i need to buy some smarter clothes- please help

[dylsmum1998]

ok so I have been accepted on my teacher training course. I need to find some smarter clothes to wear, i currently live in jeans and leggings etc.
i am on rather a tight budget but need smart looking tops, trousers, skirts shoes, EVERYTHING really

i am 5'8, size ten have dark brown hair and fairly pale skin.
any help/ advice appreciated

BUMP

anybody??

Well done on your course.

I wouldn't worry about being too smart, tbh.

Smart casual way forward for teachers these days, I think.

Nice kind of White Stuff type clothes will be smart enough, make you look approachable and you'll be able to wear them outside school.

I wouldn't go for the Next suit look (like I did in the Nineties )

How limited is your budget?

Am stylistically challenged so the only help I can offer is ot give this a bump for you

And well done on getting accepted on your course

thanks Rosewater- me too hence posting on here hoping to be rescued

have been looking at what teachers wear nowadays and although it not the next suit look as you say Bobbie it still smarter than me

Milly I can afford new look type prices if that gives you a rough idea of budget, was hoping to be a few key peices to start and expand over next few months. the course doesn't start until september but i need to do a few weeks in schools after easter

It is hard to say without knowing what you like to wear. The range of things that you could wear is huge! What kind of things have you considered buying?

I'd suggest a slightly more spruced up version of your normal self. So if you like skirts, then buy a on-the-knee length skirt in muted colour, preferably not swishy or floaty. If you spend your life in trousers, then buy a nice wideleg formal pair in black and grey (those two colours are enough to go with any number of tops).

Same goes for tops. If you like tunics, then White Stuff type ones i.e. pastel with muted patterns. If you prefer blouses, then same story - just buy slightly fitted versions of what you like.

New Look is good enough to get the above, they have some rreally nice stuff, though you do have to hunt through the rock-chick and goth-chick looks

Two bottoms (in black and grey) and say 6 tops in a variety of colours and sleeve lengths will be sufficient. Also 2-3 cardigans to go with the majority of tops that you will buy.

Best of luck

i have just been restocking my wardrobe as I have lost weight since last year and have no skirts/trousers/dresses that fit

i got several skirts in zara sale for a fiver, all knee length or just above. plain black with slightly fuller skirt, gray and aubergine cotton straight pencil type and a very dark denim skirt

I also got DKNY wool grey wide leg trousers in TK Maxx for £20

H and M have cotton cardigans in bright colours for a tenner

If you have a reasonable skirt or trousers and a nice shirt / smartish t shirt and cardigan or jacket, would that not be ok? a scarf or necklace makes it look less boring. surely some of your tops would be ok?

rememeber to budget for some nice opaque tights and a air of comfortable but non- frumpy shoes

thanks for all suggestions i have one or 2 jumpers which will be ok. will bear in mind all your suggestions when shopping will be going off for a good look around shops in the next few weeks