Fashion Tips for Teachers

Around this time of year, there's so much fuss about back to school style. Students invest in new clothing for a stylish semester. But the school year is affects more than just students. Teachers invest in updated outfits as well. And we have so many fashionable teachers shopping with us at Eccentrics Boutique. We reached out to Emilie Turner, freshman English teacher at Marion High School, to understand the needs of teacher-appropriate outfits.

According to Emilie, there are expectations to dress professionally with an exception for jeans on Friday. The jeans cannot be distressed with any holes. Tops should be modest and shoulders cannot be exposed. Skirts and dresses cannot be too short. Emilie looks for work clothes that are professional and age appropriate.

"It is really important to me to always look classy and in style but to also look different than the students, especially when teaching high school. I want it to be easily recognizable that I am a teacher and not a student."

But it's also important to be comfortable! Teachers are on their feet a lot, so comfortable shoes are a must.

One outfit that met Emilie's classy yet comfy requirement are our black dress pants and simple white blouse. These pieces are versatile and can be mixed and matched for unlimited outfits. And when it comes to creating new outfits every day, versatility is vital. These classic colors are a great foundation for layering Kendra Scott jewelry. Add a statement necklace and chunky cuff bracelet for more texture. Sophisticated black flats complete the look.

Emilie loves her cardigans as they can make any shoulder-baring style work appropriate. She paired our favorite paisley print maxi dress with an open front cardigan sweater. If worn alone, this dress has spaghetti straps and open lace-up back, which is an ultimate no-no for the classroom. The sweater cardigan is open in the front to show off the beautiful print and dress silhouette. The back is long and covers any exposed areas. This is a great way to extend the life of your favorite summer maxi dresses into the fall.

For a unique outfit, pair a trendy t-shirt dress with a printed kimono. Emilie loved our short sleeve knotted t-shirt dress and floral print duster kimono. Each piece is stylish in their own right.  The knotted dress is modest but has a fun and unexpected twist at the hip. The duster kimono adds more length to the dress while breaking up the solid color. Wear with cute booties and a long statement Kendra Scott necklace. 

For her favorite Friday outfit, Emilie went for a casual style that is a classic fall favorite. She paired our dark denim pants with a neutral tee and Rails Hunter plaid top. The plaid top is soft and the perfect fit. There is no need for a necklace since this tee has a choker detail. Emilie would normally wear a cami or bandeau under this top to ensure it wasn't too low cut. Cuff denim with raw edges for a polished look. Looks great with trendy booties!

"I felt comfortable but not frumpy, which is important in maintaining that professional look."

Do you have a dress code at work? What are your outfit must-haves to be stylish yet work appropriate?