So… it looks like it’s been over a year since we were last in this space. It’s been a busy year for A-Dubs and I: baby, tenure, etc… We’ve missed this and you though, but it’s time for a new format. You can find us now, more regularly, over on Instagram (this is the desktop link for those of you who don’t use the app — you need an account to comment, etc.). We’ll still pop up here once in a while, but we look forward to seeing you in our new space!
Once More with Feeling
Happy End-of-term academics, and welcome, StyleNation, to the sweet buttery month of May, the lovely era that follows regularly upon The Watch That Ends the Night!
I really, really hope this is my last preggo post. As of tomorrow morning, I’ll be 41 weeks pregnant. That is more than enough, I think.
My maternity leave began May 1st, but I’m just going to work until the baby’s born – 3 papers done, 1 more to go! Also, my research team will keep working while I’m on leave, and I’ve got to supervise them until my research partner gets back from the other side of the world this June. In short, things are busy but this is good; I need the distraction from my extreme pregnancy-related discomfort.
And so, while it’s increasingly difficult to fit into professional(ish) clothing, I persevere.
#1. Worn for Student-run Event on Campus a Few Weeks Ago
Ha! This isn’t even a maternity dress; it’s a cheap super-stretchy jersey midi dress from H&M. I suspect its clinginess would render it inappropriate on its own in profesh settings when I’m no longer pregnant. But I like super-fitted preggo stylez. They highlight the bump without making me look more gigantic than I am.
Black jersey midi dress: H&M (new to blog); Leather and rhinestone rose cuff: mall anchor store in Florida (new to blog); Black plus-sized tights: Hue (via The Bay); Boots: Khrio (remixed)
In other news, my fellow model here is Foxy T, a friend of the Fuzzy Roommate and the Fuzzy Roommate’s Dog. She stayed with us for March and April while her people are away doing research.
#2. Worn for Off-campus Supervisory Meeting with Grad Students (Last Week)
The floral item here is technically a dress; on a long-body like me, and at this stage of my life, it’s most definitely a tunic. Foxy T kindly supervised the photo-taking, again. I miss her attentiveness and willingness to participate as she deems necessary. The FR and his dog are no longer into blogging with me.
Black floral maternity dress/tunic: New Look (new to blog); Black rayon knit twist-front sweater: Simons (new to blog, purchased with janey_em in Montreal in February; Black pleather and pointe knit maternity leggings: (remixed); Boots: Khrio (remixed)
Silver Tiffany necklace: remixed; Bootage: (remixed)
What’s up with you, StyleNation?
Please send me contraction-centred thoughts this week!
Wrapping Up
Oh, hi there, internet. It’s been a while. So, any theories on where the last six weeks have gone? It seems as though I blinked and March and April disappeared. I can’t even say that I’ve been grading the whole time as that was heavier in January and February for me — before next week’s onslaught of final papers. March, at least, was filled with travel — for work and otherwise. I spent a delightful week in Montreal with my sisters and their adorable, adorable progeny. I was also in New York for a lightning fast conference trip — though I DID get to hang out with the delightful Susan and a host of other, non-blogging work friends. Conferencing is such a mixed bag — it’s a great opportunity to see fun places, hang out with colleagues who are geographically distant, and get some new ideas/ book suggestions BUT it’s also a moment for a reminder of how obnoxious certain aspects of academia can be. Old dude who tried to score cheap laughs at the expense of his undergraduates and dude grad students who think that my lady-brain can’t possibly match the awesome power of theirs, I’m looking at you. But now I’m home (or, more accurately, I’ve been home for OVER A MONTH) and am in the dying days of the term.
Chambray: Gap; White v-neck: Old Navy; Pencil skirt: Target; Concrete wedges: Jessica Simpson
One of the buildings I’m teaching in this term is a bit of a treacherous hike from my office — it’s sloping downward over very uneven pavement — so I haven’t worn heels to teach as that’s a recipe for disaster. But, over the last two weeks, I’ve been meeting with my students to discuss their final papers, rather than holding class sessions, so I decided to break out the heels for those days where I was just in my office or only teaching in the building that doesn’t require risking life and limb to get to it. This is also a new chambray shirt. I’ve long had my eye on this one from the Gap — it’s got western detailing and pearl snaps, which appeals to my Prairie upbringing — so I snapped it up when it was on clearance. I’m quite smitten with it and plan on wearing the crap out of it until it gets ludicrously hot here and sleeves become unviable.
