Friday, February 4, 2011

Get Your 80s On

Yesterday was my first chapter conference and it went very well. And although my dissertation committee was really pleased with the work thus far and had no major issues with my work, the whole thing really put me into an introspective place and I spent a lot of time yesterday contemplating the whole process of research and writing. One issue that I kept returning to was one of motivation. I produce a great deal now as an academic because I have an advisor who expects me to and who motivates me to work (not that I'm not self-motivated. I very much am - I mean you sort of have to be to do this type of work) but I wonder about how I will work when I am no longer a student, when I am (hopefully) a professor myself. To give you an example (and this is what sort of prompted the whole thing for me), I have a section in my dissertation chapter where I make reference to, alternately, the "concept" of honor and the "rhetoric" of honor and one of my examiners suggested that I add something that drew a distinction between those two terms and more clearly defined what I meant when I used them. Now it's of course a good idea (clarity always is) but it had never occurred to me before and that got me thinking about how this whole thing will work when I don't have a committee checking over everything I do. But I suppose I'm always part of a network of fellow academics with whom I can discuss my work (not to mention workshopping things at conferences)...

Anyways, sorry to bore you all with that. Onwards and upwards!

The fabulous sheer 80s leopard print tunic that I purchased from Twitch Vintage recently arrived! I love the versatility of this piece – for example, I can pair it with leggings and a belt and have a shirt dress or I can tie a knot in it or tuck it into skinny jeans and have a billowy blouse. And did I mention its leopard print? How could I not be smitten?









Of course before I could go building outfits, this happened.

49 comments:

Closet Fashionista said...

LOVE the tunic! Yayyy leopard print! :D
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

Closet Fashionista said...

Oops, I also meant to say I know what you mean...its so weird being in the real design world and not having my teachers here helping me before I present stuff.. but I'll get used to it eventually

laura said...

Go 80s! That tunic looks amazing on you! Congrats on your conference!!! I am begrudgingly awaiting mine. Kinda. More like I am just antsy. I submitted my first chapter last weekend, and I am the type of person who can't work on the next until the first is assessed. Agh. Anywho, I am sure that wherever you go, your colleagues will always assist you. I mean, that's what they're for right? Who cares about actual friendship? I kid.

Bonnie said...

The kitty is cute!

The best thing about academic environments is that there is always somebody willing to workshop your work. A ton of conferences are there specifically for workshopping purposes. When you present, you follow up with a question portion so you can engage in conversation about your topic with fellow academics. Holding discussions in class pertaining to your topic (even distantly pertaining to it) also provides you with inspiration through student feedback and comments.

http://glamkittenslitterbox.blogspot.com/

Courtney Erin said...

Thanks guys! I think the degree of useful criticism one gets really varies conference by conference (I've presented both my MA and PhD and a random project at several conferences over the last 6 years and always sort of found that the quality of criticism varied pretty wildly) - I've always found the real value of conferences to be meeting other academics and then talking with them one on one about the larger project, which usually does yield pretty consistently good input.

Unknown said...

Amazing outfit.
Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog.

WannaBmamma said...

Cuuuute! The kitty AND the top/dress. I've never had to confidence to pull off such bold animal print so I'm jealous!

-RB
justaddwaterlife.blogspot.com

BECKY MAY said...

amazing print! and your cat is so so sweet!


The Flower Girl

X

Emma said...

I Love this blouse. My favorite is tied at the waist in the first pic.

Marie a la Mode said...

Aww your cat is so cute!

I love the leopard print.

Good luck with the rest of your work! You smarty pants, you!

Nnenna said...

Yay- so glad your chapter conference went well! I hear your concerns, but like you said, you will always have a network of other academics/professors to support you, so I wouldn't worry :) Also, love your new blouse- it looks fab on you!

star-crossed smile

Isabel said...

i love leopard print as alwasy!

Isabel @ Walk of Fashion

BonBon Rose Girls Kristin said...

You look gorgeous in leopard and SO does our fur baby!

Oh to Be a Muse said...

haha, that kittie is too cute. i'm sure you'll be a great, motivated professor--especially in leopard print!

Ninjagaiden78 said...

I like the outfit and your hair.
Very pretty.

windowshopz.com

Laura Mullins said...

hehe i love the kitty and the fact that you took photos with all those books! sounds like your dissertation is going well and you're learning a lot (:

Jennifer Fabulous said...

I'm glad the conference went well. :)

You look so glamorous in that awesome shirt! It looks pretty fabulous on your kitty as well. Hehe. xoxo

Pamela said...

What a fierce top. Especially on the kitty. Me-ow!

