Jenni said:
I am going to student teach this spring. What are must haves for looking professional yet being comfortable? I am very picky about what I wear.
Also any ideas for interview wear? I should get a suit right? Any ideas where they'd have suits between size 12 and 16 that would fit someone rather short? My issue is I am just over 5 foot and nothing fits right. Pants are all to long for me. I hate to pay over 100 dollars on a suit that won't even fit right.
I need clothes that don't cost an arm and a leg, look good and won't kill me to wear all day.
I'm returning to teaching HS math after 6 years, 3 kids and a dress size. So I'm starting from scratch in the wardrobe department as well.
I love the suits at JC Penneys. I can always find something on sale! I got 4 suits there this spring/summer, and didn't pay more than $80 for any of them. And I know I'll get years of use from them. I know that most teachers don't wear them as often as I do, but they're wonderful when you have parent meetings, so you'll be surprised at the number of times you really can wear one. Go for something fairly neutral, and dress it up with different colored bouses/ sweaters underneath.
If you go for a skirt suit, the lenght isn't quite as important, or you can try their petite sizes.
When I'm not in a suit, I tend towards long flowered skirts and sweaters. They give you lots of mix and match options and make it easy to walk around a classroom. My building is always cold in the winter, so layering helps a lot. (I keep a neutral colored cardigan in my room for those days when I've overestimated the heat

) I've bought a bunch at Kohls this year, all on sale.
For shoes, I tend to like lots of different cheap shoes. I've found great ones at Sears-- their "I

Comfort" house brand starts at about $20 and the shoes are really comfortable. So far I have taupe and navy, and another pair of black pumps. I'll fill in the other colors as I go along.
I also posted the other day about the "One Hanes Place" website for discounted pantyhose.