December 16th, 2009 § §
Sources:
- Black Sweater Vest – BR Outlet
- Black Henley – Gap
- Pink Button Down – J Crew
- Black Pants – Banana Republic
- Earrings – Gift
Endnotes:
Today I administered the final exam for my students. Apparently, this pink pinstriped shirt says “exam time” to me, as I just remembered I wore it for
last semester’s midterm too. I think I like it because its professional in style but a little more fun because of the bright pink. I have been wanting to wear
my black sweater vest again and apparently great minds think alike – S. and I both thought of the
button down/vest combo.
I layered the pink button down over a black henley so I could roll up the sleeves but still have a little extra warmth for the cold day and the cold classroom. I like the line of tiny buttons created by the three buttoned tops.
But my favorite part of the outfit, is by far these earrings. They were a gift from a professor I was a TA for years ago. I love wearing them with preppy professional looks as a surprising twist.
I’m not completely satisfied with how the pants work in this ensemble, but I do think the black on black keeps the outfit looking sleek. Hopefully I looked authoritative while simultaneously putting my students at ease.
Category: Beltless, Layers Upon Layers, Pants Please, Reaching New Heights, Teaching Outfits
Tags: academic fashion > colors > pattern > PhD fashion > pink > stripes
October 23rd, 2009 § §
Sources:
- Ruffle Cami – Gap
- Pinstripe Skirt – J Crew
- Blue Cardigan – BR Outlet, birthday gift from mom
- Belt – Target, altered by me
- Sweater Tights – Banana Republic
- Shoes – Off Broadway
Endnotes:
Pencil skirt, cardigan, and heels have become my go-to professional uniform. Today’s outfit is basically a recreation of
a look I wore several months ago to mark the end of the intense course I taught this summer. Here I have made it weather appropriate by adding the grey sweater tights and a bit more colorful with the mix of bright blue and maroon.
This afternoon I will be moderating a discussion after offering m thoughts on a campus-wide lecture given by a prominent activist. I figure, this time, it’s ok if I am one of the most dressed up people there.
I have to say, before our recent “roundtable” discussion about interview-appropriate wear, I would have worn something pretty similar to this for an interview. Now, I think I would definitely loose the sweater tights and belt, but I think I would still wear the rest. Does it need a suit jacket or a button down to be interview-appropriate?
A.
Shoes and tights, originally uploaded by academichic.
Category: Color Combinations, Conference Wear, Layers Upon Layers, Mixing Patterns, Reaching New Heights, Skirting the Issue
Tags: academic fashion > belted > cardigan > pattern > PhD fashion > professional > what to wear
October 20th, 2009 § §
When we introduced this “roundtable” series to you last month, we received this reader comment urging us to open up a relevant academia/style question for discussion:
How about a brown bag about proper attire for an on campus T-T job interview? (They’re coming up in the next three months!)
one key question: wedding ring on, or off?
T-T interviews, for those of you not campus situated, are “tenure track” interviews, offering the most coveted of all academic jobs to those embarking on the job market. So, naturally, a key question is What To Wear? How to best present oneself to these potential employers?
Our approach would be to mix and match suit separates and ‘dressier’ pieces to create a look that is simultaneously professional and still personal and representative of our style personalities. As for the wedding ring question…we’ve already put in our two cents when this topic surfaced a while ago, but we would happily reopen this ever present dilemma for discussion.
So we open the forum to the rest of you, in true brown bag fashion, to engage in a dialogue what will hopefully provide our readers with many great ideas. And good luck to all of you interviewing this fall!
Category: Monthly Roundtable, Q&A, Theoretical
Tags: interviews > PhD fashion > professional > suits > what to wear
October 2nd, 2009 § §
Sources:
- Grey Cardigan – Marshalls, remixed
- Skirt – BR Outlet
- Black Tank – BR, remixed
- Fuchsia Shoes – Seychelles, via DSW, remixed
- Necklace – very old
Endnotes:
I knew I wanted to wear this skirt yesterday and then built a teaching outfit around it. I love the little buttons, the subtle pattern, and the straight cut of it. I think it was originally sold with a matching suit jacket (I of course bought it on the clearance rack). I am often drawn to suits wear but I can’t say I have ever worn a full suit. Instead, I prefer to wear suit pieces mixed with other items. I think this allows for my personal style to come through more and means I can wear these great pieces over and over again, making endless combinations. E. and S., tend to do the same thing – mixing suit pieces into their regular wardrobe. You can check out our flickr set “Suit Yourself” to see examples.
