We recently received a reader comment asking for recommendations on great thrift stores in Pittsburgh. We all love a good thrift store but none of us is familiar with the Pittsburgh shopping scene. So we’re asking you, dear readers, if you have any recommendations? Thank you! ~ Chics

I have an on-campus interview (yay!) at a liberal arts college in a very cold climate. I just purchased a navy blue suit from J Crew: fitted blazer + pencil skirt. I’m going to pair this with a brightly colored shell of some sort and gray patent leather shoes. The problem is what to do with my legs. If I double up on tights, I think I’ll be sufficiently warm for brief jaunts outside. But what color tights would work best? Is black okay? Any suggestions you have you would welcome!

First of, congratulation on your campus interview! And we love the items you’ve chosen for this occasion: this navy J.Crew skirt (and matching blazer) and these grey patent leather Naot shoes. To winterize your legs, we agree that doubling up and layering tights might be a good idea. Now, as to what color tights to wear on the outside, here are a few suggestions:

Although we love how that navy skirt and grey patent leather shoes would look with a boldly hued pair of tights like this…

… we agree that the above combination might be best saved for a teaching day on campus. For that more formal interview attire, we would suggest opting for a more ‘conservative’ and ‘traditional’ color such as a navy or grey…

A pair of black tights may be too harsh with the lighter color shoe, while a grey or navy pair should blend more seamlessly with your skirt or footwear choice. Choosing a pair of tights in a neutral that picks up on the existing color scheme of your outfit should makes the tights fit right in with your look wihout drawing too much attention. And don’t forget to check how the pair of tights underneath affects the color of your top layer! This might be obvious but is worth stating in case your mind is on other interview related matters right now.

Lastly, we also think that a pair of open weave pattern tights layered over an opaque black pair of tights could create a subtle yet rich and interesting effect. It wouldn’t be too discernable from far away but would lend your outfit that extra bit of personality and individuality from up close.

What do you think, dear readers and fellow academics? What color tights would you recommend to for that polished and professional interview look? What have you worn for academic interviews in the past? Thank you as always for your contributions in the comments section! ~ Chics

I am going to my first-ever academic conference as a “trainee presenter” next weekend! It’s a pretty big deal and I’m very excited. The Saturday night event is a “conference gala and trainee awards banquet”. I now have to go dress shopping and was hoping you could provide me with some suggestions for cute, professional, sort of all-purpose, fancy-but-not-too fancy dresses that manage to pull these things off without looking old or boring.

Our reader adds,

I’m petite (5 feet or so) and fairly slim, but with a large bust. (Oh, and I’m from Canada, where our store options are somewhat more limited than the US)

With those criteria in mind, here is what we would suggest. Even if these exact options aren’t available to you, dear reader in Canada, they can hopefully serve as a starting point in your search in terms of ideas and inspiration.

This simple yet elegant navy front crossover dress from Ann Taylor Petites could easily go from daytime conference wear to evening party. We would suggest making it daytime ready with the addition of a cardigan and subtle jewelry. For the evening, remove the cardigan and add a pashmina and swap the delicate accessories for a bolder statement necklace or earrings.

We love the Melanie Color Block Dress from Banana Republic — and available in Canada! — for its business casual silhouette and play of texture and sheen. The silky navy top would look lovely peeking out from underneath an unbuttoned blazer during the day. In the evening, once more swap the blazer for a pashmina and add some bold jewelry. Navy is a great alternative neutral for both conference wear and cocktails. Banana Republic Canada does not seem to have petite sizes, but given how short this dress looks on the model, it might be just right or need only a quick hem for a petite gal.

We also like this ‘Tres Jolie‘ dress from Talbots that has that more formal cut to it but with fun pleats and a tulip shape skirt that make it a bit different. We see this dress working well with a blazer or cardigan at the conference and perhaps with a bold belt in another color and complimenting accessories in the evening.

All of these dresses use a v-neck to de-emphasize a large bust and lengthen your overall appearance. When looking for a dress that can go from professional to party, we tend to favor a slimmer skirt over a full one, as it retains more of a business appropriate feel. As we mention above, any of these dresses could be dramatically transformed with layering or accessories, making them versatile options for appearances in multiple registers of formality.

