artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,042 
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Post by artbabe on Aug 16, 2023 16:09:23 GMT
It was mentioned in the electricity thread to make another thread for teacher clothing, so here it is.
What do you wear at school?
I teach art. My school has no dress code.
When I was young and skinny I wore dresses and all kinds of funky, cool clothing. Then I eventually became overweight and tired of getting my favorite clothes ruined. So I started to wear jeans to school. I don't own any pants that aren't jeans- no leggings, no dress pants. I wear short-sleeved t-shirts year round. Sometimes they are slightly dressy or plain t-shirts but a lot of the time they are rock band t-shirts, art t-shirts, or school t-shirts. I get really hot all of the time. This is because I've always been on the warm side, I run around all day, and I'm post menopause. So I always wear short sleeves and I never wear a collar.
And my feet? Flip flops when it is warm and clogs once it gets cold. The kind that have a ton of padding on the bottom. I love Clarks or Sketchers with the yoga mat soles. I have bad bunions from being a waitress for 10 years and then teaching for another 30. Art teaching is not a sit down kind of job. So I have a terrible time finding shoes that fit around my bunions and that have enough padding that my feet don't burn after standing for 8 hours on concrete. I try to wear nice shoes every once in awhile and I always regret it by the end of the day.
I follow Cassie Stephens (art teacher influencer) on social media and I'm super envious of all of the delightful clothing she wears. If I had another life to live I would dress like her. So cute. She is amazing, by the way. Even if you aren't an art teacher, follow her.
I know a lot of teachers have a dress code. I'm grateful I don't.
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Post by gracieplusthree on Aug 16, 2023 16:18:02 GMT
Dress code where my daughter works only allows teachers to wear jeans one day at week unless otherwise announced. School supported t-shirts are allowed that same day, I'm not sure if they're allowed on other days for the teachers or not.
Dress code had major changes here this year. It used to be even more strict than this, but they relaxed it and it went downhill.
No leggings are allowed by students or staff.. no jeans with holes or frayed areas allowed no tank tops or revealing clothing of any kind. No shorts or capris allowed. Skirts have to be a certain length. No hats or hoods on heads during school hours .
And no cell phones are allowed to be out and visible except in cafeteria at lunch.
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Post by Lurkingpea on Aug 16, 2023 16:48:15 GMT
Ours is the same as the kids.
No spaghetti straps. No crop tops. Skirts/shorts have to be certain length. No tshirts with inappropriate messages. So no curse words. No weapons. Not political.
I wear pants or jeans with cute tshirts and tops. I never wear skirts.
I do think kids are allowed to wear flip flops but we are not. We have to wear closed toe shoes. I wear chelsea boots, mules or sneakers all the time anyway.
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Post by Merge on Aug 16, 2023 17:05:20 GMT
No dress code here except no spaghetti straps and no beach shoes. Thank goodness.
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Post by workingclassdog on Aug 16, 2023 17:06:03 GMT
The dress code when I worked at the school was
jeans on Fridays only
no leggings unless you had a top that was longer than xxx amount of inches
no tank top/straps
Not sure if it has changed since then or not.
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Post by tmarschall on Aug 16, 2023 18:58:25 GMT
It was mentioned in the electricity thread to make another thread for teacher clothing, so here it is. What do you wear at school? I teach art. My school has no dress code. When I was young and skinny I wore dresses and all kinds of funky, cool clothing. Then I eventually became overweight and tired of getting my favorite clothes ruined. So I started to wear jeans to school. I don't own any pants that aren't jeans- no leggings, no dress pants. I wear short-sleeved t-shirts year round. Sometimes they are slightly dressy or plain t-shirts but a lot of the time they are rock band t-shirts, art t-shirts, or school t-shirts. I get really hot all of the time. This is because I've always been on the warm side, I run around all day, and I'm post menopause. So I always wear short sleeves and I never wear a collar. And my feet? Flip flops when it is warm and clogs once it gets cold. The kind that have a ton of padding on the bottom. I love Clarks or Sketchers with the yoga mat soles. I have bad bunions from being a waitress for 10 years and then teaching for another 30. Art teaching is not a sit down kind of job. So I have a terrible time finding shoes that fit around my bunions and that have enough padding that my feet don't burn after standing for 8 hours on concrete. I try to wear nice shoes every once in awhile and I always regret it by the end of the day. I follow Cassie Stephens (art teacher influencer) on social media and I'm super envious of all of the delightful clothing she wears. If I had another life to live I would dress like her. So cute. She is amazing, by the way. Even if you aren't an art teacher, follow her. I know a lot of teachers have a dress code. I'm grateful I don't. I adore Cassie Stephens! She is a gem. I can't pull off quite her original funky look but I do the crinoline poofy skirts and since covid I started wearing big goofy earrings as a fun thing during zoom. She is incredibly inspiring. I was surprised she "retired" mid year. I bet her students had a bunch of fun with her. |
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Post by myshelly on Aug 16, 2023 19:19:33 GMT
Teachers in professional dress.
