Fake snake skin in the classroom?

Is fake snake skin classroom appropriate?  I say, "YES!"  I found this belt at Kohl's on clearance and it was love at first sight, and under $5!!!!! 

The skirt is Banana Republic and was scored on the same Goodwill visit that got me this skirt and this skirt.  (That was a good day at Goodwill!).  The lime cardigan is another Goodwill treasure, previously worn here.  I love how my french manicured nails look against the skirt.  I get lots of compliments on my nails, and they are 100% natural, and I do them myself!

Monday, a little grey

Nothing special about this outfit.  But I snapped a picture of it Monday morning before heading out, so thought I might as well post it.

what color cardigan?

Wearing another Goodwill skirt, with a Goodwill belt, and a Goodwill t-shirt.  I debated which cardigan to wear.

Two of the three cardigans are from Goodwill, buck shockingly I chose cardigan #3, which is not from Goodwill.  I don't often show my shoes, not sure why, but these sandals are so cute they needs to get shown.

Gypsy Love

I found this top at  Goodwill in Madison, WI.  I was there the end of July for a conference, and with an extra hour I had to kill I made a quick stop into a Goodwill store.

I get a gypsy vibe from this top.  But I think it is still nice and professional.  As my office is freezing, I grabbed a turquoise cardigan out of my closet to go over it.  The black pencil skirt I have had for about 2 years now.  It is so classic and versatile, I should wear it more often.

an oldie but a goodie!

Okay this dress isn't really that old, but it was before my switch to only second hand clothing purchases.  I got it on clearance at Ann  Taylor Loft last fall (2009).  Everytime I wear it I get lots of compliments.  And the bets part of the dress.....it has pockets!   Yesterday I wore it straight from campus to martinis at night with friends, and it worked for both!  I felt professional at work, and my friends all thought I looked great.  I am wearing it with a belt from a consignment store and an Ann Taylor cardigan I found via Goodwill.

First Day of classes!

Yesterday was the first day of classes for me this fall.  This semester I have almost all students I have had before, which is nice.  In one class, out of 27 students, 26 I have taught before.  In my other class, out of 18, I have taught 14 before.  And out of the four I haven't taught before, one is my new masters student, and another is my academic advisee, so I at least know those students.  Despite all the repeat students, I had a moment of "what will I wear on the first day?" last week, so I headed to a Goodwill (one I have never visited before).  I scored big time, including the skirt I wore for the first day of classes.

The skirt is very ME, and was only $3.79 at Goodwill.  The belt and cashmere sweater are also Goodwill finds, but ones I have owned for a while.  I debated between a jacket or cardigan (our building is freezing),  and decided since most of the students know me I could go more casual with a cardigan.  I then debated between my yellow cardigan or this pale green one.....obviously the green won out!

Monday, and upping my game

Yesterday was the first day of classes at my university.  I don't teach on Mondays, but since students were back on campus I decided to say good by to my casual skirts, tank tops and flip-flops of summer.  I am officially back in school year dressing. 

I got this dress on an Ann Taylor Loft clearance rack last summer when I was out here with my aunt looking for housing.  I added the black ribbon belt to give the waist so more definition.  My office is always cold, so a sweater works year round.  I once saw Kate Gossling wearing this dress on a tv interview.  Hmmm, not a fan of hers, so made me reconsider the dress until I realized it looks better on me than her anyway.  :)

last days of freedom

Thursday felt like the last day of summer vacation......so I broke out jeans (folded up to be capris) a summer floral camp shirt and my new yellow cashmere cardigan. 

Friday we had a faculty meeting and department orientation for the new grad students.  So I decided to dress up a bit. 

The jacket is new to me.  I found it recently at the Salvation Army for $3.49.  It is Coldwater Creek.  I have had that skirt for a while now, I got it at a consignment store when I lived in Canada.   Just a plain yellow Target tee underneath the jacket.  In the afternoon I went to the Starbuck's on campus for a cold drink, and a woman (clearly a parent moving in her child) said to me "You must work at the University.  You are the only person I have seen today that isn't a sweaty mess in shorts from moving boxes.  You look so composed and put together."  Got to love freshmen parents. 

Lime green cardi

I recently picked up this Ann Taylor Lime green cardigan at Goodwill.  It is quite quickly working it's way into my wardrobe.  It is a nice light weight for summer air conditioning, and has a 3/4 length sleeve.  What a deal at $3.79.  I heart you Goodwill.  I've using it a lot as a way to add some color to my black and white ensembles.  Here are two examples from this week:

Dress: Walmart, summer 2009, ~$13
Belt:  Goodwill, $0.99

Black t-shirt: Superstore when I lived in Canada ~$7.00
skirt: Gap via Goodwill, $3.79

Hot Hot Hot

It is still hot hot hot down here.  So I am enjoying days of tank tops, flowey skirts and flip flops.....only a few more before students return to campus, and thus my more professional (and not as cool) wardrobe returns.

This skirt was Old navy clearance last summer for about $7.  I found the burgundy tank at Goodwill, it is from Ann Taylor.  The white tank underneath was a Walmart purchase last summer for about $3.50.

summers almost over

Summer is almost over, my days are numbered till I am back in the classroom.  Also numbered are my days of dressing in whatever I like.  Not that there is a dress code for professors, but certain things I am just not comfortable wearing in front of the classroom.  Here are shots of a few outfits I thought to snap pictures of recently.

T-shirt is from Goodwill and the madras skirt if from Ebay.  That skirt always looks shorter in pictures than it does in the mirror.....how weird is that?

I wore this to work on Friday as I had a date after work.  The dress is from Goodwill, worn with an old cami and a Ann Taylor sweater I got at Goodwill.

This is an end of the day photo, and it looks it, and my body language is saying TIRED.  I found this cute skirt at Goodwill.  It is too little girl for work once the students are back on campus, but is good for these last blazing hot summer days.

 You can see part of my office in this picture.  This is one of those shirts that I felt much cuter in till I saw the pictures.