Professor style guide

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Father George Gray: Casual and Informal

Sometimes, when Fr. George Gray goes out, people treat him as they would any other Portlander. Other times, people come up to him and spill their entire life story, ask advice on a problem or divulge issues from their childhood. Still other times, despite his friendly and casual behavior, people avoid him.

This difference is caused by only the clothes on his back. People react to Gray depending on if he dons a casual shirt and his default Levis, a black clergy suit or the traditional Eastern Orthodox cassock that morning.

"A uniform or clergy attire means all sorts of things to different people" Gray said. "There is a great amount of distance that the cassock would have. People tend to avoid. They'll walk away because it is intimidating to some people."

Gray prefers not to draw attention to himself or his dress. Because of this, location has a role in his wardrobe choice as well.

"If I were in a different cultural context, I would probably wear the eastern orthodox cassocks," Fr. George said. "In the Western world, like in America, culturally uniforms are for military and police and that sort."

In Portland, Gray wears formal attire for church functions. The rest of the time, Gray is not trying to make a statement but simply being himself. In this aspect, Gray's clothing choices become relatively simple.

"Because my wife and I love Hawaii, I wear aloha shirts as much as possible,"Gray said.

 

Professor Bard: business casual with a dose of eccentricity

At first notice, professor Raymond Bard's intricately decorated ties are fun and whimsical. If you take a second to ask him about them, you'll quickly realize that woven into the chemistry or civil war patterns are fond memories and narratives.

Five years ago, Bard participated in a civil rights plunge at a school in Birmingham, Ala. After a full day of teaching, Bard grew tired and a student offered to help him out. When the student came up front, Bard took off his periodic table tie for the student to wear.

"So that's why that's my favorite tie. It reminds me of a good time down at the civil rights plunge," said Bard. "I actually bought another tie identical to that and gave it to him."

Surprisingly, one of Bard's few ties not related to science is the one he sees as most educational: a tie decorated with ships and lighthouses.

"The students are in the ships and I'm up in the lighthouse... I'm the one that's trying to get the lights there so the students can get through the rocky areas," Bard said. "I'm more of a guide and that's how I see education."

Bard also relates the tie to the continuing cycle of education.

"Somebody else will someday take over my lighthouse," Bard said.

Bard's ties are not the only pieces of clothing that attract students' admiration.

"Lately a lot of students have been liking my rainbow suspenders," Bard said.

"Professor Bard's suspenders, beard and ties all work so great together," junior Katie Ralston said.

Despite the elaborate nature of his ties, Bard's reasoning behind his attire is uncomplicated.

"I'm not seeing that I'm showing a particular respect in that I'm wearing a tie," Bard said. "It's just that this is what I like."

 

Elayne Shapiro: My Zany Mother Reincarnated

Each morning, University of Portland professor Elayne Shapiro opens her color coordinated closet and asks herself "What do I feel like being today?"

Last Wednesday, for example, Shapiro's attire was inspired by a diamond necklace she recently had made out of a ring bequeathed to her by her mother.

"This ring, to put it mildly, looked like a chandelier," Shapiro said. "When I put [the necklace] on I said 'Mom, Grandma, this is for you.'"

Shapiro attributes more of her style than just the necklace to her mother.

"My mother was a character and I channel her. But I am a much toned down version by a factor of three than my mom," Shapiro said.

Along with the necklace, Shapiro chose a mostly black dress with a story of its own.

"About the year 2000 I lost sixty pounds. Most of my life I had been overweight," Shapiro said. Being able to go into a department store and just buy something is not something she takes for granted.

This particular black dress attracted Shapiro because it tied on the sides, meaning it could adjust to her current weight.

"For students who suffer with those issues, sometimes it's good to know that [the problem] exists," Shapiro said. "And I still struggle."

For Shapiro, the purpose of clothing extends beyond enjoying her new size or remembering her late mother.

"In a way, dressing up is a minuscule way of paying respect to my students," Shapiro said.

Ultimately, however, Shapiro's self-proclaimed flamboyant outfits just depend on what color she feels like that day.

 

Professor Gregory Pulver: Studied carelessness

Anyone who knows Professor Gregory Pulver's extensive work in the fashion industry may be surprised by his favorite clothing item: flip-flops.

"Literally, as soon as I get home, shoes are off, flip-flops are on. It doesn't matter what season it is," Pulver said.

Pulver is a new associate professor of costume and makeup design at the University of Portland. The theater department is very excited to welcome him to their program.

"He is so full of energy and ideas," Senior Rachel Thomas said. Thomas has worked with Pulver on several productions since she was eleven. In "Once Upon a Mattress," Pulver played the queen.

"He brought the house down," Thomas said. "I have pictures of it still."

Pulver's experience working in costume design inevitably affects his personal fashion.

"There is this weird thing that happens to me when I work on a particular show that has a particular period to it," Pulver said. "As I'm researching and pulling clothes from that period my style sort of shifts."

Pulver noted that while working on productions set in the twenties he begins wearing saddle shoes, more dress shirts or hats.

"As a costume designer, because I live the period I'm researching, that sometimes influences my look for that time," Pulver said.

Although the influence of Pulver's work on his fashion seems obvious, Pulver notices the influence of all degrees on personal style in both professors and students.

"When I'm in a faculty thing some of the teachers are in a shirt and tie and it's like 'oh, you must teach business,'" Pulver said.

In addition to his work, Pulver's style is influenced dramatically by the current season. In the summer and spring, Pulver says he dresses in flip-flops and linens as if he could take a walk on t he beach at any moment.

"If I want spontaneous beach in the summertime, I would want spontaneous cabin in the fall and winter," Pulver said.

No matter the season, Pulver dresses with both practicality and fashion in mind.

"I'm in the shop and working with glue and there's thread flying all around. I dress to look good, but I'm also functional about it," Pulver said.