That means dress slacks, button up shirts, and ties for men. The equivalent for women.
No leggings, no tshirts, no tank tops, no denim, no flip flops, no tennis shoes, no hoodies, no hats.
Coaches/PE teachers may wear polo shirts and belted shorts that come to their knee and athletic shoes. Teachers who are both a teacher and a coach are expected to dress professionally in their classroom and then change for sports.
Jean day is once a six weeks on report card day. Teachers may wear their school spirit shirts, which are polo shirts.
This is the dress code at every school district around here. I like it. Teachers should look like professionals. You can’t show up to work in leggings and tshirts and expect society to respect you as and treat you as professionals.
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Post by busy on Aug 16, 2023 19:52:15 GMT
You can’t show up to work in leggings and tshirts and expect society to respect you as and treat you as professionals. Try working in Silicon Valley, you absolutely can. I haven't had to wear "professional attire" since I left banking but I'm no less a professional. Clothing isn't what makes you a professional. |
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Post by myshelly on Aug 16, 2023 19:56:43 GMT
You can’t show up to work in leggings and tshirts and expect society to respect you as and treat you as professionals. Try working in Silicon Valley, you absolutely can. I haven't had to wear "professional attire" since I left banking but I'm no less a professional. Clothing isn't what makes you a professional. And I disagree. It would be incredibly difficult for me to respect or take seriously a “teacher” in a tank top and leggings. Don’t dress like a day care worker and then be surprised when that’s how people treat you 🤷🏻♀️ If I showed up to court like that, I would be held in contempt. Even people called for jury duty can’t dress like that here. |
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Post by monklady123 on Aug 16, 2023 19:59:47 GMT
No dress code where I work either, thankfully. Well, I mean besides the obvious things such as no tee shirts with curse words, politics, or violence on them. But none of the teachers who I know would wear stuff like that anyway because it isn't very professional. Otherwise anything goes, including flip flops. Personally I wouldn't wear them because I don't think flip flops belong in any job setting except maybe head lifeguard, but I'm old so take that opinion with a grain of salt. But the teachers who do wear them look cute.
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ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,947
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
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Post by ddly on Aug 16, 2023 20:27:52 GMT
No dress code where I work. Pretty much dress like a respectable adult. Everyone is good about it.
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Post by ~summer~ on Aug 16, 2023 20:37:00 GMT
I can understand that it’s important to look put together at work, but I don’t really get removing entire categories of clothing. I’m wearing a tank top today - but it’s a fitted black ribbed tank (crew neck, not low cut) - with linen pants, I think it looks super cute haha. I also have some really nice t-shirts.
My work does not have a dress code - I think the assumption is we are all professionals and can use our common sense when getting dressed for work.
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Post by Linda on Aug 16, 2023 20:45:10 GMT
Teachers in professional dress. That means dress slacks, button up shirts, and ties for men. I have a teen that dresses like that for school - jacket included at times - but that is by their CHOICE. Certainly their teachers don't typically dress that way and nor do the majority of the students. And quite honestly in my community? Dressing up means wearing your GOOD jeans - I would wager that there are many adults who don't own what you would describe as professional dress. |
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Post by myshelly on Aug 16, 2023 20:46:42 GMT
Teachers in professional dress. That means dress slacks, button up shirts, and ties for men. I have a teen that dresses like that for school - jacket included at times - but that is by their CHOICE. Certainly their teachers don't typically dress that way and nor do the majority of the students. And quite honestly in my community? Dressing up means wearing your GOOD jeans - I would wager that there are many adults who don't own what you would describe as professional dress. And I would argue that contributes to the current state of our society, but I digress. If it was what you had to wear every day for work, then you would own it, wouldn’t you? |
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Post by Linda on Aug 16, 2023 20:53:24 GMT
And I would argue that contributes to the current state of our society, but I digress. If it was what you had to wear every day for work, then you would own it, wouldn’t you? Personally I think that's a rather classist assumption. Most jobs in my community are blue-collar not white. And while my husband does work a white-collar job, they are expected to wear polo shirts (or similar) and jeans are okay - because often they have to go out to the factory floor. In fact I'm struggling to think of a position locally where a shirt and tie (or the equivalent) would be the appropriate daily attire for work. |
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Post by playingcinderella on Aug 16, 2023 21:34:28 GMT
I teach technical theatre so my room is a woodshop and I teach everything from building, painting, electrical, sound design, sewing, props and on and on. I have to wear closed toed non-slip shoes because I'm on concrete floors and ladders at various times in my day. I wear pants 100% of the time for the same reason. I wear jeans and tshirts most days with a sweater or jacket because my room's temperature is very dependent on the weather outside. I also have some cute wide-leg palazzo style pants I wear when my room is super hot also with tshirts. I gave up on wearing cute clothes because I snag them, get paint on them or have an emergency that sends me up a ladder I didn't plan on.
