Polka Dots and International Women's Day

I was hoping to be able to put together all the excellent submissions we had to our CFP to celebrate International Women's Day today, but, alas, I'm behind.  Due to a pressing deadline and piles of grading I won't be able to get to it until next week.  I'll instead celebrate International Women's Day by spending most of it trying to advance my own career by working on a publication project and by writing part of a lecture about Suffragettes and women's struggle for the right to vote and for other political rights in nineteenth-century Europe.

In the meantime, I'll suggest you read the round up of excellent posts on feminist style icons if you haven't done so yet and leave you with a teaching outfit that I wore a couple weeks back (pre-haircut) just full of polka dot action for today's Everybody Everywear.

(Blouse - Sandra Angelozzi (Femme de Carriere and remixed), Cardigan - Willi Smith (remixed), Skirt - H&M (remixed), Boots - John Fluevog (via Ebay and remixed), Tights - Target (remixed)Watch - New York & Co. (remixed)

(Reasons I'm not already done grading: Wine - Apothic Red, Bailey - Adopted from local shelter in August 2009, Blanket - Target (gift from M.))

What are you doing for International Women's Day?  How will you celebrate and honor the achievements of women?

FBFF: Beauty Products, A Roundtable

First things first.  We'd like to announce that the winner of our Shabby Apple Giveaway was Anne!

Congratulations, Anne!  We'll be in touch shortly.  Thanks to everyone who entered and who reads our blog!

Now without further ado, we're on to this week's FBFF Questions.  For more information about FBFF, head over to Modly Chic.


1.  What's your favorite drugstore makeup product and your favorite higher end product?

AUH: High End: MAC Plushlash. Drugstore: Revlon Quad in Wil Orchids

LHdM: My favorite drugstore product is Mabeline Mineral Power Blush.  I don't really do high end make up.  I guess the highest you could say I go is I wear Aveda and Body Shop lipsticks.  Aveda's are my favorite.

SFE: Boots No7 (at Target in the U.S.) powder and black eyeliner. Over the past few years I've stopped using a lot of drugstore makeup because I find it difficult to work with or find colors I like and that was wasting money.  I think I throw out 2/3 of every lipstick/gloss I buy at CVS.  For a couple more dollars I can buy Clinique and use it until it runs out.  It's actually worked out to be cheaper. And my favorite higher-end product is Stila eyeshadow, especialy the combination of Kitten and Holly Golightly.  I use it at least 3 times a week, but it looks awesome for low-light, bar-light or theatre-going as well.

2. Is there one type of product that is your go-to, can’t live without?

AUH: Eyeshadow. I can look pale with pinched lips and not care as long as I've got some paint on my lids.

LHdM: Moisturizer with an SPF.  I use of Oil of Olay.  Honestly, I don't always wear make up, especially in the hot and humid months of summer, but I always wear my moisturizer.

SFE: Blush (I use Origins). If I'm running late and I only have time for one thing, I will go with blush because it makes the most difference for me. If you can add lipstick/gloss while in the car, on the train/bus even better.

3. What’s the best hair product you’ve ever used?

AUH: Aveda Be Curly shampoo and conditioner. Sausage curls ftw.

LHdM: Aveda anything really.  I use the Be Curly when my hair is longer.  Right now I use their Color Conserve shampoo and conditioner, and Confixor, Smooth Infusion, and Volumizing Tonic.

SFE: Bumble and Bumble Brillantine. So worth it.

4. Fess up, what’s the worst beauty look you’ve tried to rock and look back at now with a little shame or apprehension that you actually did that? 


AUH: Blue eyeshadow and red lips. I was 12 but looked 16 or 17, so it's even more embarrassing to see in photos.

LHdM: I used to go to the tanning bed a couple times a week and was pretty tan.  It's less the look that I feel apprehensive about than the fact that I might have given myself skin cancer.  I've been trying to embrace paler skin the past few years.

SFE: Bangs.  I have a really uneven hairline and it just doesn't work. Also, I regret the smoky eyeshadow I wore for my engagement photos--even though it probably looks the best on me the photos were taken during the day in natural light, not at night.

