Welcome back to a week of academic outfits, where a stylish person in higher ed shows us what they wear! This week, Sudipta, a PhD candidate in biology, shows us her outfits and talks about balancing academic lab clothes with personal style!
Sudipta is a PhD candidate in Biology, researching fruit flies. She has lived in five countries: “my fashion is an amalgamation of my living experiences from different countries.” Outside of research, Sudipta describes herself as a traveler, dancer, and “miniature hoarder”– “I love interior designing and my apartment has small collectibles from every city I’ve visited.”
Her favorite thing about academic fashion: I feel academic styling beautifully blends professionalism with personal idiosyncrasy, allowing individuality, especially at a formal, scholarly setting. Often times my thoughts and passions are translated through my style- be it earrings of marine animals, food items or biomolecules, prints with fun quotes, or simply a formal wear that I can dress up or down based on the setting I’m at.
Some favorite pieces: I don’t think I can pick just one favorite item in my wardrobe- I have a few. My black leather blazer, which I wore in one of my fall outfits, and my satin skirts definitely top the list. One of those skirts even made it into a photo taken at Harvard. Both pieces are incredibly versatile. In Pittsburgh’s unpredictable weather, a jacket that’s both formal and stylish is essential, and my leather blazer has saved me more than once. As for the satin skirts, I love how easily they transition from the lab to social meet-ups- I can go through an entire day without needing to change.
Where she shops: As a graduate student, I certainly cannot afford clothes at their retail prices, I live for sales. I mostly purchase clothes from Target, Abercrombie and Fitch, Mango, Zara, Gap, or Banana Republic (although, factory outlets!). If I have to find a unique piece at an affordable price, Goodwill or Avalon, a vintage shop in Pittsburgh, is always a great place to go.
Lab fashion: One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in developing my style in academia is balancing practicality with self-expression. In the lab, safety rules always come first—closed-toe shoes, fitted sleeves, and a lab coat. While essential, these can sometimes feel restrictive, especially when I want to dress with a bit more personality.
As an international student, I also juggle expressing my personal and cultural style while blending into a new academic environment. I’ve learned to work around this by choosing pieces that are both functional and stylish, often with subtle nods to my Indian roots. This might be a fun pair of shoes or earrings, a shirt made from unique fabrics like lyocell, satin, or organza, or even a simple T-shirt and jeans outfit layered with an open shirt or jacket featuring stripes, prints, or embroidery. These little touches help me feel authentic and confident, while still fitting within the practical demands of academia.
When my cousins visited me in Pittsburgh, a tour wouldn’t have been complete without a stop at the iconic Cathedral of Learning—affectionately known as Cathy. It’s the oldest building at the University of Pittsburgh, and stepping inside really does feel like entering Hogwarts (trust me on this one!). That day, I had come straight from the lab with no time to change, which led to a funny coincidence—my pants blended almost perfectly with Cathy’s stone façade. It turned into an unplanned style moment that I actually loved.
Advice for fellow grad students: Don’t be afraid to try new things. In my formative years of university (undergraduate and Master’s studies), I often harped on failures. I was afraid of the impression I was leaving on those above me in position. However, some of my lab colleagues were very supportive and reminded me that mistakes are part of the process. Their encouragement taught me that failure is not a reflection of my abilities but a stepping stone to growth. Since then, I’ve embraced challenges with more confidence, seeing each attempt as an opportunity to learn rather than a risk of embarrassment.
Thanks so much for sharing your fashion with us, Sudipta! You can find Sudipta on Instagram and Pinterest.
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This is a great post! Would love more pictures of the details (cute earrings, jewelry, etc.) in future posts like this.