https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 09 May 2026 11:41:11 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia/page/2#post-88027 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:43:50 +0000 Maya 88027@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think there is a difference between being "interested in fashion" and just looking decent put together. The latter is totally obtainable even for people who don't give a hoot about fashion. Instead of wearing baggy jeans and a hoodie, why is it so much harder to wear jeans that fit with a knit top? </p> <p>I guess from an American perspective, we are used to seeing people at their worst and so it becomes acceptable to us, when it would NOT be acceptable anywhere else (to Angie's point). I went to a school with a very high percentage of international students, mainly from South Korea, who were always presentable at the very least--usually a lot better than that. They worked as hard as much as anyone else in the school did, but managed to look a whole lot better.</p> <p>Jean, I totally agree with your assessment of artists v. designers. I have been at both ends of the spectrum and designers are pretty sharp dressers for the most part. I was always very aware that my classmates at Parsons, for the most part, looked great every day...and that is no small feat considering the amount of work involved. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-88024 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 23:24:02 +0000 Angie 88024@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What a fantastic thread! April, you crack me up. Very tongue and cheek. And from what I can read, no one has been offended or judged. </p> <p>So here is a different spin on the IT situation and I’m speaking from firsthand experience:</p> <p>I live it the IT capital of the world. The biggest software organization in the universe, (and we shan’t name names), is on my doorstep and I have SEVERAL clients who work at that organization. They can literally pitch up for work in pjs and no one cares. Jeans, shorts and a free shipping T with athletic sneakers is the norm for both men and women. Throw in the polar fleece when it’s cold. That’s fine for the environment of THAT organization. </p> <p>But the problem comes in when the employees travel on business to Asian and European cities and see high profile clients, agencies and vendors. That’s when I usually get a call to help out. Regular work gear won’t do. Interestingly, when these clients get their “travelling clothes”, they end up loving the way they look because they feel so much better. They always end up wanting to step up the way they dress daily. Isn’t that food for thought. A little magic on the outside brings out the magic on the inside. I see this happening over and over again. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-88013 Fri, 21 Aug 2009 22:29:39 +0000 medusa 88013@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I realized this morning that I had forgotten about this thread - I got distracted preparing for classes to start. :-)</p> <p>I want to say that I'm not offended at all, and no apologies are necessary. As usual for the forum, this thread developed into a really interesting discussion. I was just slightly worried about it going in a judgemental direction and wanted to put in my worry about that.</p> <p>I love hearing everyone's take on this! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87576 Thu, 20 Aug 2009 06:26:14 +0000 Mae 87576@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey now, Audrey- no dogging the tenured ones. Some of us care, too. Seriously- love this post and all of the comments (and all of the academics coming out!) Audrey- your second paragraph spoke to me loudly. My exact sentiments and our styles seem to match. </p> <p>I secretly love the conferences where I spot a well known female academic sporting something amazingly fashionable. It gives me hope. But then I come back to my small, social science department and I'm on my own. </p> <p>Tanya, good luck finishing your dissertation!</p> <p>Here's to getting out of the academic fashion rut, with YLF support if nothing else! Viva the fashionable assistant, associate, full, and "in training" professors out there. We can change the world. Well, at least we can change our OWN worlds. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87471 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:10:32 +0000 Rose 87471@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I like this discussion a lot. thanks everyone for this .. crwilson, I am sorry to hear you got "scolded".. HannahC-- I often agree with what you write, must be because we are both F scientists! Audrey-- I too am young tenure track prof, but in physical science, and I am struggling .. I got a real kick out of your Stacey &#38; Clinton comment, so true that it does NOT apply for academia!! (at least not in my field!) Which is really not a bad thing, I appreciate having the freedom to wear whatever I want, except that freedom only exists in principle, because in reality we know we are judged by people as "making an effort" or "looking too nice". