thoughts on dressing up

Here at the ole workstead, we have one subscription to The Chronicle of Higher Education to be shared amongst our department. The issues inevitably end up coming to you after their most current date, and if truth be told, this is often my fault, as I'm the one who orders the subscription, and thus receives the weekly package, which then sits on the stack on my radiator until I have time to read it. That often doesn't happen for weeks at a time. I've just finished the Jan 25th ed, and there is a really great article in the Careers section by "Thomas H. Benton" (they're usually pseudonyms) about dressing up for teaching his courses, now that he's turning 40.

While I'm not with Mr. Benton about turning over my Converse, at 35, I'm starting to have a lot of those feelings too. I do need to start dressing more formally, and less like the assistant I once was, even if that wardrobe is infinitely more comfortable.

Anyway, that led me to ponder the role of knitwear in my quest for a grown-up wardrobe. I have never been a fan of the big, bulky sweater, and only own three, and out of those three, only one is oversized. I think I need to keep this in mind when selecting sweater patterns to knit. Especially if I intend to wear my creations to work, which is where I spend most of my time anyway. Luckily, the two sweaters I want to work on for the first bit of Project Spectrum fall into the wearable to work category, as long as I can manage to make them look well-done, rather than sloppy and homemade. One is a little cardigan, and one is a lace-weight pullover (you'll see later this weekend...).

I think a full wardrobe makeover is due. Mr. Benton listed a bunch of great books on men's fashion (both for history and guidance). The only women's book that I've found at all helpful is the Lucky Shopping Manual, although a lot of that stuff is still out of my price range. At least the advice is sound, and not really based on trends so much as wardrobe staples. Now if only I didn't have to carry so much crap around with me or walk ten blocks to the office...

If anyone knows of any other good style guides for professional women, please do let me know.