Osler's Razor

More hats!
 

Just not matching sweaters! Who is that with you?
 

When I was in college, I used to play a game called "Homeless person or college professor?" where you would look at a person dressed poorly with crazy facial hair and try to figure out whether they were an esteemed learned colleague or slept at the bus station. It's a much harder game than you might think at a liberal arts college like UNT.
 

You have to be Prof. Bates to rock the tucked-in t-shirt and ratty jeans. Or Prof. Guinn to make the bad sweater gig work. Or Prof. Powell to do the vest, pocket watch and holstered pistol bit.

Anything else is fair game.

I really don't understand the fascination of the working world with suits and ties. It only "looks nice" because we've decided that looking nice means wearing a suit and a tie. I don't see why jeans and a collared shirt are any less acceptable.

If (when?) I get a gig as a college professor, I'll be in jeans and a simple black Hanes t-shirt every day. Because I won't be able to afford anything else.
 

Holstered pistol? Are you serious?
 

Lane, I don't think that the suit is so much about "looking nice" as it is looking "formal." Personally, I enjoy the feel of a nice suit. I worked in an environment where the jeans option was available, and you'd be surprised by the number of people who would push the envelope on what was acceptable work attire.

As to professors, though, I like the wide ranging dress habits of BLS professors. Though, it would be nice to see a tasteful sombrero worn from time to time, just to spice things up.
 

Make sure, though, that it is an "Urban Sombrero" from J. Peterman.
 

Man... I think everybody's got their own thing up there, and I like it. You teach by what you wear while you're teaching what you teach.

For instance: If you're a mid-twenties dude looking to step your sport coat and slack game up - go by and Professor Osler and Professor Wren from time to time to see how the vets do it.
If you're country but you wanna develop a professional style with more swagger than Jay-Z and John Wayne put together - make it your business to take nothes on Powell.
If you always wanna look like the freshest thing in the room - do everything Guinn does.

Other Profs offer other lessons, let me keep thinking on it.
 

Please, just no cross-dressing.
 

Lane -- are you trying to be steve jobs or a college professor?
 

Both!
 

Hawaiian T-shirts....maybe....

But why not be laid back about it?
 

Blazer, jeans, cowboy boots.
 

I'm going with Indiana Jones. Not the out in the field anthropologist look, but the at work college professor look. Brown suit, with vest, and a bow tie. That is a sweet look.

Really, the key is the bow tie. And suspenders.
 

Each professor should choose an animal that best represents them at the beginning of the quarter (for example, Powell might be a bald eagle, and Osler would definitely be a panda. They should then incorporate something featuring this animal into every outfit they wear. If you want to get the students involved, let them choose your animal for you on the first day.
 

I think one thing we can all agree on is that ties, while looking nice, are completely pointless and have outgrown their usefulness as an accessory. Let's move toward a society in which being formal doesn't meant wearing a tie. Please.
 

I can't believe that this hasn't been mentioned but the answer is obvious...law professors should wear clown suits.
 

Nothing Says "I TEACH LAW SCHOOL " than leiderhosen and a backwards Yankees cap. Word.
 

Although I have not seen any Professor sport it...I think I would pay more attention in class if a professor would sport a Bolo. What else says "I'm classy, professional, yet approachable" like a decorative string with an ornament clasp worn around the neck?

I think sporting the Bolo will be the style of the future...It's just a matter of who will be a leader.

-Carson
 

Carson, you need to see "American Violet," which features a Baylor law professor (based on Osler) sporting a bolo.