Our dress code loosened after Covid and now allows jeans every day but even before I wore jeans and tennis shoes or boots. I never had an admin question me, but if I did - safety really requires me to dress differently than many of my peers.
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misse336
Full Member
Posts: 221
Feb 24, 2020 2:57:43 GMT
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Post by misse336 on Aug 16, 2023 22:34:16 GMT
After reading this I am seeing that our dress code is apparently a lot more strict than many schools. It was relaxed a bit during Covid for men and that has continued. Men no longer have to wear a tie. They can just wear a button down shirt now. Most schools around here have similar dress codes, although I've been told that the one school district in the city in our county is allowing jeans every day now - I've only heard it from people not working there though so who knows.
We have dress down days on select Fridays where we can make a donation to the specified charity and wear jeans and the school spirit t-shirt.
Cut and pasted from our dress code:
Attire that is Acceptable:
• Dress shirt or blouse
• Dress or skirt at or below fingertips (leggings are only permitted under a dress/skirt)
• Long or short sleeve, button-down shirt
• Dress shoes
• Sweater
• Dress pants
Attire that is not acceptable:
• Polos (except on specified days)
• Leggings or spandex/yoga pants
• T-shirts (approved, school-specific t-shirts are acceptable on specified days)
• Tank tops, midriff, off the shoulder clothing, spaghetti straps, or low-cut blouse/shirt
• Jeans (except on specified days)
• Frayed, stained, wrinkled clothing
• Shorts
• Overly tight-fitting clothing
• Short skirt/dress (above fingertips)
• Sneakers, casual sandals or flip flops
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Post by busy on Aug 16, 2023 22:54:24 GMT
Try working in Silicon Valley, you absolutely can. I haven't had to wear "professional attire" since I left banking but I'm no less a professional. Clothing isn't what makes you a professional. And I disagree. It would be incredibly difficult for me to respect or take seriously a “teacher” in a tank top and leggings. Don’t dress like a day care worker and then be surprised when that’s how people treat you 🤷🏻♀️ If I showed up to court like that, I would be held in contempt. Even people called for jury duty can’t dress like that here. I'm not a teacher. I haven't worn a suit to work for years and somehow, I still manage to be taken seriously as a professional and be extremely good at my job! I wonder how that happens? Is the world actually about more than clothes? NO WAY. The number of industries and professions where conservative dress codes like you describe are the norm are dwindling rapidly. It's basically finance, law, accounting, consulting, and similar old-school fields. And apparently some uppity schools in Texas. Get out of your bubble now and again. The tech world is full of millions of employees who by and large don't have dress codes, manage to function as adult professionals without wearing ties or overly fussy clothes, and the world doesn't treat them like day care workers. And that's just one industry, though they led the way in changing the norms for work attire. |
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Post by freecharlie on Aug 16, 2023 22:57:36 GMT
Colored jeans or slacks and a shirt.
Apparently I can't teach well if my jeans are blue
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pantsonfire
Pearl Clutcher
Take a step back, evaluate what is important, and enjoy your life with those who you love.
Posts: 4,762
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Post by pantsonfire on Aug 16, 2023 23:54:13 GMT
Dh's district is business casual.
He is now with HR and you must dress business professional so for him slacks, button up shirt, dress shoes, and tie.
He also has a work polo that can be worn with slacks.
