Things that Make me Fondly Recall the Past

Exciting news, StyleNation! One with IPF peeps corresponded regularly back in the early days of this blog has returned to the interwebz. Check her out here. She is awesome.

In other news, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year – or May, in non-academic parlance – is really opening up. The sun is shining, colleagues are emerging from end-of-term isolation looking at least semi-relaxed and less glassy-eyed, and for those of us who’ve only just figured out what we need research assistant-wise, the race in ON to hire the best summer students. Thus far, I’ve won one ridiculously excellent person, and lost another equally excellent and much-in-demand one to a very worthy opponent. (Crap. Dang.)

Also, I wore some things. (But as you are about to discover, the real news for today is in the first two lines of this post.)

#1: Casual On-campus Meeting

To be clear, this linen dress was MUCH less wrinkly when I met my co-chair to begin planning an upcoming speakers series. My co-chair is MUCH more senior than me, however, so she showed up in faded capris, sneakers, and a t-shirt. Academia is funny that way.

Linen Boden dress: new to blog; White cotton cami: mall anchor store; Dr. Marten distressed leather boots: remixed; Colourful beaded necklace: the airport in Belize last year

There are belt loops on this dress, but I think they’re too high and am planning to cut them off. Also, when it’s not all stretched out like this, the dress is slim enough that a belt is not necessary.

Here’s an entirely unhelpful close-up of the necklace accompanied by the strap of my Nella Bella bag (mine’s cream, but the bag itself is not shown here as I am very, very good at photography):

And finally, to extend today’s Shōnagon-inspired list:

Things that Make Me Fondly Recall the Past

5. To shop for cherry blossom art for one’s bedroom. (Travel to Kyoto now seems so utterly impossible, or at least improbable, given how much there is to do, here. . .)

4.To contemplate the graduation of one’s favourite student.

3. To encounter one’s mother on social media and to know, therefore, that one can never safely bitch about her on FB or Twitter, again.

2. To celebrate one’s Fuzzy Roommate’s 11th birthday. 11 summers ago, he arrived and shortly thereafter became integral to my day-to-day survival.

1. To rediscover a wonderful style maven with whom IPF once shared many hilarious and educational exchanges. Yes, the writer of Beverly Like Hills once educated us like nobody’s business - see the Style Underdog comments. Thank the goddess she’s back!

What inspires nostalgia in you, StyleNation?

Let’s have a glass of vino and reminisce, shall we?  

Into the Great Wide Open

And finally the term is over.  And it’s less than two weeks until the return of Arrested Development.  You might say this is the final countdown.  This also means that we’ve moved into the most wonderful time of the year.  That special time of year where you’re not technically paid, even if you’re tenured or on the tenure-track, but, instead, you get to do all the work that, hopefully, will help you keep your job.  Sigh.  At least I can wear glorified pajamas for the next three months.  Except for tomorrow, when I have a dissertation defence (my first on this side of the table.  Yikes).

Here, then, are two of my final profesh outfits of the term.

Shirt: Gap; Skirt: Target; Shoes: Nine West; Silver Pendant: H&M

I bought this shirt while in the Shivering Northern Wetlands for a conference.  While there, I got to do some excellent hanging out with Rinty the Crusher and my sisters.  When I bought the shirt, I was wearing a shirt with black & white stripes — leading both my sisters to ask why I was buying an identical shirt to what I was already wearing.  Duh.  This one has navy & mint stripes.  Geez.  They seemed skeptical about this logic.  They don’t know.

The following I wore my exam & a subsequent grading marathon with my writing group:

Top: Target; Pants; NY&Co; Flats: Me Too; Watch: Kenneth Cole (gifted)

This shirt was an impulse, clearance-rack purchase and, man, few things I own have produced as much of a reaction from my co-workers and writing group.  It’s super fun and blouse-y, and more flattering than this picture might suggest.  It’s going to look awesome with a pencil skirt in the fall once I start dressing like a grown-up again.  For the time being, it’ll also fancy up some bermudas.

How are you celebrating the return of summer?  My writing group* and I kicked it off with a waffle-mimosa brunch, leading us to make wildly ambitious writing and revising goals, fueled by sugar and champagne.

*Because we are the awesomest, the group calls itself “Hero, Squad.”  Lucille Bluth and Liz Lemon are our patron saints.

