Today is the first teaching day of the semester for me. Our university system has a January term which spoils the non-J term teaching professors rotten. This is the first time I've ever taught a Tuesday/Thursday schedule. Also, Blokey and I joined the gym,* and since my first class starts at 12:25, I thought I'd take my nervous energy to our local Y this morning. Please excuse the wet hair and the post-exercise blotchiness (which I am rather proud of.) During that time, I took a print out of my class rosters to the treadmill and studies the names, in hopes this will help me learn them easier.
Afterwards, I fretted a bit about what to wear, because I want to be authoritative, but not scary, as evidently, I can be scary at times (assigning hard things to read=scary to some students).** I had on a blazer at one point, but Blokey said it was a "bit business-like" so I took it off. I can't explain it rationally, and I can't explain it rationally, but I think there is a line between "business woman" and "professor" that I don't want to cross. I don't know why I am reluctant to do so either.
Since it's storming across the country and soon to storm here, I am wearing my rain boots and changing into my officer shoes (boring 2 1/2 inch pumps with bows) when I get to school. Because nothing says "first day of class" like pumps.
Oh, and I successfully completed my major deadline last Saturday afternoon, mailed it off, and took a complete mental break the for the rest of the evening. It was pretty amazing.
Cardigan: Junior's section of Dillard's, years ago
Skirt: H&M
Shirt: Loft
Tights: Target
Belt: Local vintage shop
Shoes: Mee Too
*I'm not a huge gym person. In fact, I actively dislike the gym, but the reduced daylight hours and questionable safety of running in a city with super impatient cars is making me readjust my preferences.
**I met up with old grad school friends over break, which I wrote about earlier. The dude, whose known me since day one of grad school, told me that I can be incredibly intimidating. But how come some of my students still try to intimidate me? Maybe it's just my cranky facial expressions.
Nice first day outfit! I love the red belt with a black pencil skirt (since I've worn it too, and will no doubt wear it again). Your comment about the line between professor and business woman is interesting. I agree that a blazer would look business-like with this outfit, but not so much in other ensembles (like jeans, which you know).
ReplyDeleteHave a good first day! :)
I like this look, it is very "i mean business" but not scary.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your semester!
it was my 1st day teaching a new class yesterday, and i also struggled with what to wear! i love the outfit you came up with- professorish but not boring. hope your class went well!
ReplyDeleteEeee! You look so teachery! I love it! Um, maybe it's just me, but is being scary that bad a thing (think about it for a sec in the context of high-school boys)?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your first day and your semester! I really like this first-day outfit.
ReplyDeleteAs for being scary or intimidating, in my experience the very approachable young female instructors are the ones students try to dominate. I'd rather be scary than a doormat.
I completely know what you mean about the demarcation between female academic and business woman. Maybe this is why so few female academics regularly wear their suits?
Congrats on making that deadline! Also, I love your shoes. They're patent booties, really aren't they? Glad to see you pulling out the teacherly grays and blacks for the first day--it brings me good camaraderie.
ReplyDeleteI've always been scary. Some of my more approachable female colleagues learn all sorts of distressing and sordid personal details about the students and postdocs that I...remain ignorant of. Boundaries: I haz them. This outfit says that you have boundaries too.
ReplyDeleteYou look very professional. The cardigan was a perfect compromise and doesn't cross the line to "business woman". Loved the pic of your desk at Oranges and Apples yesterday. I presume that was pre-deadline. Finally, got the package mailed, but no telling how all this weather may affect delivery.
ReplyDeleteI look ready to kick some ass in the classroom. Good luck with your first day of teaching!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a perfect first day ensemble. I would agree with other commenters that scary can work in your favour. I sometimes think that for some students, expectations are intimidating. Of course I don't teach, sothat's just a hunch ;)
ReplyDeleteI love your outfit! Authoritative, but not scary. It's a good balance.
ReplyDeleteI think your outfit is perfect, Rad! The right mix of authority and professionalism, but it also says, "Yes, dammit, I'm chic!"
ReplyDeleteLove the furry friend.
Congrats on the deadline!
