“With living voice”

Any Latin scholars out there (or those of you forced to learn about Caecilius, Metella, Quintus et al. at school) might know that ‘With Living Voice’ is the literal translation of ‘Viva Voce’. The Viva. The final exam sat by every PhD student in order to graduate from Mr or Ms to Dr. Mine was on Tuesday, and like any self respecting fashion blogger I rallied around with a new outfit.

The half hour before entering the exam room was torture, the four hours of the exam (during which two examiners asked me detailed questions about my work) went by remarkably quickly, the five minutes it took to tell me I had passed and the thesis would only need minor corrections were a blessed catharsis, and the rest of the evening passed in a blur of drinking and being hugged. Someone bought me my first tequila shot since I was an undergraduate. And the night went downhill from there. On Wednesday morning it was impossible to tell where the hangover ended and the leftovers from my cold began. I had no voice left, living or otherwise! 

BACK by Ann Sofie Back sweater | ASOS slouchy trousers and nude pumps | thrifted blouse

I mentioned in my last post that I want to make more considered clothing purchases in 2013, and this sweater, my viva armour, was the first of those. Ann Sofie Back is a relatively new discovery of mine, a Swedish designer whose minimalist aesthetic I find completely captivating. Some clothes just make you feel grown up. In a good, powerful kind of way, rather than a tax returns and gas bills way. Just the sort of designer that you want to have in your corner when taking on a scary grown up exam. I love the mixture of different sized ribs, cables and the zip details in this sweater, and decided that a simple backdrop of blacks and neutrals would show them off to best advantage!

I am already budgeting for my next BACK purchase: a tailored pair of trousers to wear with a velvet tee from Charlie May SS13 (another item on my carefully considered purchases list!).

What do you wear when you want to feel powerful?