I'll admit that a group among us has been spared in these weekly columns. It's not to say that they're not worthy of fashion criticism. There's more material in this group of people than even the athletes could provide. The truth is, I've been intimidated to mention them for fear my grades would be sabotaged. It was one of my roommates who knocked me off my high horse. "Jessie, do you really think any professors read your column?" Point taken. Game on. They are as much a part of this style scene as any of us and probably talked about just as frequently. While stories of outrageous professor fashion moments could fill an entire column (D.J. Doyle said "My philosophy teacher wore a bow tie and a three piece suit to class every day - except during midterms and finals, when he wore a Hawaiian shirt, jeans, and red Converse sneakers") it's the overall trends that I find most interesting. There is a specific look per department. You can tell a fine arts professor from one in finance. Subconscious or not, professors dress their part as much as the rest of us.
Take the history department for example. We see the greatest number of professors channeling their fashion sense to mirror what they're teaching. One professor Purnell is most often seen in flowy, updated, hippie Eileen Fisher garb, and lots of long beaded jewelry. I'm told she studies Latin America. You see my point. If you consider the fact that these people eat, sleep, and breathe their topic of choice, it's natural that they should wear it too. Of course it only goes so far. I haven't seen any trends from the antebellum south or the Middle Ages. I think we should request at least one day of that. I'd be far more apt to pay attention to someone teaching me about feudalism dressed as a plebeian. It shows a real commitment to the material.
With this in mind, history doesn't exactly have a set uniform like some other departments. Philosophy: older looking suits in more muted colors, glasses are a must. Economics: crisp suits in blue or black, expensive pens as an accessory. Sociology: some shagginess and lack of attention to trends across the board. Of course, I'm convinced it's all a part of some experiment they're doing on the class to see how we respond to their clothing choice.
Naturally my bias is towards the communications department. They win for most stylish set. Then again, they study things like appearance and the media or how beauty affects power. Seems only logical that they should practice what they teach. The other issue with this group is that many of them have jobs in the so-called "real world." So they have to look presentable beyond the Boston College bubble. Plus they got moved to 21 Campanella Way, which we established earlier this semester as the trendiest of the BC buildings. The communications department is just trying to keep up.
One of my friends argues that the best dressed professors are in the foreign language department. Many of them have got that whole Euro thing going because they're from Europe. None of this tweedy jacket and loafers stuff; these internationals are wearing fitted Armani suits with crisp button-downs, no tie. Then again, they are at risk for fashion faux pas on account of the culture difference - risky territory.
I'm told that there is a math department here, but I've never seen any of its representatives, so I feel I can't comment on their overall appearance. If I were them, I would wear sweatpants every day because I'd be too busy trying to add without a calculator to think about getting dressed.
And then there's CSOM. I imagine you'd find an army of navy blue suits and Brooks Brother's ties inside that fortress they call Fulton. There's not really a lot of creativity floating around those parts. Then again, someone did report that his professor matched his tie to the theme of the case they were reading on any given day. "When we read the Disney case he wore a Mickey tie. When we read the Ford Motors case he wore a little car tie. When we read the Merck case he wore a doctor/hospital-like tie," he said. Yes, it is as bad as I thought. Rumor also has it that even some CSOM professors who are usually in "business casual" dress up in suits for exams. Their idea is to look as good as possible as they single-handedly destroy your GPA. Fashion as a psychological weapon. Those guys are good.
I say for all the dozing students, extension requests, and empty rooms on sunny days they deal with, professors can wear whatever they please. Ultimately they spend their days trying to please a force more powerful than the fashion police. And I have yet to see any trendy pieces in Fr. Leahy's collection.
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