So sorry I didn't comment last night, Mae! I actually thought I had, but instead I had written a response and then fallen asleep while still logged in but without submitting it.
I love this outfit! Brava to you for "embracing the fear."
Sadly, as you have pointed out, academics tend to be impervious to style. One of the few places less stylish than higher education is lower education, where I work, and where elastic-waist cotton-knit pants and sweaters with holiday appliques are the norm. (Yes, I am talking about the adults and not the children.)
But with you and Medusa transforming yourselves, and with help from the ladies at academichic.com, perhaps that is changing. I think that even if no one commented on your outfit yesterday, they noticed.
Keep up the good work!