Dr. de Moda!

Today I successfully defended my dissertation.  A few days ago I started thinking about what I would wear to my defense.  I initially planned to wear my LBS (little black suit).  Then, I started thinking if there wasn't a way to show a little bit more of my personality but to still look polished and professional.

I found a lovely pink and black Tahari Dress at Filene's Basement last week when I was shopping with the Dissertating Yogini, but they didn't have it in any size close to my own, and I knew I wouldn't have time for alterations.  So on Saturday in an attempt to occupy myself I went to the mall just to take a spin around Nordstroms and Macy's to see if I might find anything wearable and on sale.  I figured that if I didn't I could find something in my wardrobe or revert back to the LBS idea if push came to shove.  I found the Tahari Dress again in a size that fit.  It was full price, but I figured even though I'll only defend my dissertation once, I could probably get more usage out of it as conference attire.  Boy was I wrong about that!  When I put in on this morning, I realized that I could see any and every line and bump in the mirror.  Even with a slip lines that in no way should have been visible were, so I put on hose.  I checked the mirror again, and saw that a huge line running up the middle of my butt was then visible thanks to the hose. What the fuck, Macy's mirrors?!?!?  Thanks for nothing.

Possibly no one but me would have noticed, but I couldn't imagine going through a defense already feeling horribly self-conscious about lines on my ass.  So I went for my old standby purple plaid dress with my old standby combo of dress + blazer and my briefcase.¹

1. Dress - Rabbit Rabbit (remixed)

Blazer - Calvin Klein (remixed)

Shoes - John Fluevog (remixed)

Briefcase - McKlein USA (remixed)

Cameo earrings - Secondhand via Ebay (remixed)

By the way if you google "dissertation defense attire" or "what to wear to a dissertation defense" or the like you will get hit upon some interesting threads.  According to one forum, most physicists would be laughed out of the room if they wore a suit and some economists had the impression that you could fail if you weren't dressed up enough because it might be a sign you weren't taking the event seriously. While I realized that my sartorial choices probably had no effect on the outcome of today's events.  I wanted to feel good about my appearance, and I wanted to feel like myself.  And since all of this outfit was remixed I felt comfortable in pieces that I know and love.

Have you ever had a similar outfit malfunction?  Would you have changed under similar circumstances or would you have forged ahead lines and all?

Wardrobe problem aside, I'm relishing this moment!  I'm off this evening to celebrate!