Blazer & shell: Target; Jeggings: Gap; Suede Booties: Kenneth Cole
These jeggings are another recent, Gap sale purchase, worn here on a day last week where I met with fifteen students to discuss their papers. And then promptly passed out at home, never wanting to say another word. I actually really love doing these paper conferences, as I both love talking about writing with students AND having a captive audience — and this was a day when some of my very favorite students of this term were scheduled. But, man, by the end of the day, my brain was pretty fried.
How’s everyone doing? Hanging in there?
Things That Should be Large
Greetings, StyleNation, from the midst of my research leave, almost end-of-term, and month 7.75 of my pregnancy. I should be large. And I am.
Also, something creepy but simultaneously kind of hilarious happened last week. I have little else to report, so I’m posting mostly to share about that.
First, the outfit I was wearing when it happened.
#1. Worn to an early evening professional event with cocktails
As my footwear choices are currently limited to those that can adjust to fit my stupid swollen preggo feet, I wore this.
Pointe knit draped blazer: Grace Elements (new to blog, via Belk); Silver bib necklace: Stella and Dot (gifted by DSW, remixed; Black maternity tunic/t-shirt: Bump Maternity (via Motherhood Maternity – worst store name ever – new to blog); Brooch: made by an artist whose name I forget, from a series called Blue in the Face; Black pointe and pleather maternity leggings: Queen Mum (new to blog, via the new maternity boutique down the street); Boots: Khrio (new to blog, via adorably hip shoe boutique by my favourite coffee place downtown)
I strode into the event and began mingling with students and colleagues. It was lovely because I mostly work from home right now and haven’t seen anyone all term.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a colleague from another institution doing a huge lean out of her conversation group, clearly eyeballing my preggo form. She had a big weird grin on her face was trying to catch my eye. (This particular colleague has been awkwardly and arrogantly hot and cold with me in ways I’ve found both embarrassing and annoying in the recent past. For example, despite our knowing each other for years and having attended (and hung out at) many of the same conferences, at a social event a number of months ago, she refused to acknowledge my efforts to catch her eye. Later, when I made a point of seeking her out to chat briefly, she acted like I was a ridiculous hanger-on with a major crush on her who was, her demeanour implied, embarrassing both of us in front of her new girlfriend. It was the dumbest.)
At last week’s event, she soon made her way over to me, grinning all the while, and we had the following creepy and kind of awesome exchange:
COLLEAGUE: Hey A-Dubs, you’re looking. . . . . you’re looking (pausing and grinning strangely). …
MOI: Uh, is “rotund” the word you’re looking for?
COLLEAGUE: Well, no. Uh (more pausing, grinning, and looking me up and down), it’s hard not to objectify pregnant women. I mean, don’t you find that?
MOI: (at a loss for words) Ummmm, what?
COLLEAGUE: No, I mean, it’s hard FOR ME not to objectify pregnant women. (more awkward and now openly lecherous grinning)
The M.C. begins her opening comments; everyone but us is now sitting down.
MOI: Hmmm. Well, more on this later. See you afterward. (I escape to my seat.)
She left early, so we were both spared any further interactions like the above.
WTF? I suppose I spend so much time in feminist spaces that I’d forgotten what it’s like to be leered at in a professional setting. That said, I kind of love that she embarrassed herself in this manner. I believe now, according to the grade-five-rules-of-mean-girl-relationships, I have the upper hand. And yet, blech. Also, this took place in a feminist space!
In other news, I wore a variation of the all-black-with-fat-feet-adjustable-boots outfit. I will show it to you via my exceptional photography.
#2. Worn to attend two research talks on campus
All same as above, but switched out jacket for Black silk/cotton blend non-maternity slim sweater, and switched out bib necklace and pin for gifted and oft-remixed silver
Tiffany necklace
Mostly, I am over being pregnant and cannot wait to carry this baby on the outside of my body. However, I have another two articles to complete and submit to journals, and at least two weeks worth of research-related administrata to take care of before this baby comes into the world. So probably I should just embrace the largeness and all associated crappy symptoms (carpal tunnel in both wrists, for example) for just a wee bit longer.
