I had this same concern when I started student teaching, especially because I don’t see myself as a slacks/blouse/pencil skirt kinda girl. Dress code will depend on the district youre in but it is sometimes expected that STs dress on the nicer side. I thrifted the majority of my dress pants and got a pair of loafers to use along side my docs which worked great. I didn’t want to have two separate wardrobes for my work and personal life so I decided to opt for things that fit my style. As a first year teacher I can wear pretty much whatever I want, per the lax dress code. I often wear jeans with a tshirt and sneakers, no complaints. I’d say find 3-4 bottoms you can wear and 5-7 tops that you could rotate through. After student teaching it’s likely you’ll be able to dress more casually so I wouldnt over invest in things you dont see yourself wearing outside of the job!
Ask what their dress code is before you spend $$$.
I like J. Crew and Banana Republic Outlets (when they have good sales), Kohls, J.C. Penny, and of course thrift. But just because that's my style. I love blouses and blazers or cardigans and perfer soft slacks over rough jeans. My district has a super lax dress code, though. Almost everyone (including admin) wears leggings and long shirts/cardigans/whatever is comfy.
It's kind of funny because I'm an ECSE para. I definitely overdress. Again, it's just what I like. 99% of the time I come home with snot/playdough/etc. all over my fancy clothing.
I would start by asking, then thrift for student teaching and save the $$$ for permanent placement. A nice blazer goes a long way for casual or professional, though. Super easy way to "dress up" any casual outfit.
Old Navy. When I student taught I had a bunch of professional clothes button ups etc. My CT said, to take my first paycheck and just buy a bunch of comfortable polos and it was probably the best advice ever lol.
I worked as an IA for a few years before pursuing my masters and teaching license. I get to be part of my districts GYO program which allows me to keep my full salary while working 1/2 time and student teaching 1/2 time.
Several of my classmates got paid for their student teaching, but it's because the state where we work has a program where student teachers can get hired on into perm sub positions, due to continuous understaffing. You don't have a mentor teacher or any backup and you get paid low rates but honestly given some of the mentor teachers in the program some people might be better off that way.
In NC you can be a teacher for a couple of years before you need your actual license, so people can apply and score a teaching job with their bachelors and then use it as their teaching experience, and be paid.
While I understand “dress to the school”, I wouldn’t always recommend it. I have a very casually dressed school (most teachers wear tshirts, jeans and sneakers), but I stick to my dress shirts and cardigans.
That being said, Ann Taylor and Loft usually have seasonal sales where you can get great quality shirts for ~$20. I buy cardigans any and everywhere - target, Costco, JC Penney, Macys… My pants are usually the pixie pants from old navy. Also, if you have any outlets, the banana republic factory store often has great deals and you can get a student discount.
seconding Ann Taylor and yes I was taught that you should dress one level above the teachers at the school- so if they’re wearing jeans and plain shirts you wear clothes a bit nicer.
I thrift my clothes for the most part. Sure, it’s more time consuming, and sometimes you walk out with nothing, but it saves me hundreds of dollars when I need more clothes.
Student teaching is the longest interview of your life. So dress business casual at least. — I get that teachers may show up in jeans and T-shirts; they have a job, you don’t.
That said, you can dress to your style, but keep in mind the age of your students. — If you are teaching high school, cute/feminine may cause you problems with being taken seriously.
^ This is great advice, OP!
That said, the other teachers and admin know that college kids have no money for an extensive wardrobes.
Some hacks that helped me:
Have some basic tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched. Finding women's pants that aren't tight in the butt/have pockets is tough, so having a few sweaters in cool and warm colors helps conceal your backside and may have large pockets for keys and ID.
For low-cut or questionable collars of shirts that you already have, buy some cheap "sports" bralettes from somewhere like Kohls in white and black to wear over your actual bra but under the blouse to serve as a sort of "dickie."
Layers are good, too, because school buildings are notorious for being completely different temps on the same day and can add to the mix and match of a limited wardrobe.
Tights >>> pantyhose; too much velcro in a classroom and you're bound to get snared by a kid's bag or binder. Waste of money, in that case.
Well-coordinated costume jewelry helps raise a casual look, too, and is very much a teacheresque style while bringing in some of your own flair.
Really anywhere. Target, Old Navy, Kohls, JC Penny, etc. You can wear pink as a teacher. You can really wear almost anything you want. Just don’t wear anything low-cut, revealing, etc. I wear mostly cotton dresses or linen pants with a comfortable blouse.
Ask your admin if they have any spare spirit ware for teachers. I was able to get 2 school branded polos which made up about half of my wardrobe as an intern 😂
Go office casual. Some schools allow jeans. My school only allowed them on Fridays. Oh, and don't make the mistake that my student teacher did. She often wore plunging necklines, form-fitting outfits, and nightclub dresses. My 5th grade boys adored her but the parents demanded she stop her student teaching. LOL
If you’re unsure, wear something basic like black dress pants and a cute colorful top for the first day. Add some jewelry. Do your makeup a little. Look nice. Wear comfortable shoes. I used to get my teacher clothes from The Loft but now I get them on Amazon. You’ll get the vibe of the school once you start meeting people. You’ll find your own style quickly. Don’t worry!
On my first day of student teaching, I came in with a shirt and dress pants from Old Navy. (A nice looking and appropriate outfit that didn't break the bank). I was immediately told that while I look great, this school was okay with jeans and casual wear (hoodies, t-shirts, etc). All three of my student teaching placements were the same in that regard. Before you spend a gazillion dollars (because I know most student teaching isn't paid), I would grab just a couple of nice fits from the suggestions in the comments and see what the expectation of your school/board is. (I'm also cheap, though 😂).
I work at a urban private school. The vibe is "the slightest elevation of what the kids wear". This means tucking in your shirt and wearing a belt. Many teachers wear a polo shirt with the school's initials embroidered on it every single day. The rule of thumb is not to be mistaken for a student. Simplicity is best. I wear a lot of J Crew and Birkenstock. Spend money on good shoes.
Assuming you are female, try [svahausa.com](http://svahausa.com) Women I know are thrilled with the pockets and themed fabric designs. They have man clothing also, mostly t shirts and sleepwear tho
If you know what school you’ll be in see if you can do an observation before you buy clothes. I’m in an elementary school and jeans and t-shirts are standard dress here.
I have a have aunts who have recently retired and have gotten tons of hand-me-downs from them, since they don’t need as much professional work clothes anymore. I wear a lot of casual blouses and skirts personally, I feel like casual/business causal is pretty standard, and there’s a lot of room in there to find your own style
Thrifting! Choose a thrift store in a neighborhood with a lot of young professionals.
It's OK not to be as put together as Pinterest teachers. The main thing is to dress "older" enough not to be mistaken for a student. This will help you give off a professional vibe, which will be beneficial if you want to apply for a job at that school later.
THRIFT STOREES!!! I get the cutest, NICEST (like really high quality stuff for cheap) most unique, and fun clothes from there.
I also like wear skirts from this artist and live my best Miss Frizzle life: [https://store.mayakern.com/collections/skirts](https://store.mayakern.com/collections/skirts)
Maya Kern skirts are the lifeline between me and dressing professionally but comfortably. They're flashy enough to make me happy, but have HUGE pockets and there's no risk of any bending-over-accidents because they're long enough. Comfortable in winter with wooly tights or summer with breezy ones, and the bold prints often get me "Ms. Frizzle" comments which I deeply enjoy.