5. When it comes to beauty products, we all use the same basic products. What do you use that helps show off your personal flare and personality?  

AUH: Er....my mother's love? I have been blending purple and teal eyeshadow recently for a Mardis Gras look, if that counts.

LHdM: I'm pretty minimalist in my beauty routine, so I don't have a good answer to this question.  I love to wear lipstick, though, and I go through cycles when I paint my nails a lot.  And even though I don't wear much make up, I do notice that I'm still wearing more than many of my female colleagues.  Some of whom have told me they were socialized not to wear make up during grad school.

SFE:  Stila eyeshadow.  It's a little sparkly, which shows off my sparkling personality.

So what about you?  Do you use many beauty products?  What are some of your favorites?  Do you feel pressured to not wear make up?

When You Encounter Other Fashionable Academics

1. Dress - Ann Taylor Loft
Cardi - Gap
Boots- Ann Taylor Loft (remixed)
Scarf - Gap

I'm one of those grad students who regularly frequents departments/disciplines other than my own because my methodological issues and historical period overlap with those other departments. I took classes in those other departments and even TA-ed for them. As interdisciplinary as I work, it was still surprising when yet ANOTHER program asked me to give a public response to a lecture from a visiting scholar. And that program consists of many faculty and grad students who come from elsewhere in the world and their styles reflect that.


Giving a paper or a response always seems so high stakes even if its within your department or university.  And actually, giving a response is always scarier for me--what if I misconstrued something in the work I am responding to?  I usually wear a gray cardi and pearls with this dress but I didn't want to feel so formal.  Sometimes sartorial formality betrays an inward nervousness. 

3. Close-up of floral flourishing on dress

So, what about you? Do you, my fellow Fashionable Academics, find yourself being more style-conscience when encountering one type of department/classroom/conference over the ones you normally frequent? Or, is the bar already high in your home department?

Blogging News

Dear readers, I'm happy to announce the big news that our very own Megarita is pregnant and due near the winter holidays!  Since she is teaching during the fall semester at her university and working on some publications in addition to being preggers, her presence on the blog will be limited over the next few months.

 Source

We wish her all the best for a happy and easy pregnancy!  I for one can't wait to buy baby clothes for her progeny.  I am also pulling for her to decorate like this!

We are also very excited to announce that we have a new member of our blogging team, "Shakespeare's Feminine Ending."  She is a doctoral student in the Humanities at a Midwestern University, who shares our love of style, cheese, wine, and travel.  Look for her inaugural post, coming soon!

Shakespeare's Feminine Ending with Herr Doktor in January of 2010

Birthday Festivities

So far I've had a really lovely birthday.  One of my best friends came into town yesterday afternoon and stayed the night with me.  After a dinner and ice cream with some other friends of ours, we came back to my place and watched a dvd, drank some wine, and laughed heartily at the antics of our dogs.  Bailey and Jack truly made it an epic slumber party.

In the morning we got up and went to meet up with some other friends for a delicious brunch at one of my favorite restaurants.  It was a big group of academics representing the disciplines of History, English, Chemistry, Theatre, and Natural Resources.  My darling friend had to take off early to go do some fieldwork in the forest.  I think she might have changed for her day in the woods, but she was rocking shorts over tights (We Love Colors and a birthday present from me) with knee socks before she had to go.

thechemist-coture also had to flee shortly thereafter as he had an experiment going in the lab and had to get back in time for the next step, so I quickly ordered everyone to gather round for a photo, as we were all looking quite put together, including M. who was taking the picture.  Please excuse any weird squinting, as the sun was directly in our eyes.

Ann Underfunded Humanity¹ and I² took a few photos, though, to showcase our outfits before I headed off to partake in one of my favorite birthday traditions: a day of shopping by myself.  Occasionally, I will allow someone to accompany me, but most people don't have my stamina for perusing the racks in thrift stores and Filene's Basement for hours.  I'll show you my birthday loot over the next week or so.

1. Dress - Anthropolgie

Shoes - Naturalizer

Hose - ???

