PhD in Clothes

Fortress of Inca Boots Review

Last year I made a round up of ethical and sustainable fashion brands that make tall sizes. And there was a glaring issue with the list: no size 11 and 12 (and beyond!) shoes. I have been on the hunt ever since and am so happy to find Fortress of Inca. They make a wide range of classic styles (boots, mules, flats) and are committed to fair trade practices. AND, they’re launching size 11 shoes this month! So here’s a review of their Elise ankle boots and a hint about what styles are about to be in the extended range!

The Summer Road Trip Packing List I used 4 times

I love a good packing list and this summer was the summer of southwestern outdoorsy road trips. I accidentally packed the same duffle bag four times: for camping, a trip to Arches, a trip to Palm Springs, and a cabin trip. But hey, it worked and was full of stuff that went from hiking to dinner and kept me cool and comfortable in the car. Here’s my packing list plus some fun summer shots of where I wore it.

Boody Wear Review: Sustainable Activewear and Underwear

Boody wear leggings and activewear review

I have been trying the Boody padded shaper bra and underwear for a few months, and now have had the chance to try their new leggings and activewear. Everything by Boody is made with bamboo–a sustainable material–and it’s all been really well suited to my stay at home life in 2020. Here is my review and thoughts on sizing, comfort, and how the new activewear survived my workout test.

Career Talk: How I stopped being the office help desk

Do you field multiple texts a week from coworkers asking you for basic information? Do you dig things out of your inbox that most assuredly landed in theirs just to forward them info they missed? Do you find yourself linking the company website, tech tutorials, and other Google-able information to people who won’t go get it themselves? Me too. Or I used to. Before I made a decision…

Bike shorts outfit ideas: 2 ways to wear them outside the gym

Bike shorts have made a big comeback this year (and last year, I was just very hesitant last year). They make even more sense in the era of Zoom outfits as a comfy, stretchy way to stay cool while working from home. But how to bust them out beyond workout outfits? Here are two ways I’ve used mine and what tops I wore with them in both casual and work from home outfits this summer!

Every skincare product that has helped my terrible acne

I posted a picture of my medicine cabinet on Instagram this week, at which point it came to my attention that some of you think I have too many skincare products. To which I say: NEVER ENOUGH. No really, I think I do a decent job with concealer but I have some pretty aggressive hormonal acne and I have a product for ever phase of the fight against it. So today I thought I would take you on a medicine cabinet tour you didn’t ask for 🙂

3 ways I’m styling overalls with fall layers

Overalls can be a fun wardrobe edition but once you’ve put a t shirt under them you might be thinking: what else can I do? I’ve been playing around with fall layers, especially cardigans and jackets, with my overalls to extend the seasons I can wear them in as the weather gets chilly. So here are some ways I’ve styled my overalls for fall 2020!

Outfits Lately: Back to School

Greetings from the beginning of the school year. I am not ready to be busy again but it feels amazing to have a place to go and a reason to get dressed! Here’s what I wore for the first week of classes for some good old fashion professor style.

7 easy outfits for extreme summer heat

Just like midwesterners get sick of winter, we in Nevada get very, very tired of summer. Is it over yet?! Nope, not for at least another month. I have created some easy outfits lately for dealing with hot temperatures when you still want to feel put together. It’s hard to pick out summer outfits because the “third piece” rule (add a third item to an outfit to make it cool!) is just out the window. So, here are my recent attempts at layering that makes me feel like it’s early fall, without overheating.

20 in 2020 update: A purchase better than clothing

What makes something a good purchase, for you? I recently received my summer teaching paycheck and the anticipation of it hitting my bank account was such an exciting time. I abandoned approximately 1000 online shopping carts full of investment buys–nice bags, cashmere sweaters, and fine leather goods (TREAT YOSELF). But then the money came in and I was faced with extreme decision fatigue…