You may remember from my first post here on the Zesty Digest, From Yoga Pants to Pencil Skirts, that fashion doesn’t really come naturally to me. It takes great effort for me to put together any ensemble that doesn’t make me look like I should be at home on the couch watching Friends re-runs.
That being said, I am making the effort because I do think it’s important to be conscious of how I present myself in the workplace. I feel it’s especially since my workplace is now a high school. This week, I started teaching 9th grade English! I was asked to fill in for a teacher who will be out for several months and I could not be more excited.
This new job, however, now requires a five-day a week effort to make sure my wardrobe is up to par. (If you thought teens were brutally honest when you were in high school, try being the teacher!) Anyway, it may sound trivial in the grand scheme of things, but I truly do believe my appearance makes a difference in the classroom.
First, I need to make sure I am not dressed too casually or I will be mistaken for a student (trust me, it has happened). Second, I do not want to be just another frumpy English teacher (apparently that’s common amongst English teachers? Not sure, I just know I don’t want to be one).
Most importantly, though, the kids notice. They notice if you look like you just rolled out of bed and threw on some wrinkled khakis, and if their teacher looks like they don’t want to be there, why on earth would they want to be? (Plus, it never hurts to gain a few points in the “cool” category for fashion sense.)
I have found a few pieces to be staples in my “teacher” wardrobe: a black maxi skirt, black flats, and a denim jacket. I can mix-and-match them with a lot of other pieces, accessorize to dress them up, and they are still comfortable after walking around a classroom full of teenagers all day!
I also have to keep in mind that I am making teacher pay, which means I shop at Target a lot. My black maxi skirt (pictured) is from Target and it is the most comfortable and versatile thing I own. I also wear a lot of Lucky Brand accessories that I buy either on sale, or at Macy’s in their clearance jewelry section.
When it comes down to it, I know my teaching ability is of the utmost importance, but it can’t hurt to look nice, too!
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