"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?

Good luck! As an old cow experienced teacher, I think they are now specifying professional dress to stop people turning up in shoestring strap tops and mini skirts or arse revealing low slung trousers.

Make sure your clothes don't show boobs or bum when:
Bending over a desk
Sitting in a desk chair
"Bobbing down" to talk to someone sitting on a chair.

I do all these manoeuvres before I buy work clothes. I get some odd looks! However, we gave had to ask some trainees to go and get changed as their clothes are not suitable for the job. A male teacher complained that he had an eyeful of thong when a college student bent over a desk- quite difficult all around.

Oh gosh, QueenofLouisiana - how embarrassing that must have been for everybody involved! At least I definitely won't make that mistake now .

I've realised that the main problem with everything I own is that I only really like buying autumn/winter clothes, so I don't really have much in light fabrics or summery colours. For once, I'm tempted to hope that the weather stays cold and damp for a couple more weeks!

I'm 5"2 and very hourglass boulder holder club.
I've been a teacher, TA and coach in schools.

My staples are:
Good, slightly wide leg trousers in tweed, black cotton etc. (Good old M&S or Dotty Ps).
Jersey tops, not too revealing (Next)
Waistcoats (Next)
Jumpers and cardigans (everywhere)
Dresses (I actually wear a lot of retro and vintage styles - Lady V London, Collectif etc).

As PP have said comfort and non - flashing are the 2 key things.