2. Dress - Shabby Apple (gift from my mom!)

Cardi - August Silk (thrifted and remixed)

Tights - Target

Shoes - Kenzie Girl (remixed)

Earrings - Gift (Stacia Davis Moore)

Ring - Gift (hand-made in Columbia)

AUH got this dress on sale from Anthropologie.  Isn't it gorgeous?  She better keep an eye on her closet the next time that I'm over....

So my mom sent me this Shabby Apple dress for my birthday.  I had been seriously coveting it, but I'm not sure that I love the length of it for my figure.  Everything else about the dress is perfect, and I honestly love this color with my complexion and hair color.  What do you think?  Should I get it hemmed to knee length?

Hitting the High Notes

On Sunday, LHdM and myself took our respective husbands out to the opera and a Valentines day dinner. I love to dress up for the theatre. And a second perk of dressing up (in addition to listening to a wonderful symphony or in this case a phenomenal opera performance) is getting the chance to see what everyone is wearing! During the intermission as I watched people milled around I noticed a few sour notes (Ugg boots at the opera??) but mostly got some really great ideas for some fashion trends I’d like to try. In particular I spotted a gentlemen wearing a great double breast pocketed button down shirt in a military-ish green. In fact the outfit was sort of a twist on military dress (epaulettes and various small pockets) with some black pants and a silver silk skinny tie. I know most of you must be scratching your heads right now, because how could you make that look formal? But it really was a great look although slightly unexpected at the opera! Do you skew traditional when attending events like these? Or do you go out on a limb? One of the trends at these performances is to see and be seen, so which do you catch yourself doing more?

Sunny Side Up

I've worn my yellow cardigan a lot, and, since I paid full price (something I rarely do) for it back in October, that's a very good thing.  I wore it to have brunch with some other fashionable academics a week or so ago, and paired it with simple black and white stripes¹.

1. Cardi - New York & Co. (remixed)

Jeans - Express (remixed)

Shirt - ??? (Filene's and remixed)

Flats - Me Too (DSW and remixed)
Belt - from a dress (remixed)
Socks - Target

I wore it² again yesterday to teach -- or at least I tried to.  On a normal day I have about an hour to commute to the small liberal arts college where I teach.  Yesterday, though, it snowed several inches during the night and into the morning, and the bad road conditions on the interstate made me decide to turn around before I had to face even worse conditions on the state highways.  So I instead of teaching I just bummed around in this outfit -- did a little work, watched a movie, and snuggled with Bailey.

2. Dress - Nine West (Filene's and remixed)

Cardi - See above

Tights - HUE (remixed)

Boots - John Fluevog Bondgirls (remixed)

Belt - See above

It would also seem that I'm not the only one who loves this cardi....  Ann Underfunded Humanity borrowed it from me to wear with her gorgeous goose dress from Anthropologie at my wedding reception.

I love that this cardigan is making the rounds from casual weekend wear, to classroom wear, to party wear.  I'm also happy and relieved that Ann gave me my cardigan right back.  I can't believe there was a time only a few months ago that I didn't wear or even own a single item of yellow clothing!

Is there an item in your closet that seems to transition effortlessly back and forth between casual wear to classroom or work appropriate attire?

A Fashionable Academics Brunch

On Saturday La Historiadora de la Moda and I got together with some friends for an amazing brunch. La Historiadora de la Moda wore one of my favorite cardigans (well, one of my favorite cardigans on her. I covet it). I then went on to covet everyone else's accessories (as well as their entrees), from the purse on the table to the scarf on the fashionable academic next to me. I must have been anticipating Punxatawny Phil's forecast because I once again wore my LBC (little black coat) and kept it on for the entire meal.

And here I am full of post-brunch energy. I look almost ready to tackle that messenger bag full of books. Almost.
For the casual brunch look, I opted for jeans, my comfy El Naturalistas, and an ancient Abercrombie shirt. I love wearing long tank tops with jeans, which the short jacket allows me to do even in the winter. The miracle jacket isn't too warm indoors and provides sufficient warmth when there's snow on the ground.
Shoes: El Naturalista (remixed)
Jacket: Tabitha via Anthropologie (remixed)
Jeans: Old Navy
Tank top: Abercrombie
What are your favorite brunch outfits? Do you tend to prefer dressy, casual, or a mix?

