Monday, April 26, 2010

Professional Jeggings


Conference look 1, originally uploaded by Cohabitating_Closet.

I have a confession to make. I totally fell off my shopping diet wagon. I think I knew that it would happen. I haven't bought clothes since returning the Ben Sherman dress earlier this month, but I did snag a couple vintage patterns (about a total of $10) throughout the month. However, Anne and some old friends from Chicago (our friendships are old, they are young) planned to shop a couple hours and I almost did not break the pledge of no new clothes (other than accessories and shoes) but definitely broke the budget.
But luckily I can be self-forgiving. This is a pledge, not a prison sentence. I don't endorse self-flagellation, just learning experiences. I have to limit any more spending for a while. I have spent to the extent that I can't buy anything new until the second half of May (and I can't just change the rules just because I keep getting Korean wedding money from my parents' friends).
One thing that Sal told me in comments was that any kind of controlled shopping plan would help me learn about why I shop. So considering the context in which I bought more than I planned, I can identify the following conditions:
1) I was with old friends, and we were trying to cram in quality bonding time. We've shopped together in the adorable local shops in their neighborhood during this exact conference before. They help me be more adventurous.
2) I was enjoying their company and the fun of collective shopping
3) I was there for a professional conference, which tends to make me feel nervous about my abilities as a scholar (also, it makes me wonder how interesting looking graduate students end up looking so dull and boring in a decade or two?)
4) I really really like Chicago, and I justified the purchases because they were all in local and independent shops (although about 1/2 of them were in secondhand stores). I used to shop in smaller boutiques in Minneapolis, and I did not mind paying more than at a high street because I like going local. These stores, Alamo Shoes and Presence (both in Andersonville) have been around for a while, and they both rock.
So it seems I shop when when I'm happy with friends, and when I'm a little nervous, or excited. Luckily, my friends were very good about only recommending pieces that very versatile and wearable, so I will definitely use what I bought (and try not to be too guilty). I even got a second hand dress that will require some alterations but is very "me" (even Anne's fella thought so). Blokey knows that I've done some shopping, but he never judges or gets mad.
I'm a pretty lucky gal to have good friends like Anne, M, C, and K (who couldn't come but has been responsible for other great choices). They're honest and encouraging. Also, I realized while shopping that historically, my wardrobe has been very timid, as these ladies have been encouraging me to figure out a personal style that matches my weirdo personality more for years. Thanks for not giving up, ladies! (And we did not just shop, we also ate a lot of food at Anne's house.)

Finally, this is what I wore when I did my presentation. Which was the last panel slot of the conference, so I thought I could pull of jeggings. Even though the majority of folks (men) wear boxy, Washington bureaucrat suits, I was quite pleased with this outfit. I also liked the renovated decor of the hotel.

Jeggings: Hue (via Alamo Shoes, Chicago)
Striped top: Rodarte for Target
Jacket: Banana Republic
Shoes: Eastland
Nametag: Conference folks

(and for those wondering how I professionalized the Thursday plane outfit, here is another awkward hotel shot. This was Thursday's hotel room. I had to move around a bit. I got good mileage out of my old interview blazer).

17 comments:

  1. You've made me a jeggings believer! Cool outfit.

    -C

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  2. Thanks for all the swell shout-outs! I had such a fun time this weekend, and am sad that it's already over. I hope we can come visit you next year when Bob can take time off again, but in the meantime, you're ALWAYS welcome in Chicago!

    Now to the fashion -- I love love LOVE your conference outfit! It's beyond awesome that you presented in your jeggings and new shoes.

    It's good to identify WHY you did the shopping. It's actually good to go with friends because we could at least talk you out of the less practical purchases, and we could help you justify how much wear you'd get out of things. So it's a step in the right direction! And Bob's the same way - he knows that I have a bit of a shopping problem, but he doesn't judge. He does, however, like your red dress and your green skirt :) Can't wait to see what you do with those!

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  3. So glad you're not self-flagellating over this, doll. Slipping up is all part of the process, and you've already figured out a lot about yourself and your patterns!

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  4. Those don't even look like jeggings. That's how awesome you're rocking them. I love that you don't let your scholarly profession limit your outfit choices! You always look young and chic. Most female professors like old and matronly no matter the age (well, at my school).

    I don't have a shopping ban. I just have to keep in mind that when I buy something, I better have sold something to (somewhat) balance it out. But in the end, I shop anyway. I don't do it too often, just whenever I walk by a thrift/consignment store, I'll pop in but I don't always intend to buy it. I think it's a frame of mind too. because sometimes I"ll just be in the mood to buy something..anything and then I know I should be locked up at home :).

    clothed much, a modest fashion blog

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  5. I think that it's totally acceptable to treat yourself sometimes, particularly when you're conscientious the rest of the time. You look cute!

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  6. jeggings? those don't look like jeggings, they look amazing!!

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  7. I think it's good to impose a ban, but not drive yourself crazy over it! The idea is to cut back, not to cut off

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  8. You look fucking rad, rad!

    Don't you think that part of why so many people dress interestingly as grad students and less-so as associate profs is because:
    a) the tenure process can be brutal and time-consuming
    b) the social pressure in most academic disciplines to not give a shit about style
    c) people tend to become more conservative as they age
    d) none of the above

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  9. I second Eli and Sal. You look fantastic!

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  10. I have recently thought an awful lot about why I shop, and I guess I really should made one of those lists to help me figure out what enables my shopping! Don't be too hard on yourself, we all slip at times, and at least you got things that are wearable and suit you!

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  11. Ok, I'm freaking out. I can't believe how great you make jeggings look. In fact, I have to look away now, as I'm on the verge of convincing myself that I could do it, too. (I cannot. You are lithe and look awesome. I will only imagine that I look like you. And I cannot.)

    'Interesting points about when and why you shop. Conferences make me feel anxious, too. Like I should rush home and write a masterpiece immediately - or die trying. Some light shopping with young old friends seems like a very reasonable way to assuage the conference imposter syndrome. Well, shopping and convincing yourself that every other academic you see feels the same anxiety you feel.

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  12. Those jeggings look amazing on you!

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  13. Those jeggings look amazing on you!

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  14. You look fucking rad, rad!

    Don't you think that part of why so many people dress interestingly as grad students and less-so as associate profs is because:
    a) the tenure process can be brutal and time-consuming
    b) the social pressure in most academic disciplines to not give a shit about style
    c) people tend to become more conservative as they age
    d) none of the above

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for all the swell shout-outs! I had such a fun time this weekend, and am sad that it's already over. I hope we can come visit you next year when Bob can take time off again, but in the meantime, you're ALWAYS welcome in Chicago!

    Now to the fashion -- I love love LOVE your conference outfit! It's beyond awesome that you presented in your jeggings and new shoes.

    It's good to identify WHY you did the shopping. It's actually good to go with friends because we could at least talk you out of the less practical purchases, and we could help you justify how much wear you'd get out of things. So it's a step in the right direction! And Bob's the same way - he knows that I have a bit of a shopping problem, but he doesn't judge. He does, however, like your red dress and your green skirt :) Can't wait to see what you do with those!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think that it's totally acceptable to treat yourself sometimes, particularly when you're conscientious the rest of the time. You look cute!

    ReplyDelete