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Teachers - esp secondary - your advice on work wardrobe is needed please

113 replies

Themumsnot · 31/08/2011 17:18

I am starting a secondary PGCE in a couple of weeks and am having a bit of a wardrobe panic. I have approx £300 to spend on clothes and shoes and want to get the basics to see me through my first teaching practice. I own no formal skirts or trousers and I don't have a suit. I do have several smart knee-length dresses (Boden jersey numbers or similar). Would they be appropriate?
Also I live in flat knee-high boots in winter, and Converse the rest of the time. I cannot wear heels. I did a weeks teaching experience last term and was crippled after one day in quite moderate (2-inch) heels. Is there a way of wearing flat shoes and skirts that doesn't look too frumpy?
Can anyone suggest a sensible way of putting together an appropriate work wardrobe? I guess I need a suit of some kind but I'm hopeless with separates. I'm 47, size 14-16 and hourglass shaped, so it is a bit of a struggle to find trousers that fit well and blouse buttons tend to strain over my amplitudinous norkage, which is never a good look for a teacher.
All advice and suggestions much appreciated.

OP posts:
knitknack · 31/08/2011 18:22

I wear a mixture of smart trousers and tops with a cardigan, jersey (including boden) dresses and boots and suits. I get ALL my workwear from ebay - set up searches for the labels and sizes that fit/suit you...

Even with my suits though, I never wear any 'button up' type top, they just don't suit me, so I got for smart t-shirt type tops or short sleeved jumpers instead.

I would start looking for a suit of some kind now - even if you DON'T need it for school you're going to start needing it for interviews during your course (which could be sooner rather than later if you're maths, or science, or all the other subjects which seemed to get jobs before mine did!).

For goodness' sake go with COMFORT over everything else with shoes - you really do need to be comfortable - depending on your school set up you could be running all over the site (ours is HUGE), plus you can't under estimate how much ground you cover when you're walking around and around your classroom checking pupil's work and interacting - go for comfort! You can get really comfortable smart shoes from somewhere like clarks, and that's where I'd prioritise my budget, to be honest. As mentioned further up the thread, you can pick up loads of bits from supermarkets like asda or tesco for very little, but get your feet right!!

Have a few thermals handy too (I can't be the only teacher in a 'mobile' classroom (read small hut))?

Good luck! It'll be very full-on, but there's nothing like it! I'm about to go into my second year of teaching (so did NQT year last year) and I'm just about to turn 39 :)

henrythecat · 31/08/2011 18:23

Another teacher here. At the moment, I'm just purchasing some bits for the new term to work as a sort of capsule work wardrobe. As I have to be out of the house by 6.30am I was very disorganised last year with clothes and always looked a bit scruffier than I'd like. My list so far..

H+M black jersey skater style dress (£14.99 bargain)
These trousers (sale bargain)
This pencil skirt
To wear with trousers (with nude ballet pumps) and skirt (with black ballet pumps) these 3 beauties: here here and here
This dress in the purple colour for parents' evenings/open evenings/important meetings etc

Total of clothes comes to around your budget. I really rate Great Plains for quality work wear, wash really well and good customer service too.

Good luck with your PGCE!

delilahbelle · 31/08/2011 18:24

My 'uniform' is black/grey/brown suit style trousers and a variety of v-necked tops - all from the supermarket.
I have a matching suit jacket for open evenings etc.
Black/brown ankle boots.

Basically, don't spend too much, most schools are grubby places and your stuff will get ruined.

I do however have a very nice Hobbs cost this for duty - essential to be warm outside in the winter!

Pinkflipflop · 31/08/2011 18:33

Make sure to wear brightly coloured flat shoes/pumps. I bought a pair of red rocket dog shoes and a blue bowfish pair from schuh last year and wore to death. Funky shoes can really funk up a potentially frumpy skirt/teacher gear!

Themumsnot · 31/08/2011 18:34

I am in lurve with that Austin Reed dress, Tethers. In fact I have just ordered it. And the matching jacket. In fact, I have just ordered them. Thanks!

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/08/2011 18:35

This is my Autumn coat. But I've got my eye on this for the Winter.

Themumsnot · 31/08/2011 18:39

Brilliant advice, everyone. Now I have just blown half my budget on the dress and jacket which I hope will do for all interviews, parents evenings etc. I have a black shift dress and four or five smart jersey dresses already plus a pair of flat black kneehigh boots and the aforementioned coat. And quite a few cardigans. So I reckon a black pencil skirt, black trousers and a few tops and a pair of comfortable flat shoes and I should be sorted. Thank you all.