Things That Give a Hot Feeling

I’m almost certain a recent 2-day stint of video conferencing (that kept me sitting in my too-hot office for hours each day) gave me a yeast infection. Obvy, this is too high a price to pay to my profession; I shall be declining this bit of service work next year.

In other news, as The Watch That Ends the Night transitions to The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, I’m deeply relieved and totally exhausted. While there are other things on which to report – a conference, a summit with janey_em and kelly - as I’ve barely the energy to type, that stuff will have to wait.

For now, I offer the following boots and a dress/tunic purchased recently. I suspect the dress will become a regular in the on-campus-day-outfit rotation. The boots may be too casual for work. In these pic’s, I’m dressed for dinner and a party last weekend.

Spring’s not quite here; thus, the layers:

RW&Co cotton velvet blazer: remixed; Gap black jersey scarf: new to blog; Jacob cream on black polka-dot dress/tunic: new to blog; Black leggings: remixed; Purple and silver faux-patent clutch: new to blog (purchased in small boutique in IPF North city); Doc Marten brown distressed leather boots: new to blog (purchased at recent friend summit in my favourite ville bilingue)

Under the jacket and scarf. I wore this to the conference minus the clutch and bracelet, plus a black t-shirt to fill the plunging V, and a pashmina-as-jacket:

Red and silver plastic cuff: new to blog (thrifted)

And finally, to complete the Sei Shōnagon-inspired list,

Things that Give a Hot Feeling:

5. Spring (soon – please, let it be soon), and then summer.

4. Journals whose peer review process takes up to 12 months, but who then require article revisions to be turned around in 1-2 weeks.

3. My current crush, CBC Radio 2 host Julie Nesrallah. Every weekday morning, she speaks gently to me and plays me soul-reviving things.

2. When Facebook advertisements make very clear ad-makers have access to all my FB stuff.

1. The above-noted 2-day video conference. Yeesh.

Once again, it’s your turn StyleNation.

What things give you a hot feeling in either a good or bad way?

End-of-term, or Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster

Sweet End-of-term, how we’ve longed for you. How anxiously we’ve anticipated your exhausting-yet-somehow-still-invigorating conclusiveness.

That’s right fellow sufferers – where “sufferers” means “academics at certain universities and colleges in the northern parts of North America – relief is nigh! Here at IPF, Northern Division, a smidge of marking, two in-class exams, and the evaluation of two Honours theses stand between me and the time I so desperately need to research and write my paper for next week’s conference. Once again, End-of-term brings The Watch That Ends the Night before The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

In short, End-of-term constitutes the tippy-top of my Shōnagon-inspired list, Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster. (Stick around to help me finish that list, StyleNation!)

1. Also, this happened

Not as memorable as I’d hoped, but little is. It’s End-of-term.

Swingy sweater: BCBG Maxazria (new to blog); Tie-front blouse: Mexx (remixed); Pointe knit skirt: Calvin Klein (via Winners, new to blog); Tights: Hue; Boots: Fly London (remixed)

And here, just because I have it, is another poorly lit photo of the ensemble I thought was all that and a bag of chips:

Silver brooch-as-tie-pin: was my grandmother’s; Necklace: gifted from A-Dubs Hubs

I was trying to be cool(ish) to host yet another set of guest speakers who research awesome things. One of your blogs taught me this tie-pin-like thing. I’m so sorry I’ve forgotten which one – You Look Fab, maybe?; but thanks, whoever you are.

To conclude,

Things That Make One’s Heart Beat Faster

5. Insultingly obvious plagiarism in student work

4. My upcoming ENTIRE YEAR off from teaching Intro (sweet goddess, I need it)

3. My pending summit with Janey Em and Kelly in one of Canada’s coolest villes bilingues (wooHOO!)

2. Anticipation of pending responses to two of the past year’s 4 grant applications

1. End-of-term! END-OF-TERM!!! Thanks the goddess, it’s End-of-term!!

 

What makes your heart beat faster, StyleNation? Share the love. 

New Boots, in Action

As the title suggests, what draws these outfits together is their shared display of my new, tax refund boots.  I intend to plan my upcoming conference wear around these boots so get prepared to see a lot more of them.  But given that we’re moving far too quickly out of spring and into summer down here in IPF South (I know, I know), the days of wearing boots and tights are disappearing so I’ve got to get them in while I can.

