For Female Teachers...Dressing Professional!
Projecting our image...
After twenty years of teaching, I have finally figured my professional wardrobe out. I love style, and I love comfort, and I have dressed every which way for work. I see new teachers coming in and making the same mistakes as I did, and so I thought I would put together a list of tips for anyone who is interested in reading them.
- Give in to the fact that you do need two wardrobes. One that is professional, for school, and one that is your cool girlfriend going out wardrobe.
- Ladies, beware the bra and cleavage issues! It is unprofessional to show bra straps, bra color, or cleavage. It is just not okay in the teaching business.
- Along similar lines, be careful about the sheerness of clothes. Lined clothes are usually more expensive, but we don't want to be the talk of the school!
- Skirts are simple...not too short. We need to move around, bend over, squat, move things. We need coverage.
- Casual/professional is usually a mix. If jeans are allowed, pair dress jeans with a blouse or jacket. A more casual shirt with slacks is another good balance.
- Comfort is key. We work long hours and not usually in spectacular circumstances. If your shirt is itchy or your pants are tight it may just ruin your day.
- Shoes are important. They can't hurt! They can be cute and practical. The day that I wore my worst shoes was invariably the day I had unexpected ground to cover. No more.
- Good breath is important. Remember being a student? A teacher's bad breath can really interfere with the learning process. Enough said.
- Deodorant and scent are also important, and along the same lines. Don't let smells interfere with learning. Overpowering perfumes and colognes are equally as distracting.
- Double check...buttons buttoned? Fly zipped? Underarms shaved? Anything out of place? We are scrutinized from every angle, and gossiped about mercilessly.
- Where I live, a good spritz of hairspray goes a long way. I go car to wind to office to wind to classroom, etc. etc., and my hair now looks almost exactly the same when I get home.
- Teachers don't have to be fuddy duddies. I love fashion, and even though it's not high or cutting edge fashion, it's not giving the message that I've given up completely.
- Make-up polishes a professional look. Not overly heavy make-up, but make up that shows pride and that you consider yourself a professional.
- A watch completes the outfit. Although phones have replaced watches to a great extent, there are still situations where a phone should be away and the teacher is the timekeeper.
novice
| professional
|
|---|---|
skirt too short or tight
| attractive skirt with room to move
|
shoes too high or too tight
| cute but practical
|
clothes that are sheer or fussy
| camisols, slips, or lined items
|
outfits too warm or too summery
| layers that allow for a range of temps
|
bare-faced or too-heavy makeup
| polished make-up
|
appears rumpled, rushed, or slovenly
| well put-together clean, wrinkle-free outfits
|
breath or body odor
| pleasant-smelling
|
Have you ever had an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction in the classroom?
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National Board Certification requires an investment of time and money. It requires initiative, organizational skills, critical thinking, patience, and perseverance. In the end, though, it is so worth it!