Finally, let’s finish today’s Sei Shōnagon-inspired list, shall we? I’ll do 5, and you add your ideas in the comments section:
Things that Should be Large
5. One’s publication record prior to the commencement of maternity leave
4. More of my boots
3. One’s capacity for compassion (currently, I excel instead at smugness)
2. One’s wine collection and accompanying glasses
1. One’s budget for the purchasing of baby supplies (srsly: holy maude)
What else should be large, StyleNation?
Coming Up for Air
Man, I can.not. wait for Spring Break. Just two days to go until I head for parts northward where I get to visit with my adorable niece and nephew, and get some precious days off of work (and, I suppose, hang out with my sisters and their husbands). This last month has been totally chaotic and did its very best to make me cry in public as deadlines overlapped one another and assignments just kept coming in and coming in. I’ve got to take work with me when I travel but I’m definitely taking the weekend off completely. Though I said that LAST weekend and I ended up doing my typical “work all the days” trick so… Anyhow, since I’ve just been trying to keep my head above water, there’s been a lot of repeats and generally underwhelming sartorial decisions throughout February. But by the end of last week, I decided I needed to pick my game up a bit in order to keep myself awake.
Sweather, t-shirt, skirt: Target; Tights: Hue; Boots: Corso Como
This t-shirt is from the Jason Wu for Target collection of a couple of years ago and has an adorable little black and grey wagon wheel print. The shirt itself is pretty transparent so it’s strictly a layering piece — and one that I tend to forget about. The bow is a little twee for me sometimes but pairs nicely with the v neck sweater and the pencil skirt.
I don’t have much to say about this, really, apart from observing that one way you can tell I’ve been busy/ stressed is that my nails aren’t done. I think it’s going to take Spring Break for me to get back on that habit.
Dress: Old Navy; Scarf: Bought in Berlin; Tights: Spanx; Boots: Jessica Simpson
So, yesterday morning it was 25 Celsius/ 77 Fahrenheit here. Two hours later it was 0 Celsius/ 32 Fahrenheit. Which is a ludicrous change in temperature in such a short time. This place I live in is weird. This morning I woke up to -13 Celsius/ 9 Fahrenheit. So, as any other smart individual would do, I put on my shortest dress & tights and went to work. I am, obviously, some sort of super genius.
The dress is new so its shortness came as a bit of surprise plus it kept riding up my tights as I walked & in the wind. Altogether, then, it was the best possible choice today.
So… March has definitely come in as a lion, right? This means we’re due some lamb-like weather soon, right?
Prego Profesh-ish
StyleNation, February is almost over and I’m betting MANY of you across North America are more than ready for the end of this crappy stormy month.
Outfit #1: Off-campus meeting
In other news, I’m on research leave but still occasionally have to get out of my pyjamas. For instance, I wore this relatively casual ensemble for an off-campus meeting with a research assistant:
Cotton jersey tunic: Boden (new to blog); White cotton cami: ??; Wool/acrylic stripe drape-front cardigan: (remixed, via Winners); Maternity under-belly dark-wash skinny jeans: Indigo Blue (via Motherhood Maternity – worst store name ever – new to blog); Black leather riding boots: Blondo (via Brown’s, remixed ad nauseum on this blog)
And here, just because I have it, is another view. Can you tell I’m trying to emphasize the baby belly? People keep missing that I’m pregnant. Case in point: upon learning that I am almost 7 months along, a woman I met at a meeting last week said, “Oh, that’s exciting! I thought you were just chunky!
Outfit 1: Things are exactly as they appear
I wore this for a fantastic but very long day on and off-campus during which I co-hosted multiple events with multiple guest speakers. I needed to be super-comfortable.
