Springy in the fall

Springy in the fall, originally uploaded by Cohabitating_Closet.

Happy Monday, Stylenation! Only 3 days until Autumn starts! I thought I'd dress in denial with this green A line skirt. It's very "Spring" colored, but I don't pay attention to season appropriateness anymore. The point of GAAD is to wear everything, right? Today, I'll be teaching my heavy load (3 classes, including a 2 hour grad seminar) so I thought I'd go with the stretchy, comfy cardigan on top. I've been thinking about my work uniform, and the skirt-cardigan-shirt (usually belt, but the waist on this skirt doesn't quite work with a belt) is pretty standard. This would also work with the office blazer, but that's in Manhattan right now (where I will soon be bound).

Blokey and I had a great time on our minibreak in Asbury Park. Yep, minibreaks mean true love. I really like visiting AP, but it's such a strange place. Like, if the town is 75% African American, how come I only saw white folks on the public boardwalk and beach? Also, the lifeguards whistled me out of the water. Evidently, hurricane season means bad rip tides.

Yes, Greetings from Asbury Park!

Legendary Wonder Bar (and not so legendary big cars)

(Blokey wanted me to take a picture of the towny part of AP, which is not thriving)

cardigan: Loft (thrifted)
skirt: Tulle via Presence (Chicago)
shoes: 9 West (ages ago)
t shirt: H&M

Beachware as workwear

I've had this beachy, breezy (and sadly a bit see through) tunic sitting in my closet for a while. I haven't worn it to the beach yet (because I've been wearing jersey dresses) and I wish I was going to the beach today, but I'm working and have a phone meeting with a writing partner (this is huge help for me, as I need a deadline). I am not quite sure how to wear this, as it ends mid thigh, which I wouldn't think twice about wearing on its own with a tighter fitting dress/skirt, but this is nice and billowy. For today, I paired it with brown shorts, which you can kind of see peeking out underneath.
Do you have any ideas on how I can make this more wearable?


Now, unrelated to clothes, but a part of my "Fashions in Academics" series, is this whole "debate" about getting rid of tenure. Some say, "more competition" and others say "it needs to be flexible to deal with different demands and lifestyles". The NYT has a "Room for Debate" series on "The End of Tenure." Cathy Trower, of Harvard's Education school, goes so far as to call it outdated, because it was created by a cabal of "white men." Interesting rhetoric.
I don't know the answer to these debates about getting rid of tenure. I know that there are problems, just like any other system, but whatever is said and done, I happen to be a fan of job security, for everyone. I truly don't understands argument such as "oh, well I don't have strong job security, so why should others?" I also don't understand why some folks constantly praise the use of part time, temporary, insecure adjunct teaching (or "sessionals" as they are called in that great state to the North) is not the solution. While I respect adjuncts and think they do great work (I'm married to an adjunct, and the man is dedicated to his students), I don't see how poor pay, no job security, and limited access to resources and voice benefits anyone, except a university administrator who narrowly seeks to minimize teach costs, with little regard for the students.

The funniest contribution to the debate was one by a Prof. Taylor, who claims that professors make over $200,000/year, average, post tenure. Based on the data from Illinois (which I consider a very average state, cost of living wise), the average full professor at a public doctoral institution makes between $90K-$120K/year.* I do not know Prof. Taylor's public university world, but the current alternative, in which adjuncts in NYC have to scrape a living at about $3,500/course/semester (pre-tax), can't possibly be the solution.

So, is tenure just outdated? Economic security a thing that went out style with the Cold War? Were your tenured profs distant, research obsessed idiots? Would love to hear your thoughts.

*Prof. Taylor argues that tenure, over 35 years of service, costs a public institution about $10 million. According to a dude from MIT's school of management, benefits usually add about 20-40% extra. I'm being generous and assuming an additional 8% IRA/pension contribution and I calculated a 48% fringe.

A rad bathing suit strategy

Outfit posts haven't been happening since Blokey's parents arrived and stayed with us. They are now at the Parkside B&B in lovely Prospect/Lefferts Garden (aka the "wrong" side of Prospect Park, but we dig it) for the next couple nights, so maybe outfit posts can continue. Today we went to Brighton Beach, aka the happiest place in the world. Can you tell I have a shore-fetish? In lieu of other brilliant bloggers talking about the beach/beachware (Sal of Already Pretty and D-Med of In Professorial Fashion), and my own obsession and attempt to get to the beach as much as possible (a shameful number this summer, given my proximity to the ocean), I'm sharing a picture of my own suit. But in an effort to not seem so narcissistic, it's an action shot from Lake Michigan, last weekend, courtesy of the beautiful Anne.

(She has been inexpertly cut out, unless she gives me permission to post the whole picture.)

I can't explain the face I'm making (I think our bachelorette friend told us to "work it for othe camera") but this gives you an idea of my modesty levels at the beach/shore. I wear a medium sized string bikini meant for a high school girl. There is very little coverage, and I doubt that I flatter my figure. I don't wear this because I think I have such a fit and awesome body. In fact, whilst in high school, arguably the fittest period of my life, I refused to wear a two piece bathing suit because of the following concerns: my torso was too long, my shoulders too wide, my breast too small, my arms too skinny, my thighs too heavy, my legs too short, stretch marks on my upper thighs, my hips too wide, etc. My body neuroses knew no bounds. But since I've been going to these awesome urban beaches, I've really learn to shed my bathing suit anxieties. There's something so accepting and awesome about going to crowded beaches, where folks look great, and happy, in their own way. Comfort, fun, and celebration seems to dominate here, not trying to create envy or hide "flaws." While I still maintain MANY hang ups and rules about clothing, I think I've managed to shed most when it comes to the beach. Yep, that's my tummy making little folds when I sit down, and I will have an Italian ice in this blaring sun, thank you.
So does anyone else feel more liberated at the beach/pool than you do otherwise? Or is the salt water just getting to my brain?