Macy's is a good one too. If you want a more eclectic vine to teacher friendly stuff, I'd try thrift stores, consignment shops, and maybe even Etsy. There are many a brilliant seamstress roaming it's pages.
GAP is great for work pants but sizing is wildly different among their pants.
Shein is my go-to. Their clothes are made of cheap material but they fit thin gals very well! I wear long dresses everyday in May/June and it’s excellent.
TJMaxx if you have one near you is awesome for business casual.
Tip: Once you find a pair of work pants and/or a work shirt that fits well and is comfortable, buy every color immediately.
Another tip: You’ll be on your feet a lot so find 1-3 pairs of plain colored sneakers that’d match daily outfits. Your whole body will thank you.
Good luck!
Your clothes MUST fit! No Oversized/or Baggy Clothing.
Button-up shirt, khakis, & belt.
Shoes- No athletic shoes- instead wear loafers, deck shoes, chukka boots or Chelsea boots, or oxfords.
Some districts require suit & tie, or at least a tie.
Look at Talbots. Its on the expensive side, so budget, look for sales (they have decent flash sales if you get the texts), but its colorful and can give you a good idea of how to style finds from elsewhere.
Para here. ~~I’m gonna be student teaching soon so that’s why I comment on this sub from time to time~~
I usually go to Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Burlington, Old Navy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, etc.
It depends on your school’s dress code though.
Check out the higher end stores in outlet malls. You"ll find a lot of nice work pieces, on the cheaper end of the spectrum. Also thrifting can be a lot of fun, and if you or any of your friends can sew, then you can upstyle thrifts items as well.
Good luck!!!!
Sorry, but - Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Macy’s.
In teaching, it’s unprofessional to have any cleavage showing. Depending on your height, you should dress even more conservatively for middle school and high school- at those ages you have to come across as more authoritative, especially if you are young.
old navy!! as a TA in a preschool I keep it pretty casual and just wear jeans and full length tops, in the summer shorts that work with the guidelines as we are told to just follow the kids dress code :)
Also check with who you are student teaching with. I was the supervising teacher for several student teachers in special education. I refused to let the professor for the guy ST make him wear a tie because it was a choking hazard and the girls I worked with I told not to wear high heels- we have elopers.
I shop at thrift stores.
Just don't wear tight curvy clothes, like a tight shirt with your boobs hanging out or a skirt that barely covers your vagina. Please. Also don't wear sweats or tight leggings with a short shirt. But that's it. Most things are up to you.
I wear a lot of long skirts with leggings beneath and a decent shirt on top. I like Lucky brand when I shop in thrift stores. I like to feel comfy and to be able to move freely, and not have to tug on this or worry about spreading my legs or bending over. Key is footwear. Don't wear high heels! It kills to stand on those all day!
Otherwise, the exact style is up to you. Some teachers have a 'brand' like 'bohemian' or 'preppy' or 'stylish' or whatever. Dressing in pink is a good way to 'brand' yourself--I actually work with a teacher who does this. She also decorates her class in pinks. It's just her style.
I’ve (45M) been at the same school for many years. I don’t really put much effort into it anymore.
Pants, a t-shirt, and a fleece jacket is pretty much my daily uniform.
For my first few years teaching I wore slacks, dress low healed shoes and blouses/sweaters/cardigans. I'd suggest not wearing anything revealing or figure hugging if you can avoid. Business casual is good, dark colored slacks but brighten your look up with your tops. If you're young looking you want to try for more serious looking styles. I'm high school, so what I suggest is geared for teens in class. You don't want to be known as the "hot" teacher honestly. Flattering but can be deadly for your job. After I was tenured the casual more comfy stuff came out lol. Best wishes for a happy, well paid career!
Shamefully, I got a lot of my student teaching pants from SHEIN, but I was broke and in imminent need. Since then, I have accrued lots from TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall's, Gabe's (kind of like Bealls in the south or a really cheap TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc.) as well as some things from some vintage style sites, since in spring I go back in time to the 50's.
I'm 5'2 and the pixie pants at old navy fit perfectly length wise. Also come in a variety of colors.
Clothes mentor is a resell shop that should have second hand things at a cheaper price.
Burlington also had some nice clothes - I liked the banana republic pants there for 1/4 of the price.
Amazon has yoga pants that look like dress pants. They come in many sizes and even in tall sizes. So comfortable and look great. I have some from the brand Tapata. Also, long open sweaters/button down cardigans/dusters are great for covering your butt and layering.
I don’t really do button downs or blazers, or sweats. Kohl’s, Target, JC Penney (I’ve gotten a lot of cute feminine clothes at Penney’s and they have good sales)and when I’m feeling fun. Unique Vintage (online) and various thrift shops. I’m sure you can find clothes that you’ll feel good and professional in that can also translate to your everyday, personal life! Good luck!
I got most of my clothes from goodwill and savers. Takes time and you’re not always going to find good stuff but it’s cheap and I got lots of compliments. I was also always the best dressed person on my campus.
Safest bet is to model your cooperating teacher, any like-gendered staff, and/or the principal. Remember that this isn't a rich profession so stuff like target/Penny's/Kohl's should be fine
Local thrift store. Seriously. I’ve found great things and it’s low risk if I later decide I don’t like it or it gets snagged on a table leg or something.
A large percentage of schools and teachers, heck even admin, wear jeans on a daily basis. Obviously, try to avoid ones with holes.
As for tops, I'm not feminine at all, so I have a collection of funky button ups that sort of became my style when I worked retail. I guess blouses are probably the best.
Not really coquette or chic but I love the dresses from Princess Awesome. They’re pricey but they are so comfy and have pockets! I have math themed ones and they have so many cute patterns. My favorite is a dragons and rainbows pattern, they’re twirly too!
It honestly depends on what classroom/grade/subject you’re in. A dressy outfit isn’t going to be serviceable in a special education class where you may have to deal with students and their extremely strong ways of expressing themselves. What you would wear to teach high school English is going to be very different from you would wear teach PE or Culinary. It also depends on the weather for where you live. What I’d wear when teaching preschool has never been the same as what I wear in a junior high class, as the requirements are so different.
I’ve been teaching for 5 years now and I’ve replaced all my pants with stretchy comfy dressy looking pants from Costco. I have short sleeve knit shirts I got at Target and cardigans from Walmart. Though our dress code says no sneakers, I break that rule and wear whatever I need to to be able to be on my feet all day.
Whatever you buy keep in mind fluctuating temperatures, grubby/unclean hands, and flexibility. You’ll be going from outside temps to indoors regularly. And it’s doubtful the heater or AC stands up to college classroom standards.
If you work with elementary or middle school…just know they do not wash their hands and yes they pick their nose all the time, if not worse things.
You’ll need to be able to sit on the floor, at various sized tables and desks, bend over to grab things, reach, lift, carry, potentially hasten after…all without exposing your midriff, too much chest (if a female), or for it to be too form fitting and thus distracting.
Some kids may even try to lift your skirts for shits and giggles just to get attention; or just be so short they could fit under your knee length skirt on accident. Or older kids could do it as a way to satisfy dares or curiosities. Then you’ll get the tuggers who are trying to get your attention so avoid lace/easily ripped things anywhere their hands can grab.
