I have recently completed my certification and I am planning to start my teaching career in the Fall Semester. Where do teachers shop for clothes? I am very petite (5'5 115lbs Size 0 pants and xs tops) and it is extremely difficult to find "grown up" clothes. I'm always left in the juniors section which is always SUPER TIGHT fitting pants/slacks and weird looking shirts :haha: Any help appreciated!! Online retailers ok too!
Loft. They have an enormous petites section with adorable clothes - it drives me nuts because I can't shop in it. lol. They also have an outlet - I have two of those near me, but it depends where you live. The outlet has a different line of clothes that I actually tend to like better. You could also shop online. I also get a lot of stuff from Lands End. I'm definitely not in your size range so I don't know if it would be good for very small sizes, but I know they have petites as well.
Loft and New York and Co are my go tos when I'm in better shape. Too expensive right now as I'm hoping to lose weight! So I shop at Target. They do have cute stuff and some great sales! I used to like Gap, but their styles can be hit or miss.
Try to purchase items that are well made and will last. Find 5 or 6 good basic pieces that you can add to with sweaters, shirts, scarves, jewelry, jackets. But I think it also depends on the school where you eventually get hired. There may be a dress code or in some instances none at all so it may be best to wait. Since a teacher is a professional he or she should dress as one in my opinion. I've seen it all in 32 years of teaching which will be ending in June.
Loft! Also, www.thredup.com is wonderful if you search specific brands like j crew or New york and company.
Most of my work clothes are from Express (pants), Banana Republic Outlet, J Crew Outlet (cardigans), and White House Black Market outlet. If you can hit an outlet mall around Memorial Day/4th of July, you will hit the jackpot. And I pretty much live in the tamis/camisoles from Old Navy for anything that doesn't pass a bend test.
I'm always on the lookout for cheap long camisoles too. That way I can wear more of my shirts at school (by layering them with the tank tops).
I shop many of the stores already mentioned...several of them also offer teacher discounts. I also do frequent fly bys to TJ Maxx- they often have classic pieces from good designers: Ralph Lauren, Jones NY, Calvin Klein...at discounted prices.
Target is great for cheap but decent professional clothes, and I love new York and co. They have sales all the time and are constantly getting new things. If you're really daring, higher end thrift stores can have some great finds as well. A couple of my favorite professional tops are from garage sales or thrift stores.
I'm short and petite and White House Black Market (normally expensive, yes) has a pretty good petite selection. You can get the basic black petite pants on good sales online (you just have to watch - I think they update sales online on Tuesdays) and they are machine washable. I like Anthropologie too, usually has petite options but again you have to watch for sale items and promotions. Online their sales are updated on Mondays, and "popbacks" or items that have sold out but popback online for $9.99 are usually seen on Tuesdays. Save anything you think you might want in your size on your wishlist, and it might at some point popback. I've paid $9.99 for quality items I wear ALL THE TIME at both places above.
I always tell any new teacher, male or female, to check Goodwill and Salvation Army. You'd be amazed at how many like-new professional clothes they have. It can be very hit and miss obviously, but it's pretty rare that I actually need to go to a more expensive store for clothing.
I will add that shopping in the store and shopping online are different - I never go in either of the stores I mentioned above unless I'm returning something I bought online because they never have a petite selection in the store anyways. I'm below 5'3 and just hate paying to have pants altered
Lands End is found at Sears. They have super clearance prices from time to time. I also do LL Bean. Both brands offer well made clothes in consistent sizing. LL Bean offers a gift card promotion from time to time. They also have free shipping. If I see something I like and it is at a great price I buy every color or pattern. That's how I built my wardrobe.
Oh blazer, Target is just about the best store in the world! You can really get anything you need there.
At NY&Co they are having a pant sale...all of their pants are buy 1 get one free. If you sign up for their email, you get $25 off of $75!!
I just started subbing after being a stay at home mom for the past six years and recently had to figure out how to dress on a budget. I have stumbled upon a very affordable go-to outfit; ponte knit pants (thick and substantial so they don't look like regular leggings) with a looser, slightly longer top and possibly a jacket (denim) or open type cardi. I wear this with basic flats (dexflex from payless). I found my pants at Costco for $15 a pair and stocked up. Another suggestion I have is to try the Merona brand ankle pants at Target. I'm 5'4" myself and those ankle pants look really cute with flats as well. Target also has a nice selection of blouses, though it seems they sell out of the smaller sizes pretty quickly.
All about the thrift store for me. I am pretty sure my entire dress clothes/school clothes come from either gifts or the thrift store. Of from Primark in England.
ICAM! It is the ultimate sale, but please shop carefully and with a good eye for value. I read the post about the heavier leggings and laughed. Unless the top comes well down onto the thigh, you would earn a dress code violation in any school I have worked in. The exact wording is the equivalent of an 8 inch inseam. Who knew NJ would be so fashion oblivious!
Well, the pants I'm referring to have both front and rear pockets but are made of a ponte knit, which is heavier than your typical cotton leggings. Don't know what inseam has to do with it, do you mean the rise? Anyway, I always make sure my butt is covered by my blouse since the pants are tight. I'm not even sure what the actual dress code is where I sub but I am dressed better than the majority of the teachers and I am in no way immodest. How do schools with no leggings view skinny jeans or jeggings. Probably by the pocket rule I would guess.
No, it is the fabric. Jeggings are leggings are seen as exactly the same and fall under the same restrictions. But you are right about the pockets - they have to have the extra pocket fabric that you can pull out, not just a piece of the legging material sewn on to be called real jeans. The inseam restriction pretty much indicates your top would need to go past your tush by the 6-8 inches. I didn't say you were immodest, I was only stating what the dress code says. And yes, as a woman, I am tired of having to try to enforce it! It isn't about the weight of the fabric - it is about the sprayed on tightness of the jeggings and leggings that seem to inspire dress code writers.
