Anthropologie OOTD for Back to School

Yesterday I taught my first classes for the new term and wore a new-to-me dress I was excited to find on Ebay. I had looked for this one, called the "Hilda" shirtdress by Porridge for some time. It sold at Anthropologie a few years ago. I never saw it in stores and never noticed it going on sale so I was sad to miss it the first time around. I wasn't certain about the fit but hoped it would be similar to the Two-Wheeler Shirt Dress, also by Porridge. This was true (minus the Two-Wheeler's very tight arms, mercifully) and I was happy to find a size 8 for a good price the other day. I paired it with a sash belt from a See by Chloe dress and some low Gucci wedges. It was a very hot day and my office air conditioning was struggling to keep up so I was glad for the airy cotton.

Although I'm a bit sad to see summer break end, I am excited to meet my new students and settle into a routine. For those of you who are also educators and/or parents sending your kiddos off to school, I wish you a smooth start to the new academic year!

Outfit details:
Hilda Shirtdress by Porridge
See by Chloe belt
Gucci wedges
Vintage bracelet, Gifted neckalces

I was recently sent Lindi Skincare products to try and wanted to share that they have helped keep my skin hydrated and smooth during dry summer heat. The products are very gentle. The line was developed to treat very sensitive skin, compromised while undergoing medical treatments. It has since been marketed to anyone with sensitive skin or in need of gentle product options. Lindi is offering readers of Consume or Consumed 25% off their orders with code: BLOG25. It is active from now through the end of the year. Thank you, Lindi for the product samples!

What I wore back to school part 2

On my other "first day" I wore one of my new dresses from outlet shopping in Ft. Lauderdale. The sunlight in combo with this color kind of washes me out so next time I will wear a brighter lip color. I also think heels are preferable with this length of dress on me (but I always prioritize the practical for my long on-campus days). Overall I think this is a solid teaching dress because it is very basic and therefore unlikely to distract. I do wish they had the navy version of it in stores (where it was a bit cheaper than it is on the website) because it would be easier to transition for fall.

Remember, there's still time to enter my eShakti giveaway!

Outfit details:
Tory Burch Blythe shirtdress (still available in navy or the above and on sale!)
Ann Taylor quilted flats
Misc. jewelry, Kors watch

What I Wore Back to School (part 1)

This semester I am teaching two classes that meet once a week. Once-a-week courses require a different strategy when it comes to lesson planning and organization. You need to factor in at least one break, and recognize that the sheer length might lead to even more attention attrition than usual. You also have a lot of material to cover even on day one, because the end of day one is also the end of week one.
 
But when it comes to the content of this blog the main difference between a multi- vs once-a-week class is that I have even fewer in-class outfits to assemble across a semester. For the first week I felt like I had two "first days," and the stakes were high. I needed to maintain that same sense of hopeful energy for each new batch of students. And to confound matters some ongoing HVAC work in the building meant that climate control was unlikely. With temperatures nearing 90, I was pretty anxious.

For one of my "first days" I wore the above ebay find which I now realize looks a bit too short with bare legs. Thankfully I was behind a media console for a good portion of our meeting time. But lesson learned! In taking outfit photos over the years I've amassed some pretty useful data in trial and error. The next time I wear this to campus I will pair it with opaque tights.

Details:
Marc by Marc Jacobs lace print dress (ebay find originally sold in 2009) (similar style; similar print)
Streets Ahead bow belt (similar)
Ann Taylor quilted leather flats
Kors watch

Remember, there's still time to enter my eShakti giveaway! 

Win a gift credit from eShakti!

I mentioned in recent posts that although there are no students in my household at the moment, I still love "back to school" shopping. And I figured there must be others who do too! That is why I have partnered with eShakti to give away not one but TWO $25 gift credits to eShakti to two lucky winners. This credit is akin to a gift card that you can stack on top of the other promotions offered by Eshakti. This means you can really stretch those gift dollars!

I love that eShakti caters to a range of sizes and body types, enabling women to access cute, reasonably priced merchandise with equal opportunity. My favorite thing about the site is the incredibly affordable "mass customization" option. This is something to be celebrated! You can read here my review of the custom size experience. And check out eShakti's new arrivals here!

