My brother, a political scientist at a Scottish university, has always worn a coat and tie to class. “Why do you dress up like that?” I asked him once. I knew it didn’t relate to his teaching; he runs a very interactive classroom, with plenty of discussion and argument. He’s also a nice, laid-back guy.

“I don’t know, “he said. “I like dressing up.”

Weirdo. —James M. Lang —Looking Like a Professor (Chronicle)

My favorite line from Oscar Wilde: “If I am occasionally a little over-dressed, I make up for it by being always immensely over-educated.”

When I taught technical writing, I was a suit-and-tie guy. Now I kind of miss the suit, but it’s always a dress shirt, usually a tie, and usually a jacket.