Glam

This semester, I'm teaching film for the first time. I've studied film and written about film and incorporated film into my other courses, but now it's the real deal: the intro class for film majors. I'm sad to admit that when I embarked upon this process, I spent relatively little brain power bulking up on discontinuity editing and the Hollywood star system and auteur cinema compared to the mental space I devoted to the questions "Am I stylish enough to teach film?" and "What does a film teacher wear?" Despite all evidence to the contrary, I am under the impression that the kinds of people who teach film wear sleek all-black outfits and have edgy asymmetrical haircuts. Why I think I need to look like Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo to be a credible teacher of Casablanca is unclear to me, but there you have it.

This is what I in fact wore to teach Casablanca. Neither edgy nor artsy. But it does have what I consider to be relatively subtle touches of Hollywood glam in the red blouse and leopard-print pumps. Red and leopard are super glam, right? In retrospect, I could have added even more glam -- maybe a gold necklace or sparkly earrings -- without the outfit turning costumey.

The lessons I learned in film class today? Film teachers need not look edgy, or wear black, or have asymmetrical haircuts. A touch of old time glamour works just fine. And perhaps they should know something about film.

blouse: LOFT (this seasons colors -- I can't decide if I love the "ominous teal" or "maize gold" better!) | jeans: Gap | belt: American Eagle | shoes: Franco Sarto | bag: J.Crew Factory | bangles: J.Crew Factory

The Scholar in Her Natural Habitat

  

I love being in the library -- any library -- which is good because I spend a lot of time in libraries. I have traveled to libraries around the country and the world for research, and I spend most of my time in the main library on our campus. I start and end each day there and spend my time there whenever I don't have to be elsewhere. I also have a carrel where the 173 books currently checked out in my name reside. I barely fit inside.

Since I log a lot of hours in the library, I have a few thoughts about library style. I guess I could wear anything at all to the library, especially on days that I don't have any other teaching and meetings, but I almost always make an attempt to look put together. First of all, even though I rarely plan to see anyone in the library, I run into friends and colleagues all the time (and students during midterms and finals). More importantly, I feel much better when my clothes are both stylish and comfortable. It's amazing what a colorful scarf or great print can do for my mood, which makes me happier and more productive.

My Library Style Essentials

1. A jacket or cardigan. When I'm in the classroom or in a meeting, I tend to generate a lot more heat. I'm talking, moving around, gesturing... but when I'm in the library, I sit still for hours on end. This means that I get pretty cold. For that reason, I try to make sure I wear a jacket or cardigan every day, even when it's nearly 100° like it was today. That way, I don't have to wear the grubby old hoodie I keep in my library carrel for emergencies. This jean jacket is much sleeker!
2. A scarf. Our campus library has very few windows and tends toward the dreary side. Not only does this help with the cold, it also helps amp up the coziness and cheeriness. I may not be home on my couch under an afghan and wearing fuzzy slippers, but a soft, bright square of fabric helps! I'm planning to buy a few more this fall... I'm especially excited about getting my hands on one like this. And maybe also this and this.
3. Comfortable layers. One of the reasons this skirt has been a great addition to my closet is that it has a stretchy waistband and soft knit fabric. Knit dresses, elastic-waist skirts, and jeans are my go-tos for days I'm planning to camp out at the library. I'm even guilty of wearing leggings (with a long sweater!) when my students won't be around.

jacket: Target | scarf: LOFT | skirt: LOFT [exact on sale in limited sizes] | t-shirt: Banana Republic | shoes: Banana Republic [similar] 

Red!

Of course, the name of this website is a very bad pun. As someone who has spent the past five years reading novels and then reading newspaper reviews of said novels, it seemed right to name my blog after a lame joke about reading and newspapers. But I also chose the name because black, white, and red are my favorite colors to wear. Red especially, because it's powerful and attention-grabbing -- I try to wear it as often as possible to professional events in order to stand out. This is semi-pathological, as spending my time writing an awesome article has a much better chance of getting me noticed than planning outfits around red pants, but whatever. Red makes me feel good.

shirt: Ann Taylor Factory | pants: JCP [thrifted, similar on sale in regular & petites] | necklace: J.Crew Factory | shoes: Banana Republic

It's Like New Coke All Over Again

Not this outfit, this outfit isn't like New Coke. It is not a huge failure, and it doesn't take a classic and mess with it. In fact, red-white-and-blue is quite classic and pretty pleased with this look.

So what is like New Coke? This horrible idea. If you are one of the three people who read this post, or this post, then you know that I'm hopelessly in love with my Converse All-Stars. Part of the reason I love them so much is because they are the paragon of a "classic." They make your work clothes look cool and casual. Also, they're a cheap, dependable weight-lifting shoe that doesn't look stupid. And Converse is taking that all away from me! So go buy piles and piles the classic All-Star. 

sneaks: Converse All-Star [buy them here NOW!] | shirt: Ann Taylor Factory | pants: JC Penny [thrifted, similar on sale here] | belt: American Eagle [old] | bag: J.Crew Factory | shades: LOFT [exact]

Thrifting!

The point of this whole blogging enterprise is to help me build a wardrobe that makes sense, so that I can get dressed, even look professional and put together, without tearing my hair out every morning. A big part of that is getting rid of stuff that is hindering rather than helping. Stuff that doesn't fit right, stuff that I can't quite make work, stuff that doesn't make me feel like me. So I recently sold some clothes at the local consignment shop and donated what they wouldn't take. I got rid of shirts, sweaters, and dresses that are in colors I don't wear very often -- blues & purples -- as well as some duplicates -- I probably don't need three navy wrap dresses. 

In order to reward myself for this heroic closet cleaning exercise, I got some new clothes! They were from the shop where I consigned my stuff, so the net cost was about eleven bucks. And I'm thrilled with what I got in exchange, especially these tomato red pants that are a cotton replica of my tomato red wool pants. I love the wool version for winter, and I can always find some way to wear them, so I have no doubts that the cotton version will get lots of play this spring and summer.

I wore this out to lunch with my husband and his mom and then parking myself on the couch to work on revisions.

jean jacket: Target [same] | tee: Banana Republic | belt: Gap | pants: JC Penny [thrifted] | scarf: who knows! [thrifted] | bag: Gap | shoes: Clarks

Look Familiar?

I started reading fashion blogs one marvelously lazy weekend a few months ago, and after wasting spending more time than I'd like to admit stalking following some of my favorites I thought I'd try my hand. Apparently, it is more difficult than it looks. That is why my car, rather than a beautiful blossoming tree, is the backdrop of this picture. It is also why I'm wearing a grand total of four and a half different pieces of clothing in the three posts I've managed so far. But let's just say it's because I'm crafting a distinctive personal style.

I wore this for a morning of writing and an afternoon of purging my closet. I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself.

jean jacket: Target [exact, but mine's normal, not acid wash] | sweater: Loft | pants: J.Crew [exact] | scarf: Loft | shoes: Nine West | purse: Gap [in an awesome print]

Flight

I wore the outfit on a cross-country flight to a conference. I wanted to look pulled together on the flight but I also wanted to be comfortable. This blazer, striped shirt, and red scarf did the trick. This new Fossil bag carried all my gear.

blazer: J.Crew [exact] | sweater: Loft | scarf: Loft | jeans: J.Crew Factory | bag: Fossil [in other colors] | loafers: Clarks