Fortunately, the term is also fast disappearing (is that a segue, or what?).  Tomorrow is exactly a month until the end of the term so while that also means that things are kicking into high gear, there is relief in sight.  The long weekend doesn’t hurt either as it gives me an extra, desperately needed writing day at the coffee shop where I seem to spend half my life.

Cardigan: Old Navy; Dress: Target; Tights: Hue; Boots: Corso Como; Pendant: H&M

The cardigan is behaving a little wonkily here. But this is an outfit that I’ve worn a version of before–though the boots & topper have changed out here.  It’s weird, this is a dress that I hadn’t worn in ages, but all of a sudden I’m wearing it a ton.  That said, I don’t love it without a blazer or a cardigan as the sleeves aren’t tailored enough for my taste.

Chambray button up: Old Navy; Pencil Skirt: Lane Bryant; Tights: Hue; Boots: Corso Como; Lucite necklace: Anthropologie; Watch: Kenneth Cole (gifted)

This outfit is so full of win, I’m posting two, near identical pictures.  It includes so many things that I love: chambray, bright pencil skirts, and this amazing necklace.  You can also see a little better in these pictures that the boots are a deep chocolate brown, rather than black.  You can also see how desperately I need to vacuum.  Sigh.

Anyone else transformed old items into closet workhorses recently?

Occasions That Induce Half-heartedness

It is a truth universally acknowledged that great stacks of papers appear at precisely the point when instructors are least able to muster the requisite energy to deal with them in an efficient and timely fashion. Sweet are the papers, then, that argue a clear, cogent, thesis that is (a) appropriate to the assignment, (b) well-researched, and (c) largely original. Harsh are those that are (a) craptacular and clearly produced by slackers, or (b) terribly written and/or offensive, despite students’ best efforts to the contrary.

The cumulative effects of the above, in concert with the various grant applications, administrative bullshit paperwork, conference proposal-and-paper-writing panic that make up the remainder of my working life during the winter term, tend to coalesce into generalized half-heartedness in relation to all work-related activities. This year, all is exacerbated by sleeplessness and winter’s stranglehold on this city, despite the change of season we are meant to be experiencing right effing now. (My weather-related feelings diverge in intensity from those work-related.)

Sadly for you and me, StyleNation, my efforts fashion-wise have also been half-hearted(ish). Each of the following began with (a) excitement about one specific piece, and (b) the best of intentions. Nonetheless, I fear the end result for each induces half-heartedness.

Outfit #1: Theory vs. Praxis – the sweater dress

Mexx silk/cotton sparkly sweater dress: new to blog; “Silver” snowflake brooch: gifted; Smart Set T-shirt; Beaded bracelets: from Michaels (that’s right: the craft store. But I saw them marked up approximately 400% in a local boutique. Is that even legal???!); Hue Tights; Fly London boots (new to blog, maybe? I’m too half-hearted to check)

So here’s the thing about sweater dresses: they’re clingy, and they show where one’s tights squeeze at one’s waist, even when one is not wearing control tops. On the model in the picture at the store, and on my bare legs in the changeroom, these problems were not apparent. If I weren’t preoccupied with weather-rage and work-half-heartedness, I’d be pissed about this.

Outfit #2: It’s all about the Necklace

In my mind, this was a great way to highlight the necklace my sister-in-law gave me for xmas. In reality, I’m not sure this does it justice:

Stella & Dot silver bib necklace: gifted (new to blog); DKNY polyester top: Winners (new to blog); Joe Fresh Shell (old); Black Lucky jeans (new to blog); Nine West black and silver belt: remixed (old); Rieker boots: remixed

Here’s close-up of the sweet neck decoration (thanks, again, DSW!):

Probably this was a little too casual for a teaching day. But I was tired and the prospect of wearing jeans was the only thing that got me out of bed that day. Later, a student who should know better remarked on the see-through blouse as soon as I walked into class, implying it was a risqué choice. If looks could make people do things, she’d be romancing her own sphinctral region even now. My half-heartedness does not extend to taking crap from students in non-textual life.

OK StyleNation, it’s list time.