What are your thoughts on suit wear? How often do you sport a full suit (skirt or pants with matching jacket)? Do you buy suit separates to work into your wardrobe, paired with non-suit items? Do you mix and match suit pieces? Tell us your suit story! A.
Category: Beltless, Reaching New Heights, Skirting the Issue, Teaching Outfits
Tags: academic fashion > cardigan > pattern > PhD fashion > professional > skirt length > suit
September 17th, 2009 § §
Sources:
All remixed
- Coral Polo – J Crew
- Grey Skirt – Old Navy
- Navy Cami – American Eagle
- Green Flats – Banana Republic
- Rainbow Bracelet – Hawaii
- Coral Earrings- American Eagle
Endnotes:
A2 had car trouble on her way to work, so my morning routine was disrupted to say the least. I had to throw on something quick that I could be comfortable in all day, and even walk home in if need be (although on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I usually have a gym bag backed anyway). Mornings when I need to choose something quickly, when don’t have time to try stuff on, swap out one cami for another, or ponder the color wheel, I often go for an ensemble I have worn before. This morning, for some reason, I thought of this polo and my denim skirt which I wore back in July. I planed to wear the outfit exactly, but denim skirt was in the wash so it was swapped with my grey skirt, and I grabbed this rainbow bracelet instead of the green necklace worn as bracelet, creating the same layered-strand effect but adding a pop of pride!
I like this outfit but I think it makes me look a bit young, therefore it is not something I would usually wear to school. I am not teaching today, but I am meeting with students. Yesterday I wrote about
wearing the same thing as colleague and reader Sabrina raised the possibility of wearing the same thing as a student and I feel that in this outfit that is more likely to happen today than most. If it does happen, I’m sure I will laugh and simply compliment them on their fabulous style! A.
Category: Color Combinations, Office Hours, Our Best Flatware, Research Casual, Skirting the Issue
Tags: academic fashion > graduate school > green > PhD fashion > what to wear
July 13th, 2009 § §
Sources:
- Cream Swing Cardigan – J Crew, gift from Mom
- Black Tank – BR
- Trouser Jeans – Gap
- Maroon Wedges – Anthropologie, via ebay
- Wooden Bangles – gift from S.
- Earrings – Gift from E.
- Shell Necklace – handmade gift
Endnotes:
Today marks the start of our week-long
review session on neutrals. I am no stranger to neutrals or neutrals mixing (my favorite colors include grey and navy and I love to pair black or grey with brown). However, I have noticed that in the summer I lean towards brighter colors and leave my layers of neutrals to the fall and winter. But there are so many great summer neutrals, like white, cream, and beige, and who doesn’t love a good nautical paring of navy and white?
Today’s outfit is loosely inspired by fellow
wardrobe remixer Archibald Maximillion, who is somewhat of a goddess when it comes to elegant neutrals mixing. She often pairs cream with black and it always looks so sophisticated. I’ve also seen her throw a pair of maroon shoes in the mix.
My version is a much more casual look intended for an afternoon of writing, but the simple black tank under the loose cream swing cardigan does make me feel a bit smarter. -A
Category: Beltless, Color Combinations, Pants Please, Reaching New Heights, Research Casual
Tags: A. > academic fashion > jeans > neutrals > PhD fashion > summer style
May 26th, 2009 § §
Sources:
- Pinstriped Pants – BR Outletubs
- Reddish-Purple Tee – F21
- Light Pink Cardigan – J Crew
- Red Wedges -Anthropologie, via ebay
Endnotes:
My first attempt at a lab-appropriate look also needed to be teaching-appropriate and coffee-shop-studying-appropriate. I started with a pair of dress pants that are machine washable cotton, making them both comfortable and durable – qualities I would imagine are important for the lab wardrobe. I then worked off of the purplish-blue pinstripe and picked the analogous reddish-purple top and the subsequently analogous maroon shoes and pink sweater. I love how this swath of neighboring hues makes the classic pants a little more exciting.
The bright colors also make the long pants and long-sleveed cardigan more appropriate for a warm sunny day.
Now it’s back to lesson planning for tomorrow’s class!
Category: Beltless, Color Combinations, Lab Friendly, Pants Please, Reaching New Heights, Teaching Outfits
Tags: academic fashion > cardigan > pattern > PhD fashion > purple > summer style
April 29th, 2009 § §
Sources:
- Jersey Zipper Jacket (aka sweatshirt) – BR Outlet
- Floral Top – Old Navy
- Jeans – BR Outlet
- Pendant – Grandmother’s
Endnotes:
Today I am spending the day with a friend’s 1 year old and am looking forward to crawling around the floor and playing in the park and have tried to dress accordingly while still maintaining some sense of style. I loved the discussion that resulted from S.’s post yesterday and would like to continue it.
