Lecturers - your sartorial wisdom needed please!

[Whoamireally]

Well, I've just been offered a new job (hurray!) lecturing on am undergraduate clinical course at a University. V excited

However...I've spent the last 8 years of my working life safely esconced in hospital uniform which requires no forward planning or in fact effort, and I have absolutely no idea what to wear when I start my new job!

Lecturers...what do you wear to work? Please tell me I don't have to invest in a tweedy jacket with elbow patches?!! Are you smart - sort of Isabella Oliver wrap dress and heels - or casual, jeans and T-shirt type? Or is there a middle ground here that I'm missing?

Don't want to look all middle aged and frumpy, or alternatively, like I'm trying too hard!

TIA!

I wear jeans but nice smart, dark bootcut ones with a smart top. There is a real range from scruffy to dresses going on - people just dress to suit their personality. More smart casual than office.

When I teach a new class though I will wear trousers as I am only 28 and find I need to work harder to get their respect (been lecturing since I was 23 but still notice the effect). Most staff wear smart jeans though. A considerable proportion appear to have purple hair

anything goes!
Our dept has everything from elegant fashionistas to elasticated jeans.

Personally, my uniform (this time of year) is fairly casual knee-high boots with an A-line cord/velvet/denim skirt and a drapey top. If I'm feeling brave I wear a drapey dress. I'm trying to cut out the jeans.

Don't worry about looking like you a trying too hard. Seriously. Just wear whatever you want.

The students on the other hand are all beautifully dressed.

(congrats btw)

Actually that's really good advice peppa I should probably wear what I feel comfortable in.

muddleduck thanks I can definitely do boots and A-line skirts - have a rather motley collection which draw heavily on the Boden influence...

Are there different expectations depending on what subject you're teaching?

During semester I tend to stick to smartish dresses with a jacket (leather or mainly black, not matchy matchy) or longish skirts and jumpers/cardigans. Boots.

I teach medja so also have a tendency towards scarves, long necklaces etc.

Am short so boots always have heels.

My students always look terrifyingly well groomed and obviously buy their clothes at much better shops than me.

I do like to look smart. It gives me confidence and makes me look less like a (mature) student. Gives a bit of authority.

Yes why do the students always look so good

I work in a health / psychology type discipline if that makes any difference

A lot of my students want to end up working in PR so are always thin, perfectly groomed and made up and mostly blonde.

I have had ex-models in the class, which is always great for the ego. Lovely girls though...

Thanks, Libra, I suppose if I am honest I am worried about what to wear because I want to look like I have some authority and am taken seriously by the students. I guess a lot of that depends on how I come across in other ways but I do think clothes help!

Years ago I read some horrific research that suggested that 80% of students in a lecture theatre at one point or another critiqued the lecturer's clothing, hair, etc.
To be frank, I know I do if I am at a conference listening to papers.

Sorry if that is offputting for you!

Also being young I tend more towards the smart. Accessories can make very 'boring', safe outfits fun though.

Alternatively you could work the scatty, ungroomed lecturer look but I suspect that only works for very abstract academic subjects!

Oh yeah - DH works the abstracted mad professor look very well.

Went in wearing a paint spattered old jumper this morning.

But he is - cough - slightly older.

In abstract academic subject, so wear what I like (many of my colleagues wear suits or tweedy/cord stuff, but that's because they're men). When I was younger I usually outdressed the students, but now I'm an old bag more mature I try to tone it down a little bit.

I used to dress in a formal suit and shirt and tie but it was a business school.

I suggest to go for boring mainstream business wear. Skirt, formal shirt, no need for jacket but comfortable shoes as you will be on your feet a lot. Go for 'safe formal' not kooky or glamerous.

Not doing kooky or glamourous comes quite easily, BeenBeta I usually look like a middle aged mum having a bad hair day. Every day.

Libra you are so right, I remember sitting there slagging off my lecturer's dress sense What goes around comes around!!!

I think the best options for me listening to what you are all wearing is probably going to be reasonably smart but not looking like a job interview, perhaps I should go out and buy some businessy-looking trousers and kitten heels, and then perhaps more casual top and funky accessories?

Erk. Must go and get hair done.

Depends onhow long your lectures are and how you run them, but bear in mind you may be on your feet for up to a couple of hours at a time, much of which you may be rushing from student to student. Comfortable footwear is essential.

Maybe wedges instead of kittens then

Congrats - all the advice you've had is really helpful, I think. Like your idea of mixing 'smart' and funky. I'm on receiving end as a (very) mature doctoral student and, yes, call me shallow, but afraid I do always deconstruct/ critique the lecturers' 'look'.

And, though what they say is clearly most important, have to admit they make a good first impressiion on me if it's a good look. Doesn't have to be any particular style - can be a great piece of unusual jewellery. Some of the best have been Italians who appeared effortlessly stylish. Not fair !

Re Peppa's sightings of purple hair, one of most stylish to date (50ish historian) had a sort of groomed boho look, with pink streaks in hair. Wouldn't dare do it myself but it worked IMO.

hmm, as if any more proof was needed

Thanks Polyhymnia that's really helpful advice. I am definitely going to have to think more carefully about what I wear I have never met an Italian who can't do effortless chic

One more question, dear academics - cardigans in the lecture theatre. Hit or miss?

A string of pearls or some jewellery that's a bit more formal than the students' stuff will set you apart even in dark jeans. My neighbour heads off every morning wearing dark pants or jeans and a slouchy-comfortable looking-jersey kit-draped style top and a jacket, not a business effect, but not studenty -- never a cardigan. She has a few pairs of colourful shoes too, with heels.

I'm sorry but LMAO at the thread title. Brilliant.

congrats on job OP, and wear something you feel good in.

Where I work most people are in smart casual, I actually find it quite hard, whereas, like Beenbeta, when I worked in a Business School I wore a suit every day, easy peasy.

This summer I stocked up on 3 pairs of smart trousers, and a variety of smartish coloured tops.

I am a little stuck on what to wear over the top - most cardigans look a little casual (although I have worn them) but jackets are hard to teach in (think lifting your arms to write on the board).

I am thinking that a couple of those jersey blazers might be good to wear over the top but I think a cardigan is ok if the overall look is quite smart.

In cold weather boots and above/on the knee skirts are good and comfy.

Oh, and watch out for pastelly tops that will show sweat patches, one of our lecturers once wore a top like that and we were all transfixed by the dark patches under her arms!

jamaisjedor - good idea. DW lectures in a jersey blazer but I just like to take my jacket off so I can wave my arms about.

I find lecture rooms can get exceedingly hot so a jacket with a nice shirt/blouse underneath is a good idea so you can take the jacket off if need be.