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87387 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:53:25 +0000 Audrey 87387@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am a female (untenured) professor in the social sciences. I didn't find the post mocking. In fact, it is quite true. As a younger professor, I have been grappling with the issue of how to dress since I started this job. I consider myself stylish (but not trendy), and think that people should dress appropriately for work. Unfortunately, I don't have many older female colleagues to look to for inspiration. Most of my colleagues (male and female) seem to take no care in how they dress, coming to work in super casual clothes (often ill-fitting and sometimes stained or ripped!) that seem to convey the message that they either don't know how to dress well, or just don't care. </p> <p>I have had colleagues comment on the fact that I dress up for work, which I have a hard time interpreting. I don't know if they are impressed with the fact that I take some care in my appearance, or are mocking it. I would describe my work wardrobe as business-casual, though more on the business side. I wear trousers or pencil skirts with blouses and cardigans, or dresses. I do not wear jeans (except some denim trouser pants I wear in the summer when not teaching). I seldom wear suits, unless I am at a conference or making an important presentation. I usually shop at places like Banana Republic, J Crew, and Ann Taylor. My clothes are modest, and usually on the more conservative side. I would prefer to dress a bit more "avant garde" and even to dress up more, but the fact that my colleagues are so underdressed, and that I am in a college town in the midwest, would make me look woefully out of place. I am actually bored with my wardrobe, but don't know how to make it more reflective of my personality without looking too dressed up for where I live and work.</p> <p>I do think there are some older academics who look down on those of us who take fashion seriously. They seem to think that spending time on one's appearance takes away time from working on serious academic pursuits. I think the solution is for those of us in academia who do care about appearances to show them that one can be successful in one's career AND look good. The more of us there are who are successful and fashionable, the faster we can get out of this fashion rut in academia.</p> <p>On a side note: Stacy and Clinton always say to dress for the job you want, not the one you have. That advice doesn't work for academics! Dressing like a tenured professor would make me look worse! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87378 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:38:58 +0000 April 87378@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It's fascinating to me that in academia, people can be judged as less smart for being well-dressed, since in early education it's exactly the opposite. (I'm talking about the students now rather than the teachers - shabbily-dressed students often have their intelligence underestimated.)</p> <p>Please know that my comments above were not meant to be hurtful. In graduate school (where I spent eight long years), the doctoral students would do an annual spoof of the faculty, and copying how each professor dressed was part of it. It was not meant disrespectfully, but as the kind of affectionate teasing that shows that you've paid attention enough to "capture" someone in gesture, words, and yes, appearance. Those were the most brilliant people I've ever had or will have the pleasure of working with; everyone recognized that, which is probably why the professors didn't feel defensive about being spoofed.</p> <p>I think part of the reason academics are often the focal point of such discussions is that they're so visible. If you teach, you stand in front of an audience, and they look at you. For better or worse, there's no way around being on display. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87331 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:16:34 +0000 crwilson 87331@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rosemerin and HannahC - I'm glad to hear you say that you've felt the negative vibes towards people who do care about fashion in academia. I think it depends on your discipline, of course, but in English, it can be difficult for political reasons. I was scolded by my (female) diss director after my defense for wearing an outfit that was "too colorful and feminine." Looking back, it probably wasn't the best choice, but strangely enough, I thought that the audience would be thinking about my dissertation, not my blouse. </p> <p>Since then, though, I've been paranoid about my work wardrobe choices. I still dress in a way that's fairly "feminine" because I can't seem to help it, but I'm a lot more self-conscious about it. I also don't dress nearly as casually as all of my male counterparts. </p> <p>I'm hoping, though, that I don't fit into any of the molds described above. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87322 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:11:44 +0000 HannahC 87322@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rosemerin and Tanya, I completely agree with you about being looked down on if you dress nice, I felt this too. But! Once you are there long enough and you had established yourself, people know you for your research and not for what you are wearing. I already mentioned the distinguished professor with a very classy style and unique silver necklaces. Another very prominent female professor in my field wears exclusively designer clothes (the kind you can clearly see it is designer - expensive cashmere, beautifully tailored origami-style skirts, this sort of thing). Nobody thinks less of them because of that.