Forgotten Loft OOTD

I got this dress last fall from Loft and very soon after I learned I was pregnant.  As soon as I had the positive test the dress made me feel self conscious. It felt tighter around my mid-section than I wanted even though my body hadn't yet begun to change. Although I wore it to present at a conference and I wore it again to work in November, I was too worried to wear it again after that. I didn't want to generate any pregnancy speculation before I felt ready.

I recently had a student confess that she suspected I was pregnant last semester but perhaps she was clairvoyant. At minimum, I am going to tell myself that her suspicions were not due to my body broadcasting pregnancy quite so soon. Regardless, here's hoping this dress will fit me again sometime after baby number 2 arrives! It's a solid professional looking basic (and I mean basic in the good way!) and I'd hate to have it go to waste.

Details:
Ann Taylor Loft dress
Spanx tights
Sam Edelman booties
Burberry trench

September Stripes OOTD

I wore this outfit to campus on Monday for teaching and for meetings. September is always a busy month but this one feels particularly intense. This year is my final one preceding the submission of my tenure dossier so the stakes are high. I'm still revising my book even though I had hoped to finish over the summer. I did manage to get an article submitted for publication consideration so that is good. I have a conference paper to write from scratch that I have to present at a conference in November. I have two grant applications I am writing, one of which is due at the end of this month. I am working on a collaborative research project with a student research assistant. I am consulting on social media for a few clients, one of which is working with me through my university's Center for Applied Research. And of course, I am still involved with the startup. I am so happy that Covey is available on iOS with a user base that is growing rapidly.

There is a lot to do and a lot to look forward to but it feels like there aren't enough hours in the day. I do have a course release for this semester so I am teaching a bit less than usual but my committee service is ramped up. Chris is off soon for another trip to West Africa. His work is demanding and busy as ever plus he is teaching this semester. Emilia is taking dance, tumbling, swimming, and music in addition to her regular library story time and playdates. My mom thankfully helps me so much with the activities and with caring for her when I have to go to work. And my dad, mother-in-law, and sister also help me with her. Even with help, it is a lot.  But it is September so I should expect it.

Details:
Ann Taylor Loft dress
Spanx tights
Cole Haan wedges
Longchamp Neo bag
Layered necklaces that were gifts from loved ones

Outfit for my two jobs

One of the benefits of working out of the home in two different contexts (on campus and at Covey App) is that I can extend my beloved strategy of outfit recycling. I wore the above for a new student orientation event that I attended to represent my program and also to an open coffee meeting that announced the newest class of Alphalab, the nationally-ranked startup accelerator that selected our company. Sure, it is lazy and uncreative but with so much on my plate at the moment, something will give.

Outfit details:
Ann Taylor Loft cardigan
Kate Spade dress
Ann Taylor flats

A transitional OOTD

Building a transitional wardrobe to get me through these weeks of pregnant in-between hasn't been easy. On the best days, an influx of stretchy clothing has made me less sad about neglecting my usual waist-emphasizing summer staples. And I acknowledge that an excess of hormones is to blame partly for the worst days (complete with an occasional dressing room meltdown).

Surprisingly, the most challenging part of this process has not been confronting some newly resurfaced body image demons. The hardest thing instead has been determining logistically what to buy, what will last me through this painfully hot summer, and whether or not to begin preparing for larger, definitively pregnant-looking times.

In the meanwhile I've been offered guidance and support from various moms in my life. And most recently my mother-in-law generously took me shopping for a few key pieces to help get me through. The dress is just one of the items we picked.

Details:
Ann Taylor Loft tiered tie waist tank dress
Nordstrom cardigan
Stuart Weitzman flats (similar here)
Kate Spade tote (adorable current season version here)
Redraven Studios necklace (FYI, some of my favorite pieces are on sale right now!)


We also selected some breezy tunics (here and here), another dress in plain black, some cute tank tops in a few colors, and a pretty scarf.

BTW, I apologize for the delay in my giveaway launch. It will be up asap!

New Faculty Orientation Outfit

As part of Fashionable Academics' Back to School CFP, I have snapped a few shots of my orientation outfits. I've had to go to many days and many locations of these (even though I realized a lot of the information was redundant, I viewed it as an important ritual and networking opportunity). I realized on the first morning of orientation that the shirts I was planning to wear were stained or wrinkled or just inappropriate. So I wore a subtle See by Chloé printed dress.

It was a little casual but I figured I would be trekking around campus all day and could switch into heels for the fancy welcome dinner that followed immediately after.

The next day I had time to iron my shirt and put together this ensemble from Tibi and Ann Taylor Outlet. 

The third day was much larger and would involve faculty from all across the university so I went a little more conservative with a top by Theory and an Ann Taylor Loft skirt. The shoes are Nine West. I carried my Jenny Yuen Gatsby bag all week. What are you wearing for your first days?