Terms of the giveaway:
You must be located in the US to win
You must leave a comment on the blog
You can enter in any other number of ways and submit multiple entries per day
The draw will be done randomly via rafflecopter
I will notify the two winners via email and eShakti will furnish them with their gift credits

Thank you again to eShakti for providing the prizes! Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Back to School Shopping

Burberry Brit Checked Shirt Dress; Burberry Brit Theola (the one I bought is Navy)

For the first time ever, or at least since I have been school-aged, there are no "students" living in my household. Chris and I are both post-doc and Emilia is just a toddler. So unless we decide to enroll Speck in clown college, I have no legitimate reason for back-to-school shopping. But old habits die hard and I am a professor confronting the start of yet another new term.

Tory Burch Blythe Shirt Dress (on sale!)

Septembers are hectic, stressful months for everyone involved in education and it really helps to have a carrot or two that motivates a gal out of summer (writing) mode and into on-campus teaching mode. Accordingly, I decided to take a few of my final vacation days to shop. Everyone wound up with some new duds as a result.

Marimekko pieces (inc. this dress) for Emilia that I wish existed in my size!

Most of our family finds came from the Sawgrass Mills outlet mall in Florida and the Tanger Outlets in Washington, PA. All of the selections for me were at least 80% off! And many of Emilia's items were gifts from her Grammy and Grandma. As much as I enjoy my existing closet staples, it is always fun to find new things to wear to work/school!

Book Print Clothes for Fall (reviews)

Clichés be damned. If you make a fabric printed with a crowded bookshelf, I will want all of the things made with it. Another Anthro Blog posted about this Tommy Hilfiger Book Print Dress and although she didn't love it on herself, I thought it looked fantastic! I tracked one down in my local Macy's and wound up taking it home. Regarding the fit, I needed a large. I didn't want any gaps at the bust or hips that would necessitate pinning and the large fit the bill. I'd say it runs true to size.

The fabric is cotton and has a slight sheen to it, which makes it look a bit dressier. The skirt runs slightly narrow through the hips but the bust had plenty of room. The sleeves are roomy but not blousey. It even has subtle details that feel reminiscent of the Anthropologie of yore. The button placket is lined with a very attractive plaid in coordinating colors. The dress has pockets but they are stitched shut (which I prefer to keep in tact with a slimmer cut skirt). The shirttail hem is very subtle and includes the hemline equivalent of a buttoned epaulet on both sides.  I think it will be perfect for teaching especially once I add opaque tights. The background color is navy blue so it will look nice with brown boots. Be warned that some of the books have the letters "TH" or the words "Tommy Hilfiger." I doubt anyone will notice unless they are looking very closely.

A comment also on Another Anthro Blog discussed a Garnet Hill skirt in a similar book print. I was interested in both pieces because I've not bought much for my own wardrobe lately. I decided to order it since there were no options to see it in person nearby. The skirt has a smocked waist and flexible fit. I bought a medium which worked nicely. Not too poofy. Not too small. I would say it runs large (ala Anthropologie) though I am typically a medium in an a-line shape such as this. The skirt has pockets and is fully lined. Its books are logo-less with black background. They also are larger in scale than the Tommy ones. This skirt would be great for tall ladies because I had to hike it up to my natural waist for it to fall at my knee. But I decided to keep it. I will post an outfit featuring it this week and you can see a close up of the print below.

I love both of them and although I never pay full price, I decided to indulge. I justified this decision in a few ways. First of all, the retail prices are not far off from Anthropologie's sale ones. My mom had a $25 off coupon for Macys so that helped with the dress. I found a 25% off coupon for Garnet Hill via google. And over the last few months I've bought myself very little new clothing. Other than a dress from J. Crew Factory that I loved on Wardrobe Oxygen, these are my first new pieces since May.

Also in breastfeeding-friendly wardrobe news, this is not a book print but I love this Tommy Hilfiger charm bracelet print dress. It's on sale and it suits my on-campus and baby-related needs so I might grab it. I want to wear my Library Dress first and then decide if its worth owning in different patterns.

Another Kate Spade Shirtdress

The new term has started and I feel like I barely had a summer break. I held it hostage with dissertation work and the conclusion of my doctoral degree. But I have no regrets. I just wish there were a few more days of down time... For those of you in academia, good luck with the beginnings of the fall term!!

I bought this Kate Spade dress as a birthday present to myself last April. I don't know the style name but know that it was offered in the above print and an adorable tiny owl one (in a bright goldenrod yellow). I found it on ebay, new with tags and it seemed like it had the potential to be cut similarly to one of my old favorites that still fits my postpartum, breastfeeding bustline. When I got it, it was indeed cut similarly. But to my disappointment it was made of a different kind of silk fabric. I was hoping that the silk of this dress would have the same matte finish and a tiny bit of give (which as been key to ensuring I don't need to always pin buttons closed to prevent "boob gap") like my old favorite. As a person who is otherwise clueless about textiles, I will say that this dress is the standard silky silk that is pretty but stretch-less and too delicate to pin. I solve the issue with a cardigan when I'm in the classroom.

