there is no mistaking who is boss (me as far as my research assistants are concerned). Right now we are working to meet a particularly insane deadline. Back in the old days I would just have walked in wearing the first T and jeans on top of the pile. In my new post-AcademicChic phase, I find I’m spending the extra half hour or so to pick out some pleasing combination and even earrings+necklace! No one else really gives a damn but I’m enjoying the mental breather this gives me every morning (otherwise I’d be thinking about some knotty analytical problem or listening to NPR).

By: A.S.

A.S. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:22:46 +0000

Believe it or not, sometimes I like dressing for my husband. I prefer to dress the way I do, and I like looking put together– whether it’s going to class, going out dancing, running to the store, or visiting the in-laws. What’s funny is that sometimes I get comments about people telling me that I look “dressed up” because I’m wearing a skirt, and then wonder what it is that I am dressing for. I say “nothing, this is what I felt like wearing”, but that usually doesn’t suffice. I know I get regarded differently when I choose to wear a nice wool skirt with a long sleeve blouse when talking to a professor than I would looking like I rolled out of bed like the typical college student…

By: Sassy Molassy

Sassy Molassy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:13:58 +0000

To be comfortable and confident, I believe we have to be dressing for ourselves. However, some days when I’m heading out in a hoodie and jeans to do errands or what not, I think “maybe I should have made a bit more of an effort for others and myself.” Afterall, the way we’re treated will affect us and sadly enough, how you dress can gain you different reactions bc I know I get different service and looks when I look like a business professional vs a college student.

By: Diana

Diana — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:44:39 +0000

I think that dressing nicer helps you to feel more self-confident, and it is that self-confidence that others are more likely to notice than what it is you’re actually wearing.

By: Clare

Clare — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:38:42 +0000

I THINK that I dress for me. Mostly. I think. But it’s conditional, in the sense that I dress for how I want to feel about myself when I’m with such-and-such person. Different people in my life elicit different kinds of feelings that I have about myself, and I tend to preemptively prepare for those feelings in the morning when I’m getting dressed. Chances are good that that person wouldn’t notice a difference, but I know it’s there.

By: Nic

Nic — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:30:00 +0000

If I wasn’t thinking about the way that others perceive me, I would get that extra half hour of sleep each day and skip makeup and cute hair. That said, I think that the way you dress can give you a certain kind of confidence, and I can’t imagine choosing to ignore that possibility. Maybe it’s something like the costume mentality – the clothes are the final step in really getting into a character.

By: Courtney

Courtney — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:45:06 +0000

Great question! I agree with ShopKim and Anna. I definitely don’t find myself dressing for others, in the sense of trying to create a certain reaction (except for date nights with hubby, and then it’s all for him). What I do find myself doing is thinking about how I want to feel that day, and I dress to emphasize my desired feeling. So if I’m feeling nervous and want to feel confident, I dress up, or if I’m feeling frazzled and want to feel self-controlled. Then that step of taking action to change my emotions starts a little snowball effect that helps me change my emotions and behavior. I do the same thing with other choices, like food and house cleanliness. Those small steps changing my behavior may influence other’s responses, but it’s not the primary goal. I dress for myself!