I too am entering a new phase of my academic career, I finished my comprehensive exams a few weeks ago and will be starting the dissertation this summer. Like reader Joni, I am often more productive when I lock myself away at home in sweats. I firmly believe in dressing for success and always dress up for teaching, presentations, and even solitary 6 hour exams when no one will see me, but don’t necessarily find this is best for me when working from home.
I will be teaching all next year so will still dress up on those days but wonder if I might find myself in sweats at least one day a week.
E. too is entering a new phase in about a month and a half when baby e. finally arrives! So as a prepare to spend the day with a little one, I wonder how her style will adapt.
As I start my new phase, I am most worried about getting into a routine and not losing half my day to house work and/or blog reading! I like to go back and forth between crazy hermit days and days with an out-of-house activity. I can only work like a madwoman about once a week so it helps to break the other days up. Next year, I plan to make regular house calls to visit E. and baby e. which will give me something to look forward to and thus a reason to get some work done for the day.
My questions to you:
How do all you work-from-homers structure your days?
When does style fall to the wayside for you?
What in your life is worth letting style fall to the wayside for?
Category: Beltless, Our Best Flatware, Pants Please
Tags: academic fashion > jeans > PhD fashion > style > what to wear
April 28th, 2009 § §
28 April 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Green button down – J. Crew, remixed
- Brown print jersey dress – Banana Republic, remixed here and here
- Yellow belt – J.Crew, remixed
- Yellow Shoes – Gianni Bini, remixed here and here
- Yellow earrings – made by me
Endnotes:
As E. mentioned, this week we’ll be on campus much less as the semester winds down and we’re working from home much more. I agree with E. that looking put together translates to feeling put together and, consequently, to being more productive. So I, too, will make an effort to keep getting dressed as I work from home and get ready to take my last comprehensive exam in three weeks. And A’s challenges will help ensure that happens! She challenged me to wear green today, a color I don’t wear very frequently, so I combined her style challenge and this very cute outfit worn by Dolofe on Wardrobe Remix to create today’s look.
28 April 2009 , originally uploaded by academichic.
But here’s the thing: This week marks the beginning of a new academic phase for me. The semester is over and I will now be working on my own and from home for the next year and a half! I will not be teaching again until Fall 2010 and I am going abroad this fall, so I will not be on a campus for quite a while.
To be honest, I am a bit scared of what that means for my appearance and attire and I am so glad that I have this blog (and your readership!) pushing me to keep looking presentable. I very much admire Andrea, who works from home and still manages to look fabulous all the time.
Bracing myself for this somewhat unique approaching situation, I have been asking myself these questions a lot and will pose them to you as well: Would you keep dressing the way you do if you worked from home? Is your style impermeable or completely dictated by your lifestyle? To what extent does seeing friends, colleagues, and familiar figures influence how you dress? What motivates you to present your ‘ideal’ self when you don’t know whether anyone acquainted with you will see it?
Maybe I’ll just have to ask A. and E. to keep sending me style challenges from afar! S.
Category: Color Combinations, Dresses for Day, Layers Upon Layers, Reaching New Heights, Teaching Outfits
Tags: academia > academic fashion > belted > green > PhD fashion > what to wear
April 17th, 2009 § §
Sources:
- Blue oxford – American Eagle
- Black Woven Belt – Gap
- Black Skirt – BR Outlet
- Black Pumps – Nine West
- Necklace – Gift
- Earrings – Gift
Endnotes:
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!
I have drawn the inspiration for this outfit straight from Kimberley who took it from a fashion magazine. I am also imitating S’s sentiments about her legs from earlier this week. For my last post of our “featuring your best “ module, I am happy to say I love my legs.
For all the complaining I did last week about my thunder thighs – it is those same thighs that have carried me hundreds of miles in preparation for Sunday’s marathon. The expression on my face fully encapsulates how I am feeling about Sunday morning – nervous, excited, and a bit giddy. But, as S. and I push through the last stretch of our 26.2 miles, I will be grateful for my fancy running shoes and for my lungs, but most of all for the thundering sources of power that on any other day I call my legs.
Also, I don’t mind at all what all those miles have done for my calf definition.
Category: Reaching New Heights, Skirting the Issue, Teaching Outfits
Tags: belted > graduate school > PhD fashion > skirt length
16 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.
Buttons, originally uploaded by academichic.
eye earrings, originally uploaded by academichic.
16 December 2009, originally uploaded by academichic.