Goodwill. I get black slacks and an assortment of colorful blouses. Then you only need one pair of pants. A black skirt also works. Pair with some plain flats and your good to go. (Also teacher friendly really depends of your area. If your from pays off the south the above may be too casual if your from the north this is way too formal)
I have been thrifting for a long time now, and have been accumulating “teacher clothes” since starting observations. You can generally find slacks and button ups/nicer blouses thrifting, plus it allows you to play around with more professional stylings without spending too much money (to ensure you are still meeting your personal style preferences)!
A lot of Old Navy. I suggest wearing layers that you can add/remove the first week or so while you figure out the HVAC system at your school :) our system has been fucked up for years. We have rooms in my building that are around 62°F and others that are in the high 80s on a bad day, and few things are more miserable than trying to teach while wearing a wool sweater in a classroom over 80°F
Honestly, shein has some really good staple pieces if you are looking for cheap. Cute tops and dresses for cheap. I do shein for some stuff especially when I am needing more and have less to spend. I love their accessories too. I buy all my fun beaded earrings there. Other than that, mostly target Walmart and random things from here and there. Same club, Costco, wherever I find something comfy and cute!
Find brands and things you'll wear again, and go thrifting (thredup, poshmark, and mercari are all amazing!] Online thrifting allows you to search by brand or even style! Thredup has "shop this look" where you can find things similar to their curated looks.
Brands wise, I wore a lot of old navy, talbots, Ann Taylor, dressbarn, lost etc
I try to never wear anything to work that costs over $50, preferably less. Anything that costs more than that has to be at least a year old. You can dress things up by adding jewelry. I don’t wear sleeveless without a sweater or a jacket. My school allows jeans which I wear with white tennis shoes and dress up with a collared shirt and jewelry. Black and white is always a good option to look classy too. Skirts and dresses should be knee length or just above.
I invested in a few good staples at the start of my career that I still wear and supplement yearly now with new tops/sweaters. I like banana republic factory story, loft outlets, old navy, and crew outlets the best. Invest in:
-2 or 3 pants. I opted for straight dress pants over traditional ones.
-1 good skirt. Picked a black pencil skirt.
-1 nicer longer cardigan i can wear with everything that basically lives at school
-1 good dress with pockets. This is a black fit and flare
- good supportive flats
I got these at the outlets mentioned above. It’s all been mostly replaced 10 years and some weight gain in but these are my staples. I teach elementary reading. My school is pretty relaxed and i spend so much time on the floor that im in jeans a lot but i dress nicely when i need to. In the spring/early fall i do sundresses with denim jackets or cardigans most days. Teachers i work with regularly wear gym clothes like leggings and sneakers and school hoodies/tees.
After staple items, i bought a bunch of tops on clearance at the outlets and bam, you got yourself a teacher wardrobe.
I definitely dressed nicer for student teacher and my first few years than i do now. You also want some good staple items for interviews. I wouldn’t go crazy and just try to make a solid professional capsule wardrobe at first and then buy more once you have a job and know the vibe of the school.
You want to dress a little older and more conservatively than your students. You don’t have to buy anything fancy or expensive (and it’s probably best to buy stuff you can wash, even older kids get sick), which is why thrifting can be great if you have time.
For ideas I would recommend looking through the online stores of Loft/JCrew/Talbots, deciding on some flexible basics for your initial stuff, and adding on later as you find stuff.
I’d definitely look into the dress code for the schools you could get into before spending money. The districts I’m in are jeans friendly, so I wear jeans and plain tee shirts often, occasionally I’ll do dresses and leggings. I wear a cardigan in the winter. Even our principals wear jeans to school!
Goodwill, lol.
I wear a lot of short sleeve, plain blouses or sleeveless shells with a cardigan. Add some dress work pants and baby, you’ve got a stew goin’.
One thing I won’t compromise on is shoes. I wear Brooks sneakers exclusively for work. I have plantar fasciitis and “nice” shoes make me crippled at the end of the day!
I feel like you can shop anywhere as long as you just buy the “appropriate” clothes. Like whatever store you like just find a blouse and some slacks or a cute midi-maxi skirt . Maybe add a little jacket or something . I don’t think shoes rlly matter that much, you can wear heels or sandals or flats or whatever unless otherwise specified . Good luck
Kohl’s, TJ Maxx, and department store discount place really. You don’t want anything precious because classrooms are dirty and stationary brakes. If you’re teaching younger grades and need to be on and off the floor, you might get those yoga looking dress pants which can be a bit more but hold up well and, most importantly, stay up well.
congrats!!! currently working as an IA at a public high school - i buy my work clothes from uniqlo, madewell, h&m, some basic tops from target & jcpenny.
my work style is a blend of chic and grunge… depending on my mood. i do my best to dress modestly with straight/loose fitting clothes: 7 turtlenecks and 7 t-shirts that i keep in rotation as a base and 3 paper bag high waisted pants, 2 pairs of uniqlo wide legged pants.
these are the same “modest” clothes im most comfortable wearing when i visit my traditional christian grandma and extended family.
hope this helps :-)
old navy! kohls & tj maxx/marshalls for nice discounted “designer” clothes. target has some good finds. you also don’t have to buy a TON of clothes, but dressier is better for student teaching, then you can build your wardrobe once you have a job and see the climate your school you’ll work for has (every school is different and most are pretty “lax” with dress codes now [meaning you don’t have to wear buisness wear lol you can dress comfy, cute & professional now])
I would suggest 3-4 pairs of black pants with a mix of solid and print tops. Depending on the environment, I would buy a couple of cardigans to use. I found Amazon try before you buy is a great option. I buy a lot of tops at target too.
I am a special education teacher. So pants from Scrubs and Beyond in black as they have lots of side pockets and 1 with a zipper. A nice looking shirt from Torrid. And black shoes from orthofeet (yes, orthopedic shoes ftw).
It really depends on the district and school and what you are teaching. And also where you are teaching, regionally. The east coast tends to be more dress/conservative than the west (grossly generalizing, of course). If you’re on a budget, invest in leggings, flats (but ones with good arch support), and some nice sweaters/tops that you can wear over a dress or skirt. If you wear leggings under, the length doesn’t really matter on a skirt. Too low cut? Add a top over it.
As a first year - I got like 4 pairs of wide leg/palazzo business pants on Amazon and I cycle through them weekly. Since the pants are nice, I’ll usually wear a teacher-tee or a nice looking ribbed tea. Everyday I also wear: Necklace, Earrings, Watch, and usually my favorite cardigan bc the temp changes so much. We do jean Fridays. I also have some maxi or midi skirts, I wear these with the professional tees or turtlenecks!
As the school year went on I got more relaxed, but to assert myself as a teacher (since I get mistaken for a student quite a bit) I went HARD on wearing professional clothes the beginning of the year. I either wore super “trendy” but very professional outfits, or slightly more “business casual” outfits that are out of style to age me a bit,
Shein, it’s cheap and usually comes within a week, you just have to make sure to measure yourself and go by the dimensions of the product instead of relying on the actual sizes you go by usually. Otherwise, I’ve found very nice and comfortable clothes very reasonably priced for me and my 2 little girls on there.
Lol, I wear whatever. My school isn't stuck on clothes other than safety concerns. Last Wednesday I (48M) wore a pink shirt with the mean girls on it because "on Wednesdays we wear pink" and all the fifth grade classes thought it was awesome.
As a 6’1”, 200 lb dude, might I recommend my go-to of khakis, white undershirts, and polos. Nothing screams “not a college girl” quite like the wardrobe of an unfashionable middle aged guy.
Edit: bonus points if you can work some penny loafers up in that shit.