As an aside, I am bummed that so few Kate Spade dress offerings of late have been sleeved shirt dresses. Not that I would ever buy full price but I do enjoy stalking sales. I'm relegated to ebay if I want something from this brand.  Relatedly, I feel so in the habit of dressing to breastfeed these days that I'm still on the hunt for many button front "dresses that got away." They include a few from Anthropologie like the Dagmar Shirt Dress and the Tiny Windows Dress. If you have either in a 10 and want to part with them, let me know!

I also wanted to give a heads up to anyone who found this blog by searching "pregnant and Anthropologie," that a very stylish Anthrophile, Kristin of Lovely Adipae is in the family way and it suits her beautifully! She is sporting a lot of Anthropologie and looks fantastic while doing so. Check it out!

Outfit details:
Kate Spade dress (old)
Gap factory cardigan
Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse flats
Simply Vera tote bag pictured in final photo

Professorial Pregnancy Part 1: the body as a text

The professorial body is a text read and judged by student subjects as well as faculty and staff colleagues. So when that professorial body is both (cisgendered*) female and pregnant, it can feel as though all scrutiny intensifies. For me this sense of intensification has yielded both awkwardness as well as opportunity. In this (currently 3-part) series I will be sharing my ideas and experiences of being a pregnant professor.

When I teach I am often in front of the room, with students facing forward. I don't sit down much unless I am evaluating presentations or we are conducting the seminar/discussion portion of our meetings. In many ways it can be difficult to not feel as though I am on display. But through repetition and trial and error, I became used to display. Eventually, I didn't think too much about it.

I have written before about how I've tried to balance my stylish interests with academic professionalism, particularly as I transitioned from "student" to "faculty." And I've feared that if/when my clothing became a subject for discussion (even positive or complimentary), appearance ventured toward the realm of distraction. In most professional settings, when self-expression becomes too distracting it can pose untold problems to the professional.

When I found out I was pregnant and calculated that my third trimester would correspond closely with my fall semester, I became a little apprehensive. For me, this has marked yet another  professional context with which I am unfamiliar. And just recently, I began to feel confident and settled in my visual professional identity.

With no certain knowledge of how I would "carry," how my body would change, which parts of me would grow, etc., I took comfort in wardrobe. After all, wardrobe can be a venue for visual performative control, barring the usual budget realities and financial limitations. Part 2 will discuss this process of exerting control via wardrobe.

Above is what I wore on the first day of class.

Details:
Montserrat dress from Anthropologie
J. Crew Factory Cardigan
Anthropologie belt
Chloé zipper flats
Redraven Necklace (c/o); Kors watch; Starfish cuff

*To clarify, a person who is cisgender does experience less scrutiny than a person who is trans but being female is still the marked category within a binary framework for gender.

My "in denial" and "in reality" back to school wishlists

Day Dresses
Black Dresses

Just because I am pregnant doesn't mean I have stopped coveting new arrivals from my favorite brands and favorite stores. Of course, it would be silly to shop for such things when I wouldn't be able to wear them. So I have one hypothetical (in denial) wish list and one practical (in reality) wish list to share in anticipation of the fall semester's start. First up, the fun ("in denial") one above. 

Hi there, perfect peter pan collar on a Kate Spade dress!! I also included some old and less old fitting room favorites that I have refrained from buying even though I really love them.

Also, heads up to Yoox fans: Tonight, from 8pm-8am, you can get 10% off all orders with code: AFTERDARK.



And below is my still fun (but less so) "in reality" (i.e. mostly maternity) wish list for back to school:

Maternity Dresses
Maternity Pants & Shorts

I think that sticking with mostly simple solid colors and basic shapes will enable me to buy less and repeat more. I am a little nervous about whether the pregnant professorial body will be a distraction or a subject of conversation among my students. I guess I will find out in less than two weeks!

Even if you aren't going "back to school" to work or study, this is often a favorite time of year to begin outfit planning. I always take the time to evaluate what I already have in my closet that might be similar to the items in stores that wow me. If your taste is pretty consistent then you might already have a good substitute for the new garment you want.