nwr: what do you wear to work?

I just got my first job as a full time teacher, which means that I need to dress like a full time teacher... but have no idea what that really means! I have clothes from my student teaching, but we were told that we had to dress nicer than the real teachers because we were younger (I was only 20 at the time) and also because we were representing our university and therefore had to look good and professional.

So, I went shopping today, but I feel like I have no idea what people wear out there in the 'real world' other than business suits (which obviously aren't appropriate for teachers) or like frumpy old lady mom clothes (which, as I'm only 22, really don't work for me!)
For my last job there really was no dress code - jeans, tshirts, flip flops, whatever.

So, anyway. It got me curious - what do young people wear to work? How many of you actually wear suits to work? If so, what is your job? If not, what is your job and what DO you wear? And what do young teachers wear to work so that they don't look frumpy but still don't look like their students? Where do you shop for these clothes?

I'm fascinated by the whole idea now

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

business casual. if i know i have a meeting i'll dress up a little more.

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

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Posted by Soon2BeMrs2006

business casual. if i know i have a meeting i'll dress up a little more.

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ok, but what exactly does business casual mean? Like a skirt and blouse? Nice pants and a blouse? I'm new to this whole world of grownup clothes!

I'm totally showing my age here!

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

you typically will not find teachers wearing suits to work. The administation usually does.

I have found that knee length skirts, nice pants, button down shirts, v neck cotton tees and FLAT SHOES or wedges(standing all day in heels isnt going to happen) work pretty well.
It might seem booring but you can jazz it up with cute accessories. Get a bunch of basics someplace like NY& Co and pair them with some more trendy things like a cool scarf or bangles bracelet.
Fridays are usually more relaxed.

You will notice the teacher 'dress code' erodes after Novemeber....meaning you are more likely to throw on a pair of jeans, a nice top and head out.

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

I shop at NY and co and express a lot if that helps.

In the winter I usually wear black pants and turtleneck and boots bc I am always freezing.

I try to still dress my age bc otherwise the kids will think your a total dork (I work at a highschool)

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

okay i work for social security but not with the public so anything goes. . . people wear suits but other people wear sweats

i firmly believe in the saying 'dress for the job you want not for the job you have'

Upper management wears suits or business clothing every day. . .while I don't go THAT far ( I can't afford it) I wear
dress slacks with a nice sweater
dressy capris with a cute shirt
long skirts with sweaters

i dress down a little on fridays!

stuff like that

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

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Posted by cherilicious16

you typically will not find teachers wearing suits to work. The administation usually does.

I have found that knee length skirts, nice pants, button down shirts, v neck cotton tees and FLAT SHOES or wedges(standing all day in heels isnt going to happen) work pretty well.
It might seem booring but you can jazz it up with cute accessories. Get a bunch of basics someplace like NY& Co and pair them with some more trendy things.
Fridays are usually more relaxed.

You will notice the teacher 'dress code' erodes after Novemeber....meaning you are more likely to throw on a pair of jeans, a nice top and head out.

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wow, teachers actually can wear jeans to school? Seriously? Sweet!

The other problem here is that I went to a private high school where we had a dress code, so although the teachers weren't held to quite as strict of a dress code as we were (only button down collared shirts or turtlenecks, etc) they still had to dress pretty nicely. If the kids couldn't wear jeans, the teachers certainly couldn't!

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

you have to SEE some of the ridiculous things NYC public school teachers come to work in!
My favorite days are pajama days cause I get to wear my jammies to work! NO JOKE

For the first few months do the business casual thing and pay attention to how everyone else dresses. That will be your lead.

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

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Posted by weddingbunny

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Posted by cherilicious16

you typically will not find teachers wearing suits to work. The administation usually does.

I have found that knee length skirts, nice pants, button down shirts, v neck cotton tees and FLAT SHOES or wedges(standing all day in heels isnt going to happen) work pretty well.
It might seem booring but you can jazz it up with cute accessories. Get a bunch of basics someplace like NY& Co and pair them with some more trendy things.
Fridays are usually more relaxed.

You will notice the teacher 'dress code' erodes after Novemeber....meaning you are more likely to throw on a pair of jeans, a nice top and head out.

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wow, teachers actually can wear jeans to school? Seriously? Sweet!

The other problem here is that I went to a private high school where we had a dress code, so although the teachers weren't held to quite as strict of a dress code as we were (only button down collared shirts or turtlenecks, etc) they still had to dress pretty nicely. If the kids couldn't wear jeans, the teachers certainly couldn't!

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I would wait and talk to some veteran teachers, get a feel for the place before you start wearing jeans. Each school has a different rule about that and some are more strictthan others. Especially being untenured... That being said I have denim dress pants from the gap that I wear with heels and a nice shirt on occasion and the first friday of the month we could wear jeans and our school shirts.