</p> <p>I like to think that people in my research area know me and my work well enough not to look down on me because I am putting a lot of thought in the way I dress (I don't want to say "dress stylishly" because I am not sure I am there yet ). Well, at least I hope this is the case. My clear advantage is, of course, that I have a permanent position in a research lab, so I am not on the market; and also, people I work with directly are already used to the way I dress :)</p> <p>Jean, I always thought that academics in art and design are the most stylish ones, and the ones in science are the least stylish (sadly). I think math is the frumpiest department, computer science, engineering, and physics are a very close second, it improves a tiny bit in chemistry and biology (I am guessing because there are a little bit more women there), and it uphill from there.</p> <p>Tanya, good luck with finishing writing your Ph.D. thesis! How are the interviews going? Do you have job offers already? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87301 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:42:41 +0000 Kathleen 87301@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Tassajara, </p> <p>No, I do understand that it was meant as tongue-in-cheek, but it simply struck me that way, perhaps, because my mood is blah. But, oh well. </p> <p>Thanks! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87290 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:45:19 +0000 greenglove 87290@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What an interesting topic. I am also in academia. I teach at both liberal arts colleges and professional Art colleges. I have noticed a difference between fine art teachers and design teachers. Designers are by far more fashionable. Art teachers from what I have observed are much more relaxed, casual and sometimes just frumpy. I think it is because teaching studio courses is fairly messy. I have been determined to bring smocks and clothes that I can change into so that I do not have to spend the whole day looking like a mess. Many teachers could not be bothered. I have noticed that the English department seems oblivious to fashion. I noticed a huge difference while at the arts festival in Edinburgh this year between those at the book festival and those hanging out at theaters. The book people were very casual, lots of Birkenstocks and grey hair for the women. I have no problem with people not being interested in fashion and hope that they likewise have no problem with those of us who are. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87286 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:00:41 +0000 Tanya 87286@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Another Ha from me here I do not have the time go into this at length that I would want to (and I have already written about this many times on this board) , but I 1000% agree with Rosemerin. I am in a hard-science male dominated research field where every effort to look nice is frowned upon. There is whole 'reverse snobbery" thing going on - the nicer you look the less smart and dedicated to science you are assumed to be. It really drives me crazy, since I am quite into trends and fashion.</p> <p>Anyway, I have to go back to writing of my PhD thesis, it is due in a couple of days! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87285 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:35:17 +0000 Rose 87285@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>HA! you left out ME. I am an academic, I don't think I fit any of those profiles (I don't wear a suit, and I try not to be frumpy), and I am too shy (?) to be a 'pseudo-ethnic, exotic-wannabes' (who doesn't want to be exotic though )<br /> I agree with Medusa's comments.. but also.. Most of all, I can tell you that it is just really hard to find the time to care about what you wear in academia.. and you are almost looked down on if you look nice, people know you will spent some part of your day looking nice when you could have been working. Yes--I have gotten comments to that effect. This is why I try hard to make it look "effortless" </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87258 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:09:27 +0000 marianne 87258@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't see anything wrong with people not putting an effort into their appearance - as long as basic hygiene rules aren't violated. I actually do feel a bit shallow for my interest in clothes in this type of environment (I am not in academia but worked in IT for years), but I suppose it can be viewed as a fairly harmless hobby like videogames :). Not that I am that polished or fashion-forward.<br /> The 3rd type in April's classification is my least fave, probably because of resulting dissonance. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87233 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:41:44 +0000 Dawn 87233@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Kathleen, I too am going into academia as a profession and I don't find this post disheartening. Personally I believe that it is written with the best of intentions and completely tongue-in-cheek. Of course, academics deserve a great deal of respect for their research, teaching and guidance of students; and I'm sure no contributor to this thread is diminishing their value down to their appearance. However I have seen so many fashion crimes committed by academics and this is merely categorising and sharing stories about it. I personally don't feel like academic women are being judged or mocked in this thread.</p> <p>Also one of my favourite lecturers who inspired me to go onto further study wears a pink sports jacket every Monday. All his students get a giggle out of it but at the end of the day, we all know that he is far more knowledgeable than any of us. