1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Knit blazer: C&C
- Blue tee: Forever 21
- Belt: thrifted
- Skirt: thrifted
- Shoes: Dolce Vita, c/o Solestruck
End Notes:
Yesterday was my university’s first day of classes. And guess what? I wasn’t on the student side of the classroom this time. Like Tania of What Would a Nerd Wear, I finished my PhD coursework in the spring, and now the only classes I’ll be present at this semester are ones where I’ll be on the teaching side of things. (My teaching assistant responsibilities cycle through observing the large-scale lecture and then teaching my own, smaller groups of students.)
My perennial outfit “concept” for the first day of school is one that mixes professionalism with little unexpected punches. I wanted to look put-together and competent, but not stuffy or preppy. I started with a very traditional color palette of pale blue, khaki, and gray, but kept things fresh by wearing a soft tee rather than a button down, a knit — rather than woven — blazer, a skinny belt, and, oh yes, orange pumps. Ironically, two of my male colleagues were wearing pale blue oxford shirts on their first day as well.
But no one else was wearing orange shoes. I had the corner on that market.
1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.
So here’s the other thing. Especially after reading the comments on a recent Chronicle of Higher Ed piece on professor “hotness” and dress (you should also read La Historiadora de Moda’s response) and L.’s admission that she’s “easing” her colleagues into her style, I also felt much more self-conscious this year about how the other teaching assistants (particularly my female colleagues) perceived me. I also didn’t want to come off as “trying too hard” or “showing them up.” But of course, not matter how carefully we try to craft a message through how we dress, we are not ultimately in control of how our attire is interpreted.
For me, a missing component in that Chronicle piece on “hot professors” — and something brought up by some commentators — was the role of gender, ethnicity, age, and even sexual orientation in how professors are perceived. As I’ve said before on this blog, bodies are never neutral and the fact that I’m relatively young, slim, and female already affects how I’m perceived, even before you take clothing into account.
On the other hand, all the above equivocations and ruminations aside, it’s really, really hard to be uncertain about yourself when you’re wearing an orange shoe. To paraphrase the inimitable La Historiadora de Moda, orange shoes do not make me mighty, but they remind me that I’m mighty, not meek.
1 September 2010 – Punchy Prep, originally uploaded by academichic.
(And don’t forget to check plenty of other great back-to-school looks at the Fashionable Academics!)
The weird dynamic that I’ve noticed at universities is that female support staff dress very well, and young female faculty tend to not want to stand out, so they dress more like their khakis/jeans and button-down male colleagues. Because dressing “pretty”, especially when you’re young, can get you mistaken for an admin assistant (dressed up) or the lady from HR (dressed up). When you’re older and fiercer that happens less, probably because no matter what you’re wearing, people can see (as Robertson Davies put it) the steel spine of a woman who has clawed her way up the academic ladder.
I love this outfit. I think you perfectly nailed the competent but not stuffy look. Your style doesn’t have to define you, but it will add a little something. As in, that professor really knows what she’s talking about, and she’s got great style, too. Some women don’t want to be noticed for their style…but some women (like those of us who parade it online) do–we just don’t want to be noticed SOLEY for our style. I think you look great today!
I love that last picture! Your outfit is totally appropriate, I think, while still being stylish and ‘you’.
I think I have gushed about this skirt before, but seriously, I love it! It’s really fabulous and especially nice above the orange shoes.
E., you have struck the exact balance that you wanted to with this first day outfit! You look polished but not at all stuffy. You look approachable yet authoritative. Well-done!
And, thank you for the shout out. I don’t think I’ve ever been called inimitable before.
LOVE this skirt.
There have been some seriously interesting conversations about all of this floating around the blogosphere. Coming to the realization that your physical appearance (body, hair, clothing) WILL be interpreted, whether you like it or not, leads many of us to decide how we want to take control of that interpretation. It’s a fine, and very interesting, line, I think.
Anyway, I love this outfit, and ALWAYS love those shoes.
are those shoes a recent purchase? I’d love to know the model number if possible!
I love those orange shoes! Maybe that’s why I love crazy kicks – “…they remind me that I’m mighty, not meek” which is something I think every woman needs to be reminded of more often than not!
Perfect outfit in my opinion – professional with that perfect touch of style.
I think you accomplished exactly what you were hoping for (at least, my perception agrees with your own!). This reads fun/competent to me. But hey, what’s wrong with preppy? I’m hoping to bring it back this season.. :)
don’t be surprised when you see me trying this look in the coming weeks
ps: super thrift score on that skirt!
I am no longer taking classes either, but I supervise and evaluate student teaching interns. Because I am in and out of schools, I decided to dress the way I did when I was a schoolteacher. Most of the time I had on a dress or skirt, and I feel most comfortable and powerful in them. But at a recent staff orientation, the reaction from my university colleagues (mostly grad students and professors) gave me pause. I got a lot of complements, but one prof. in particular said I looked “sophisticated”…during our staff meeting.
It is a bit uncomfortable when my appearance becomes fodder for the staff discussion. As a “youngish” black woman with big natural curly/kinky hair and a curvaceous body, I get scrutinized a lot. Its hard sometimes to balance my desire to be comfortable in my femininity (performed through the wearing of dresses,heels, curls, and makeup)with my need to NOT be objectified and scrutinized. I am still working on that balancing act…
I love this look. It’s one of my favourites. I also struggle with the way I am perceived at work — I am a PhD student — but I can imagine myself wearing those colours and shapes. Thank you for the inspiration.
Supa cute shoes (as always). I’m trying so hard to find a good, fitted blazer that I actually like this year. Yours looks pretty feminine + chic…
I love this whole ensemble, but especially the shoes. My own style is awfully preppy and pretty conservative, but I’m taking inspiration from you and adding fun shoes and accessories to make the look a little less boring. Soon it will be tights weather and I can add exciting tights to an otherwise plain outfit!
Thanks, everyone!
@Sara, the shoes are a year and a half old or so. The full citation would be “Skye” pumps, dv by Dolce Vita. I’ve seen some pairs up on ebay, so you may want to look there!
- e
I just found your blog, and I loved this post. This is my first semester as a real instructor, instead of TA, and I wore purple heels on my first day class. It was just as you described: how could I NOT be confident teaching engineers in purple heels?
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