Working Woman Style: Anne, academic journal editor
Welcome to the next installment in the Working Woman Style series! Many of my badass blog friends are also earning a living in fields other than blogging, so I asked a few of them about what they do for work and their approach to workwear. I hope you find this series informative, helpful, and inspiring!
Next up is Anne, the blogger behind Anne in Residence. Anne’s blog was one of the first I started reading way back when I discovered blogs and started my own! Her style is super similar to mine, and I love reading her lifestyle and book review posts, too. If you’re ever in need of gift ideas, check out her genius “gift grids” she does every holiday season!!! She’s also currently expecting baby #2, so definitely check out her blog if you’re in need of pregnancy style inspiration!
Working Woman Style: Anne, Academic Journal Editor
What can we find on your blog, Anne in Residence?
I've always had a mix of lifestyle and personal posts, and lately the most regular categories are outfits and book reviews, interspersed with my home/seasonal decor, recipe ideas, family/motherhood updates, and products I'm loving lately. My style is probably most succinctly described as "basics with a twist," and that classic style with some interesting details is what I aim to have come through in any of my posts, from outfits to product picks to decor. Oh, and in the "before times" I also loved to post about my travels - especially my mix & match packing options - and themed party planning; now I just look back at my own posts about places like Copenhagen (and corresponding suitcase packing) or events like a flower-arranging bridal shower to reminisce and dream about getting to travel and get together with friends and family again.
What do you do for work?
I am the Managing Editor for several peer-reviewed academic journals, mostly in the fields of international business and accounting. In practical terms, this means some "editor" stuff like proofreading of academic research before it is published, and checking/approving issue proofs, but my work is much heavier on the "managing" part. I am basically the central hub for coordinating all of the tasks and people involved in the peer-review and publication process, from the professors who are submitting their work for consideration, to the ones who are reviewing/evaluating the work, to the publisher production team that typesets the accepted articles. When my son was younger and didn't quite grasp what all of this was, he had it boiled down to the most practical terms of what my daily work is: "Mommy does emails."
What do you typically wear to work?
I have worked from home for the last 11ish of the 14 years I've been at my job, so even before the pandemic my work style was pretty synonymous with my regular personal style. I did used to travel a few times a year to academic conferences related to the journals and board meetings for the academic organizations that publish the journals, which required a bit more professional wear. I used to lean heavier into the more traditional workwear of blazers and pencil skirts for these meetings, since I started my job at age 22 and would find that people who I had been corresponding with over email for a long time were shocked at my age when they met me in person - so I wanted to really look the part and not let anyone be biased by my young looks.
Now that I've established myself within these organizations after working with them for years, and given that the general style of the professors I'm meeting with is not at all business formal (honestly, many of them are a bit older and dress like kind of dorky academics), I have gotten away from really owning any "work" clothes even for travel to meetings/conferences. Instead, I dress up neutral shift or a-line dresses, jumpsuits, or a current favorite casual-ish skirt by layering on a blazer (currently always default to the sweater blazer!), or putting a patterned blouse or "dressy tee" with white or black jeans, or layering a button-down under a sweater. Add in a pair of flats or loafers that I wear a ton in my normal life, and my wardrobe basics can become an easy canvas for looking slightly more professional. You can see some of these regular-ish clothes upgraded to professional here (more casual), here (more formal), and here (winter version).
How does your style change for different work environments or for activities outside of work, if at all?
Not all that much! Since I work form home, my wardrobe is generally full of my regular personal style of "basics with a twist" - lots of jeans (current favorite style being Madewell's stovepipe), classic button-downs with special touches, neutral sweaters with texture, patterned blouses layered under long cardigans or cute jackets, and of course lots of stripes.
How did the pandemic change your style or how you approach your work wardrobe, if at all?
I've definitely leaned more into the arena of loungewear than ever before - I now own several sweatshirts that are not for working out, with Madewell's swing sweatshirt and super soft tie-waist sweatshirt being my current faves. I also went a lot heavier into leggings-as-pants for a while there when my son was in virtual school (since my exercise routine was disrupted, I liked being ready to go at any time that it worked out), and again when I was at the beginning of my current pregnancy in January/February and nothing else fit. (Kind of handy to not be seen by anyone during that period, actually, so I could get away with that much leggings wearing - and concealing my fast-growing bump until I was ready to share!) My all-time favorite leggings are from Athleta, but I also can't get enough of this pair from Amazon that is so buttery soft and such a good price.
Also, since there has been no work travel or in-person meetings for me since 2019, and there won't be in 2021 either, I have weeded out and donated some of the "professional" stuff in my closet that I just don't see wearing any time soon, and I don't foresee purchasing anything in that realm for a long time. For the occasional Zoom meeting, basically any sweater, blouse, or sweater blazer will do, and I have more than enough of those for daily wear.
What is one of your top brands/retailers for workwear?
While most of my shopping is from Madewell because it's my favorite and I don't need much (or really any, at this point!) workwear, I find that having a couple of key pieces that I can pair with my regular wardrobe for the occasional in-person meeting/work travel works well - especially some up-to-date pants (which was skinny ankle pants, last time I was in the market...) and some blouse-type tops, like a silk blouse or "dressy tee." For both of those, I have had good luck with Everlane in terms of fit, quality, reasonable pricing, and blouses/pants that can look professional but also might get some wear in an everyday (or even date night) wardrobe too.
What's the number one item you'd recommend to someone just starting to build their workwear wardrobe?
The J.Crew sweater blazer! It's professional and comfortable at the same time, it brings a modern and updated feel to the traditional workwear blazer, and it's super versatile. I've worn mine over dresses and jumpsuits and with skinny ankle pants for workwear, and I've also worn it tons in regular life with jeans for anything from brunch or church to just wanting to feel a bit more snazzy and polished when running errands - as you can see illustrated in the photos in this post. In WFH times, it's also the perfect Zoom top - again, looks professional, but feels like you're lounging about, and nobody has to know about the leggings and sneakers underneath, as you can see in the photo example in this post. And as an extra bonus, it comes in quite a range of colors, so you can pick something neutral that goes with everything, or you can pick something a bit more fun or that shows personality when topping neutral outfits underneath. I have it in two colors and it has been well worth the investment for how much work and regular life wear you can get out of it (I've also tried the less expensive Factory version which is a bit more blazer-like with buttons and lay-down collar, if you want a little more structure or formality but still comfy.)
What advice do you have for young professionals/women in general or for those that may be interested in your field specifically?
My general work style advice: if you're young and new to a profession/workplace, I think dressing the part is certainly important - for better or for worse, women need to do that to be taken seriously. But don't just default to some kind of blazer and pencil skirt just because that might seem like the standard professional thing, if it's not your thing. Clothes can definitely give us confidence, so use that to your advantage as you're starting out a career, wearing something that makes you feel powerful or even just plain feel like yourself. There's lots of ways to work your personality or taste into professional wear, whether that's with a pattern that you love on a blouse under a blazer, or a fun colored flat with an otherwise classic button-down and pants, or finding a way to dress up a favorite item from your closet.
Thank you sooo much for being a part of the series and sharing your insights and advice, Anne! Be sure to follow her blog and Instagram and stay tuned for more in the Working Woman Style series!