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87230 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:36:38 +0000 RoseandJoan 87230@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Medusa for making a 31 year old stop and think. You're an inspirational lady who has both a beautiful mind and style to boot. </p> <p>My geography teacher who did have a complete disregard for his appearance was probably one of the best story tellers I have ever met.</p> <p>I should also think of the expression about glass houses and stones as I work in probably the least stylish and most uniformed industry on the planet...FINANCE.</p> <p>My apolgies if my posts are ever offensive to anybody. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87229 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:33:29 +0000 Kristen 87229@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>OMG, do not even get me started on the frumpiness in the IT world! I sit next to a guy who LITERALLY wears short-sleeved button-downs and a pocket protector in his chest pocket. Every. Single. Day.</p> <p>My little fashionista self cringes every morning when I see his little stunted tie and the plastic monstrosity in his pocket. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87226 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:28:53 +0000 Danja 87226@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just so no one thinks that we are here laughing at the academics as style challenged, I remember a biology professor who was dressed like she was at a Chanel photo-shoot, always classy and very stylish, not to mention that she was a fantastic and super-hard professor.<br /> Also, I am going to add that in my field, which is software, where women seem to be covered by the endangered species act, one often comes across frumpy outfits donned by both genders. Mine is not so much a critique of their stylishness, but of taking pride in their appearance which often goes hand-in-hand with social skills (or lack of). I'll take a boring outfit any day, over a washed out baggy t-shirt, flip-flops and pair of shorts or sweats. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87216 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:14:45 +0000 HannahC 87216@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>April, you crack me up!</p> <p>Yes, I've seen a fair share of women academics who dress in jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers, and that's fine. I am in computer science, and many of them just prefer not to think about clothes. I respect that, and I agree that our lives are extremely demanding as they are, and not thinking about fashion and/or style can be quite liberating. </p> <p>Medusa, I am a woman academic too, and I don't think this conversation is disrespectful. </p> <p>Maya, speaking about suits - in sciences, at least here, if you wear a suit people will be very surprised. The uniform is on the opposite side of scale: baggy jeans, sneakers, and t-shirts (sweatshirts in winter).</p> <p>At the same time, one of the most stylish women I know IRL is a very prominent professor in a very prominent university. She has a great figure and a great taste. She is always dressed very modestly but in stylish colors and cuts (nothing boxy or masculine!), and she has a collection of unique silver necklaces, which she wears daily. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87215 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:11:48 +0000 Kathleen 87215@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hey Guys, </p> <p>I agree that in every profession there a "types" if you can call it that, but as someone is who going into academics as a profession I found this post a little disheartening. As a student I do not dress in the typical college wear - jeans, tee's, sneaker etc. I tend to dress in suits, dresses, nice professional clothing - don't know why I just love it I guess - I also love chunky jewelry - any jewelry! </p> <p>Anyway, I am going to make a post regarding this later tonight. </p> <p>I will post a link too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87210 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:54:16 +0000 Louise 87210@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think the same applies to many education establishments- staff at my school seem to have a uniform of black bottoms and white t shirts with no accessories! I can't stand it, it makes me want to dress head to toe in multi colours to give the kids a bit of visual stimulation! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87203 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:39:42 +0000 April 87203@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>(I was writing my reply while others were replying, so didn't see all the comments until just now.)</p> <p>Yes, Medusa and MC, you're quite right that people deserve respect for far more than their style of dress. And as I noted above, any one of those people I was describing is more fashionable than I was as a student (and I was in school throughout my thirties - no excuse of being a teen.) No superiority here, merely the observation that in academia as in every other world - including the fashion world - there are "types." </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87197 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:32:55 +0000 April 87197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Dawn - your experience in a non-American U seems more stylish than what we usually see here! I'm not sure I have ever been taught by anyone I was tempted to imitate in dress. (Eek - my apologies to all the women of academia! I'm sure many of you are as sleek as can be - and there can be no doubt that *all* of you are sleeker than I was as an undergrad and grad student...) </p> <p>Christine - at least your husband has cool footwear!