Working Woman Style: Rebecca, professor
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!
Meet Rebecca, the blogger behind PhD in Clothes. If you’re in academia and in need of outfit inspiration—AND you’re tall—Rebecca is your lady! In addition to being a soon-to-be published book author, she’s also an expert thrifter and has probably the best secondhand blazer collection I’ve ever seen.
Working Woman Style: Rebecca, Professor
What can we find on your blog, PhD in Clothes?
When I first googled "professor style" I got a bunch of pictures of white men wearing tweed and I was like...okay, who else is out here? What do I wear to grad school orientation? Like many young women I feel challenged to dress in a way that is professional but feels like "you" and that's basically why I started my blog. Now you'll find a mix of talk about building a work wardrobe secondhand, considering my personal style, and seeking out comfortable things to wear to the office. I think it's just me overthinking personal style, basically!
What do you do for work?
I am an assistant professor! So I do research and teach classes.
What do you typically wear to work?
On a typical office day I wear 1 business piece and 1 casual piece, so this outfit (above left) is pretty typical for me! Dress pants plus a cozy sweater. These are my job interview suit pants actually! I found them secondhand on Poshmark. I think I paid $40 for the whole suit. I have 2 of this sweater now because it's ridiculously cozy. And I've probably linked this pair of flats 1000 times because they are the only comfortable pointed toe flats I've ever had.
This blog post probably wouldn't be complete without these pants, which I own in 2 colors (above right). They are just a tad more casual than a dress pant so I find that they work well in most academic environments (where style ranges from "I maybe just gone done hiking" to full business casual). I've been pleasantly surprised by how useful I find a short sleeve sweater, too, especially under blazers!
For work from home I am all over the place--some days I get dressed very intentionally and others I am in workout clothes. I just asked my partner and he said I usually wear these leggings/pants and this cardigan that I got for $1 the last time I went thrifting before the world ended (below).
How does your style change for different work environments or for activities outside of work, if at all?
I am trying to develop more of a style for weekends--I have a hard time buying clothes that aren't work appropriate because I know it will get less wear, but now I am thinking more about how dressing for my time off and enjoying my time off is really important and just as (if not more) important than my work. So, fun outfits it is. I recently got these outrageous pink sandals and I am surprised by how much wear they're getting because they really dress down my office basics (pictured below).
How did the pandemic change your style or how you approach your work wardrobe, if at all?
I feel like I want to go back to work dressed more as myself. When everything went online I was in my first year as a professor and the impostor syndrome was really difficult. I probably asked myself once a day "would a professor do this/wear this/say this?" There are still hard days but the answer is yes, if you are in the role and you are doing the thing, then someone in that role would indeed do that thing!
I think that, like a lot of people, I'm also hoping to come out of stay at home orders wearing clothes that are just a bit more fun and interesting. I've been reaching for more color. Oh, and death to uncomfortable pants and shoes. I did a major shoe clean out already!
What is one of your top brands/retailers for workwear?
When I started my professor wardrobe I went to Everlane and Brass first. Brass is a woman-owned small business and their workwear is just incredible (if you want $25 off your first order from them you can use code REBECCA25)!
Since then, I've definitely learned that almost everything I want can be found secondhand, so I now do almost all of my shopping on Poshmark. My favorite work brands to look for are Theory, Equipment, and COS. If you're new to shopping secondhand online I definitely recommend taking your measurements, they're so helpful for shopping.
What's the number one item you'd recommend to someone just starting to build their workwear wardrobe?
I think with 1 good suit (or 1 blazer and dress pants) you can get a lot of versatility--I have a black suit from my academic interviewing process and I reach for the blazer quite frequently, as well as the pants! Just a couple of business items can mix in with casual crew neck tees, sweaters, and jeans to make work outfits!
What advice do you have for young professionals/women in general or for those that may be interested in your field specifically?
My master's advisor told me "be really nice to everyone, then go do whatever you want." People have a lot of opinions about what you should be doing and I've had to learn to say no over and over and over again to all the requests that come in. You can be kind and collegial and still stay focused on your goals!
Thank you sooo much for being a part of the series and sharing your insights and advice, Rebecca! Be sure to follow her blog and Instagram and stay tuned for more in the Working Woman Style series!