Style Perceptions Interview: Quintessentially Quirky

As spring semesters wind down across campuses in the U.S., it's time for one more interview in our style perceptions series.  Today's interview is with Tess of Quintessentially Quirky.  Tess is a writer, a lover of cheese, an English major, and a lovable nerd. She is prone to making sarcastic jokes, recommending pretentious indie bands, and overanalyzing her own life - all of which she does on her blog, Quintessentially Quirky.  Tess's blog muses on university life in DC (although she will be frolicking around Scotland next year), photography, fashion, films, music, and books. She has a penchant for wearing mustard yellow, animal necklaces, and mixed patterns.

I asked Tess if she would mind answering a few questions about how she views her professors' sartorial choices when she wasn't too overwhelmed with final papers and exams.  Without further ado, here are her answers.

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 am an overly observant person, so of course I notice what they are wearing. Mostly it is to take note of how ridiculous their outfits are: platform sneakers for a short professor, comically large trousers on my skinny literature professor, and the occasionally stained sweater vest on my religion professor. However every so often the younger TAs are quite stylish and openly discuss their love of Anthropologie with me. But my fellow classmates rarely recognize professorial fashion unless I point it out.

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? 

I prefer the business casual look on professors. If a professor is literally in tweeds I blanch at the stereotype and pretentiousness. I like the nice jeans with a blazer look or khakis and an oxford on the men. Women look good in dress pants and a fun top or a well cut, but reserved dress. However casual can go too far, professors need to stay out of tracksuits, gym shorts, or shorts in general. I think the biggest goal is that you need to differentiate yourself from your students in some way. Of course, you can shop at similar stores, but I would hate to walk in and find I have the same sweater as a professor. You need to stand out as a professor, granted most college students bum out in Uggs and sweats, so it is not hard to be professorial.

In what ways do the dress and style of your professors impact the way you respond to them?  Do you automatically respect an instructor more if s/he is well-dressed?  Does an instructor's attire make him/her more approachable/less approachable?  

I rarely view wardrobe as an indicator of a good professor or not. If I have a well dressed female professor occasionally I will compliment her on her outfit, which is always fun, but clearly does not determine her teaching skill.

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

Initially I would be a little surprised, however professors in college are different than teachers in high school. I believe you are allowed to be a little more free form in university settings as far as the professor/student relationship goes. Although this has never happened to me personally, students get invited to professors' houses sometimes and I have definitely seen my professors drunk before (it was highly amusing). I appreciate the closer relationship. In college, students should be reminded professors are people too, so I guess a professor with a fashion blog would not bother me.

 Thanks so much to Tess for participating in our style perceptions series here at Fashionable Academics!  If you haven't already been reading Quintessentially Quirky, I recommend that you head over to Tess's blog right now!