Grading student work and wearing these outfits are 1 and 2 on my Shōnagon-inspired “Occasions that Induce Half-heartedness.” Other occasions include

3. Being facebook friends with my mother

4. Watching “kracken attack” videos with my nephew (to clarify: this induces a half-hearted effort to find my tablet when he insists we watch a kracken attack that has “a really nice tune”)

5. Contemplating the growing food museum in my fridge (produced via whole-hearted shopping for healthy things, then half-heartedly eating cereal and a smoothie for every meal)

What’ve you got, StyleNation?

I’m taking (a) further occasions inducing half-heartedness, or (b) suggestions for jazzier versions of the above ensembles. 

Looking Back, Despite Springing Forward

I’ve got, here, a couple of outfits for you Style Nation that are now nearly a month old.  Last time I posted, the thrill of the new chambray dress made those dress pictures jump the queue, leaving today’s outfits in the dust.  Today, I present a study  in colorful pencil skirts.  Also a preview of new boots.

Sweater: Joe; Pencil skirt: Target; Tights: Hue; Boots: Jessica Simpson; Necklace: RW&Co.

I bought this sweater in a fit of “Joe shopping madness” (TM, obviously) when in the Great White North for the holidays.  What sold me on it was the picture of a model wearing it with a grey pencil skirt.  Yet, once I got this sucker home and paired it with my own grey pencil skirt, it didn’t quite work (I may need to re-evaluate as that sounds crazy).  But, with this blue skirt, total winner.  Also, I may have blinded my students with my colorful brightness that day.

Striped top: Joe; Pencil skirt: Lane Bryant; Necklace, boots, tights: As above

I bought this skirt in the fall, while I wasn’t teaching so it hasn’t gotten a ton of wear yet but I’m doing my best to make up for lost time now.  I was describing it to my sister after I bought it, and she expressed incredulity that I didn’t already possess a pencil skirt in mustard yellow.  So, clearly, I’m doing good work establishing my “brand.”

Boots: Corso Como

So this isn’t the world’s clearest picture, but it gives a sneak peek of my new, tax-refund funded boots.  I love them.  They’re a bit snug still in the top inch or so, but the leather is like buttah so things are going to get awesome soon.

Did you all survive the time change (those of you who have it)?  Anyone else changed only those clocks that do it automatically?

Feeling Kinda Springy

So after my last post’s burst of optimism, the universe decided to even the score, as it always does, with a mountain of service work.  But I’ve clawed my way out of that, for the time being, and now I just need to get through one more week and it’s Spring Break!  And while we’re still a couple of weeks away from the equinox, we’re now at a point at IPF South where it’s light out when I wake up AND when I get home from work — which goes a long way to making things feel manageable.

But, as spring approaches here, that also means that tight and boot weather is fast disappearing — so I’m wearing them while I can.

Dress, Cami, & Blazer: Target; Tights: Hue; Boots: Jessica Simpson

This blazer continues to be a workhorse.  And key for making whimsical tights seem serious and important.

In person, the tights are more of a muted berry color, rather than neon pink.  Though, truthfully, I would love them if they were neon pink.

Dress: Old Navy; Scarf: Gap; Tights: Hue; Boots: as above

This dress is a new addition, and part of my current obsession with all things chambray. Also, the dress wasn’t the wrinkly this morning; this is the result of sitting while my students wrote a mid-term, driving to a coffee shop from the office, sitting in a coffee shop and working, and then driving home.

I bought this scarf at the Gap during their pre-Christmas sale after falling in love with it.  But once I got it home, I’ve struggled with what to pair it with.  This is sort of stupid as I love these colors (seriously I’ve used these paint colors throughout my house) but, for some reason, I’ve got a real block about what to do with it.  Fortunately, everything matches chambray!

How’s everyone (in the Northern Hemisphere) enjoying the increased daylight?  Anyone got any suggestions for the mint/ coral scarf?

Things that are Distant though Near (also, Office Pyjamas)

Greetings, StyleNation, from this frigid and seemingly-eternally snowy northern city. How’ve you been?

Things here at IPF, Northern Division, have been redonk* busy. Having co-hosted a multi-day, multi-speaker festival in January, I’m now scrambling to write two grant proposals, keep up with teaching, and meet a March 1st deadline in my newly established academic writing group.