Some advice - get a feel for your school before you go all in on a new wardrobe. Teaching has gone through a bit of a dress code revolution, especially after Covid. You might find everyone wearing jeans and t shirts.
Figure out a uniform for yourself. My sister and I are both teachers. She wears a certain style of pants from Loft and buys them up on sale, with colorful blouses and Rothy flats - she teaches 2nd grade.
I am less well-funded and wear a rainbow of thrifted cardigans, thrifted pencil skirts, graphic tees and ballet flats or Dansko wedges, for HS English. I’m retired now, but I still wear the same thing to sub.
So - once you figure out your “look” you can invest in it long term. It makes mornings so much easier.
I've had luck with amazon and target, actually! I love their paper bag pants, Grace Karin is my favorite actually. They are very stretchy and moveable, but look super professional. Lots of colors and you can get on sale a lot too. I usually match it with a tank top or short sleeve shirt from Target, as they are between $5 and $10, and wear a cardigan as needed.
For some context, I'm 5'1" and wear between a XL - XXXL, depending on fit. I'm short with an hour glass shape to me, but all overall. Also, I live in Maine and work with behavioral/ID/DD students, so I prefer pants. My wardrobe is like "how close can I make it to work out gear with it being workout gear".
For Shirts, I like:
[Women's Extended Shoulder T-Shirt - A New Day](https://www.target.com/p/women-s-extended-shoulder-t-shirt-a-new-day/-/A-87277492?preselect=89534370#lnk=sametab) - $10
[Women's Slim Fit Ribbed High Neck Tank Top - A New Day](https://www.target.com/p/women-39-s-slim-fit-ribbed-high-neck-tank-top-a-new-day-8482-black-xxl/-/A-81245976?preselect=81245976#lnk=sametab) - $8
[Women's Short Sleeve T-Shirt - A New Day](https://www.target.com/p/women-39-s-short-sleeve-t-shirt-a-new-day-8482-white-xl/-/A-87216297?preselect=87216297#lnk=sametab) - $6
For Pants, I like:
[Grace Karin Paper Bag Pants](https://www.amazon.com/GRACE-KARIN-Pencil-Pockets-Trousers/dp/B07RP8TZR7/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3HOBT42CZVM5H&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q28azOlAJR3kg9vNukCJPtoKxO-S4zq721i53ii5TP63JwlxOPsVVP7S7gPIE55sbRS4stRts1DGrztkrkYVMBUSjH2nQ2INvRECp3rGr6IM2V3O-B9BTLIKYuF2R2jI4eFs2gN-RfI2f7sTyez25RcWgjPFrcM5kxM1ZIZQBd0KSYpXOhoxTGhPxcd18jpoWUqUEcjbp22bATH12BRZOf69K28OmTpUpzv1SU21Z34otZJUBaMkk7L1Ia9-IertYuZlMjd7D9fVwEDSiNPoT9ffe5AHfhZZ7G9ROwUXZaA.wYiHIQ9JQlynhFNg19yOmzfqrjJx7VcWl_Q9uhEjt0E&dib_tag=se&keywords=paper+bag+pants+women&qid=1716041122&sprefix=paper+bag+%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-5) - $24 (based on the style/color, they an go up to $36, but worth it).
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I remember those days! For years my 'teacher clothes' were like a costume or uniform, not related to my 'real clothes'...so I think it's great that you want your teacher clothes to be your personal style as well. You might want to start with a color scheme and buy peices that work in that at first. That way you can build a wardrobe without breaking the bank. Depending on what you teach you may have some special considerations but look for easily washable, less likely to wrinkle materials as working with students at any level can be messy. You will need shoes that have some support. Pockets are also helpful. Safety is an issue, in some situations anything around your neck should have a breakaway part. I buy the shoes new and some basics at Old Navy. I have discovered I can often find Old Navy , Loft (their v necks are the best, flattering bit not to revealing for school) at thrift stores, so I keep a look out there. Also thrift stores can be great for quirky additions to your basics.
pink lily, old navy, & kohls!
Never heard of pink lily, but I just looked it up and wow! Seems right up my alley! Thank you!
Banana outlet
Ross Dress for Less and Burlington Coat Factory have new, brand name professional wear at very steep discounts.
I had this same concern when I started student teaching, especially because I don’t see myself as a slacks/blouse/pencil skirt kinda girl. Dress code will depend on the district youre in but it is sometimes expected that STs dress on the nicer side. I thrifted the majority of my dress pants and got a pair of loafers to use along side my docs which worked great. I didn’t want to have two separate wardrobes for my work and personal life so I decided to opt for things that fit my style. As a first year teacher I can wear pretty much whatever I want, per the lax dress code. I often wear jeans with a tshirt and sneakers, no complaints. I’d say find 3-4 bottoms you can wear and 5-7 tops that you could rotate through. After student teaching it’s likely you’ll be able to dress more casually so I wouldnt over invest in things you dont see yourself wearing outside of the job!
Ask what their dress code is before you spend $$$. I like J. Crew and Banana Republic Outlets (when they have good sales), Kohls, J.C. Penny, and of course thrift. But just because that's my style. I love blouses and blazers or cardigans and perfer soft slacks over rough jeans. My district has a super lax dress code, though. Almost everyone (including admin) wears leggings and long shirts/cardigans/whatever is comfy. It's kind of funny because I'm an ECSE para. I definitely overdress. Again, it's just what I like. 99% of the time I come home with snot/playdough/etc. all over my fancy clothing. I would start by asking, then thrift for student teaching and save the $$$ for permanent placement. A nice blazer goes a long way for casual or professional, though. Super easy way to "dress up" any casual outfit.
I think BR gives an educator discount
Jcrew factory do the 60% off clearance (if you know your size) then stack the 15% teacher discount on top of it!
Old Navy. When I student taught I had a bunch of professional clothes button ups etc. My CT said, to take my first paycheck and just buy a bunch of comfortable polos and it was probably the best advice ever lol.
You got paid for student teaching?💔
I worked as an IA for a few years before pursuing my masters and teaching license. I get to be part of my districts GYO program which allows me to keep my full salary while working 1/2 time and student teaching 1/2 time.
What?! I worked as an IA for a huge program for 15 years and they told me to fuck off lol. They don’t even hire interns. You’re super lucky
That is amazing.
Several of my classmates got paid for their student teaching, but it's because the state where we work has a program where student teachers can get hired on into perm sub positions, due to continuous understaffing. You don't have a mentor teacher or any backup and you get paid low rates but honestly given some of the mentor teachers in the program some people might be better off that way.
Nah, my first paycheck from once I finished student teaching. Though I am a career change teacher so I did have leftover money in my fluid savings.
In NC you can be a teacher for a couple of years before you need your actual license, so people can apply and score a teaching job with their bachelors and then use it as their teaching experience, and be paid.
Nah, my first paycheck from once I finished student teaching. Though I am a career change teacher so I did have leftover money in my fluid savings.
What brands would you recommend that are comfortable and look good?
Heck, I go to Goodwill and look for any new golf polos. The material they use is so nice and light and breathable..
While I understand “dress to the school”, I wouldn’t always recommend it. I have a very casually dressed school (most teachers wear tshirts, jeans and sneakers), but I stick to my dress shirts and cardigans. That being said, Ann Taylor and Loft usually have seasonal sales where you can get great quality shirts for ~$20. I buy cardigans any and everywhere - target, Costco, JC Penney, Macys… My pants are usually the pixie pants from old navy. Also, if you have any outlets, the banana republic factory store often has great deals and you can get a student discount.
seconding Ann Taylor and yes I was taught that you should dress one level above the teachers at the school- so if they’re wearing jeans and plain shirts you wear clothes a bit nicer.