Wool/acrylic beige and silver cable 3/4 sleeve cardigan: H&M (very old but new to blog); Cotton jersey blue and grey stripe ruched maternity dress: Isabella Oliver (via the indie prego store down the street, new to blog – also, it can be worn post-pregnancy because of all the wicked ruching!); “Silver” bead necklace: craft fair (remixed, old); Brown tights: Hue (plus-size, for my prego comfort); Brown leather boots: Browns (remixed)
Here’s another view. Apologies for cutting out the bootage. It was very early, and I was in a HUGE rush:
Sadly, even with this fantastic dress, things got dire, comfort-wise, by hour 16. Also, tights are the worst if you are (a) pregnant (and thus have ridiculously sensitive skin on the back of your stupid legs), and (b) sitting on hard chairs for much of the day. That said, the dress held its shape all day. Also, its horizontal stripes emphasized the baby belly and minimized the “chunky” talk.
Do you use fashion to help others know/recognize things about you?
How so?
First Quarter
How the heck is it February already? Somehow we’re into the fourth week of the term here, meaning that the term is a quarter over already. For all the chaos that surrounds the beginning of the school year in September, I always find that the spring term feels link a non-stop sprint. The spring is conference season for me so all of a sudden all the ideas that seemed so exciting in September now need to actually have some sort of concrete plan behind them. I go up for tenure this summer/ fall, so I’m also in the midst of trying to put together anything and everything that can be sent out for a last minute CV boost.
Turtleneck & skirt: Target; Tights: I don’t know, Hue probably; Boots: Jessica Simpson
I haven’t worn too many pencil skirt centred outfits this school year. Not entirely sure why. Partly it’s that my collection of pencil skirts don’t really fit that well anymore and I haven’t replaced them in the seemingly continuous shopping I do. Partly it’s that I’ve been really drawn to more neutral grounding pieces for my teaching outfits, so the bright colors aren’t always what I’m wanting first thing in the morning.
You guys sick of this blazer yet? ‘Cause I’m sure not. So I broke out the teaching denim in the second week of term this year. Craziness. I know many of you feel strongly about the not-wearing of denim in the classroom, and certainly not early in the term. But I’ve decided that I don’t. I mean, I did dress it up more than I might later — though the necklace was as much about covering up the lowness of the v-neck as it was about dressing up the denim. Students here are very attentive to authority (they ARE Southern) so it unexpectedly grants me a little flexibility in my performance of that authority.
Anyone else got any sartorial rules that they’ve decided they’re not actually concerned about?
Snow Day!
Ok. So there actually is barely enough snow on the ground to count and anyone north of us would totally laugh, but it’s totally a snow day here. Or a snow morning, anyhow. IPF South is, in many, many ways, a weird place, but especially about “cold” weather. Which means we have a glorious reprieve from the morning’s classes, despite it being barely winter outside. And tomorrow the temperature is supposed to be 17 celsius/ 60 fahrenheit. So, so weird.
Anyhow, to the outfits:
Dress: Lands End (gifted); Cardigan: Joe; Tights: no clue, probably Hue; Boots: Sofft
Here’s what I wore for the first day of classes last week. The dress and boots are recent acquisitions — both gifts, in full or part, from my Mom for Christmas. Both are pretty great — the boots, in particular, have gotten a LOT of wear since I got them.
As you can sort of see in this picture, the dress has pockets. A thing that continues to be the greatest. A cardigan was necessary last week, but I love the dress on its own as well.
And here’s the obligatory boot close-up.
Jacket & ponte leggings: Gap; Plaid & white t-shirt: Old Navy; Black flats: Me Too
This I wore the next day for a writing day at one of my usual haunts. And I love it. All of it. This coat and these pants continue to be my very favorite things as the pants feel like pajamas and the coat ups the game of any and everything else. I am on the lookout for new black flats, though, as these ones are starting to look a bit rough.
Got big weekend plans? This weekend is the beginning of candidate visit season so I’ve got a bunch of work things on deck.
Things that are Especially Rare
To echo E-Jo, (belated) Happy New Year, StyleNation! Welcome to IPF 2014 and, more particularly, Research Leave at IPF North! That’s right. I get a break from teaching and service work for the next six months as I prepare to apply for tenure and promotion in the next year or so.
Today’s post, a bit of a catch-up from the end of last term, includes boots, bada$$ery, and a bit of a reveal. Here we go.
#1. Office Pyjamas as Teaching Wear
That’s right. I wore this to teach – but just in my 4th-year honours seminar – in late November. Because I couldn’t make myself care about wearing anything but this bada$$ ensemble.