* redonk = the ridiculous way of typing/saying ridiculous

Other Stuff, Scroll Down for Outfit Post

In related news, the course on violence-against-women (and feminist analyses/responses to the same) I’m teaching this term has been unexpectedly exhausting, both intellectually and emotionally. More specifically, it has triggered a bunch of personal crap for me. Following last week’s discussion of the worldwide pervasiveness of sexual assault, for example, sleep between midnight and 3am was replaced by a memory loop of the sounds of my former roommate’s rape. Moreover, I am struggling to find and share appropriate support resources for my students, many of whom have written in their assignments – despite my repeated advisories that academic space is not necessarily safe space for such disclosure – about their experiences of intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Once more, from a purely individual perspective, I feel like I am drowning and have had to engage in self-care, despite all pending deadlines.

Outfit #1: Office Pyjamas

Fortunately, Reading Week, the Canadian equivalent of Spring Break (woot!), happens very soon. In honour of such beautiful respite, my Sei Shōnagon-inspired list for today’s post is ”Things That are Distant Though Near.”

Things that are Distant though Near: 

5. Reading Week

Sal’s post on accessorizing – specifically scarf-tying – is the partial inspiration for this outfit, designed as Office Pyjamas for a non-teaching day.

Pj’s: Tall Girl; Robe: made and gifted by Mom; Velour slippers: Joe Fresh

Just kidding. Those are home office pyjamas, the combination I want to wear every day, especially when it’s cold, dark, and snowy. In reality, however, I wore this. Thanks to Sal, these pj’s are supplemented with a sparkly scarf – in honour of the very senior woman with whom I met this afternoon. We had  coffee and discussed tenure and promotion (i.e. my accomplishments to date, and my future in academia):

Chambray & linen tunic: DKNY (via Winners, remixed); Teal, purple, & silver poly-cotton & rayon scarf: Winners (no tag – I hate tags on scarves); Teal long-sleeve cotton T: Smart Set (remixed); “Silver” link bracelet: local gardening store (weird source, no? They’re also the only place selling Desigual designs in my city.); Brown cords/leggings: Smart Set; Brown leather boots: Rockport (old, re-soled – including addition of “winter tread” – multiple times because they are just that great)

Boot and pantal close-up (for what it’s worth, given my abysmal photography):

all stuff (all 2 things) as above

Things that are Distant though Near (cont’d):

 

4. Old friendships, especially for those who move between cities

3. SPRING

2. Inverted poses in yoga (for me, at least)

1. The past/future

 

Have you anything to add, StyleNation?

What or who is simultaneously far away

and torturously close to you of late? 

Picking Up Steam

What’s this?  A second post from me in as many weeks?  Bizarre.  As the title of the post suggests, the term and its various responsibilities are really rolling now (to switch my metaphors).  I’m three weeks in now, a spot that, I find, to be kind of the sweet spot of the term.  Everyone is still (relatively) enthusiastic.  Grading either hasn’t started yet or has just begun so it’s not fully soul-crushing.  You start to get into the groove (metaphor #3) of lecture prep.  Your body starts to get back onto a schedule so 6:30 am doesn’t seem quite as awful as it did.  Plus its lighter now in the morning — though my ridiculous dog still refuses to get up when I do.

That said, it’s 7:30 pm on a Monday night and I’m in a coffee shop working.  With plans to return first thing tomorrow morning.

Dress: Gap; Pendant: H&M; Tights: Hue; Boots: Jessica Simpson; Watch: Kenneth Cole

I bought this dress for a steal in the Gap’s holiday sales when visiting the Northern Tundra.  Apart from the skirt being a bit fuller than I typically go for, it’s everything I mights want in a dress.  Stripes.  Comfy cotton.  Flattering, waist defining diagonal stripes.  In the future I plan to try it out with a belt.  The pendant is one I’ve had for ages, purchased for $6 in the H&M in University town with A.Dubs & D.Med. Sadly, its “silver” finish is starting to wear so I’ve got to keep my eye out for some sort of workable replacement.

Blazer & dress: Target; Belt (seen below): NY & Co.; Tights and boots as above

 

This is the grey twin to the plaid blazer from last week’s post.  I love it as well.  I don’t have much to say about this outfit apart from the fact that I was stopped by two colleagues today who wanted to tell me they liked it.  So, I’ll chalk this up in the win column.

Anyone else feeling a moment of early February optimism before the reality sets in?