OP posts:
IShouldHaveBeenAPairOfClaws · 31/08/2011 18:45

Suprised noone has mentioned m+s yet. I find it good for plain trousers and skirts and what not. I combine them with tops (NOT blouses due to chest sizage) from places like Dorothy Perkins and new look and then make it more interesting with jewellery.

You don't need to wear heels- I'm only five foot and I only wear flats for comfort. You can be pretty casual in my school but I try to go a bit smart so I have more authority, which is perhaps more of an issue for me because I'm younger and don't want them to think I'm their friend, if you're older you might find you have more natural gravitas.

HallnotOates · 31/08/2011 18:47

the next wedges are lovely - got some today for a mate
the quited ones

tethers stuff is very formal
our gaff is MUCH more casual than that

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 31/08/2011 18:50

The AR dress is lovely but would look v formal even at our place (which is pretty strict) and personally I'd feel like I was in a straight jacket wearing such a stiff looking dress AND a jacket on top. I think you'd risk being really over-warm too. Schools tend to put the heating on in September or October, whatever the weather!

PonceyMcPonce · 31/08/2011 18:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 31/08/2011 18:57

Bookmarks to read properly later.

I am also starting PGCE in a couple of weeks...and could have written most of op.

henrythecat · 31/08/2011 18:59

Oooh there are a lot of us aren't there? I may start offering pom bears in the staff room and see if I get a response....

tethersend · 31/08/2011 19:04

I love the AR dress, and would wear it to school.

So ner Grin

HallnotOates · 31/08/2011 19:16

NO ONE is expected to wear a suit on interview at ours
you can wear cords, leggings anything

beckybrastraps · 31/08/2011 19:19

Lord no. No one is allowed leggings at my school. Teachers, support staff, students. PE teacher maybe...

HallnotOates · 31/08/2011 19:20

i wear them WITH MINI SKIRTS
oh my god yes

and the kids still pass exams

ASByatt · 31/08/2011 19:25

It's a very long time since I did my PGCE, but I do remember that apparently the first thing our (there were 3 students) mentor said to our Uni Tutor was that we were all very smart!

Definitely go for that balance of smart and comfortable.

Also, check all tops/dresses by leaning over - can anyone see down the front? (Sorry! but if they can they will, even if just to say that they don't like it....)

Keep spare tights in your bag.

Keep calm at all times, and stockpile gin.
And good luck! you'll be fine. And impeccably dressed.

beckybrastraps · 31/08/2011 19:25

Do you teach something arty

We had a drama teacher who wore a tutu. Got a stern talking to. She conformed.

knitknack · 31/08/2011 19:49

One of our TAs got a talking to for 3/4 length linen trousers (and not by the fashion police either!)

HallnotOates · 31/08/2011 19:52

3/4 length
i wore smart shorts
flip flops
theyu dont care!

onlyaname · 31/08/2011 20:07

Also make sure outfit doesn't reveal your tummy! A trainee teacher who flashed hers every time she reached up to write something high up on the board was the talk of the school, the kids were a bit grossed out. I think she may have been a bit large and wobbly and it wasn't what they wanted to see.

Agree that nice clothes are worth it. Helped me feel professional and the girls always like to have something to compliment/talk to you about. Just don't let them take you off topic!

PonceyMcPonce · 31/08/2011 20:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MissBetsyTrotwood · 31/08/2011 20:31

Can't agree more with onlyaname.

When trying on, reach up high (top of the whiteboard, no gaps between top and bottoms) and bend down low (goes without saying, the bending down and showing crack thing ain't good!) Same with underwear. Big old comfy bras did me just fine so no popping out of the top of a lovely balcony push up one.

Long necklaces smack on tables when you bend to look at work and they get caught in stuff.

If you love your heels but don't want to be in them all day, keep a pair of flatties in the classroom. Carry anti perspirant too - I got really hot teaching!

changeforthebetter · 31/08/2011 20:32

Oh blimey! I had thought to invest a bit in a few pieces - decent trousers, boots and a warm winter coat. I am of the norkily-endowed persuasion so need to watch I don't inadvertently flaunt them Blush

WTF was wrong with 3/4 length linen trousers??

Tutu! Grin