Granted, none of us have our reader’s precise body type, and although S. used to live in Canada, she wasn’t shopping for business casual attire back in middle school. So we open the floor to you, readers, especially the petite-and-big-busted among you or our friends to the north in Canada! What would you suggest?

This is my first semester in the masters program and one of the profs (not from my department) is having a little “Dessert party” for this class because everyone is staying in the area for Thanksgiving.  It’s very nice of this gentleman to do this for us students.  However, what to wear?!  It will be casual held at his house and with all my classmates.

We think that you actually have quite a bit of creative freedom in this scenario, and a lot depends on your own sense of what constitutes “casual” and the general feel of your campus. Two things to consider when it comes to mingling with professors and colleagues-that-aren’t-close-friends in a casual setting:

1. Wear something that you can sit down in comfortably. You don’t know if you’ll be at a dining room table with leg coverage or in a big, overstuffed armchair or a deep couch or a chaise lounge or even on the floor. Short skirts or gaping necklines might not be the wisest choice here.
2. Have party-ready feet. All three of us have been to parties at a professor’s home where we were asked to remove our shoes at the door. This would not be the time to make-do with hole-riddled socks or tights.

To this kind of casual gathering, E. might wear a maxi dress (lots of room to hide a dessert tummy!) bundled up for fall, or dark skinny jeans with a nicer top, perhaps in a bright print or color:

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A. might wear a jersey dress with a long cardigan and boots or skinny pants and heels brightened with a colorful scarf and interesting accessories.

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And L. believes a little sparkle can dress up any outfit, so a more casual dress or skirt with black/gold (or silver) tights might do the trick. Or, do the inverse and wear a cocktail-ish dress, but with flats and minimal accessories to tone it down. (Sorry, no pictures!)

We hope that gives you some ideas, and as always we welcome other suggestions and practical considerations.

2010 Academichic – Interview Attire 1, originally uploaded by academichic.

Sources:

• Shirt: Banana Republic
• Sweater: (below) August Silk via Filene’s Basement
• Skirt: Tahari via Filene’s Basement
• Belt: Kenneth Cole
• Shoes: Banana Republic Outlet

Endnotes:
When I first decided that university teaching was not for me and that instead, upon completing my Masters, I wanted to teach at the secondary school level, I registered myself with a big headhunting company that had an excellent reputation for placing teachers in independent schools throughout the country. Part of this process involved going to a huge conference in the region of the country where I was looking for a job. During this 2-day long event, a hundred or more schools sent representatives to interview prospective candidates in short, thirty-minute sessions. This type of setting was better suited to a more aggressive and ferocious candidate than I and definitely was not my style. However, it was a necessary evil and allowed for massive amounts of networking and schmoozing not to mention checking out my competition and getting practice for future interviews. While this is no doubt smaller in size than professional conferences such as the Modern Language Association or College Art Association conferences, the intensity of the interviewing schedule seems to be relatively similar. For this event I opted for a more professional look AND something that I would be comfortable and confident wearing for hours of waiting between each thirty minute interview. Fortunately, I wouldn’t be walking much, so I could wear a higher heel than I might otherwise.

Black BR shoes, originally uploaded by academichic.

This pencil skirt was the right length and not too tight for my taste and the black and white flecked boucle lent itself nicely to a neutral pairing on top. The schools I was interviewing with were the kind that definitely had a dress code for students, but the faculty dress and overall setting was still more casual than an office might be. I had the advantage of having gone to schools very similar to those I was hoping to work at, and therefore I had a better sense of the atmosphere in which I would be teaching. For instance, I didn’t want to look over-dressed, so I opted for a T-shirt and sweater combo rather than a button down shirt and jacket. I also liked that the detail on this shirt draped over my sweater to add a little visual interest.

2010 Academichic – Interview Attire 1, originally uploaded by academichic.

Shirt detail, originally uploaded by academichic.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that this outfit made me stand out in any particular way other than the fact that I was more dressed up than many of the other male and female candidates. If I had it to do over again I would have tried to incorporate some more pops of color in order to grab the attention of my interviewer and make myself a little more memorable. As has been the case all along, being a contributor to Academichic has helped me push my own sartorial boundaries and re-imagine my wardrobe and self-presentation in general.

