calling all teachers and others who have to dress in a respectable fashion for work - your help pls!

[harpsichordcarrier]

I start a PGCE in September and just arranging my placements.
my thoughts turn, of course, immediately to clothes!
I have been a SAHM for five years and I have lost track of what to wear in the workplace.
also, as a teacher I think I need to dress respectably (frumpily? ) and comfortably and I have generally NO CLUE where to start.
also, inevitably, I have a low budget
suggestions? tips? mockery?
tia

[tassisssss]

schools vary quite a lot in terms of both how trendy and how smart people are

black trousers and a nice top is a good stardard with black boots in winter and ballet pumps/sandals in summer

[harpsichordcarrier]

are sandals OK? in my Old Life, toes in the office would have been distinctly frowned upon....
also i have to keep reminding myself I am now five years older and maybe should dress it

[PuppyMonkey]

Get yourself to Principles and enjoy!!

[harpsichordcarrier]

blimey, I haven't been to PRinciples in - ever!

[PuppyMonkey]

Lots of nice stylish but sensible clothes.. ideal I would have thought. And sometimes they have a bit in Debenhams and when it's 20% off day (like today ) you get a reet bargain!!

[tassisssss]

in the last few months I've seen a teacher wearing crocs and another wearing flip flops (of the plastic beachy variety!) so I'd say smart sandals would def be ok!

[hana]

does depend on school - some are def smarter than others. I can wear bare legs with birks in the summer, or ballet pumps. winter is usually skirts boots and cardigans/tops/shirts. Would never wear jeans or cords but some of the staff do.

[Maidamess]

I work in a school and I would say its smart casual really...lots of A line cord skirts, boots and nice cardi's. Or a pair of wide legged trousers and a top. Not office smart, anyway, ie no suits.

[MrsFogi]

Never show your toes or armpits at work!

[Maidamess]

Wise words Mrs Fogi...both are too hairy!

[hana]

nah, toes are ok
nicely manicured ones natch

[oxocube]

At my school, loads of teachers incl me wear anything from jeans, boots, tee-shirts etc to smarter skirts and dresses. Depends very much on school, age group, culture etc

[harpsichordcarrier]

ok I have plenty of A line cord skirts and boots
I would never show my arm pits! don't worry about that
I am surprised at the jeans wearing, tbh

[Mung]

You could just ask about the dress code. My last school suddenly implemented a dress code and I was 'reprimanded' for wearing a smart, high neck top that showed my shoulders. I was livid, especially given that the ladies in low cut tops and short skirts and the lady who always wore a hat, never had anything said to them.

The school before that had some unsaid rule about suit jackets and everyone walked the corridors with a jacket on, but often removed it in the classroom.

Anyway rant over. I think Mrsfogi's advice is good, but I would add no clevage either. Smart trousers and a smart casual top would be fine.

Good luck with the placements by the way

[hana]

I wish the students on work placement at our school adhered to some sort of dress code - they look so dirty and grungy. some of the girls very inapproprately dressed

or maybe i am getting O.L.D.

[oxocube]

Should add that I am in Holland and 'dressing down' is the norm. No school uniform for kids either

[janeite]

Primary or secondary? I'm secondary but I dress much more smartly thatn the primary teachers at dd's school and also the neighbours who are primary teachers. They all seem to wear (gasp!) trainers, loose trousers and baggy tops.

I wear -

• black trousers, nice top and boots or wedges
• full skirts, plain top, boots or wedges
• city shorts, shirt, tank top, Mary Janes

Or variations thereof in the Winter.

I HATE dressing for work in summer but tend to wear -

• skirt (just below knee), top, ballet pumps
• longer skirt, top and sandals
• loose trousers, fitted-ish top, sandals

I dress smarter for Parents' Evenings and important meetings - usually shirt and tank top, or plain top with a loose suit jacket over (not a stuffy one, a nice, fitted linen-mix one).

[janeite]

Oh and teaching in a suit jacket is a pain!

[MrsFogi]

Not even pedicured toes! Ever.

[harpsichordcarrier]

secondary.
I am afraid the cleavage is the biggest problem with my current wardrobe
I tnd to use it to distract attention from the shambles that is the rest of my body

[twinsetandpearls]

I teach I tend to wear:
wrap dress
Suit but always make sure I have a top underneath I can wear without the jacket as I can't teach in a suit jacket.
Smart trousers and smart top.
Smart skirt and top.

I am a head of year so meet parents regularly so like to look smart.

Shoes, am a lover of heels.

In the summer I wear flip flops with manicured heels.

I do have a pair of slippers under my table that I sometimes wear when I am teaching or for wandering around school when the kids have gone home.

I buy work clothes from Next ( for basics), Marks and Spencer autograph, limited collection, Monsoon and Debenhams.

I have been known to use tit tape when wearing a relatively low top, so I can bend over to help without giving them an eyeful.

[hana]

hairy toes

[chocolateshoes]

Agree with all the advice. You have to be comfortable, layers are good as you can get really hot teaching especially if in a small classroom with 32 other bodies! Yet it can also be very cold when you are free, working in a draughty staff rm. You want to be a bit trendy, def not frumpy. Next is a good place to start. I wear alot of shirts & tanktops. And then can put a jacket on if I get cold. No short skirts, no cleavage, no flip flips!
But I do wear open-toed sandals!

[robinpud]

Jusr re the trainers- we in primary are now expected to wear PE clothes whne teaching Pe or swimming so that kids know what is expected. As changing rooms are not readily availble, it means wearing them to school!

slight hijack.. but TSAP how did the interviews go?

[chocolateshoes]

oh yes & wear a slightly padded T-shirt bra so no nipples showing through....