Comfy Comfy Comfy! that is my motto! I tend to wear lots of cardis! I'm an art teacher so I have to wear clothes that I'm not that emotionally invested in b/c it is bound to get ruined! And I travel to teachers rooms on my cart so the temperature is never constant...so I have to be able to get rid or add a layer!
I buy mostly from Old Navy and Target. Just about all my slacks have come from New York and Co. and I also have a few of their tops...someone said earlier they aren't school appropriate, I simply cover that up with a body shaper that's not white. That way, I get to add some color without it looking like a cami
I get my clothes everywhere. I have a very hard time finding clothes in my size (sometimes extra small is too big). I especially have a hard time with pants. I've purchased shirts from: JC Penney, NY and Company, Ann Taylor clearance rack, Kmart- they carry extra small The only place for pants that fits (although they are big at the waist) is JC Penney. Anyone else have the same dilemma? BTW AM: Clogs should be okay as long as they are the dressier type.
have you tried the slacks at NY and Co.? They almost always have a $30 of $75 purchase sale and a huge variety of slacks, all my dressier pants come from there.
I've found "Clarks" to be VERY comfortable shoes in a variety of styles... they are a bit of an investment, but they've lasted a long time for me. I've also been complimented on them, which is nice.
I love NY and Co. but I can't get the pants to fit me...the hips are too big if I don't get petite and if I get petite, even though I usually wear petite, they are too short.
I buy a lot of my clothes from Macy's, Gap, Target, Old Navy, Kohls, JC Penney. I typically wear dress slacks in black and brown (I try to find nice cotton ones, see Gap). I have a few pair of nice slacks (pin-stripe, houndstooth). I wear a lot of colorful and/or printed tops. I went cardigan crazy this year, buying 8-9 from Target. A cardigan never goes out of style! I wear them with colored Old Navy tank tops. Shoes. I wear a size 11 wide, so it's tough for me. In the warmer months I wear nice, stylish sandals. Sketchers are the comfiest shoes I've found for the colder months. I have a pair of Nike mary janes. I also wore my tan Uggs last year.
I don't dress very casual unless it is school shirt day. I was a sub last year and usually was dressed up more than the teachers. Although I shop at Kohls sometimes, I find their clothes don't hold up that well and I see people wearing what I buy. I don't like that. I really like stores like Harold's and J Crew but they can be pricey. I find great sales at Harold's and I also have luck at Macy's. If you have a Steinmart, they have nice clothes that are different from the norm.
Polo/golf shirts, smartish khakis or even black jeans, sturdy shoes. My clothing style is a touch on the practical side because I spend my days in a lab, but I make sure to make it look professional by pressing it etc. I don't wear ties because in many labs they are considered potentially dangerous.
I love getting dressed up so most of my clothing reflects this. Typically, I shop at Banana Republic, Ann Taylor Loft, Macys, and Express. I then pick up basics (like Tees and Camis) at Target, Charlotte Russe, and Forever 21. As for shoes, I really like Bakers, DSW, and Macys. I love wearing heels, so I usually stick to 2 -3 inches. Anymore than 3 inches and my feet kill me.
Yeaaaa! I just found out that I am not only allowed, but encouraged to wear tennis shoes and khakis w/ polos!!!! (happy dance) Finally a principal who understands the ins and outs of a moderate/severe classroom. Jeans are only on paydays though. I wear a lot of spirit wear shirts. I teach better when I'm comfortable. Oh, my favorite shoes are Sketchers and Mudd, both of which are comfortable. The Sketchers don't really look like tennis shoes. Don't get me wrong, I like to look nice but dressing up doesn't go well with wheelchairs and feeding tubes. I always make sure my hair is nice and I always wear makeup.
I LOVE LOVE Ny and Co. I've gotten a lot of dressy clothes from them especially when they have their awesome sales!!! That's where I'm planning on looking for my first day outfit. I haven't looked at Old Navy in awhile because we didn't have one where I was student teaching. But maybe I'll check Old Navy out... I am a shoe NUT and I would love to be known as the teacher with the cool shoes. I have TONS of shoes... however, during teaching I hardly wear most of them because I'm on my feet all day! My feet are really picky and I swear that almost every shoe gives me a blister in one spot or another. I do have a pair of pink heels which are the MOST comfortable shoes. I need some more like those!
Old Navy is where I get a lot of my tops because their XS fits me really well which is rare... I have to go shoe shopping at DSW Friday to get some variety. But for 1st day outfit, I think I've already got it planned: brown leather slides, a lace over-the-knee-length skirt (built in slip) that is pink near top and darker rose pink towards the bottom (don't know what you call those kind), and an off white cap sleeve top that goes with it, topped off with a denim jacket...and would you believe that the top and skirt were given to me by a friend! I think the brand is Scallop if anyone knows of it.
I think comfort is the way to go. I have found many comfy cute and professional things to wear this year. I will be in Kindergarten,and don't want to worry about getting messy.
I usually buy most of my clothing from the Apostrophe brand at Sears. Their clothing fits me quite well! I love to dress up my outfits with fun, cute shoes and jewelry.
Sketchers Rule! I thought they were my little secret ... I had no idea there were so many of us out there.
I especially like the Sketchers party shoe (I think that's what it's called...) but they are short solid color boots, kinda look like Dr. Martens...very good for all day comfort
I shop at Macy's, Kohl's, and Target, as well as DSW for shoes. We have this great place for accessories here in Dallas called Sam Moon's, where you can get great costume jewelry CHEAP! They have a website also: www.sammoon.com where they have necklace and earring sets for as little as $5, and they're really cute. I also buy name badge necklaces from them to have something a little nicer than a string lanyard.
I'm a student teacher but this will be my third year working in a classroom (at the secondary level). I got a job at J.Jill (now owned by Talbot's) for the summer and they have AWESOME teacher clothes, I've used most of my money to add to my wardrobe, they are priced similar to talbot's but they are an originally a catalog company and have lots of sales on the website. I should mention I am 22 but the clothing is geared for later 20s-40s aged women which means teaching appropriate and trend relevant. Pants, cardigans, tees, etc. all 70% off now, check it out. Lots of teachers also work there part-time on the weekends for the discount so I know I'm not the only one Not to brand promote but I really did get the job there for the clothes. I LOVE sketchers for shoes I just bought some ballet flat looking athletic shoes which are awesome and comfortable. Birkenstocks make some acceptable teaching shoes and are always comfortable, I live in my madrid sandals. I also get tons of basics, tees, tanks, basic pants from Target, Gap, Old Navy, Forever 21 and frequently check out Loehmans, Marshalls and other discount chains. The INC brand from Macy's is pretty reasonable and has some good pieces.
I always get my clothes at New York and Company. Target usually has cute tops that can be dressy as well.
I will be teaching in a private school that requires woman to wear skirts all the time past your knee and shirts that cover to your elbow. We must also where nylons. I am concerned about what to get in this summer months at the start of school. Any suggestions?
Marne, if you have to wear the longer skirts, you could get away with wearing the kneehigh stockings. There are some lighter 3/4 length tshirts at JCPenneys. Don't know if that helps or not...sorry! I dress like most of the other teachers in my school: capris or khakis and a nice top (nothing low cut or frilly to get caught in straps and wheelchairs). I also was given the green light to wear my funky tennis shoes (collection) that go from Route 66 to DKNY and are all bright and colorful (comfortable). I used to live in Target's Cherokee brand pants, capris, etc. but it's gotten very difficult to find.
New York & Company is my all time favorite store. I've been shopping there since I was in high school. Other great stores for professional clothing-- Ann Taylor and Macys.