ReplyDeleteI also joined the Y but due to illness and laziness issues, I haven't gone more than once. I'm hoping this is my week.
I like this outfit and I am in "need" of a similar red belt!
I think it's perfect for the first day - professional but approachable! I am jealous of the big storm hitting everywhere but here. We got a measly four inches yesterday and that's it! I hate the gym too, which is why I was so excited I got a hand-me-down treadmill for my house!
ReplyDeleteRed Belt= Perfect touch. I honestly don't think 'scary' is a bad thing, but scary to some people just means professional to me.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the deadline. Welcome back to having a life!
Obviously, you know how to bring it on the first day. Also, you are hardcore, gym-wise. And seriously? You studies your class list? That is some impressive dedication!
ReplyDeleteFinally, wooHOO! Way to meet that giganto deadline. That. Is. Hard. Core.
Way to go on finishing the unending project! You totally earned more than a single night off!!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great first day outfit. I love the stern teacher look of the oxfords but with the red belt that suggests some levity.
@Anne: I think this look has been popular on Style Nation recently. I think I managed to stay on the right side of the business/prof balance.
ReplyDelete@Lyddie: Thanks! I think I looked scary but probably said too many silly things the first day to be scary.
@Joelle: Thanks, they went well. What kind of classes do you teach?
@C&B: Yeah, sometimes there's not much difference between the college and HS students, even at the senior level.
@K.Bean: Thank you. I always thought we didn't wear suits because we didn't have to, and suits aren't terribly comfortable or flattering. I kinda hate my suit jacket, so it probably worked better this way.
@SFE: Actually, they're a matte leather but the durn flash made them look shiny. I like the term "teacherly greys and blacks."
@Cynthia: I applaud you for your boundary keeping. I have to admit that I have many young men talk to me about things that I wish they wouldn't, including a young man who'd come to my office every day after class and verbally puke his conspiracy theories about the gold standard at me (this is th problem with teaching international politics). I'll have to take lessons from you. I have learned to say, "Sometimes, you don't need to share things with your professor," lately.
@Terri: Thanks. I didn't realize all the other pics would be so magazine perfect, but then again, I like the everyday-ness of my creative imperfection.
@Rebecca: Thanks, the day went well! I don't know if I successfully kicked ass but I felt good.
@Allison: I just hope I didn't frighten the nice students.
@Laura: Thanks. It's tought to balance the two.
@Sheila: The furry friend's ego just inflated becasue of your kind compliment.
@Jesse: Did they rope you in with their no-membership fee January? Tricky!
@Futurelint: I'd like a measly four inches (but also a city infrustructure to take care of it). I once had a decent exercise bike on my apartment (secondhand from the maintenance man when we lived by Walker Arts Center) but I never used it.
@Miss B: That's true. Scary had a gendered aspect! I don't quite have a life yet (2 conference papers to write). Just 6 weeks of this left.
@A-Dubs: I still flubbed some of the pronunciations. But I think roll call went much smoother this time. Many thanks for your congrats!
@E-Jo: I am totally banking my days off under my latest conference papers are due! I was hoping the red belt "softened" the look.
Hi Rad, congrats on meeting your deadline! I'm still trying to make mine (now long overdue). I am going through the exact same issue as you are re: being approachable to students. I am actually asking all students this term to come to my office hours at least once to introduce themselves. I can see the real benefit in fostering a rapport with them, but at the same time, I feel as if it's forcing me out of my naturally reserved personality. And it's hard to think of conversation topics with 19 year olds that are friendly and at the same time, I obviously don't want to cross any lines. Interesting, indeed.
ReplyDeleteNice classic outfit.
ReplyDeleteI am also always a little bit proud of the post gym blotchiness...it proves you worked hard, right?
The Auspicious Life
I think this is a perfect first day ensemble. I would agree with other commenters that scary can work in your favour. I sometimes think that for some students, expectations are intimidating. Of course I don't teach, sothat's just a hunch ;)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making that deadline! Also, I love your shoes. They're patent booties, really aren't they? Glad to see you pulling out the teacherly grays and blacks for the first day--it brings me good camaraderie.
ReplyDelete