Zokai top | In Professorial Fashion

1. On-campus, Student Meeting (a casual one)

Lucite necklace: thrifted; Cardigan: Mexx (old, but new to blog); Billowy silk-look tunic: Winners (I cut out the scratchy tag); Shorts: Winners (new to blog); White-girl nude sandals: Naturalizer (purchased with D-Med on the way to Rinty the Crusher’s wedding); Puppy: the FR’s Dog, almost all grown up; Super-natural-looking pose: an attempt at shoe-highlighting. I am a natural both in front and behind the camera.

Next time, I’ll probably tack the cardigan over the straps of the top. Otherwise, I was pretty happy with the get-up as it maximized air flow. Also, I used the necklace to fill in the chestal expanse (FYI: the necklace isn’t lit from within and I am not pinching a small white thing between my thumb and pointer finger on my left hand. These are funky photo tricks. Yegads, I’m good with a camera.)

I wouldn’t wear this top for teaching because any bending for pages, etc., at the front of the class could bare a little cleavage.

2. Casual Evening Art Show and Out for Dinner

This is not a teaching top either. I used to think it was, but I’ve come to believe it’s a bad idea to take things this low in front of undergrads or older male professors.

Cotton blazer: Tribal (via Winners, remixed); Ruffle-front top: Zokai (via a shop in Steeltown, remixed); Shorts & Sandals: as above; Brown woven leather clutch: a little shop in Steeltown

Yeah, I know. This is kind of low key for evening. I tried to jazz it up with bright lipstick that matched my pedicure, but really, it needs a necklace, at least. Maybe also a little less cotton and some funner shoes. In my defence, I was zonked that day and couldn’t make myself care more than this.

What are your thoughts on shorts for work and play, StyleNation?

How much chestal expanse is too much for work?

* Let’s all be sure to give what we can for famine victims here and abroad. Let’s also continue lobbying government to make environmental responsibility a priority.

Scroll Down for Outfit Post, or Read Ahead for Tangential Ranting

As my partner is out of town, my mother is visiting and has been since Tuesday. She is the kind of house guest who requires a lot of scheduling. In the past, I have pushed her to do her own thing, or to check out the scene and make some suggestions for activities. But it’s end-of-term and I’m too bloody tired for such tactics; so instead, in anticipation of her iron-willed refusal to do anything alone, or even to leave the apartment unaccompanied, I planned 3 full days of activities for us.

And then she came a day early – a scheduling change I forgot in the flurry of marking, invigilating exams, then marking again. Today was, therefore, a “free” day between yesterday’s shopping and gardening, and tomorrow’s spa visits and wine show. Today I tried to plan as we went along; and it did not go well. Because she didn’t find my on-the-fly suggestions very stimulating and, as usual, she had none of her own.

Which is not to say that we didn’t do all of the things I suggested. No, we did them. But she made it clear that today bored her, and that we really could have – and should have (she’s big on the guilt) – done MUCH more with our time.

After a series of made-up errands, one of which was really just an excuse for me to spend 20 minutes alone in my office at the university (while she walked the dog in the parking lot), my breaking point came when we tried to hang pictures in my apartment. This was a poor plan but, as noted above, I was doing it live and I plan better when I’ve put more thought into these things. Yeah, two relatively strong-willed people should not measure, drill, cut, and hammer things together, unless one is willing to let the other be the boss. And now I am filled with rage, so I’ve retreated to my room to “sleep.”

This information has no relation to today’s outfit post. I just needed to vent, and in this small apartment with my mother two feet away at all times, I can’t call anyone.

I teach and research at a university, for peter’s sake – how can one tall, stern, opinionated, co-dependent woman make me feel like such a child? In fact, I’m nearly overcome with guilt as I type this post. I shouldn’t say such things about my mother. She came here to visit at my request, after all. She’s offered to tailor the things I’ve had stacked in the corner of my closet for months. She cooked “Favourite Casserole” for dinner tonight. We’ve shopped all my favourite places, then discussed our new treasures over coffee or lunch. And we’re going to have a good time tomorrow, too. We’ll laugh, and get pedicures, and drink wine, and enjoy each other’s company, again.

But the “free” days kill me. The woman requires a schedule.

Actual Style Blog Post Begins Here

Here’s the outfit I wish I’d worn this week – today, in fact – instead of last.

Inspired by Londyn over at BlogFashion, I tried to choose pieces with special details (not counting the cardigan). But I also tried to keep the colour palette muted so that there wasn’t too much going on. Pardon, once again, the Wonder Woman pose in the last image; I’m trying to show the detailing in the skirt (and am looking ridiculous in the process).