"Professional dress" for a short, hourglassy aspiring teacher? (Please help!)

[MissStoHelit]

Hi! I've just been invited to an assessment day for teacher training, and I'm trying to figure out what to wear while I still have a little time to buy something new if necessary. The information pack says "professional dress", which is problematic because I'm not sure what counts as professional dress for a female teacher in early March, and also anything that looks professional on other women tends not to work on my figure (think buttons bursting open, or waists billowing like an insufficiently supported marquee).

I have to travel quite a long way, as well, so whatever I wear must be fairly crease-proof. I also need whatever I wear to be fairly cool, as I overheat easily.

I really cannot wear a traditional blouse - even styles cut for women with my figure look really crumpled and scruffy on me within half an hour.

The options I currently have at home are:

• A really nice pair of black, straight-legged, light wool trousers;
• A grey 3/4 sleeve blazer which goes well with the trousers;
• A berry/magenta blazer which goes with the trousers but is possibly too pink/bright/heavy for the occasion;
• A beautiful aubergine shift dress from Planet with a draped detail at the waist, which unfortunately is sleeveless and doesn't go with any of the jackets I currently have. Also, it requires black or grey tights, which might look a little odd if the weather stays spring-like.

I will also need to buy shoes as the one pair of heels I own is too painful for something like this. I have ankle problems, so need thick heels.

I really can't afford to spend much on this as I have to budget for travel as well, so I think the solution is probably the trousers plus a new top and my grey blazer, or a blazer to go with my dress.

Please could you help me find something suitable?

Congratulations and good luck for the day! Both my sisters are head teachers at SEN schools and have had to learn to dress both pragmatically and professionally. They're also identical twins, about 5'4 in height and size 14/16. Their mutual "uniform" since they first started teaching seems to be jersey wrap dresses and a modest heel, sometimes worn with a cami underneath for modesty depending on the neckline. They don't have to be sombre, either: a nice print teamed with a plain blazer looks really approachable whilst maintaining an air of professionalism.

Length-wise, probably just over the knee is best as you will be doing a lot of sitting and bending during your training. The shift dress sounds lovely, but is it practical for moving around in? Wrap dresses are very easily bought at the usual high street chains like Wallis, Next and Dorothy Perkins so you don't have to break the bank. I also think it depends on what age you'll be teaching eventually: the teachers at my DS's primary are all quite casual but at the link secondary they tend to step up a bit in smartness.

Trousers are always fine, I think. Again, a nice smartish pair of jersey wide legs are really comfortable and can be worn with any number of tunic style tops made of a light fabric.

I guess all the above is more geared towards being "out in the field" as it were, so if you're really strapped for cash just go with what you've got and feel good in, that's the key really, as you'll need to be comfortable enough to relax! HTH x

Thank you very much, WagonWheel!

What you've described is exactly what I had in mind when I initially thought about the interview, so that's encouraging. I think I was just thrown a bit by the stipulation "professional dress" - I'm so used to it meaning "structured dress and jacket" that it didn't occur to me that a smart version of normal teaching clothes would also fit that description!

I think I'll look for a smart wrap dress, and spend the rest of my money on some shoes...

Pleasure x

I think by 'professional' they just mean no jeans, sneakers, slogan t shirts, etc. You'll look gorgeous, I'm sure

All the outfits you describe would be professional enough for training interviews - suits tend to be few and far between and smart separates or dresses the norm. I wore a jersey wrap dress to mine and got the place! My fellow trainees were dressed in a very wide assortment of outfits. As long as you avoid knicker-skimming skirts, see through or very low-cut tops, skyscraper heels, lots of lace - all seen on teaching job interviews I have been involved in - you will be fine. And good luck!

nice petite wrap dress
ASOS have some nice wrap dresses in larger sized but they start at size 18.
Not sure what your dress size is though.

Thank you very much for the reassurance and advice!

I forgot to say - it's for secondary teaching. I'm glad to hear that a wrap dress would be considered fine - I have a really awkward figure to dress. I'm a size 10, but I'm only 5'2 and yet I'm a 30H cup and have a very wide pelvis, so nothing ever hangs nicely or fits properly! Normally I wear simple, fairly loose tops with skinny trousers, but none of my existing tops are formal enough.

Just check that if you bend over, there is no cleavage, or bra showing. I used to teach and mainly wore black trousers with a bit of stretch, comfy shoes and those 3/4 arm tops with boat necks in a variety of colours. Not sexy but practical - sometimes you need to be able to run if you teach!

Thank you for the tips - I've made a mental note to bend-test anything I choose very thoroughly!

Perhaps an odd question, but: is wine red an acceptable colour for an interview dress? It's a wrap dress with long sleeves, quite fitted, and a sort of muted burgundy colour. I suit red, but I've always veered towards blue, grey, purple, and black for work, so I'm not sure if a muted red is appropriate or not!

I agree with the others - no need for suits. In this context, 'professional' means 'anything that you can do your job in, that kids can't see up or down'. Burgundy sounds good. I've always gone for bright clothes for teaching interviews - I think it helps you be memorable. "Oh yes, the one in burgundy? She was good"

Good luck. What subject are you hoping to teach?