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

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Posted by Jen2999

I shop at NY and co and express a lot if that helps.

In the winter I usually wear black pants and turtleneck and boots bc I am always freezing.

I try to still dress my age bc otherwise the kids will think your a total dork (I work at a highschool)

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are you really always cold? I find that I get really warm and even sweaty when I teach... I tend to be back and forth to the board a lot.

I'm high school too It's really not so much about looking like a dork as just not feeling like myself in these 'grown up' clothes, you know? I feel like I'm looking at this whole different, more sophisticated, grown up person... which isn't necessarily bad, but it just doesn't feel like me.

and I love NY & Co!

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

I agree with all the ladies above. I teach in a middle school, and there are some teachers who dress very down and look frumpy, and I think that it is very unprofessional. Personally, I tend to dress more up than down, especially since I am young. However, I do not dress like an old school marm! As suggested above, NY & Co is a great store, as is the Gap, Banana Republic, JCrew...etc. Keep those styles in mind when dressing. Also, since this is your first year teaching, I would not wear jeans until you fully understand the culture of your building. I wear jeans on Fridays only... Good Luck!!
PS. What/where are you going to be teaching?

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

i agree that you should dress for the job you want. i try to dress like my principal and luckily she does not usually wear suits! i always wear a skirt or nice pants with a sweater or blouse. i never wear jeans, flip flops, sandals, or sneakers because the students have a dress code and i want to be more dressed up than they are (uniformed public high school). also, dansko clogs are REALLY comfy for standing and look cute with jeans on weekends.
eta: on the hot/cold issue, i have worked in some buildings that are freezing and some that are overheated. layers are a great thing!

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

FH is a city teacher - he is appaled by the way the other teachers dress. He wears kakhi's a dress shirt (long sleeved of course - dont get me started on short sleeved dress shirts) and a tie. I think he is the only young teacher that dresses like that - he said some teachers dress in sweats.

I work in banking - and we are very corporate - 'dress down' day for me is when I know my bosses will be out so I wear dress pants and a cardigan - other than that its suits suits and more suits!

I always say, you can never be overdressed, but you can be underdressed! So I would go towards the more professional side even if people show up like slobs.

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

skirts, below the knee and button down shirts
3/4 length sleeve sweaters are nice too

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

Congrats on getting your first full time teaching postiton!!! I teach 5th grade, going into my 7th year. I don't know what district you will be working for, but my advice for you as a non-tenured teacher, do not wear jeans. See what the climate is in your school, for example everyone in my school wears jeans on Fridays, even the principal. So that would be a little different. But typically everyday, dress pants, skirts, blouses, sweaters, not too dressy, not too casual. Suits are usually just for interviews. Hope that helps! Good Luck!!

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

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Posted by susdoug

Congrats on getting your first full time teaching postiton!!! I teach 5th grade, going into my 7th year. I don't know what district you will be working for, but my advice for you as a non-tenured teacher, do not wear jeans. See what the climate is in your school, for example everyone in my school wears jeans on Fridays, even the principal. So that would be a little different. But typically everyday, dress pants, skirts, blouses, sweaters, not too dressy, not too casual. Suits are usually just for interviews. Hope that helps! Good Luck!!

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Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

I'm a teacher. Slacks and a nice top or a skirt and a nice top. Never sneakers, even if they have a dress down day. Wait until you are tenured for the sneakers unless it is field day.

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

Im a teacher, I alawys wear dresspants and a nice top-- not like corporate world dress- but professional, and comfortable!

I also wear sneakers that look like flats- I have a lot of 'runners' in my class!

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

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Posted by bridy06

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Posted by susdoug

Congrats on getting your first full time teaching postiton!!! I teach 5th grade, going into my 7th year. I don't know what district you will be working for, but my advice for you as a non-tenured teacher, do not wear jeans. See what the climate is in your school, for example everyone in my school wears jeans on Fridays, even the principal. So that would be a little different. But typically everyday, dress pants, skirts, blouses, sweaters, not too dressy, not too casual. Suits are usually just for interviews. Hope that helps! Good Luck!!

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ditto on everything - 8th year teaching English 7-12 ... Love it!

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I love my job too!! I actually can't wait to go back! I love starting a new year! Plus I will be that much closer to my wedding!

Re: nwr: what do you wear to work?

I work as a dietitian in a hospital. I usually wear dress slacks and a polo type shirt or nice dress tee shirt. I have to either wear a blazer or lab jacket on top. I almost always wear ballet flat type shoes because I'm standing up 8 hours a day.

I think you could wear this kind of stuff as a teacher. One of our per diem people is also a teacher who comes to the hospital right after school and this is how she is typically dressed as well.