Okay, so I had my Ph.D. and went for an interview at the University of South Carolina. Gainesville is pretty much disinterested in high-style fashion, so I had gotten used to its laid-back look. I bought a special "outfit" at one of the shops on University Avenue -- a red and white checkered minidress with white buffalo sandals (remember those - they had a three-inch base which put me at 6'1" tall). I was 25 and had long hair, dyed sun-bunny blonde.
And they flippin' hired me. Yes, my grades and resume were great, but three years of living away from The A-town had given me a grade of zero on my fashion skills. Maybe the guy who interviewed me was intimidated by me? With those sandals on, I was about a foot taller than he was. He was probably afraid not to hire me.