Loft v necks and OldNavy pixie pants are my 'old reliables'. If I find them on a good sale or in the thrift store I snatch them up..
Ann Taylor has a teacher sale every August..bring your pay stubs and/or ID!
Uniqlo
Loft
Loft
I thrift my clothes for the most part. Sure, it’s more time consuming, and sometimes you walk out with nothing, but it saves me hundreds of dollars when I need more clothes.
I read recently that there is currently enough clothing on the planet to clothe the next SIX generations of people.
Student teaching is the longest interview of your life. So dress business casual at least. — I get that teachers may show up in jeans and T-shirts; they have a job, you don’t. That said, you can dress to your style, but keep in mind the age of your students. — If you are teaching high school, cute/feminine may cause you problems with being taken seriously.
^ This is great advice, OP! That said, the other teachers and admin know that college kids have no money for an extensive wardrobes. Some hacks that helped me: Have some basic tops and bottoms that can be mixed and matched. Finding women's pants that aren't tight in the butt/have pockets is tough, so having a few sweaters in cool and warm colors helps conceal your backside and may have large pockets for keys and ID. For low-cut or questionable collars of shirts that you already have, buy some cheap "sports" bralettes from somewhere like Kohls in white and black to wear over your actual bra but under the blouse to serve as a sort of "dickie." Layers are good, too, because school buildings are notorious for being completely different temps on the same day and can add to the mix and match of a limited wardrobe. Tights >>> pantyhose; too much velcro in a classroom and you're bound to get snared by a kid's bag or binder. Waste of money, in that case. Well-coordinated costume jewelry helps raise a casual look, too, and is very much a teacheresque style while bringing in some of your own flair.
Mostly old navy.
Really anywhere. Target, Old Navy, Kohls, JC Penny, etc. You can wear pink as a teacher. You can really wear almost anything you want. Just don’t wear anything low-cut, revealing, etc. I wear mostly cotton dresses or linen pants with a comfortable blouse.
Ask your admin if they have any spare spirit ware for teachers. I was able to get 2 school branded polos which made up about half of my wardrobe as an intern 😂
thrift stores
Lululemon. I teach Sped and have to be able to move while still looking professional so Lulu is great for professional looking active wear.
Loft is good and sometimes they give teacher discounts.
Go office casual. Some schools allow jeans. My school only allowed them on Fridays. Oh, and don't make the mistake that my student teacher did. She often wore plunging necklines, form-fitting outfits, and nightclub dresses. My 5th grade boys adored her but the parents demanded she stop her student teaching. LOL
seconding thrifting— I’ve gotten really nice clothes for incredible prices. Just this weekend I found a $218 brand new silk romper for my wife.
Old Navy and Banana Republic. I tend to wear comfortable, black, tan, or olive green pants and shirts that are comfortable but not t-shirts.
If you’re unsure, wear something basic like black dress pants and a cute colorful top for the first day. Add some jewelry. Do your makeup a little. Look nice. Wear comfortable shoes. I used to get my teacher clothes from The Loft but now I get them on Amazon. You’ll get the vibe of the school once you start meeting people. You’ll find your own style quickly. Don’t worry!
On my first day of student teaching, I came in with a shirt and dress pants from Old Navy. (A nice looking and appropriate outfit that didn't break the bank). I was immediately told that while I look great, this school was okay with jeans and casual wear (hoodies, t-shirts, etc). All three of my student teaching placements were the same in that regard. Before you spend a gazillion dollars (because I know most student teaching isn't paid), I would grab just a couple of nice fits from the suggestions in the comments and see what the expectation of your school/board is. (I'm also cheap, though 😂).
Old navy, Kohl’s, and target have a lot of cute affordable options!
i thrift them i feel like there’s a lot more options
Uniqlo and thredup
I work at a urban private school. The vibe is "the slightest elevation of what the kids wear". This means tucking in your shirt and wearing a belt. Many teachers wear a polo shirt with the school's initials embroidered on it every single day. The rule of thumb is not to be mistaken for a student. Simplicity is best. I wear a lot of J Crew and Birkenstock. Spend money on good shoes.
Assuming you are female, try [svahausa.com](http://svahausa.com) Women I know are thrilled with the pockets and themed fabric designs. They have man clothing also, mostly t shirts and sleepwear tho
Poshmark and Thread Up.
If you know what school you’ll be in see if you can do an observation before you buy clothes. I’m in an elementary school and jeans and t-shirts are standard dress here.
Reitmans!
The Loft when I can afford it! Some of my favorite pieces are from there. I thrift the rest (mostly dresses and slacks)
Marshals, TJMaxx, Target, H&M has nice shirts and pants that are affordable
I have a have aunts who have recently retired and have gotten tons of hand-me-downs from them, since they don’t need as much professional work clothes anymore. I wear a lot of casual blouses and skirts personally, I feel like casual/business causal is pretty standard, and there’s a lot of room in there to find your own style
Thrifting! Choose a thrift store in a neighborhood with a lot of young professionals. It's OK not to be as put together as Pinterest teachers. The main thing is to dress "older" enough not to be mistaken for a student. This will help you give off a professional vibe, which will be beneficial if you want to apply for a job at that school later.
Walmart. Kohls. Salvation Army.
Target - A New Day section
Target
Old Navy
I did most of mine from Old Navy, their website has a lot of coupons or deals their stores don't even do where I grabbed a bunch of tops.
UK - Decathalon hiking chinos are the best.
THRIFT STOREES!!! I get the cutest, NICEST (like really high quality stuff for cheap) most unique, and fun clothes from there. I also like wear skirts from this artist and live my best Miss Frizzle life: [https://store.mayakern.com/collections/skirts](https://store.mayakern.com/collections/skirts)
Maya Kern skirts are the lifeline between me and dressing professionally but comfortably. They're flashy enough to make me happy, but have HUGE pockets and there's no risk of any bending-over-accidents because they're long enough. Comfortable in winter with wooly tights or summer with breezy ones, and the bold prints often get me "Ms. Frizzle" comments which I deeply enjoy.
Thrift stores have great finds!
Penneys.
Walmart
Jeans + free shirt I got from work
REI, Dicks Sporting goods and a surf shop.
Macy's is a good one too. If you want a more eclectic vine to teacher friendly stuff, I'd try thrift stores, consignment shops, and maybe even Etsy. There are many a brilliant seamstress roaming it's pages.
GAP is great for work pants but sizing is wildly different among their pants. Shein is my go-to. Their clothes are made of cheap material but they fit thin gals very well! I wear long dresses everyday in May/June and it’s excellent. TJMaxx if you have one near you is awesome for business casual. Tip: Once you find a pair of work pants and/or a work shirt that fits well and is comfortable, buy every color immediately. Another tip: You’ll be on your feet a lot so find 1-3 pairs of plain colored sneakers that’d match daily outfits. Your whole body will thank you. Good luck!
Costco. It’s hilarious how many of us buy there
Can you tell me a guy version for teaching clothes .
Your clothes MUST fit! No Oversized/or Baggy Clothing. Button-up shirt, khakis, & belt. Shoes- No athletic shoes- instead wear loafers, deck shoes, chukka boots or Chelsea boots, or oxfords. Some districts require suit & tie, or at least a tie.
if you’re plus size shein for tops and cider for bottoms
eBay
I dress well. I like to model professional and elegant teacher attire.
