Designing a teacher wardrobe on a budget—a teacher budget? You can create stylish teacher outfits.
You have a teaching job, and a teacher’s paycheck. Can you dress professionally? What teacher wardrobe essentials should you buy? The longer you teach, the more comfortable you will become in all areas of teaching, which includes style. You will develop your own teacher style.
With planning ahead and using coupons, you can dress well those first years of teaching.
Start planning ahead and make some sensible purchases. Find coupons and teacher discounts. Think about longevity and not current and extremely trendy cuts. Think about teacher wardrobe essentials rather than current and fun. Finally, stay true to yourself. Find your own teacher style.
Here are some other hints for designing a teacher wardrobe.
Buy Basics
I’m tall, and JCPenney carries clothing for tall women. They normally have coupons available, and their prices are still decent without a coupon. The clothes last too. They don’t fade or look thin after several washes. You might not love that store, but as you look for teacher outfits, think of a reasonably priced store where the clothes have nice quality.
So!
Suggestion One: Buy basics. Purchase black, navy, khaki, brown (maybe maroon) pants. Buy a few sweaters or buttoned shirts. Mix and match. Find out if you can wear jeans on Fridays. If so, buy an appropriate pair.
Suggestion Two: Hit the clearance racks. JCPenney has great clearance racks. If you are hired in April, buy some winter clothing now. That doesn’t sound fun, but in a few months, you’ll happily pull out your clearance clothes.
Return to the clearance racks in October. Buy some short-sleeved shirts so you can layer. You can wear those shirts in August and September, and then again in April and May. If you have a sweater or light jacket, you can wear them longer.
Remember, mixing and matching combined with layering are your teacher wardrobe friends. This creates multiple outfits using the same pieces of clothing. Overall, teacher wardrobe essentials involve items you can layer.
Find Comforts
Each teacher has a go-to piece. Mine? The flowy, flowery skirt. I typically buy my teacher-skirts at Target. Therefore, decide what teacher outfits make you confident and comfortable.
I sit with my students in groups, on the floor and circulate, especially during station work. These skirts allow for that; they are rayon, spandex, cotton—in the perfect amounts.
These skirts are “loud” compared to the rest of my wardrobe, which actually works in my favor. For instance, when I wear a flowered skirt, I match a black or white shirt with it because some section of the flowers will match that. That counts for two outfits.
The long skirt is my favorite, but yours might be a dress.
Suggestion Three: Find what makes you happy. I like flowy skirts. What style always makes you feel like a teacher? What purchases will build teacher outfits?
Have a Nice Outfit
Every teacher needs that special, back-to-school, meet the teacher, observation outfit. This could be your interview suit or graduation outfit. (You might need to plan this in advance; buy one super-great outfit for multiple use.)
Suggestion Four: Purchase at least one outfit that makes you feel like dynamite.
I bought mine this year at White House Black Market. (First rule: I never walk in that store without a coupon!) I have similar luck with Ann Taylor and Banana Republic. Some stores do provide teacher discounts, and it never hurts to ask.
As a new teacher, you will be expected to have a teacher wardrobe. That first year, you will make your clothes stretch for a year, and each subsequent year will be easier finding and affording clothing. You’ll build and find your own style, your own teacher wardrobe essentials.
I didn’t mention shoes or accessorizing because that is (so completely) not my strength for teacher outfits. Try to do this with accessorizing and shoes which my friend Melissa completely outlines!