PhD in Clothes

The best bags and backpacks for grad students in 2026

If you’re headed back to grad school, starting a PhD program, or just gearing up for a new school year as an academic, it may be time to revive your current backpack. Here are 14 of the best bags and backpacks for grad students that I would recommend in 2026!

What to wear to your dissertation or thesis defense, 2026 edition

It has been 8 years since I defended my dissertation, but I still remember the last-minute panic of trying to pick an outfit. If you are finishing grad school soon, you might be in the same boat! So today, some awesome, stylish readers tell us what to wear to your dissertation or thesis defense–and they have some truly amazing ideas for matching your outfit to your research topic!

An unsponsored Tony Bianco women’s shoes review

Every once in a while, I see a new cute shoe brand everywhere–and then I realize how many of those posts are sponsored or gifted to influencers. That was the case with the Tony Bianco Gatsby loafer this year, and I was sooo taken in by its vintage look and promise of super-comfortable leather. So I decided to try the brand for myself! Here’s my Tony Bianco women’s shoes review, including my thoughts on comfort, support, and if the brand is worth the price!

Hot weather clothing for work: Summer fashion conundrums, by reader request

It’s hot as heck in the northern hemisphere, which leads to allll kinds of fashion challenges. No one wants to find, let alone put on, hot weather clothing for work–but it is possible! Here’s what’s on your mind, according to my Instagram DMs.

Cute Outfits for When It’s Way Too Hot Outside: Hot Weather Outfits for Summer 2026

We just hit our first heatwave in parts of the US, and you may find yourself wondering what the heck to wear when it’s above 90 degrees (or 100…or 110 if you are desert dweller like me!). Dressing cute when it’s way too hot out is a tough challenge, even worse if you need office outfits. Here are some hot weather outfits and what I’m buying to feel fashionable in Summer 2026.

Work-Appropriate Women’s T-Shirts That Aren’t See-Through (2026 Reviews)

If you work in a casual office environment, you can probably wear a t-shirt to work. But which t-shirt to choose? They are certainly not all equally effortless, stylish, easy to clean, not see-through, not revealing of bra outlines, and made of natural materials. What? Are my demands too much??? Here are my personal favorite work-appropriate women’s t-shirts.

Outdoorsy professional: Outdoor professional clothing for women…do they exist?

Sometimes readers send me their delightfully specific academic style conundrums, but today, I’m coming to you with my own! I have been asked to facilitate a professional workshop…in nature. This has led me down a rabbit hole of outdoor professional clothing for women. These might be for you if you do fieldwork, lead classes outside, or otherwise need to get dirty!

How to run your style like a researcher

I was talking to a student last week who was really concerned about what to wear in graduate school. She didn’t know the formality level of her new program, and received some mixed messages from several of the faculty there. As we chatted, I realized she was concerned because she wasn’t “into” fashion. But she was into research! Today, allow me to tell you why being a researcher translates well into picking outfits.

FitFlop women’s sandals review: Stylish and supportive

Sandal season is upon us, but just any pair of flat sandals will not do for me; I’m always looking for sandals with great arch support. It’s a plus if they’re stylish enough to bring along on any vacation. This is exactly how I found out about the brand FitFlop: they’re not just flip flops! Here’s my FitFlop women’s sandals review, complete with thoughts on sizing, quality, and the best walking sandals they offer.

Graduation essentials: What to bring to commencement!

If you’re graduating with a graduate degree this semester, congratulations!!! Or maybe you’re a faculty member heading to watch your students graduate. You might be wondering what to bring to commencement. After you figure out what to wear, it might hit you that…the ceremony is super long. Now that I attend commencement every year as a faculty member, here is what I wish I knew before my first ceremony.