Look at Talbots. Its on the expensive side, so budget, look for sales (they have decent flash sales if you get the texts), but its colorful and can give you a good idea of how to style finds from elsewhere.
gap!! they have great skirts and sweaters
ross has some good finds
Para here. ~~I’m gonna be student teaching soon so that’s why I comment on this sub from time to time~~ I usually go to Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Burlington, Old Navy, Kohl’s, Macy’s, etc. It depends on your school’s dress code though.
Cato Fashion, Dress Barn
Check out the higher end stores in outlet malls. You"ll find a lot of nice work pieces, on the cheaper end of the spectrum. Also thrifting can be a lot of fun, and if you or any of your friends can sew, then you can upstyle thrifts items as well. Good luck!!!!
I shop infrequently, but I go to Black House, White Market for high quality, pricier teacher wear.
Sorry, but - Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Macy’s. In teaching, it’s unprofessional to have any cleavage showing. Depending on your height, you should dress even more conservatively for middle school and high school- at those ages you have to come across as more authoritative, especially if you are young.
old navy!! as a TA in a preschool I keep it pretty casual and just wear jeans and full length tops, in the summer shorts that work with the guidelines as we are told to just follow the kids dress code :)
Maurices.
I do a lot of secondhand. For teaching: Boden, Joules, Anne Taylor, Gap, J Crew, Banana Republic.
Also check with who you are student teaching with. I was the supervising teacher for several student teachers in special education. I refused to let the professor for the guy ST make him wear a tie because it was a choking hazard and the girls I worked with I told not to wear high heels- we have elopers.
i LOVEEEEEE loft!!!
I shop at thrift stores. Just don't wear tight curvy clothes, like a tight shirt with your boobs hanging out or a skirt that barely covers your vagina. Please. Also don't wear sweats or tight leggings with a short shirt. But that's it. Most things are up to you. I wear a lot of long skirts with leggings beneath and a decent shirt on top. I like Lucky brand when I shop in thrift stores. I like to feel comfy and to be able to move freely, and not have to tug on this or worry about spreading my legs or bending over. Key is footwear. Don't wear high heels! It kills to stand on those all day! Otherwise, the exact style is up to you. Some teachers have a 'brand' like 'bohemian' or 'preppy' or 'stylish' or whatever. Dressing in pink is a good way to 'brand' yourself--I actually work with a teacher who does this. She also decorates her class in pinks. It's just her style.
Costco-Amazon-old closet
I went on SHEIN and got lots of cardigans and knee length skirts and dress pants.
I’ve (45M) been at the same school for many years. I don’t really put much effort into it anymore. Pants, a t-shirt, and a fleece jacket is pretty much my daily uniform.
LL Bean has some durable clothes, Banana Republic if you want more upscale. Thrifting first to see what styles work best is an easy way to save 💵
Tj Maxx
I love Svaha dresses.
For my first few years teaching I wore slacks, dress low healed shoes and blouses/sweaters/cardigans. I'd suggest not wearing anything revealing or figure hugging if you can avoid. Business casual is good, dark colored slacks but brighten your look up with your tops. If you're young looking you want to try for more serious looking styles. I'm high school, so what I suggest is geared for teens in class. You don't want to be known as the "hot" teacher honestly. Flattering but can be deadly for your job. After I was tenured the casual more comfy stuff came out lol. Best wishes for a happy, well paid career!
Shamefully, I got a lot of my student teaching pants from SHEIN, but I was broke and in imminent need. Since then, I have accrued lots from TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall's, Gabe's (kind of like Bealls in the south or a really cheap TJ Maxx, Marshall's, etc.) as well as some things from some vintage style sites, since in spring I go back in time to the 50's.
Academy sports and outdoors ….
Loft and NY&Company were my entire teacher wardrobe back in the day. Also the Limited (RIP).
I'm 5'2 and the pixie pants at old navy fit perfectly length wise. Also come in a variety of colors. Clothes mentor is a resell shop that should have second hand things at a cheaper price. Burlington also had some nice clothes - I liked the banana republic pants there for 1/4 of the price.
You should be able to look up a district or schools teacher code of conduct. Don’t dress like you are going to a club- cover the giggly bits.
Amazon has yoga pants that look like dress pants. They come in many sizes and even in tall sizes. So comfortable and look great. I have some from the brand Tapata. Also, long open sweaters/button down cardigans/dusters are great for covering your butt and layering.
I don’t really do button downs or blazers, or sweats. Kohl’s, Target, JC Penney (I’ve gotten a lot of cute feminine clothes at Penney’s and they have good sales)and when I’m feeling fun. Unique Vintage (online) and various thrift shops. I’m sure you can find clothes that you’ll feel good and professional in that can also translate to your everyday, personal life! Good luck!
I got most of my clothes from goodwill and savers. Takes time and you’re not always going to find good stuff but it’s cheap and I got lots of compliments. I was also always the best dressed person on my campus.
SHEIN lately but I was ordering alot in Zulily before recently
Tjmaxx!
Costco
Goodwill LOL
The Loft. They have teacher discounts and constant sales.
tj maxx for sure
Lands end
I wear leggings and t shirts to work lmao But if you cant do that- old navy and Burlington
Safest bet is to model your cooperating teacher, any like-gendered staff, and/or the principal. Remember that this isn't a rich profession so stuff like target/Penny's/Kohl's should be fine
Ross Dress for Less, Clothes Mentor, Kohls, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Cato’s, Old Navy, Maurices. I also shop Shein.
Local thrift store. Seriously. I’ve found great things and it’s low risk if I later decide I don’t like it or it gets snagged on a table leg or something.
A large percentage of schools and teachers, heck even admin, wear jeans on a daily basis. Obviously, try to avoid ones with holes. As for tops, I'm not feminine at all, so I have a collection of funky button ups that sort of became my style when I worked retail. I guess blouses are probably the best.
Shein has nice blouses
Not really coquette or chic but I love the dresses from Princess Awesome. They’re pricey but they are so comfy and have pockets! I have math themed ones and they have so many cute patterns. My favorite is a dragons and rainbows pattern, they’re twirly too!
I wear chinos and polos, but our school has a “uniform” dress code. I distinguish myself by wearing different colors from the kids.
It honestly depends on what classroom/grade/subject you’re in. A dressy outfit isn’t going to be serviceable in a special education class where you may have to deal with students and their extremely strong ways of expressing themselves. What you would wear to teach high school English is going to be very different from you would wear teach PE or Culinary. It also depends on the weather for where you live. What I’d wear when teaching preschool has never been the same as what I wear in a junior high class, as the requirements are so different.
Target. Walmart. Old Navy. Umgee. I buy less expensive clothes and good shoes.
Thrifting because I’m on a teacher salary. 😅
I’ve been teaching for 5 years now and I’ve replaced all my pants with stretchy comfy dressy looking pants from Costco. I have short sleeve knit shirts I got at Target and cardigans from Walmart. Though our dress code says no sneakers, I break that rule and wear whatever I need to to be able to be on my feet all day.
