WE CAN NEVER FORGET how our grade school teacher looks like: plain pencil skirt and blouse with tiny specs matching her messy up do. Even in high school, all of them seem to dress-up in a very common way. I look at them as if they are following a specific dress code: modest, yes, but I find it kinda...boring. In public schools, teachers are required to wear uniforms--so basically they all look the same. But in private schools, teachers are allowed to wear semi-formal or business attires. But I guess because of the very stressful working environment, teachers tend to set aside their fashion sense. Whatever the set-up is, it all boils down to this question: Can a teacher still manage to look stylish given her stressful profession?
Well my answer is YES.
I am a teacher as well. I've been in the profession for almost five years now. Sometimes, I would want to pursue a different profession---something that won't restrict me on the stuff that I would like to wear, but of course that ain't easy. And so, I find ways on how I could still exercise my passion for fashion without compromising my professional image. And those are the things that I'll be sharing with you ^_^
Let's get started!
HOARD THE BASICS
Stuff your closet with the basic pieces, clothes that you can mix and match with trending items. Don't be afraid to invest on these items because they are lifesavers! These pieces are the basic foundation of stylish and professional-looking outfits.
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| BLACK COLLARLESS BLAZER. You'll definitely look like a smart casual chic under this basic piece. Will look great over a pair of pants or skirt. |
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| THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS. A must-have for every woman. I prefer the short-sleeve or sleeveless version tho. This is my savior whenever I'm undecided what to wear for the day. |
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| BLACK PENCIL SKIRT. Achieve the ultimate sophisticated look with a pencil skirt. But be cautious, the cut must not be too loose nor too tight on you. Plus, it must not be too short, a knee-length skirt will do. |
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| BLACK PANTS. This is probably the most common piece in a semi-formal or business outfit. Gone are the days when women hail loose pants---overhaul your old pants and make sure they'll fit your thighs this time. |
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| WHITE BUTTON DOWN BLOUSE. A very flexible piece, because you can pair this with a pair of pants or a skirt; tucked or loose, this will still look great on you. |
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| WHITE TANK TOP. Of course you cannot wear this alone! But this piece will look nice under a blazer. If you also have a handful of chiffon/see-through blouses, you might as well want to wear this under them. |
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| WHITE DENIM. Jeans or denims are staples of a casual attire. However, white denims can also be a replacement for your good 'ol black pants. |
MIX THE BASICS WITH THE TRENDS
These trending pieces will look great if paired with your basic wardrobe. So who says you can't be "in"? Take the smart casual or formal look to the next level by adapting to the changes in fashion trends. Just make sure that you'll keep those creative juices flowing out of you---think outside the box. ^_^
Start with these pretty tops!
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| LONG SLEEVE CHIFFON BLOUSE. The one with embellished collar is what I prefer. This piece will give your attire a youthful touch. |
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| SLEEVELESS CHIFFON BLOUSE. What I love about chiffon blouses is that they are lightweight, perfect for the super busy days at school. |
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| SLEEVELESS LACE TOP. You can wear this under a blazer or even a black cardigan. |
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| BLACK COLLARED LACE TOP. This one would look good if paired with a good-fitting pencil skirt. Laced tops are one of the most sought-after fashion pieces. You can achieve a smart and feminine look with one of these. |
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| FLORAL BLOUSE. These are normally paired with denim, but you can sport this with a pair of black pants, and even better if tucked inside a pencil skirt. |
Aside from the tops, latest trends take us away from the usual 'all-black' formal look. By adding some color in your attire, you are also inviting extra ounce of positive vibes!
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| COLORED COATS. Let the colors define your mood! |
ACCESSORIZE!
Don't spend a lot of money on accessories that will inevitably go out of style easily. Invest on the 'flexible' pieces. Necklaces and belts, for me, should be your priority.
Accessories, like necklaces, make a huge difference in a simple outfit. So even if you're wearing a plain white tank top under a black blazer, you'll still look fab with a nice accessory hanging on your neck. Just make sure that you won't over do it. ^_^
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| MULTI-LAYER PEARL NECKLACE |
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| GOLD A-RAY NECKLACE |
Belts, on the other hand, add details on a plain dress or long blouse. All you need is a nice black belt (preferably the one that is stretchable) and a few colored ones (brown and red are highly recommended).
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| BLACK STRETCHABLE BELT (with butterfly buckle) |
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| RED LEATHER BELT |
WEAR COMFY YET FASHIONABLE SHOES
Teachers are always on-the-go! Walking up-and-down the stairs, along dusty corridors and back-and-forth the classroom aisle---a comfortable pair of shoes is really a must-have. However, you must not sacrifice your look just because you want to feel at ease while working.
These shoes will surely look good yet comfortable on your soles!
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| BLACK STACKED HEEL PUMPS. Unlike stilettos, this type will provide extra support on your heels, causing less strain. |
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| BLACK KITTEN HEEL SHOES. If you're not comfortable in wearing high-heeled shoes, this one is perfect for you! |
As much as possible, avoid wearing flat / doll shoes because they won't give you the 'professional-look'. But if you must, make sure that it will not look like a school girl's school shoes. tehee!
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| BLACK POINTED FLATS. I prefer pointed flat shoes because they look more formal :) |
But what if you're bounded to wear uniform everyday? Can you still look stylish? Yes of course! You just need to add a few pieces like a scarf or a brooch.
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| PIN BROOCH |
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| SATIN SCARF |
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Though we are in a profession that requires us to look decent and respected at all times, we must not set aside the fact that our students would also love to see pleasant-looking mentors standing in front of them. So aside from perfecting our craft as a teacher, I believe that we should also work on improving our appearance because this will improve our confidence in dealing with our co-teachers and students.
So that's it! I hope you've learned a lot from this post. ^_^ I would love to know your insights, you can leave a comment below. Thanks!
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| You can even took a photo of your outfits---IG worthy! |
A teacher with a huge sense of style,
---Miss G.
