What to wear for secondary school placement in July?

[suwoo]

Ive got myself a week (or longer) placement in a challenged high school in July. I normally wear vest tops and chinos/wide legged pants/ skinny jeans and jersey maxi dresses with gladiators- that kind of thing. The maxi's may be suitable but are a bit tight. A teacher aquaintance who works in a school with a similar demographic has warned me off the vest tops because the boys will look at my tits .

What the hell does one wear in the heat. I don't posess blouses and won't do knee length skirts as have very white footballers legs.

What then?

A trouser suit or
blouse and skirt or
blouse and trousers

Sorry

Trousers and T-shirts?
Blouses aren't all shudder making. There are some pretty stylish ones. You could find some tops that skim rather than cling, because I'm afraid your friend is right. If you wear tight, clingy tops I can guarantee that the teenage boys won't be looking at the whiteboard!

You could look for a linen shirt (not blouse, notice!) with a pair of not-too-tight cotton trousers (chino, slim leg, or just basic black) If you can run to a blazer or jacket for the cooler parts of the day you would look fine. Or a cotton shirt from next, h&m or mango. No vests or anything revealing, it's asking for trouble!

Really? I think I would have to say no to a blouse/shirt. I just can't do it. I have serious ishoos with blouses. (really I do).

Surely teachers arent THAT smart. Long floaty skirt and cap sleeved top?

My school is fairly casual when it comes to dress code (even so, I wouldn't ever wear a vest top - I might wear a cardigan over one, and never a jersey maxi dress or chinos) but people on placement and teaching students nearly always wear business wear - suits, blouse and skirt, at the very least a fitted top and smart trousers. Challenging schools often have very strict dress codes for staff, as well. If you are planning on going on to do teacher training you will need to wear suits or business dress on placement anyway.

Most secondary schools that I know have a fairly strict dress code - no denim, no cleavage and definitely nothing figure hugging. You could do linen trousers and a non-cleavage revealing top if you don't want to wear a knee length skirt.

There are some nice tunic tops around (warms to task) in cotton, try white stuff, fat face, or even a cotton dress with leggings is fine too, again not low cut, our young teachers go for this look with a vest top if necessary.

When teaching in the summer I used to go for scoop-neck vests with some kind of light cardigan over the top. H&M have got some very nice jersey ones ATM - both open 'swing' style and cropped style. A lightweight scarf would work at concealing any hint of cleavage. I also used to wear shirt-dresses quite a lot - would they work for you?

I used to bend over a lot to help pupils until a colleague pointed out that I was revealing a little much, so made a point of always bending at the knees after that!

To be perfectly honest, I don't recollect pupils ever looking at my cleavage, unless I am incredibly naive.

Think what you would wear to an office for the first day, then look at what other people are wearing. Schools can be so different in what people are allowed to wear and the general dress code of the place.
Where I am now I mostly wear office type dresses, trousers with smart officey type tops, or skirts with the same.
A maxi dress would get a lot of looks
Bend over in front of the mirror before you leave the house, and cover up any midriff.

Cod has prohibited me from wearing linen pants . But I do have black ones (white no good are they). It seems that I only wear tight things. I am an hourglass, so I normally wear fitted things, floaty makes me look ginormous.

Black linen pants, cotton t shirt top, little cardigan? Or is that too tight on the tits?

No maxi dress- unless you are Art or Drama! calf length cotton skirt with smartish t shirt top is ok.

How old are you?

If you want to go into teaching you need to be aware that you have to dress accordingly.

Unless in a very progressive school you need to think business dress/office wear.

Long floaty skirts- no. you are aiming to look professional.
Knee length smart ish dress- yes.

In my school, linen trousers are OK but I do know places where they would be far too casual. I think you need 'work' trousers for the first day at least.

Calf length cotton skirt is a sartorial no from me. I'm a topshop kind of girl. Tea dress and leggings with cardi?

There are loads of things you can wear.

I would go floral blouse for the top half. Just been to Primark today and they have lots of loose fitting sheer blouses which would look great with a vest top underneath (so at least your tits would be fairly covered over)

They also had smart over sized T.shirts with pockets on the breast which would look great tucked into high waisted trousers, bagged out slightly to give a less tight fit. I always think these sort of trousers look nice with gladiators.

Also try looking at dresses in a shift style. Try New look who have tons of dresses this year. With flat ballet pumps as heels could look a bit OTT. Waist length cardigan over the top for chilly mornings.

Happy Shopping, nothing like a good excuse for new clothes :)

no leggings!

FGS girl- can't you hear what we are saying? OFFICE dress- not studenty!

You need to wear something fairly smart the first day or two, until you assess the dress code (believe me, dress code can vary dramatically between schools!).

In warm weather I wear:

3/4 length trousers or chinos. I also detest blouses and shirts, so wear a fitted tunic top or one of the light, floaty blouse-style (but not too blousy ) tunics that H&M and Gap do quite well.

Knee length summer dress with a vest underneath to avoid cleavage. Bare legs fine as long as the dress is knee length.

Shorter dresses with leggings underneath are OK at my school, but I have worked in schools where this would be frowned upon.

We can wear sandals, so I wear glads or wedges for example, but flip floppy type sandals would be a no-no.

I know I need to dress accordingly, that's why I am asking. I will email the head of department and ask if there are any rules. I do have black 'work' trousers so yes I will wear those on the first day with pumps and an appropriate top. I will be calling in again so will see the teachers in action. I went in last on a non uniform day and the teachers were understandably dressed very casually.

I think 3/4 length trousers and chinos are unacceptable- too casual. You wouldn't wear them in an office so why to school?

I know you don't want to conform, but we have a dress code at work (I work in an office). Most offices and schools have a dress code - it is all down to how other people perceive you, especially if you are dealing with students or customers. If you dress like a student at work you can't expect to be taken seriously. Just keep your work wardrobe separate from your home wardrobe.

Definitely no leggings - unless you see lots of other staff wearing them. And I wouldn't do this for a wee while anyway, so if you're only there for a week, I probably wouldn't plan to at all.

It is varying a lot even between you lot! You've given me loads of ideas of what is and isnt appropriate. I had no idea that the boys would look at a teacher (or placement persons) tits! I thought they'd only be interested in their peers.

This is a placement I have arranged myself to enhance my CV, I will also be doing voluntary work so I will have to invest in some more professional stuff.

You can get smart t-shirts. Gap have some good ones just now.
And a smart pair of trousers. Again, the gap ones might suit you.

I'm not a rebel and I do want to dress appropriately but I have a teeny issue with not sacrificing my personal 'style'. Yes, I realise that is pathetic.

Winter easy, I have loads of appropriate dresses to wear with tights, summer is much harder.

If you are at all concerned about tops showing cleavage, get some reasonably nigh-necked thin vest tops to wear underneath. I got some great stretchy ones from M&S not too long ago.