Friends of Chic in Academia –
A few weeks ago, Redbook Magazine held a call for submissions to be considered for their annual Real Women Style Award competition. I submitted the following seven photos and guess what?! I’m a finalist! I am among 25 women being considered, and there is now a voting process to select this year’s Reader’s Choice.
I never imagined I’d be selected out of the hundreds – perhaps thousands – of entries submitted, but it happened! I am thrilled, but more so, excited to possibly have the opportunity share my thoughts about fashion and the professional woman on a larger platform. When I started Chic in Academia, I wanted to show the world that one could be a woman in academia and do all that academics do – nerd out, indulge in science, change the world one scientific discovery at a time, be professional, be a boss, etc – and still maintain a feminine identity. There appears to be a disconnect in many a workplace: a woman cannot be both fashionable and a superstar in her field. Especially in academia, paying attention to one’s attire might be construed as not paying enough attention to one’s science. Ruminate on that for a minute.
I don’t deem myself the best in my field. I am far from being the perfect or most successful woman in academia. But, I do my best and have achieved my share of success, all while wearing stilettos and bright colors to work. I get ready in 30 minutes or less every single morning and then turn my attention to science. The fact that I put some thought into what I wear every day, does not in any way distract me from my work or my science. My message to other academics and professional women was was: You can too! And you can also choose NOT too! But the choice should be yours. To quote the old adage, ‘don’t judge a book by its cover’. A fashionable woman does not a dud make. 😉
A second goal for this blog was to help demystify shopping and debunk the myth that high-end, designer fashion was only attainable if you had loads of money. My blog helps women shop for the items they covet at affordable prices by sharing information about sales, second-hand or consignment shopping, rebates, coupons, making cash from closet inventory. I focus on making fashion affordable and attainable for all.
And so, although it’s been a great journey thus far, I see this opportunity to compete for the Real Style Award as a way to share this with even more women! Women who may not yet know about my blog, but who could benefit from reading the information I share, or possibly even gain inspiration on a daily basis from the outfits I share on Instagram. So, if any of this resonates with you, I would be so grateful if you would take a second to vote for me: a real woman, scientist, momma, wifey, and sartorialist! Go to this link
to vote. You’ll see this on the website, but just in case, here are the photos I submitted:
Photos taken by (in no particular order): my hubby – Michael Frymark; Mariana Pimiento; Rachel Tindall, and Rachel and Noah Ray.
Thank you so much in advance and wish me luck!!!
To vote, click here:
Until next time! Stay ‘Chic’!
Details: Pearl Cuffs, Forever 21, 
Chic in Academia 