Traveling Ph.D.

Since I’ve been upgraded to a “pseudo-dean,” I’ve been trying to dress the part. If you have to have difficult discussions with people, it’s always best to look like you’re powerful, especially when you’re a youngish looking, short chick. Over the past seven years, I’ve upgraded my wardrobe from blue jeans and t-shirts to khakis and dress shirts, with the occasional sweater | blazer | skirt combo for the days that I had to (1) deliver bad news to students; (2) represent the department at an important function; or (3) ask the dean for resources for myself, my department, or my grad students. I’ve added four suits over the past four years – usually when I had a job interview or went to a national conference – so I do have a varied wardrobe.

PIX: Obviously not MT, but it is her new shirt. What can I say? I’m trying to reclaim pink as a feminist color? LOL.

At least, I thought I had a decent wardrobe until I looked into the closet on Wednesday morning.

Alas, all of my dress clothes tend to be of the fall | winter variety. I have wool blazers. Cashmere sweaters. Turtlenecks by the dozen. My skirts are either long or made of wool. My dress shoes are either sized for wearing thick wool socks or they are boots. In the past, this has never really been a problem, seeing how we’ve had a series of “cool-ish” summers around here. Usually, I’m wearing blazers and sweaters by the middle of September.

Not so this year. This year, we’ve had a hot summer, with temperatures over 90 degrees for days at a time. Heck, we’ve even had days in the triple digits – and I’m talking real temperatures here, not the heat index. It’s been so hot that Jim Cantore tweeted about a neighboring town. And, even though today is September 2, we’re going to be close to 90 degrees again.

Obviously, I won’t be wearing a cashmere sweater to work anytime soon.

I have enough clothes to make it through to the crisp autumn days of fall, but only if I mix and match items. For example, on Monday I wore a short khaki skirt with a white dress shirt and a pink linen blazer. That wasn’t too hot. Yesterday, I wore a short thin wool skirt with a blue linen shirt and a black gabardine blazer – and ended up sweating like a pig. Today, I’m digging out my brown gabardine pants and blazer. Friday, it’ll be a long floral skirt with a dressy shirt and camisole.

Since I have a little extra cash, I ordered a few more items to help extend my wardrobe until the cool weather hits. I found a nifty pair of linen pants (olive green with embroidered flowers down the side) on sale for $11.81. I will pair them with a lacy sleeved tunic for Wednesday wear (i.e., I usually don’t have meetings on those days). I picked up a blue pinstriped dress shirt with a white collar and cuffs to wear with one of my blue suits (I am so sick of white shirts). A new tunic top in midnight blue will work with my long floral skirt, my long gabardine grey skirt, or my short grey wool skirt. The new “shimmery rose blouse” shown above will work with a pair of khakis for a casual Friday. It will also work with my black suit or with my pink blazer. Heck, it might even work with my green corduroy blazer when it gets cold enough. I also bought a black tweed blazer to wear with my long black skirt – so I don’t have to wear the jacket from by black suit all the time. A cool pair of ballet shoes (on sale for $9.99) will allow me to go “hose-less” on the humid days.

Looking forward, I did buy a new green sweater to give me more variety this winter. Plus, I also have a new Irish fishermen’s sweater (acquired in Dublin) and an awesome green scarf for this winter. And for walking the Birdie, new yoga pants with a green performance turtleneck.

Now, watch, the temps will take a dive before my new clothes arrive.