Oh that's brilliant to hear - thank you, ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged! I think I'd be comfortable (mentally and physically) in that dress, so it's good to hear that it'd have the added benefit of making me easier to remember.

Based on your username, I think it's likely that I'm applying to teach the same subject as you - secondary English . I'm terribly nervous about the interview section of the assessment - I just keep telling myself that all I need to do is talk honestly about how my experience, how much I love English and how strongly I feel about the importance of teaching it well! Well, that, and reminding myself to breathe...

Thank you all so much for your help and encouragement - I really appreciate you taking the time to help me.

Yes. I teach English. Try to relax and enjoy the session. They're looking for your personality to shine through, not for a ready made teacher

Am j allowed to ask where you're applying to?

Thank you! I've sent you a PM, ATruthUniversallyAcknowledged - I know a few of my family members use this site, and I don't want to be spotted!

Good luck!

I find chunky heeled ankle boots (obviously smart ones, NOT biker type!) are the most comfortable for a full day's teaching!

I'm secondary English and like in pencil skirts tops and cardigans, and pencil dresses with cardigans/Blazers. Best of luck and if you want any other advice, just shout!

PS English teacher is the best job ever. I absolutely love it, seven years teaching and have never had a 'fuck it I'm leaving' day!

I'm secondary English too! PM me if you want in case you are applying to my old university - might be able to give you a few tips!

Wow, didn't realise there were so many English teachers amongst us - it's lovely to hear you all sounding so positive, as I've encountered so much negativity surrounding teaching at the moment!

Thank you, Littleturkish and MissMillament - I'm totally new to this, so the advice is all very gratefully received.

LittleTurkish - your work clothes sound lovely, can't wait to go shopping for mine if I get onto a training programme! Slightly random question, but on the subject of footwear, do you think that it's likely to be okay to wear Dr Marten boots when I'm actually teaching, if I get a black patent pair like this and get rid of the tags and contrast stitching? I have dodgy ankles and wear corrective insoles, and DMs are the only shoes I've found so far that solve both problems. I'm sure I'll find something else, if not, it'll just take a lot of shoe shopping...

Lots of secondary schools have now gone down the 'professional dress' route and got fussier about what teachers wear. For that reason, I'd say absolutely no to the DMs. You can get fairly innocuous looking DM knee high boots now, and even heels. Knee boots heels

I'm also secondary English. I wear jersey dresses, pencil skirts, full skirts, plain tops usually and plain blazers/cropped jackets. Heels, heeled ankle boots, or ballet shoes usually.

Oh wow, I love those shoes! Unfortunately my orthopaedic issues mean I definitely wouldn't be able to wear them, but I could definitely manage fine in the boots you linked to, or some of the lower heels on the site. Thanks for the tip, Remus .

Do you have any recommendations for shops that tend to sell very simple, good quality blazers, please? I'm really struggling to find one, but I am picky - I need it to have a single fastening, minimal "fussiness", made of light and decent quality fabric, in a colour other than black!

Have you looked at uniqlo? They're very good at soft, semi-tailored blazers.

Are you applying for teach first by any chance? Best of luck. I did it 10 years ago ()and it was the best decision I've ever made.

A firm no to the DMs, definitely not something you'd get away with at my school- but other less distinctive DMs would be fine, especially if hidden by trousers. DM Chelsea boots, for example, would be fine.

I have about five ponte dresses from asos that I rotate, but looking on there recently there aren't many suitable styles anymore.

Topshop had some lovely simple Blazers in their workwear section a little while ago- have you tried there?

I am a similar shape and find Blazers make me look top heavy but I have one for interviews... It's has a grandad collar, no padding in the shoulders (what is that about) and one button... I got it from Dorothy Perkins after a search.
I find petite sizing is all wrong as I am big busted so I turn back the arms - a lot of jackets allow for that.

Day to day I wear a smart cardigan with my dresses

With dresses I have recently found that the style with the wide elasticated waist is good too but they can be cut really short so definitely bend test.

I also have a lot of wrap dresses.

Good luck!

I'm not a teacher :) but I struggle with smart dressing too, never know what to wear! I got a lovely jersey dress in the John Lewis sale section last week, only about £30 and really good quality - it's got a fitted but not tight top, sleeves and a tulip shaped skirt so very flattering. Maybe worth a look?

Hobbs sales are sometimes good for jackets. Must admit I have several from charity shops too.

Thank you so much for the help and advice, everybody - I'm definitely going to be revisiting this thread when it's time to buy my working wardrobe!

Based on your advice, I've ordered a few things. I won't get them until the weekend as they're going to my folks' house, but when I do I'll post some outfit photos for an opinion poll.

I just found my perfect blazer - this one - so I'm feeling a bit more relaxed now. It's 80% cotton and I know that I don't tend to overheat in that style, so at least I don't have to worry any more about the fact that all of my tops have short sleeves!