I just read a nice post on fashion in academia. Holy oxymorons, Batman! Daniel Myers' essay on Inside Higher Ed should be read in its entirety, but I have quoted the highlight below: academic fashion archetypes. If you see yourself, grab a credit card and head to the mall-it's makeover time!
Twenty popular faculty styles **
1. I’m not an Oxford professor, but I play one at Notre Dame.
2. This outfit worked at IBM in 1957, so why not wear it every day?
3. Why tuck in my shirt? I’ll just have to do it again tomorrow.
4. Bow ties say “intellectual,” are not the slightest bit nerdy and, as a bonus, they emphasize my growing midsection.
5. Versace Monday, Armani Wednesday: I’m sure to get a red hot pepper on ratemyprofessors.com.
6. I don’t have time to iron. I was up all night changing how we understand the fundamental building blocks of the entire universe.
7. That hole burned by 18 molar hydrochloric acid isn’t that bad. Why waste a perfectly functional pair of pants?
8. If you can get it at Sears, it’s still in style.
9. Suspenders and a belt. I teach security studies after all.
10. No one will notice I’m wearing black tennis shoes with this suit.
11. I need those elbow patches. Reading is hard work!
12. Polyester is the new black.
13. My gigantic glasses from 1987 are still in perfectly good shape. I think I’ll just replace the lenses.
14. Peace and love. It’s still the ’60s, isn’t it?
15.This leather jacket will let them know that I’m cool, man... I mean, dude.
16. I’m a low-level administrator, but I really, really, really want to be a high-level administrator.
17. I wanna wear jeans! But I’d better make it formal by adding a blazer.
18. It’s not that dirty. It was on the top of the laundry hamper.
19. My black pants aren’t too short. How else am I going to show off my new white socks?
20.To tweed or not to tweed? That is the question. And the answer is: To tweed!!
17 is NOT FUCKING FUNNEEE!!!!
One of my favorite professors in college wore a KC & The Sunshine Band belt buckle every day.
I'm not wearing a bowtie, but it behooves me to point out that hydrochloric acid can be 12 or 13 molar, at most. Also, if you want to burn holes in clothing, perchloric acid can't be beat.
My father wore white socks. My PhD Major Professor wore white socks. I wear white socks.
Butbutbut...I like #17.
oh hell. at least three of those apply to me, at least. *walks away with head down in shame*
3 and 6. And 17 on occasions where 'formal' is even relevant.
i count 7 that i have been guilty of at one time or another, and i always considered myself close to the top of the curve in academic fashion
I have been known to pimp a bow tie on occasion.
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Day to day I look like a prep school teacher (polo) on field day (keens). That's what 7 years of prep school dress code does to you. I do dress up nicely for conferences and what not.
What's missing here is "I know I should wear a suit for this but I'll be damned if I'm going to check if it fits. If I can get it on, it fits."