</p> <p>I didn't comment on the men, partly because - sorry to any male academics who may be reading - there was nothing to say. Rumpled I-do-my-own-laundry-but-don't-really-know-how outfits of no particular distinction. Faded corduroy pants. Shirts in some vaguely checkered pattern. The best-dressed men, to my eye, were the true preppies, who at least wore good-quality button-down shirts and decent (very classic, very old) tweedy sports jackets. </p> <p>Don't get me started on the hairstyles of academic men... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87195 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:32:32 +0000 Maya 87195@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well in all fairness to the suity ones, they often don't have a choice. In many fields, anything besides a boring suit is frowned upon. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87190 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:27:16 +0000 marianna 87190@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think Medusa makes a good point. Not all women have to dress by society's standards of what a "woman" is. We cannot essentialize what a woman is. </p> <p>I just finished up my undergrad (today!) and some of my most intellectual and most intriguing female professors were not necessarily stylish by our standards. And I think that's okay. They didn't need style to have successful lives. It's all about choice in the end. We are lucky that we have the choice to dress fab, or not so fab. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87187 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:20:31 +0000 medusa 87187@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Some of these descriptions are quite funny!</p> <p>I think we should be a bit careful with this discussion, because it could sound like we're mocking people, being exclusive, or being superior. A lot of academics have zero interest in clothes, and that's ok. I don't want to insult them for that. I'm in science, and a lot of women dress in jeans and a t shirt or sweatshirt. I did this for years - both because it's easy and comfortable, and because I didn't want my appearance to draw attention to my gender. </p> <p>It has actually been very important to me to see older women scientists who still do the jeans &#38; t shirt look. They are style role models to me, because they show that it's possible to be a successful professional woman while going against many societal expectations for how women should look. Whether they are doing this consciously or not, they are expanding the range of what women's behavior can be. I've decided that I don't want to dress like that anymore, but I still respect it. I can chose to dress up more in part because I freely choose to, and not because I have to. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87166 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:23:00 +0000 crwilson 87166@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I love this April! I can identify specific people who match your descriptions. I work at a male-dominant university, and the dress code seems to be jeans, a t-shirt, and old man tennis shoes. My husband (we teach at the same place) always teaches (much to my horror) in jeans, a t-shirt, and Doc Martens. At least he's not wearing old man shoes! One of the senior professors here regularly wears sweat pants to class - yes, you read that right - sweatpants!!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87162 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:08:29 +0000 Dawn 87162@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The I-was-cool-when-I-wrote-my-PhD lecturers- They are still wearing what they wore in their mid-twenties.</p> <p>In fairness to some of my male lecturers, they do try hard- blazers, sweaters, jeans and Converse- and some of them get away with it. It's just that they get the pant length so completely wrong...</p> <p>I had some really well dressed female lecturers- I'm in the social sciences side of things- despite the overbearing attitude of brains vs beauty in this department. One of my sociology lecturers was so unbelievably edgy- biker boots, really short hair, cool glasses, skinnies, Converse- while another of my lecturers was classic-sporty with lots of denim, colourful knits and cool boots and shoes. One of my politics lecturers was oh so unbelievably cute- pastels, knee-length skirts, ruffles- I wanted to dress like her for the semester she taught me.</p> <p>The other female lecturers- they weren't dowdy. Some certainly had a boho vibe going on but I wouldn't classify them as the pseudo ethnic crowd as these women were wearing Celtic jewellery and Aran wool knits, etc. (just very Irish). Others just didn't have the same element of style in their outfits. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87137 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:38:39 +0000 Danja 87137@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ha ha, April I think you pretty much nailed the types. Too funny!</p> <p>Could you do a write up on male educators? That should be even more fun to read. Just don't forget the chalk stains around pant pockets as an accessory. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/the-styles-of-academia#post-87130 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:31:38 +0000 RoseandJoan 87130@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ </p>