What do you wear?

[SiobhanMarie]

Hello everybody, I hope that your day is going well!

I read in a magazine once, a range of different women were explaining their work fashion and why it was so. One was a teacher. She wore comfortable clothing that was brightly coloured and carried a satchel. So now I am curious as to how you dress and why? Do you go out of your way to wear something that will 'impress' the students, a little like Ms Frizzle from the magic school bus?

I make little badges from felt. Last year I began to make fruit and vegetable shapes, which I thought would not only look cute but also subconsciously promote healthy eating. You can see them here:

http://www.myspace.com/oddlyredmushroom

I also just finishing reading Ron Clark's Essential 55 book that said dress like a professional to be treated as a professional. I think that also if you look the part, you feel the part too. I know that I feel a little more confident when I dress up and I really carry myself differently.

What does everyone else think of this? Does anyone have any other things that they do?

Thanks!

[irish223]

I used to wear some teaching-themed sweaters and blouses, but not anymore. Now I just wear slacks and a blouse or sweater. We aren't allowed to wear jeans unless we have an outdoor field trip, but even if I could I probably wouldn't wear them often. I dress for comfort, but I try to look professional.

I ALWAYS wear comfortable shoes, usually clogs, never heels!

[Boxcar]

As a teacher of small children, I am very lax in my dress code.

I wear clothes that are comfortable. I'm am going to be down on the floor, running around, and lifting children. I clean tables, toys, and surfaces throughout the day. I need to move freely and be relaxed.

I wear clothes that are replaceble. i'm going to get messy. I can't worry about my outfits.

I can wear jeans. They hold up better than slacks and wash better.

I don't wear anything tight, revealing, or low-cut. These are little kids after all!

I like black shirts. They don't show sweat, stains, or marks as much. I feel neater in them.

Shoes are of the tennis and sneaker varieties. When going to an Infant room, I wear slip-ons. These are removed at the door and I spend the day in my socks.

By the way, cute badges.

[Aziz]

I generally wear comfortable but professional-looking pants. I wear a button-down shirt, or occasionally a t-shirt with a nice fabric and solid color. I wear black European-looking sneakers.

My chronic pain keeps me from wearing jeans, ties or dress shoes. I can put up with wearing them for a black-tie event, but not day in, day out.

-Aziz

[Ima Teacher]

In colder months I wear khakis or slacks with a shirt and jacket or sweater. I like flat shoes and boots. In warm months I wear skirts, capris, or slacks with short sleeves/some sleeveless shirts. I also wear mostly sandals in the warm months.

I'll wear jeans sometimes, but not that much because I dont' like jeans. I've worn them a few times in the past week because in my free time I'm working on getting my end of the year room cleaning done--while kids are there to help--and it's kind of messy.

Whatever I wear, I like it to look "put together". I don't like looking sloppy. Today we had field day, so I didn't quite feel like myself at work. I wore plaid bermuda shorts, a school polo, and tennis shoes.

[Boxcar]

I'm pretty matchy with what i wear. I like my colors to all go with one another.

I also love socks, so I wear a different color or pattern every day. No one sees them, usually. However, I just like fun socks.

[SiobhanMarie]

Fun socks are always great! Although no one sees them, you know that you are wearing them :)

I think that bright colours could stimulate the children's responses, however I believe that you MUST be comfortable. I enjoy wearing dresses and sandals in the summer, and I love my woolley jumpers and jackets in winter. It is winter in Australia at the moment and it's lovely to wear my jackets and warm socks during work time!

[upnorthteacher]

I wear comfortable, business casual to casual clothes. When it's cold I wear slacks or khakis with sweaters or jackets. When it's really cold, (below zero fahrenheit) I often wear colored jeans with a blouse and jacket or sweater. As it gets warmer I'll wear skirts or capris with sandals, but I never wear shorts to work. I don't wear sneakers, because they seem too casual. I usually wear casual leather slip-ons, but sometimes wear comfortable heels. I like fun socks, too. I show off my holiday themed socks to my students, and they think it's a riot.

