Style Perceptions Interview: Selective Potential

Although the lovely Tieka of Selective Potential just recently graduated from college (many congratulations to her on her accomplishment!),  I thought her college experience and her perceptions of the sartorial choices of her professors might still be fresh on her mind and I really wanted to get her take.  Tieka lives in Michigan with her darling husband.  As mentioned above, she's a recent graduate from a small art and design college and now works full-time at a recycling company. Her blog, Selective Potential, is a combination of personal style, her marriage, the trips and adventures she and her husband have in Michigan.. and in life.

I love Tieka's playful sense of style, and I completely covet her mint green scooter.  Her blog is just gorgeous, so I'm very happy she took the time to answer our questions.  Without further ado, here is her take.


What do you notice about what your professors/teachers are wearing?  Do you and your peers ever discuss the fashion choices of your professors?

I went to a small, private art college - so you'd see the students with such quirky fashion tastes, but the professors were actually quite conservative! One of my drawing professors, she was really into green design and building interiors that were green - so she wore very hippy-style clothing including anything recycled she could get her hands on! As for classmates and I discussing our professor's fashion choices - there wasn't much to talk about! It's simple - crisp, white shirts with crisp khakis! Surprising for an art college, but considering I was more in the graphic design and digital media classes.  

What kinds of attire do you think are appropriate for professors to wear when they're teaching? Is there anything that you really don't like to see your professors wearing?  How would you feel about a female professor wearing shorts over tights or flip flops?  How would you feel about a male professor wearing khaki shorts or gym shorts?  How would you feel about a professor wearing sweatpants or a tracksuit?

Since I'm so in love with fashion - and I did attend a quirky art college - I wouldn't at all be surprised to see a professor sporting shorts over tights or something new in the trends. But as for flip-flops, that would be strange, but probably not thought of much. As for male professors wearing khaki shorts - that would be quite normal, but gym shorts? No way. Maybe it's because I went to an art college, so we don't have any athletic teams or anything athletic about our school so sweatpants, tracksuits or gym shorts would really look strange!

Does the dress and style of your professors impact the way you respond to them, and if so how?  Do you automatically respect an instructor more if s/he is well-dressed on the first day of class?  Does an instructor's attire make him/her more approachable/less approachable? 

The dress or style might impact the way I respond - like for a night time typography class I had - she wore jeans and cute t-shirts with heels - and maybe her style, but most likely more so her personality just made the class very laid back feeling and comfortable. Some of the other professors - who dressed more seriously or took themselves more seriously - may be harder to approach. But to be honest, I've never had a professor at my college that I couldn't approach freely. Well, besides this old man who wore feathers around his neck and giant loop earrings (meanest old man on earth!) but you'd think his style would seem very interesting, but no, he was just a grumpy old man.

How would you react if you discovered that your professor was a style/fashion blogger?

I think that would be so awesome! But again - small, private art college - with a fashion club, our librarian is the most stylish lady you'd ever meet - who struts her stuff during the fashion show - so I wouldn't be surprised to see a professor (or our librarian!) with a fashion blog. I'd love it!

Thanks again to Tieka for participating in our Style Perceptions Series!  If you haven't already checked out Selective Potential, you definitely should! Congratulations again, Tieka, on your recent graduation!