Channeling My Inner Betty Draper - Holiday Party Edition

I love Mad Men and my personal style has been significantly influenced by the character of Joan.  However, there's much to love about Betty Draper's sophisticated, pretty style too.  My fiance and I hosted a Holiday Party the other night, and I tried to channel my inner Betty Draper with my party dress¹, pretty prints, cooking, and hosting skills.

I couldn't find one of the attachments to my food processor, so I had to grate about a million potatoes for latkes by hand before the festivities could start.

1. Dress - White House Black Market

Floral cardi - Target

Tights - Target

Suede pumps - Nine West (DSW)

Cameo Choker - Etsy
Bracelet - Gift
Earrings - Edwin Pearl (Filene's Basement)

We were joined by a number of friends in festive attire for the latkes and other goodies and festive, holiday drinks, like pomegranate cocktails, mulled wine, and candy cane flavored beverages.

You can see my cameo choker better here.

Have you been to any holiday parties yet?  What did you wear?  We Fashionable Academics hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season!  Stay safe and warm and on top of your academic (or other work-related) responsibilities!

Brunching Buddies

Yesterday my fiance and I bombarded our parents with fashionable academics.  We had several historians and a chemist -- thechemist-coture, to be specific -- over to meet our families.  We had a delicious brunch of pancakes, eggs, biscuits, fruit, bloody marys, and mimosas.  We tried to limit the shop talk, but we weren't entirely successful.  And the subjects of this blog and dressing for the classroom to set ourselves apart from our students did come up.  Of course, thechemist-coture¹ and I² are always interested in the subject of dress....

Thanks to an academic assistant, thechemist-coture and I also had an opportunity for a brief photo shoot:

1. Pants - Express
Shirt - Banana Republic
Tie - Tasso Elba
Cardigan - Thrifted
Shoes - Robert Wayne

2. Shirt - H&M

Cardi - Target

Skirt - H&M

Tights - HUE (Filene's Basement)

Boots - Blanco (super duper sale)

Belt - From another dress

Necklace - self-made from an earring

I hope you all had a great weekend!  For those of you in academia, how much longer until your winter holiday vacation begins?

Dedicated to My Friends, The Ecologists

Although I am a historian, it wasn't always a sure thing.  When I was a kid I always assumed I'd be a scientist.  My late father was a zoologist and he encouraged this notion.  Somehow through the combination of inspiring professors and intriguing primary sources and perhaps sheer insanity, I ended up majoring in history and going to grad school.  Yet, I am drawn to people who work in and study the outdoors.  (Perhaps it's the end result of all those childhood days in the grasslands and piney woods looking for critters with my dad. ) One of my favorite people in the world studies trees. (She is bad-ass and always going camping with her dog and jumping off of big rocks!) Another friend of mine studies birds in urban environments.  Another studies wetland ecosystems.  They clearly dress a little bit differently for fieldwork than I do.

When I came across this skirt at a thrift store, I thought of them.  I thought the skirt was (and is) lovely, and so are they.

I wore it yesterday.¹  I realized that I was a day off because this skirt is a celebration of nature and it would have gone perfectly with my lecture on the Enlightenment (with its emphasis on Reason and Nature) and the Bourbon Reforms today.  Oh, well...

1. Skirt - Thrifted

Halter top - Hand-me-down (thanks FSIL!)

Cardigan - New York & Company

Boots - John Fluevog

Tights - Who knows....

Necklace - Gift from a friend

Blue Whimsy

Today was a long day.  My beagle got up at 6:15; normally that would have set me on the woman-vs.-beast-warpath, but this morning I was actually getting up that early too.  I had to commute out to the liberal arts college where I'm a visiting faculty member in order to observe one of my mentor's classes.  Then I had meetings with a couple of my students who wanted to discuss the papers they have due on Monday.  In the afternoon I drove back home to do an hour or so of work and then took a bus into campus to hear a talk that one of my dissertation committee members was giving.  Finally, I dropped stuff off at home and went to meet a couple of friends in the Sciences for dinner and a glass of wine.