[Boxcar]

I won't do shorts to work either. I actually have two pairs I really like, but I want to keep them niceish. Plus, bare knees would not be happy on the ground all day.

I think I might have to find some colored jeans. That is a good idea.

I know some of the people who work in childcare centers wear hospital scrubs, but I don't know if I want to do that...

[pearcen]

Because I am only 24 and I teach 7th grade, I try to dress up most of the time. I do notice that students respond to me differently based on how I'm dressed. I don't always like to dress up but I try to make myself. I wear dress pants or capris with dress tops and heals or sometimes flat dress shoes. On Wednesdays (during March of Dimes season) and every Friday we are allowed to wear jeans. I will wear jeans with either our school shirt or a nice top.

[Boxcar]

I can see what you mean. I think people do respond to how you're dressed. I'd like the parents to see me looking professon, so I make sure to give it my all when it is time for conferences or other family events.

[SiobhanMarie]

Ron Clark; and I'm sure many others!; says if you want to be treated as a professional, dress like a professional.

Does anyone teacher sport as well? Because i assume you would have to dress according to what is happening during the school week; sports carivals, competitions or just general sports.

How about accessories?

[Boxcar]

i will wear a watch, but i don't do other accessories. Earrings are not a good idea around little children - even those of preschool age. Bracelets are okay, and I will do those. I have a wonderful collection of bangles. Necklaces are also not good when you have kids climbing on you. The threes will grab hold and break the chain on accident. Rings are fine. I don't them very often, but I do like plain silver bands.

Besides the safety issues, I also don't wear a lot of accessories because I have to remove them when I get messy. I can't stick my hands and wrists into shaving cream or mud without getting my jewelry all icky. I can easily remove the watch and put it in a pocket. The rest would be just a hassle.

[SiobhanMarie]

Thats very true; I think little kids can be very full on :)

[Tiamat]

In winter, comfortable pants, warm socks and boots, with warm top. I have school uniform coat which goes over the top.

In summer, school shirts and skirts or pants with sandals. We can wear jeans, but I don't often, unless it's going to be a sport type day.

[Clix]

I think I'm in the minority here. I dress very, very plainly: usually a solid-color sweater (with a T-shirt underneath for comfort) and a pair of plain slacks. We're allowed to dress down on Fridays if we wear school colors, and I almost always do. I usually wear either sneakers or my Dr. Marten oxfords. I rarely wear any makeup, and usually have my hair simply pulled back.

(high school journalism & language arts, btw

[carrieSAtoUSA]

No heels - hurts after wearing them all day.
During the week - smart pants and shirts (various styles)
Fridays - we are all allowed to wear jeans if we wear our school shirt with it.
Our principal does the 12 days of Christmas with us just before Christmas break and some of the gifts she gives us are:
- 5 wear what you want passes
- 8 flip flop passes
We can "cash" these in any time to wear what we want or wear flip flops (which we're not allowed to wear normally). It's great at this time of the year when it's hot and we're tired and don't feel like dressing up but just want to be comfortable.

[Boxcar]

I love the idea of passes. I get to wear pretty much what I want, but there is a center in the area that is very strict. I would not want to work there for other reasons, but the dress code would probably contribute a little bit to that decision. Passes would be great for thier workers. I mean, black pants and dressy white tops are not the best attire for a childcare. Even the smocks they wear over the outfit don't give that much protection...

[Ima Teacher]

How about accessories?

I love accessories!

I always wear a watch because we don't have dismissal bells. I always wear a silver medical bracelet. It's sterling silver, not the "medical grade" kind of silver. I also wear earrings and a necklace most every day. Sometimes I'll wear an additional bracelet. I also always wear my wedding ring, engagement ring, college classring, and a birthstone ring. I like hair accessories, especially clips and headbands.

[MissTeach]

I dress very professional. I teach business, so I believe I should look the part: jacket, nice blouse, dress pants or skirt. I always wear accessories- usually necklace and earrings. My shoes are ALWAYS comfortable, but not tennis shoes or flip flops. The last two school days, I wore jeans and tennis shoes because I was cleaning my room. Several students commented about how I looked.