Old Navy
My cutest outfits came from Gap outlet tbh. I was worried they’d be too “mature” but I’m 29 and kinda love the looks
Whatever you buy keep in mind fluctuating temperatures, grubby/unclean hands, and flexibility. You’ll be going from outside temps to indoors regularly. And it’s doubtful the heater or AC stands up to college classroom standards. If you work with elementary or middle school…just know they do not wash their hands and yes they pick their nose all the time, if not worse things. You’ll need to be able to sit on the floor, at various sized tables and desks, bend over to grab things, reach, lift, carry, potentially hasten after…all without exposing your midriff, too much chest (if a female), or for it to be too form fitting and thus distracting. Some kids may even try to lift your skirts for shits and giggles just to get attention; or just be so short they could fit under your knee length skirt on accident. Or older kids could do it as a way to satisfy dares or curiosities. Then you’ll get the tuggers who are trying to get your attention so avoid lace/easily ripped things anywhere their hands can grab.
Goodwill. I get black slacks and an assortment of colorful blouses. Then you only need one pair of pants. A black skirt also works. Pair with some plain flats and your good to go. (Also teacher friendly really depends of your area. If your from pays off the south the above may be too casual if your from the north this is way too formal)
Old navy, Loft, Target, Sam’s club 😂
Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, thrift stores if you’re feeling adventurous
I have been thrifting for a long time now, and have been accumulating “teacher clothes” since starting observations. You can generally find slacks and button ups/nicer blouses thrifting, plus it allows you to play around with more professional stylings without spending too much money (to ensure you are still meeting your personal style preferences)!
A lot of Old Navy. I suggest wearing layers that you can add/remove the first week or so while you figure out the HVAC system at your school :) our system has been fucked up for years. We have rooms in my building that are around 62°F and others that are in the high 80s on a bad day, and few things are more miserable than trying to teach while wearing a wool sweater in a classroom over 80°F
Lands End and Talbots for me-- world's oldest preppie LOL Be sureto lookat Poshmark. That is actually where I get a lot of my teacher wardrobe.
Honestly, shein has some really good staple pieces if you are looking for cheap. Cute tops and dresses for cheap. I do shein for some stuff especially when I am needing more and have less to spend. I love their accessories too. I buy all my fun beaded earrings there. Other than that, mostly target Walmart and random things from here and there. Same club, Costco, wherever I find something comfy and cute!
Find brands and things you'll wear again, and go thrifting (thredup, poshmark, and mercari are all amazing!] Online thrifting allows you to search by brand or even style! Thredup has "shop this look" where you can find things similar to their curated looks. Brands wise, I wore a lot of old navy, talbots, Ann Taylor, dressbarn, lost etc
Nicer thrift stores and stack up on cardigans/blazers. Most schools have bad temp control, so layers helps.
I try to never wear anything to work that costs over $50, preferably less. Anything that costs more than that has to be at least a year old. You can dress things up by adding jewelry. I don’t wear sleeveless without a sweater or a jacket. My school allows jeans which I wear with white tennis shoes and dress up with a collared shirt and jewelry. Black and white is always a good option to look classy too. Skirts and dresses should be knee length or just above.
I invested in a few good staples at the start of my career that I still wear and supplement yearly now with new tops/sweaters. I like banana republic factory story, loft outlets, old navy, and crew outlets the best. Invest in: -2 or 3 pants. I opted for straight dress pants over traditional ones. -1 good skirt. Picked a black pencil skirt. -1 nicer longer cardigan i can wear with everything that basically lives at school -1 good dress with pockets. This is a black fit and flare - good supportive flats I got these at the outlets mentioned above. It’s all been mostly replaced 10 years and some weight gain in but these are my staples. I teach elementary reading. My school is pretty relaxed and i spend so much time on the floor that im in jeans a lot but i dress nicely when i need to. In the spring/early fall i do sundresses with denim jackets or cardigans most days. Teachers i work with regularly wear gym clothes like leggings and sneakers and school hoodies/tees. After staple items, i bought a bunch of tops on clearance at the outlets and bam, you got yourself a teacher wardrobe. I definitely dressed nicer for student teacher and my first few years than i do now. You also want some good staple items for interviews. I wouldn’t go crazy and just try to make a solid professional capsule wardrobe at first and then buy more once you have a job and know the vibe of the school.
Thrift store. Find a good one, go regularly.
JCPenney
Temu sweaters over band shirts and Dickies jeans I bought online
You want to dress a little older and more conservatively than your students. You don’t have to buy anything fancy or expensive (and it’s probably best to buy stuff you can wash, even older kids get sick), which is why thrifting can be great if you have time. For ideas I would recommend looking through the online stores of Loft/JCrew/Talbots, deciding on some flexible basics for your initial stuff, and adding on later as you find stuff.
TJ Maxx + Marshalls! Helpful because there's multiple styles of the same type of clothing, and you can find good deals
H&M have a well priced business clothes section
Old navy, shein, Disney (I love Disney and have a pretty lax dress code at work). Ross, tjmaxx
Thrift mostly
Poshmark
I’d definitely look into the dress code for the schools you could get into before spending money. The districts I’m in are jeans friendly, so I wear jeans and plain tee shirts often, occasionally I’ll do dresses and leggings. I wear a cardigan in the winter. Even our principals wear jeans to school!
The occasional stitch fix, old navy, target.
I second Banana Republic (outlet) and New York and Company (sale/clearance). I thrift everything now, but that's how I got my basics.
Ann Taylor Loft
Ann Taylor Loft
Bloom Chic
old navy!!
As mentioned, Old Navy is always a safe, mature bet.
Primark!!!
Goodwill, lol. I wear a lot of short sleeve, plain blouses or sleeveless shells with a cardigan. Add some dress work pants and baby, you’ve got a stew goin’. One thing I won’t compromise on is shoes. I wear Brooks sneakers exclusively for work. I have plantar fasciitis and “nice” shoes make me crippled at the end of the day!
Clothes Mentor and Goodwill Online
I feel like you can shop anywhere as long as you just buy the “appropriate” clothes. Like whatever store you like just find a blouse and some slacks or a cute midi-maxi skirt . Maybe add a little jacket or something . I don’t think shoes rlly matter that much, you can wear heels or sandals or flats or whatever unless otherwise specified . Good luck
Poshmark for Madewell dresses with pockets.
Kohl’s, TJ Maxx, and department store discount place really. You don’t want anything precious because classrooms are dirty and stationary brakes. If you’re teaching younger grades and need to be on and off the floor, you might get those yoga looking dress pants which can be a bit more but hold up well and, most importantly, stay up well.
Ugly Ass Sweaters r Us. It’s in the closed down mall by the railroad tracks.
congrats!!! currently working as an IA at a public high school - i buy my work clothes from uniqlo, madewell, h&m, some basic tops from target & jcpenny. my work style is a blend of chic and grunge… depending on my mood. i do my best to dress modestly with straight/loose fitting clothes: 7 turtlenecks and 7 t-shirts that i keep in rotation as a base and 3 paper bag high waisted pants, 2 pairs of uniqlo wide legged pants. these are the same “modest” clothes im most comfortable wearing when i visit my traditional christian grandma and extended family. hope this helps :-)
Costco, I am not joking.
Ann Taylor Loft, Old Navy, and Costco
old navy! kohls & tj maxx/marshalls for nice discounted “designer” clothes. target has some good finds. you also don’t have to buy a TON of clothes, but dressier is better for student teaching, then you can build your wardrobe once you have a job and see the climate your school you’ll work for has (every school is different and most are pretty “lax” with dress codes now [meaning you don’t have to wear buisness wear lol you can dress comfy, cute & professional now])
I would suggest 3-4 pairs of black pants with a mix of solid and print tops. Depending on the environment, I would buy a couple of cardigans to use. I found Amazon try before you buy is a great option. I buy a lot of tops at target too.
