For fashion enthusiasts, dressing for work can be a tricky balance of style and practicality. Particularly when you work with children, your work outfits must be appropriate and comfortable enough for long, strenuous days. However, that’s not to say you can’t look and feel great simultaneously. Many teachers enjoy pushing the boundaries of what may or may not be considered “workwear” with bright colours and eye-catching designs. Here are some ideas for zhuzhing up your work wardrobe so you can express yourself through fashion and maybe even inspire creativity amongst your students.
Be Appropriate
When compiling outfits for your job as a teacher, the bottom line is to consider whether or not they are appropriate. While most educational facilities require staff to wear “professional attire”, there is often a level of discretion. Provided clothing is clean, relatively smart and unlikely to be interpreted as provocative, teachers have the freedom to dress as they please within policy guidelines.
Theme Your Outfits
A fantastic, creative way to get your students to engage in a subject is to theme your outfit around your lesson plan. While this may not work quite as well for high school students, younger children will love it. For example, if your current theme is the solar system, you could incorporate celestial accessories such as star-shaped earrings or go all out and wear a starry dress or blouse.
Consider A Capsule Wardrobe
As a teacher, you will be no stranger to busy mornings and minimal spare time. The last thing you want to be doing when you’re in danger of running late is having an internal panic over your outfit choice. A capsule wardrobe is a small selection of interchangeable clothing pieces that work together to form numerous coherent outfits, handy for when you’re pressed for time and need something work-appropriate, comfortable and stylish with minimal effort.
Comfortable Footwear
The inevitable truth of pursuing a career in education is that you will spend a lot of time on your feet. Whether you’re on playground duty or standing at the front of the classroom doing what you do best, your feet will quickly become sore and achy. While finishing an outfit off with your favourite pair of court heels might be tempting, it may be a wiser decision to opt for a pair that offers sufficient support and comfort throughout the day.
Shop Second-Hand
High-street workwear sections can be profoundly dull. If you’ve seen your fair share of black and navy pencil dresses, it may be a good idea to think outside the box. Scouring vintage markets and second-hand stores for preloved gems could help make your work wardrobe unique, exciting and bursting with personality. You could even learn to alter clothes, so your vintage finds always fit you like a glove.
Keep Warm
The start of a new school year in September marks the changing of the seasons. School halls become notoriously chilly during the colder months, and you may find yourself shivering - particularly when you’re in charge of outdoor break time supervision. Keep yourself warm and professional by incorporating feather-soft and highly insulating cashmere sweaters and cardigans into your professional wardrobe. Furthermore, cashmere is highly durable and will last for decades when cared for correctly.
Let Your Personality Shine
Appropriate professional attire has a tendency to strip us of our personality; however, this needn’t be the case. You can allow your personality to shine by adding statement accessories, fun patterns and fashion-forward garments, provided they abide by your setting’s dress code. You will find that maintaining a fun, unconventional appearance will make you seem more interesting and approachable to your younger students - you may even discover that parents find you easier to talk to!
Breathable Fabrics
While you may need to layer up during the colder months, you will still need to maintain a professional appearance during the hottest days of the year too. As tempting as it may be to throw on shorts and a strappy top when temperatures soar, compliance with your setting’s dress code standards still applies - within reason; many settings allow teachers to wear t-shirts and knee-length dresses during heatwaves. You can keep yourself cool and comfortable by opting for breathable fabrics such as organic cotton, linen and silk.