The whole weekend ordeal was exhausting, but it did land me a few follow-up phone interviews, two invitations for on-campus visits, and (thankfully!) a job.

I am interested to hear what those of you who have been to the large conferences in your field have opted to wear for these intense interviews?

~ L.

Sources:

• Maroon sweater – Calvin Klein
• Cord skirt – thrifted
• Gray sweater tights – TJMaxx
• Gold scarf – gift
• Maroon pumps – vintage Etienne Aigner, thrifted

Endnotes:

When we began conceiving of this interview attire feature, E. asked me to say a few words about how I dressed for my interview that led to my first faculty position. My route to academic employment was a little less traditional than that of most, but I hope that these thoughts on dressing for an ‘alternate’ interview will serve some of you well.

I sought out my current university as my desired place of employment while planning my return to the US from Germany. Although they had no advertised positions in my field, I contacted the department chair and inquired about any possible openings. He suggested I submit my CV for the eventuality that something would arise. As I was planning a trip to the US in the Spring, I asked to drop off my CV in person, hoping to make more of an impression with a face-to-face encounter than just through emails alone.

Fortunately for me, he agreed and scheduled an appointment during his office hours.

So this is why I say that my interview was not a traditional one. I had a meeting to submit my CV that I was hoping would turn into more of an impromptu interview of sorts. And it did. And since we’re discussing clothing choices here, here is how I sartorially navigated this type of situation.

Although I was desperately hoping that I wouldn’t just drop off my CV for a secretary to file, I also knew that there would be a good chance that this encounter would be most routine and brief. Showing up in a two-piece suit with heels and a briefcase seemed to say that I was trying just a little too hard. Alternately, stopping by in jeans and a sweatshirt might likewise suggest that I wasn’t trying hard enough.

There is a reason why we, as a culture, spend so much time discussing clothes: Because clothes speak and they have done so for centuries. Recognizing that what you wear sends a message is a helpful tool in navigating various social situations. I strove for a message that hopefully said; I’m organized, put-together, professional, and approachable. Please hire me!

Rather than the traditional interview suit, I wore a knee-length skirt in a solid color paired with a ¾ sleeve sweater in a complimentary color (the picture above was taken on that day). I struggled with my choice of jewelry so in the end I opted for a gold toned scarf looped collar-like around my neck. If you know my style from past contributions to this site, you know that is a somewhat toned down look for me. But my goal was for my outfit to look nice enough to actually not be noticed. I wanted something that would not distract and detract attention from my words.

Since you already know the outcome of this story, you know that I got the job. How my dress on that first meeting affected my chances is hard to say and I will likely never know. But I do know that I felt comfortable and confident in my presentation that day, which helped me concentrate on the discussion at hand and allowed me to put my best ‘shoe’ forward, as it were.

I would love to hear from any of our readers who have likewise negotiated a similarly nebulous first meeting with a potential employer? How did you decide to tackle the ominous ‘interview attire’ question? And would you do the same thing again? S.

I’m an exhausted university professor in the humanities, who every year, has to help her young flock of newly minted PhD’s navigate the treacherous waters of the academic job search. We run short seminars on how to write job letters, teaching statements, CV’s, and prepare for the dreaded MLA interview. But the thing almost all my students want to talk about — at some length — is WHAT TO WEAR for said interview, at the conference and on campus. Could you, in one of your upcoming posts, do a little fashion spread of ‘fun, smart, quirky, yet still utterly appropriate interview wear’ for my students so I can just send them to you?

Why, certainly! We, too, have spent time thinking about this part of the hiring process and have received numerous such emails in the past. So we’re officially making this week at academichic Interview Attire Week. Some of us will be reflecting on outfits we wore to recent job interviews. Others will be dreaming up what we might wear when we go on the market. All of us see these posts as launching points, not a list of do’s and don’ts.