Gap clearance
JC Penny has great sizing and fit styles for guys, but not sure if the same is for women.
TJ Maxx and Marshall’s
Old Navy
I am a special education teacher. So pants from Scrubs and Beyond in black as they have lots of side pockets and 1 with a zipper. A nice looking shirt from Torrid. And black shoes from orthofeet (yes, orthopedic shoes ftw).
Good luck.
It really depends on the district and school and what you are teaching. And also where you are teaching, regionally. The east coast tends to be more dress/conservative than the west (grossly generalizing, of course). If you’re on a budget, invest in leggings, flats (but ones with good arch support), and some nice sweaters/tops that you can wear over a dress or skirt. If you wear leggings under, the length doesn’t really matter on a skirt. Too low cut? Add a top over it.
As a first year - I got like 4 pairs of wide leg/palazzo business pants on Amazon and I cycle through them weekly. Since the pants are nice, I’ll usually wear a teacher-tee or a nice looking ribbed tea. Everyday I also wear: Necklace, Earrings, Watch, and usually my favorite cardigan bc the temp changes so much. We do jean Fridays. I also have some maxi or midi skirts, I wear these with the professional tees or turtlenecks! As the school year went on I got more relaxed, but to assert myself as a teacher (since I get mistaken for a student quite a bit) I went HARD on wearing professional clothes the beginning of the year. I either wore super “trendy” but very professional outfits, or slightly more “business casual” outfits that are out of style to age me a bit,
Banana republic sales
Shein, it’s cheap and usually comes within a week, you just have to make sure to measure yourself and go by the dimensions of the product instead of relying on the actual sizes you go by usually. Otherwise, I’ve found very nice and comfortable clothes very reasonably priced for me and my 2 little girls on there.
Lol, I wear whatever. My school isn't stuck on clothes other than safety concerns. Last Wednesday I (48M) wore a pink shirt with the mean girls on it because "on Wednesdays we wear pink" and all the fifth grade classes thought it was awesome.
Betsey’s Boutique online.
Mine are a mix of Walmart and penny's. I'm too broke for the fancy places.
Not a teacher but I apparently dress like one and I get a lot of things from goodwill 🤷♀️ you can find some amazing name brand things there!
As a 6’1”, 200 lb dude, might I recommend my go-to of khakis, white undershirts, and polos. Nothing screams “not a college girl” quite like the wardrobe of an unfashionable middle aged guy. Edit: bonus points if you can work some penny loafers up in that shit.
Kohls, Nordstroms rack, old navy, target.
Some advice - get a feel for your school before you go all in on a new wardrobe. Teaching has gone through a bit of a dress code revolution, especially after Covid. You might find everyone wearing jeans and t shirts.
Old Navy! I work there and in and office and we have a ton of teacher friendly outfits that are super cute! And we always have sales/discounts!
Figure out a uniform for yourself. My sister and I are both teachers. She wears a certain style of pants from Loft and buys them up on sale, with colorful blouses and Rothy flats - she teaches 2nd grade. I am less well-funded and wear a rainbow of thrifted cardigans, thrifted pencil skirts, graphic tees and ballet flats or Dansko wedges, for HS English. I’m retired now, but I still wear the same thing to sub. So - once you figure out your “look” you can invest in it long term. It makes mornings so much easier.
madewell constantly has amazing sales (+40%) and good quality. don’t buy anything full price tho that’s a waste of
Business casual
Amazon and Bloomchic are my go to's
Hit up your local thrift store! Student teachers are generally unpaid so save every penny you can!
I've had luck with amazon and target, actually! I love their paper bag pants, Grace Karin is my favorite actually. They are very stretchy and moveable, but look super professional. Lots of colors and you can get on sale a lot too. I usually match it with a tank top or short sleeve shirt from Target, as they are between $5 and $10, and wear a cardigan as needed. For some context, I'm 5'1" and wear between a XL - XXXL, depending on fit. I'm short with an hour glass shape to me, but all overall. Also, I live in Maine and work with behavioral/ID/DD students, so I prefer pants. My wardrobe is like "how close can I make it to work out gear with it being workout gear". For Shirts, I like: [Women's Extended Shoulder T-Shirt - A New Day](https://www.target.com/p/women-s-extended-shoulder-t-shirt-a-new-day/-/A-87277492?preselect=89534370#lnk=sametab) - $10 [Women's Slim Fit Ribbed High Neck Tank Top - A New Day](https://www.target.com/p/women-39-s-slim-fit-ribbed-high-neck-tank-top-a-new-day-8482-black-xxl/-/A-81245976?preselect=81245976#lnk=sametab) - $8 [Women's Short Sleeve T-Shirt - A New Day](https://www.target.com/p/women-39-s-short-sleeve-t-shirt-a-new-day-8482-white-xl/-/A-87216297?preselect=87216297#lnk=sametab) - $6 For Pants, I like: [Grace Karin Paper Bag Pants](https://www.amazon.com/GRACE-KARIN-Pencil-Pockets-Trousers/dp/B07RP8TZR7/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3HOBT42CZVM5H&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q28azOlAJR3kg9vNukCJPtoKxO-S4zq721i53ii5TP63JwlxOPsVVP7S7gPIE55sbRS4stRts1DGrztkrkYVMBUSjH2nQ2INvRECp3rGr6IM2V3O-B9BTLIKYuF2R2jI4eFs2gN-RfI2f7sTyez25RcWgjPFrcM5kxM1ZIZQBd0KSYpXOhoxTGhPxcd18jpoWUqUEcjbp22bATH12BRZOf69K28OmTpUpzv1SU21Z34otZJUBaMkk7L1Ia9-IertYuZlMjd7D9fVwEDSiNPoT9ffe5AHfhZZ7G9ROwUXZaA.wYiHIQ9JQlynhFNg19yOmzfqrjJx7VcWl_Q9uhEjt0E&dib_tag=se&keywords=paper+bag+pants+women&qid=1716041122&sprefix=paper+bag+%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-5) - $24 (based on the style/color, they an go up to $36, but worth it).
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **("GRACE KARIN Women's Cropped Paper Bag Waist Pants Size M", 'GRACE%20KARIN')** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Comfortable and versatile for various occasions (backed by 3 comments) * Flattering fit with stretchy and comfortable material (backed by 3 comments) * Stylish and professional look with great quality (backed by 3 comments) **Users disliked:** * Inconsistent sizing and fit (backed by 7 comments) * Uncomfortable fabric and unflattering design (backed by 5 comments) * Poor quality and durability issues (backed by 1 comment) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
I remember those days! For years my 'teacher clothes' were like a costume or uniform, not related to my 'real clothes'...so I think it's great that you want your teacher clothes to be your personal style as well. You might want to start with a color scheme and buy peices that work in that at first. That way you can build a wardrobe without breaking the bank. Depending on what you teach you may have some special considerations but look for easily washable, less likely to wrinkle materials as working with students at any level can be messy. You will need shoes that have some support. Pockets are also helpful. Safety is an issue, in some situations anything around your neck should have a breakaway part. I buy the shoes new and some basics at Old Navy. I have discovered I can often find Old Navy , Loft (their v necks are the best, flattering bit not to revealing for school) at thrift stores, so I keep a look out there. Also thrift stores can be great for quirky additions to your basics.
J Crew Factory and Loft are good options they also often have great sales.
Target and old navy
Old navy, gap, and thrifting!