You’ve seen them on campus. You’ve seen them at the library. You may have even seen them at that eight A.M. lecture period you had way back when. Now, be prepared to dress up like one of their very own. Yes, sir (or shall I say Dr.), I’m talking about the professor look.
Amidst dirty classrooms and cramped up personal offices, a good ‘ole professor’s suit is a shining beacon of light, akin to Hemingway’s notorious “grace under pressure” theory but set in school as opposed to Pamplona. It’s no new fad, either: this is a trend that’s been shaking up college campuses for some decades now, harkening back to simpler, Pokemon GO-less times in which the well-merited popularity of Orwell or Shelley predated the infamous gossip surrounding the Kardashians.
Luckily for our student Fashionistas/os, the look of academia isn’t reserved for English-accented gentlemen with a wide array of tweed suits and leather elbow patches. PhD titles or T.A. positions are totally optional, and even a membership to the N.A. Association for Romanticism won’t guarantee an A+ on this fashion assignment. So what do you need, then, to cinch in a trend that’s equal parts refined and old-fashioned? It’s simple enough, really. Just follow the style course curriculum set down by this classy, professor-to-be Fashionisto!
First, find a crisp, white button-down shirt. It has to be fitted and wrinkle-free, yet not so starchy as to be unable to tuck under a sturdy pair of pants. The slacks, pinstriped and navy blue, make up the majority of the outfit when seen from afar, so they must look clean and tailored. Though a pleaded style is more business-friendly, opt for straight fit khaki pants for comfort and convenience.
Next, tie the look in with some black dress shoes and a sophisticated blazer that corresponds with the color of the bottoms (in this case, dark blue). After mastering the basics of this outfit, touch it up with these finishing pieces: two-toned suspenders and a patterned bow tie. In sporting suspenders rather than a belt, this Fashionisto ensures extra support for the tucked-in shirt and greater visual appeal; with the bow tie, doubtlessly cool and Downton Abbey-esque, he further adds on to the nonconformist and vintage feel of the look.
One more trick to achieving that perfect mixture of scholastic pursuit and eccentric taste? Lug around a handy messenger bag, complete with academic papers, a laptop decked out in fandom stickers and hardback books on loan from the library! Follow through with a good academic record, and you’ll be scoring high marks on professionalism from your very own college instructors.
What is your STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK? “Dress how you see yourself in 10 years.”