We’re by no means experts on the topic so we most warmly welcome your comments and ideas along the way, especially from those of you who have already navigated the academic job market and have first hand experience in interviewing for academe. Here’s a preview of the topics we will be covering this week:

Please join us for this week-long seminar on interview attire and job search conversations, and, like a good researcher, don’t forget to check out some other great sources:

McGraw, Sally. “Reader Request: Stylish Interview Garb.” Minneapolis: Already Pretty, 2009.

Moda, La Historiadora de. “Interview Attire in Action.” Midwest: Fashionable Academics, 2010.

—–. “What Would a Fashionable Academic Wear to a Job Interview?”. Guest post. Midwest: What Would a Nerd Wear, 2009.

I’m now at the final countdown of my time in Germany. Over the course of this past year, I have received several questions regarding my packing to return home and my wardrobe changes after being here in general, so I will attempt to answer those in this recap of my travel wardrobe for this year abroad…

I can manage to take everything I’ve acquired back home with me because I’ve already sent my parents and my husband off with a load of clothes and books each (as they were just here visiting). I was determined not to mail anything and between their carrying help and my efforts to not acquire too many things this year, I will be returning with the same amount of luggage that I came with: two suitcases and one carry-on.

In terms of clothing purchases this year – I tried to curb my spending knowing full well that I would have to take everything back with me in limited luggage space. But I still couldn’t resist a few shopping trips here or there and I tried to make the most of my student budget by getting most of my souvenirs at thrift stores and consignment shops.

Thrifting allowed me to score a few really unique pieces, like this vintage Mod dress or this brocade blazer. It also made for some uniquely Bavarian acquisitions, like this little boy’s Tracht vest and a full Dirndl skirt yet to be revealed, at more affordable prices.

Some thrift finds were bought for their low price tag yet high potential; an eyelet top got a sleeve make-over, a $2.50 dress found in Romania got a good few inches chopped off and is now ready for wear, and one German army shirt got a complete overhaul in an attempt to flex some DIY muscles.

In addition to perusing thrift stores and the occasional fea market, I did buy a couple of new things this year. Most notably, my S. Oliver skinny jeans which have become my new BFF. Some things are just worth the extra buck. And like E. did during her pregnancy, I tried to make the most out of my few pairs of jeans that I had in circulation by changing their look with cuffing, rolling, tucking, or other similar tricks…

I also made a pair of black capris go all-season by tucking them into knee-socks come winter and wearing them with boots…

Other style-related results from a year spent in Germany – I branched out and tried a few new looks. I took comfort in being away from campus and from a very professional environment and experimented with more casual and out-of-my-comfort-zone styles. And I realized that I can do much more with so much less. Layering and creative remixing went a long way in making my limited wardrobe feel a lot more comprehensive. Here’s just an example using my brown patterned jersey dress…

This was also the case when it came to dressing up. I wore the same black dress and gray wedges all four times that I attended the opera here and just varied the look by pairing them with different accessories and color schemes…

Sure, there were moments when I felt like a pair of shoes or a top I’d left back home would have been a more fitting item for an outfit in question. (Several readers commented that the gray wedges didn’t quite suit my black dress + orange pashmina opera look and I would certainly agree). And had I been at home, I likely would have paired a pair of black heels with the black and orange look seen above. But I brought shoes and garments that would be the most versatile and that lent themselves to the most mixing possible, so a pair of heels that would have only come out for a few select events were not worth the suitcase space. And ultimately … does it really matter? Dare I say it? …There are worse things than not having the perfect pair of shoes to go with an evening dress.

So that is my ‘year abroad recap’ in a nutshell. Given that I already sent a good amount of my stuff home and that it’s raining and dreary here, I think it’s safe to say that I will continue to toss on jeans, some kind of top, and non-fussy flats each day. So I will spare you the photographic repetition and will likely recommence posting once I am back in sunnier places with a heftier wardrobe at my disposal. Until then, I’ll be enjoying my last few days here in gorgeous Munich, sadly saying my goodbyes, and getting ready for the next stage in my life. And it’s bound to bring new adventures and changes, so stay tuned! S.