I think through the dissertation process, you cultivate relationships with ppl who are like-minded and you will always have them to bounce ideas off of even when you are no longer a/their student. Gl with it all!

Collette Osuna said...

I love the tunic both ways..and it looks super cute on your furbaby:)

Stop by and say Hello:)
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Sandra Leiva said...

Great tunic, I love leopard print! <3

Penny Dreadful Vintage said...

Rrrowr! Twitch Vintage does some great things, doesn't she. I love the tunic top, great purchase.

I am sure you'll always have a group of fellow academics you can ask for advice and brainstorm ideas with each other. I read over something for my Cambridge friend a few months ago and I am by no means a brainiac, but it is easy to ask others for their perspective x

Erica Wark said...

OMG your kitty is sooooooooo cute!!!!!

I have a cat too - Love them!!

xx

Robyn said...

I LOVE that you tied it off. Such a versatile piece, and it really looks fantastic on you. I will be tweeting this immediately.

Chelsea Finn said...

This is definently a wonderful versatile piece. I lvoe the first way you wore it the most. :)
And your kitty is so so cute! :)

<3Chelsea Elizabeth
http://www.organziedxxmess.blogspot.com

Madeline Weber said...

love 80s style, and i love the print on that! looks fabulous

xx http://madelineweber.blogspot.com/

o said...

Thanks for sharing ur thoughts, Courtney! I can definitely commiserate. When I was in grad school, it was much easier to stay motivated with continuous deadlines and mentors with words of encouragement. You seem very disciplined and self-motivated, so I'm sure this will continue once you're out of school!:) You'll do great!

Oooh, the leopard tunic is a fab find! Love the versatility. Have a great weekend! -AB

TheOwlsCloset.blogspot.com

Kallie, Happy Honey and Lark said...

What are you focusing on in your writing? I hope someday I become a professor (art history). Whats it like to write a dissertation? I hope you write about this more, I'm fascinated by it because I'm saving to continue my education to that level.
Twitch Vintage is awesome, one of my favorite vintage shops!
PS-your cat is a troublemaker ;)

Jessica Weingarten said...

I love how versataile that tunic is! It also looks pretty good on your cat ;)

I'm sure that you will be just fine on your own when the time comes. Education is really just training wheels for reality, which I'm sure you already know!

inge luciana said...

the leopard tunic looks perfect on you, cool!!

Unknown said...

beautiful leapord prints
lol that kitty looks cute hehe very nice post


http://smsjar.blogspot.com/

CHLOE and JESSICA said...

omg i am obsessed with this leopard top! it is stunning on you and i want it! ha gorgeous!
xoxo

http://www.leatherlaceblog.com/
http://www.leatherlaceblog.com/

Leia said...

It looks very versatile! And I adore leopard print!

Leia

cathy. said...

This is so versatile! Your kitty is so adorable :)

xx

Sherrie Cola said...

Very nice :)

Diana Mieczan said...

So happy that your chapter conference went well and that tunic looks so good on you, sweetie. The last photo made me smile:) Sweet! happy Sunday, sweeie

Heather said...

Great tunic! And your kitty is so cute. :)

Unknown said...

Ha, I have the same kitty problems, lol! They have "brand-new clothes" detectors built in, I swear! And regarding your dissertation and future fears, I have every faith in you, though I totally get where you're coming from, it is nice to have a safety net. XX!

Aśa :) said...

You look great.
I love Your cat! ♥
Cool blog. :)

jess said...

The top looks great on you.

match.box.muse said...

love the leopard print and that last picture is just precioussss!!! :) have a great day!

love, M

Dhalia Edwards said...

Is this your book collection? I WISH I had the room for a big book collection.

Dhalia

stylenuggets said...

Trust your cat to choose the best stuff! Mine does too. This tunic can be worn so many ways. Nice.

eesa said...

i love how your top is so versatile xx

LyddieGal said...

what a great tunic! and yes, animals always want to sleep on the newest thing they can find, those little brats!

Chic on the Cheap

Annebeth said...

sexy leopard! will make an awesome dress too, great find!

and don't worry about the future: professors aren't perfect either, and they let their works be peer-read, right?

Cecylia said...

ooh you look gorgeous in that leopard print!! Love it as a dress too- so clever!

And on your cat ":)

come see my blog hun

Twenty.Something said...

I feel you girl! I'm currently writing my thesis for my Masters and I constantly go through the same thing. I'm always so up and down, and can't seem to properly focus... not sure why. It's as if my brain is still on vacation this semester!

As for the leopard tunic... love it! Especially with that thin belt.

http://artfashiontwentysomething.blogspot.com

MsRinz said...

love your cat!!!!! anyways i cant find u on twitter! are on u it?

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