Draped black wool/angora/acrylic turtleneck tunic thingy: gifted (from my elegant sis-in-law, Designer Shoe Whore); Stainless steel non-boob-wrangling necklace: gifted (from the A-Dubs-Hubs); Black pleather-front and pointe leggings: H&M (new to blog); Black leather buckled up winter boots: Cougar (new to blog, purchased in Canada’s most stylish ville with janey-em and kelly last spring
Here’s a better bootal view:
Remember when Cougar boots were those tan coloured lace-ups that we wore undone so the tongues would flap around and show the red cloth lining? It was the ’80s. Cougar’s changed things up a bit since, it seems.
#2. Holiday Party – New booties and a reveal
Both janey_em and Rinty the Crusher informed me that my search for kick-ass black pumps for the A-Dubs-Hubs’s work holiday party would be fruitless. They said I should relent and get some damn ankle booties already. So I did. Possibly I will never wear these again as I am supposed to be retired from high heels. But they were too hard core to pass up.
In other news, I am pregnant, so that’s why I have a different belly than usual in these pic’s:
Black polyester jersey and lace blazer: Thyme Maternity (new to blog); Black jersey and gold sequin short-sleeved maternity tunic/dress: Séraphine Luxe (new to blog); Black leather, gold metal, and crystal belt: gift with purchase of dress at local prego store; Black micro fibre leggings: remixed; Black leather and gold metal booties: Steve Madden (new to blog)
And now, to complete today’s Sei Shōnagon-inspired list,
Things that are Especially Rare
5. Blessed, blessed research leave
4. Wicked black pumps this winter
3. Regular posts on this blog (sorry!)
2. Holiday seasons during which I cannot consume booze (thank the goddess these are rare)
1. Canadian cities that are colder than mars
What’s especially rare in your life, StyleNation?
Also, is anyone else totally over booties, yet?
Return to Form
Happy New Year, everyone! The last month has been a bit of a whirlwind: I had a delightful 3 day bout of bronchitis. I spent some excellent, but busy, time with family, meeting my (at the time) nearly-three month old niece for the first time and being at the hospital when my nephew decided to arrive, just under the wire, before I flew home. I’ve been home for nearly two weeks and I’ve been busy trying to catch up with things that were left unfinished before the holidays. Local key players are slowly returning from their holidays so things are starting to return to normal in this, the last week of break (here at least — I believe that many of our Canadian academic readers are already back at it).
Part of returning to form means doing the rounds of my coffee shops, making sure that baristas remember my order after my absence.
Jacket & unseen tank: Target; Fox in a jaunty top hat t-shirt: American Eagle (gifted from the youngest sister & husband); Jeggings: Gap; Boots: Jessica Simpson
Fortunately, they all passed the implicit test. It’s as though a three week absence doesn’t make that much difference when you go to a place two to three times a week for the six months previous to this absence. And are, clearly, awesome.
While we’re experience nothing even remotely similar to the insane deep freeze that IPF North is currently in the midst of, the last few days have been the coldest I’ve ever experienced in IPF South — a location where all windows are only single glazed and, thus, super drafty, and where even the slightest drop below freezing is viewed as apocalyptic. After four and a half years here, I’ve gotten weak and so today I had to layer underneath my fantastic fox shirt and eat soup in order to manage. I lead an exceedingly difficult life.
Another form that needs to returning to is having some drinks and tacos. A difficult task but one that I proved myself up to.
Houndstooth moto jacket: Gap; Neon yellow t shirt: Old Navy; Jeggings: Gap; Scarf: Gifted from the youngest sister from her trip to Milan; Boots: Corso Como
Both outfits are also vehicles for some of my holiday loot (with further such vehicles to come — namely boots): the fox t shirt in the above outfit, and the moto jacket here. Both outfits are also all about my youngest sister — the one who kindly had a baby five hours before I had to be at the airport so I could meet the little duffer. I technically bought the moto jacket in this outfit in the Boxing Day sales, but it’s the twin of the one I gifted said sister. Similarly, she brought back the scarf for me from a recent-ish trip to Milan.
Hope all of your new years are off to a good start! And if you’re currently in the midst of the polar vortex, that you’re keeping warm!
In Professorial Fashion 