I chose an outfit that had a little whimsy and played with different hues of blues accented with a bit of black and grey.*  My outfit held up really well and kept me cheerful throughout my busy day.  I also got a couple of compliments on my own teaching and research, as well as a couple on my outfit.  There's nothing like hearing from a student how much they like your class and how much they want to take the class you're putting on next term and hearing from one of your committee members that the last chapter that you submitted was "wonderful" to make your day.  Again, I argue that a sense of style and good scholarship are not antithetical. 

*Footnotes

Dress - Filene's Basement (clearance)

Cardigan - Target

Flower Pin - from another cardigan

Belt - from another skirt

Tights - Filene's Basement

Bracelet - Target (clearance)

Spectator Pumps - DSW

How do you brighten up your long days?

Think Pink

On days like today, when the weather is rainy and grey, it's especially hard to roll myself out of bed. Wouldn't it be so much better to stay curled up with blankets and hot coffee (or tea with honey and lemon) and alternate reading Renaissance dramas and early modern history with fashion magazines and blogs? Unfortunately, neither my dog nor my teaching schedule allow me to shirk my duties just because the sun is hidden away behind wet, gloomy clouds. I do find that on days like this wearing a favorite colorful outfit or a fun, colorful accessory really helps to elevate my mood. Today I chose to wear pink for cheer and in celebration of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. (Perhaps I was also thinking about breasts because of that article in the Chronicle of Higher Education about cleavage and the job market.)



Here I'm wearing my pink and wine colored John Fluevog boots, pink stockings, which I have somehow magically managed to run in two years of ownership, my uber soft and comfy grey dress, a pink scarf that I salvaged from an old blouse that no longer fits, and my pink jacket from Zara. Armed with my pink umbrella, I went out to face the world, to read student drafts, and to teach class.

While I have yet to purchase anything from The Breast Cancer Site Store, I do try to remember to click for free mammograms on a daily basis and have registered for numerous Susan G. Komen events and will no doubt continue to do so. I also think there's a bag of pink peanut M&Ms calling my name.... These are small ways to make a difference. Call it idealism if you will, but I like to think that we do make a difference, when we show compassion, when we support charity, when we teach a text with enthusiasm and insight, when we hold the door for someone, when we say thank you, when we think pink.

From Filene's Basement to Your Friend's Basement: Dress Swapping and Budget Shopping

Let's say you're lucky: you found the skirt that goes with everything on sale at Banana Republic five years ago and it hasn't had coffee/wine/whatever spilled on it. It's a wonderful skirt. You can wear it in class, on a picnic, or to a concert. And then people start to notice you wearing it to every class, picnic, and concert, not to mention every single department event. However, no matter how low your salary or stipend may be, you no longer have to choose between breaking the bank and boring yourself and others with the same outfit.

The answer? Interdisciplinarity. Chances are, for every one of you out there with a Miracle Skirt, there is a woman in another department with a Miracle Dress that's been to a few too many meetings. Trading Miracle Skirt for Miracle Dress enables these items to keep their magic, allowing them to wow in a different environment. Trading clothing (as well as ideas) with friends from other departments is an excellent way to keep your wardrobe fresh without spending any money. Another benefit to consider: if you're trading work clothes, there's a chance that the suit you've just scored may have done the interview circuit before you've even sent out your resume. You and your friends can discuss how well the clothes you're trading performed in various professional situations, i.e. OK for delivering a paper but not for an interview, etc.

Of course, outfit trading does not answer the question of where to find worthy (and inexpensive) outfits to trade. In addition to thrift stores, I can honestly recommend Target, which has surprisingly funky (and yet appropriate) dresses. My favorite, a dark blue number with a cowl neck and some intense side flaring, is so unusual that I heard one salesperson whisper to another "she's actually trying that on!" However, if I can ever bring myself to give it away in a clothing swap, I can honestly say that it was a hit on the conference circuit.

I'd love to hear more suggestions from our readers, though, so please write in and share your shopping on a budget stories.