Sources:

• Bag – Troubadour Tote by Crystalyn Kae
• Tank – J Crew
• Pencil Skirt – Banana Republic
• Belt – Gap
• Wedges – Kenneth Cole Reaction, via DSW
• Earrings – Gift

Endnotes:

That’s right, I said “school’s IN for summer!” Yesterday I started teaching a 5 week summer course that meets every morning.  Part of me is actually looking forward to be back on campus everyday  and I’m really excited to be teaching this course.  I’m also quite happy to have an excuse to pull out my professional wardrobe again, but I think creating 25 professional outfits appropriate for the extreme heat of June in Academichic Central will likely be a tough challenge.

Luckily, I now have the perfect summer school bag!  Last week I received this beautiful Troubadour Tote courtesy of Crystalyn Kae. I love the slouchy but refined shape of this tote and adore the pleats and rivets. It actually comes in a variety of great colors but I’ve been looking for a bag to replace my reddish brown tote, which broke last year.

Crystalyn Kae Accessories – Troubadour Tote Bag, originally uploaded by academichic.

Inside the bag, originally uploaded by academichic.

• a tiny make-up pouch that holds cover-up, chap-stick, mini-sunscreen, bobby pins, and a hair band (not pictured)
• my new i-phone pouch from pomella on etsy – I love the vintage green fabirc, the pocket for my headphones, and the bright green band that holds everything in place
• a small zipper pouch of campus essentials that holds,  among other things, a laser pointer, adapters for my laptop, pens, post-its, band-aides, hand lotion, gum, etc
• my incase neoprene laptop sleeve

organization, originally uploaded by academichic.

15 June 2010 – School’s IN for Summer, originally uploaded by academichic.

I have drawers and drawers full of every color tee and would love some of your brilliance on how to make them more stylish!

We’re sure that K. is not alone in having accumulated a hefty stash of tees in every color. We own a fair share of colorful tees ourselves because they serve an important function as a wardrobe staple and basic layering tool. Here are some of the ways we make those colorful tees work for us:

An important wardrobe basic is the plain solid colored tee. This item is just an easy ‘glue’ piece that can be thrown on with any pants, skirts, or under cardigans, and doesn’t require much deliberation. When in doubt, a solid colored tee is usually a safe and simple choice.

If you find that you own many of these plain solid colored tees and want to spruce them up a bit, here are some suggestions…

25 February 2009 – No Cardi, originally uploaded by academichic.

9 July 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

Layering a scooped necked tee over a tank or lacy camisole adds that extra bit of interest and detail that lifts this simple item to another level. Camis with lacy shoulder straps are especially useful for creating this layering effect. This works particularly well with scoop neck and v-neck tees.

Violet & Mustard, originally uploaded by academichic.

Scoop neck tees are also great for layering over graphic tees, allowing only a bit of the pattern to peak out from the layer beneath. You can additionally play with the color choices in your layering, creating two-thirds of a triad, as E. did with this eggplant and mustard example above, or opting for a softer analogous effect by mixing two colors neighboring each other on the color wheel.

Graphic tees are also fun on their own. We especially like the combination of a relaxed graphic tee with a straight-line skirt and flats for a casual summer look. But let’s return to that simple solid colored tee once more. Should you not want to layer it over something else, you could just add interest by adding a scarf or any other fun accessory (think long necklace, pretty brooch, vest, etc)…

14 May 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.

S – UO jersey necklace, originally uploaded by academichic.

Simple tees, especially the more close-fitting variety, are also great for pairing with fuller and higher-waisted skirts. (And with wide leg pants or looser trousers). They do the job of balancing out the fuller bottom portion and play a perfect partner to those belted and more colorful items that demand something simple and fitted on top.

And, if your drawers are overflowing with loads and loads of tees, you could always choose a few of those with which to experiment and try some DIY. E. picked up a few basic solid colored tee and added embellishments along the neckline with just a few stitches, some ribbon, and extra jersey fabric. For the full instructions, go here.

Are you also someone who’s stocked up on more than your fair share of colorful tees? What are some of your favorite ways of working them into your wardrobe and how do you manage to dress them up on occasion? As always, leave your tips in the comments section below!