Wanted:Teacher Clothes

July

Ok, maybe that should be titled 'Smart casual clothes' but you get the idea!

I have recently qualified as a Primary Teacher and it has just dawned on me that I don't really have 'teacher clothes'. I suppose I 'winged it' through TPs with a few trousers, blouses and cardigans.

However, the prospect of starting a job in September and wondering what to put on me everyday is filling me with dread. My wardrobe consists of a whole load of odds and ends, no outfits really. I have a lot of 'college clothes' that I think I have outgrown (only by age, not size ) and need to replace.

My questions are:What sort of things should I buy? What shops would you recommend? What do you need to keep in mind as a teacher apart from not showing cleavage (above or below), standing most of the time and the danger of getting grubby?

Edit: Not sure if I should have put this in Fashion & Appearance?

gaeilgegrinds

I wear smart trousers an jumpers or shirts or long dresses over them. I never show any cleavage, just because I'm young & really don'tthink it's acceptable. Sometimes I wear dresses with tights & boots. That's my style though, not for everyone. Hope that helps. I mostly shop in Dunnes, A-wear & River Island for school clothes.

Toto Wolfcastle

I think it's best to stick to what your comfortable with, although obviously it has to be suitable for the job!

If you don't feel comfortable in shirts for example, then don't wear shirts. This is probably more important at primary level, where you will be teaching, as primary teachers tend to be very active!

I bought clothes for my dip that I wont wear again and it was a mistake, so just stick with a smart version of your own style.

I know a girl who wants to be a secondary school teacher so she can wear 'cool' teacher clothes!

rainbowtrout

gaeilgegrinds wrote: »

I wear smart trousers an jumpers or shirts or long dresses over them. I never show any cleavage, just because I'm young & really don'tthink it's acceptable. Sometimes I wear dresses with tights & boots. That's my style though, not for everyone. Hope that helps. I mostly shop in Dunnes, A-wear & River Island for school clothes.

pretty much the same story here, although my staff room is quite casual and a lot of us wear jeans, but with something smart, and of course the jeans themselves are not baggy, ripped, trailing along the ground etc etc.

buy a couple of outfits to start with and see how you get on in terms of comfort on a day to day basis and also suss out the general dress code in the school by having a look at what other staff are wearing. you will probably spend a lot of the day on your feet so wear shoes you are comfortable in!

you can't go too far wrong with a couple of pairs of black trousers (or similar) and a couple of jumpers and shirts. I have a whole drawerful of plain v-neck jumpers from H&M in every colour under the sun which i wear with shirts for school. I find that if I start to wear certain clothes to school they become work wear and I don't want to wear them at any other time. I also teach science so I don't want to spend a fortune on clothes that will get destroyed in the lab

kittex

I used to wear a lot of mid calf-length skirts with shirts or sweater tops, but my new school is so warm, the tights are a sweat-fest, even in winter.

Generally, I just wear smart trousers and either a nice, appropriate top (as above no cleavage) or a shirt.

I find Dunnes great for work stuff.

I have to ask - what on earth is cleavage below?

July wrote: »

What do you need to keep in mind as a teacher apart from not showing cleavage (above or below), standing most of the time and the danger of getting grubby?

gaeilgegrinds

Ass cleavage...try the ass test, where you sit down, bend down & reach up...if you pass that without your trousers showing your behind, the trousers are fine.

kittex

Ah ha ha, I am aware of the phenomoa, but never herard it referred to as that.

If this is an issue, one word. Belt.

anna766

I'm training for secondary teaching, but have done some primary subbing, and due to the physical / active nature of primary teaching (as already mentioned) you seem to be able to wear far less 'formal' clothes to work. Most primary teachers I've met wear either good jeans or casual slacks with a fairly casual top / sweater (i.e. not tailored blouse) over it, but definitely no cleavage - far too much bending down over low tables to risk it! Always bear in mind that you'll have to incorporate yard duty, art classes and pe into your wardrobe, and that you'll spend far more time on chairs (pinning up art work) than seems reasonable so make sure your clothes aren't expensive, can be easily washed and that your shoes are very comfortable. Have you got a school yet? They vary from ice-box to furnace, so you'll have to see which you've arrived in before planning your wardrobe further. If you do want to do the office-wear look, next do great pieces for fairly reasonable prices, and they wear well. Absolute essential is a warm coat with a hood that's either waterproof or not of a material that will soak water for yard duty.

best of luck!