Tag: outfits

One fancy buy for Fall: A leather jacket

I’ve been on the hunt for a good leather jacket for several years now. Yes, years. And in that time, I’ve owned 2 jackets that were almost perfect, but not quite–both because I was trying to jump the gun when I saw them on sale. Anyway, this time, I decided to decide on exactly what I wanted in a leather jacket (minimal hardware, that cool waterfall effect on the front) and then wait until I found THE ONE.

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What is a 10×10 Challenge and why is it useful as a grad student or busy person?

The Summer 10×10 challenge is fast-approaching (start date: July 27th) and while my Instagram is abuzz with participants, I would like to make a quick invite to grad students/academics out there. A 10×10 is a 10-day challenge where you pick 10 items of clothes and remix them into 10 days of outfits. (More on that here!). I’ve completed 4 challenges now and I think they’re a great opportunity for grad students in particular! Here’s why:

Continue reading “What is a 10×10 Challenge and why is it useful as a grad student or busy person?”

Power outfits for defending, pt. 2

I’m so excited to say I passed my prospectus defense yesterday–I wrote 100 pages about what my dissertation will be about (1/3rd of the length of the full product!) and had to defend that before collecting data. Here’s what I wore…

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Defenses are really weird. The build up is big and then the let down can be…like nothing even happened. As one committee member likes to remind me, a defense is just another meeting for professors. Fair, but it also DETERMINES MY ENTIRE FATE so yeah it’s a little scary.

This defense was also downright weird–we talked for 1.5 hours and then were running out of time, so everyone was just like “yeah, good meeting!” and left…but usually at the end of a defense in our dept committee members meet without the student and then announce to you if you’ve passed or not…and they just…didn’t do that?? So I left the room like “ok! that’s over!” and then got half way down the hall before I was like “wait did I pass?” I spent the next 2 hours on an emotional rollercoaster about that before my advising meeting, where I asked my advisor, who replied “yes, wasn’t it obvious?”

Um, no. I am in grad school. Validate me always. Thanks. 

So with that flood of relief, I promptly changed outfits and went out looking for wine and a patio.

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All in all, a fine day. Weird, but better than the time the department lost my comprehensive exam answers. But that’s a story for another time. To anyone else defending as the semester ends: good luck! 😀

Summer 10×10 Days 2-5

Hi Friends! I’ve been in a comprehensive exam studying bunker but I’m still enjoying my 10 picks that I’m wearing for 10 days. Here’s what I’ve been wearing this week:

Nothing like the 10×10 to remind me that sometimes the simplest clothes are the best. This shirtdress is so versatile–I’ve worn it to teach and do dissertation interviews this month and it has made me feel confident in all situations! Also, may I suggest these Sam Edelman flat as the most comfortable teaching shoes ever?

I found this black button up at a thrift store for $15 and it is such an MVP. Also, Gap makes the best white jeans. The pockets in them are tan so they don’t show through the material. Genius.

This outfit was pretty boho for me but I love that only working with 10 items makes me branch out more.

I hope you’re all enjoying your week! Summer school teaching has been flying by so I’m trying to savor summer by doing lots of fun reading (here’s a spooky dystopian future series I’ve been enjoying–with all women characters, score!).

Summer 10×10 Day 1

Wahoo! I’ve picked my 10 clothing items and am ready to mix and match them to make 10 outfits over the next 10 days. This is perfect timing for me because my summer school class starts tomorrow, and this challenge will guide me through the first 10 days of teaching. Here are my picks:

I have three t shirts, one blouse, one dress, one skirt, and one pair of jeans.

As one of my instagram friends pointed out, I am dumb, and this is only 8 items. I had a pair of sandals on my feet when I took this picture that I knew were going to be part of the challenge, but even so, I’m only at 9 items of clothing. Suddenly I have decision fatigue and am drawing a total blank on what my tenth item should be! Suggestions welcome. I think a light cardigan would be good but I don’t have one that totally “goes” and I think going out shopping for one is counterproductive to a challenge about working with what you have.

For now, I’m just working with 9 items. Here is my day 1 outfit, the wildest thing I could think to do to start the day–make a shirt into a vest.

When I put this on I was all “noooo this is awful” but you know what I photographed it and then I thought it didn’t look so silly and now I’m accepting this idea of shirt-as-vest. So, this challenge is already a success for me! I’m excited to pick an outfit for tomorrow for my first day of teaching as well. Be back then with what I decided one!

I love 10×10 challenges because they make me really reach to try to find new and creative ways to wear my stuff. If you’re interested in starting one yourself, click here.