[pearcen]

I always wear jewelry. I feel undressed without it! I wear a watch, a bangle, a simple necklace, 1 ring, and small hoop earings. Most of the jewelry I wear is either simple diamonds and/or Brighton. I love, love, love Brighton!!

[Boxcar]

I love wearing heels, but I don't get to very often. When I was in high school, I would dress up "just because".

I don't like to do my hair, so I usually have the same basic style. If I did anything else, it would be a mess two seconds in.

Some of the families do thier little girls' hair really cute, but they seem to expect us to fix it if it gets a mess...

[SiobhanMarie]

I am loving the responses!

I can definitely understand the comfortable point of view; I think that you would be doing a range of activities throughout the day and many are unpredictable so I can see you wanting to be ready for anything!

I also love accessories, however I do not work directly with clients. I would love to get into something like Play Therapy, which just popped in my mind as I was thinking about play with young children and how you can't really be 'dressed right up' during playdough or paints.

It's very interesting about the passes, because I'm not sure that Australia really even has a formal dress code in many schools; many teachers do wear flip flops and jeans and only wear the school uniform when the students have a free dress day!

[SiobhanMarie]

Haha, Boxcar, I totally understand what you mean about your hair; I bought a hair straightener the other day and within 30 minutes of me walking from my home to work you would never have been able to tell I had done anything different!

[silvana]

i love dressing up but when at school comfort and ease are my number 1 priorty. This is good because when i do get to "doll up" I feel really nice =0

[wtrafton]

I think it really does depend on what age group you are working with and the type of person you are. I dress very comfortable (including sneakers, my feet bother me a lot and I have tried numerous other kinds of shoes that end up hurting). I do try to dress professionally most of the time. Fridays we are allowed to wear jeans and I love it. I think jeans can look nice. No matter what I wear I am neat. I think that even dress clothes can be unattractive if not worn neatly. I coach so I wear a lot of "school" clothing.

I think comfortable teachers will teach better and comfortable students will learn better.

[Bananas]

High heels? I stay away from them. I do not need the height. I fall well enough without their assistance. Hair? It's ultra fine no matter what I do. It will be limp before I leave the house, so why bother? I used to love to dress up, but with children and working, minutes count. I dress for comfort, while still being professional.

I will be dressing up in about four months. Bless their hearts, two SIL's have volunteered to go with me shopping for a mother of the bride dress. Not sure I want a full length gown, as the wedding party are going tea length. (That is a new term to learn).

I have baldy jokes at the tip of my tongue; poor hubby. What a burden he carries. Despite all the jokes, he truly has it the easiest, and I let him know. His haircuts take less time. He doesn't have to dry or style. There isn't a bad hair day. When he opens his vehicle windows, he won't have the hair going in his eyes or mouth. His hair won't be a tangle to comb out after showering.

He also knows he will get a laugh from the pews when the Gospel lesson talks about God knowing the number of the hair on the head. He will smile as he rubs his head. ;)

[Boxcar]

I'm tall, but I just adore the sound of heels. I don't know... I'm wierd.

I wore jeans a graduation a few days ago. I had on a nice top, dark jeans, and platforms. I think I looked nice enough. Jeans can be sort of dressy if worn right.

[SiobhanMarie]

I think jeans can look very dressy, very nice.

And it's funny about the hair, Bananas! My dad is bald and although I haven't seen him for a long time I remember those jokes; and he would always say things like "How do my eyebrows look?" Cracked me up!

[Karenrbw]

I wear a lot of khakis and slacks. I am so cold natured that I just can't wear skirts in the winter. We go outside about twice a week and that is too cold for me. I was so excited to find flannel and fleece lined khakis this winter. I wear them all the time when it is chilly. My other staple is black slacks and comfortable flat shoes. I have lots of blouses that I wear with them. I also get into the shop sometimes, so I try to dress for that (no black around sawdust!). My lace-up boots are my best friends. They keep me fairly warm in the winter and are dressier than sneakers.
In the warmer weather, I will venture into capris or skirts, but not that often.