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Post by sabrinae on Aug 17, 2023 0:13:34 GMT
And I disagree. It would be incredibly difficult for me to respect or take seriously a “teacher” in a tank top and leggings. Don’t dress like a day care worker and then be surprised when that’s how people treat you 🤷🏻♀️ If I showed up to court like that, I would be held in contempt. Even people called for jury duty can’t dress like that here. I'm not a teacher. I haven't worn a suit to work for years and somehow, I still manage to be taken seriously as a professional and be extremely good at my job! I wonder how that happens? Is the world actually about more than clothes? NO WAY. The number of industries and professions where conservative dress codes like you describe are the norm are dwindling rapidly. It's basically finance, law, accounting, consulting, and similar old-school fields. And apparently some uppity schools in Texas. Get out of your bubble now and again. The tech world is full of millions of employees who by and large don't have dress codes, manage to function as adult professionals without wearing ties or overly fussy clothes, and the world doesn't treat them like day care workers. And that's just one industry, though they led the way in changing the norms for work attire. She would be appalled to know that as an attorney I rarely wear a suit. I normally wear dress pants, a dress shirt, but never a button up shirt, and a cardigan or unstructured jacket. Normally a thin cardigan. Some days it’s even a nicer t shirt under the cardigan or jacket. Or dress pants and a sweater. I always wear black slip on sketchers. I only wear a suit if it’s a jury trial. It’s is still always pants. This is perfectly normal attire for all female attorneys in my area. Men usually wear a tie and jacket but it’s perfectly acceptable for it to be a blazer or more casual jacket than a suit. |
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,930
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Aug 17, 2023 0:13:53 GMT
We don’t have a specific dress code. We are told to “dress for our job” and follow the student dress code (that would include no spaghetti straps or mid-drift or anything that shows under garments.)
Our staff is all over the place.
We have men wearing dress pants and ties and men wearing jeans, funny T-shirt’s and plaid shirts. I’d say the average male teacher wears something like Merrill’s, khaki jeans and a 1/3 zip Patagonia sweater or a polo/casual button down with jeans and Hokas.
Right now I can’t think of any women that really dress up with dresses/suits every day. Many do wear dresses and skirts from time to time. We also wear leggings and jeans. I have a couple really casual female coworkers (a lot of tshirts and sweatshirts with jeans) but they also wear blouses and dress pants too. Most that wear jeans or leggings at times, like me, dress it up with a dressier blouse or a structured/unstructured blazer.
In the fall while it is still warm, you will see me wearing a Madewell camp shirt, an Athleta skort and probably platform sandals. This is my “summer” going out to somewhere where I need to be presentable gear; it would be standard clothing for school.
In the winter I might wear leggings and boots with a shacket or jeans with a boho blouse and clogs or regular pants with a blouse or tshirt with a blazer.
I’d say I’m pretty mid of the road at my school.
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CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,827
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Post by CeeScraps on Aug 17, 2023 0:27:34 GMT
I was a computer teacher for many years. I taught both staff and students. I was in multiple buildings all the time.
I wore jeans and a nice top/sweater. I never knew when I had to crawl under a table to attach or disconnect something.
Your feet…..have you looked at your insurance and having your bunions removed? You may want to do that. I have friends who had theirs removed and it’s made a world of difference for them.
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,427
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 17, 2023 0:43:23 GMT
Teachers in professional dress. That means dress slacks, button up shirts, and ties for men. The equivalent for women. No leggings, no tshirts, no tank tops, no denim, no flip flops, no tennis shoes, no hoodies, no hats. Coaches/PE teachers may wear polo shirts and belted shorts that come to their knee and athletic shoes. Teachers who are both a teacher and a coach are expected to dress professionally in their classroom and then change for sports. Jean day is once a six weeks on report card day. Teachers may wear their school spirit shirts, which are polo shirts. This is the dress code at every school district around here. I like it. Teachers should look like professionals. You can’t show up to work in leggings and tshirts and expect society to respect you as and treat you as professionals.Well, yeah you can. We are expected to have good relationships with students. Looking like you're a stuffy bank executive is NOT approachable IMO. |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,427
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 17, 2023 0:44:29 GMT
Try working in Silicon Valley, you absolutely can. I haven't had to wear "professional attire" since I left banking but I'm no less a professional. Clothing isn't what makes you a professional. And I disagree. It would be incredibly difficult for me to respect or take seriously a “teacher” in a tank top and leggings. Don’t dress like a day care worker and then be surprised when that’s how people treat you 🤷🏻♀️ If I showed up to court like that, I would be held in contempt. Even people called for jury duty can’t dress like that here. I reported for jury duty in leggings and a tank top and flips. It was HOT that day. |
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Post by busy on Aug 17, 2023 1:30:54 GMT
I'm not a teacher. I haven't worn a suit to work for years and somehow, I still manage to be taken seriously as a professional and be extremely good at my job! I wonder how that happens? Is the world actually about more than clothes? NO WAY. The number of industries and professions where conservative dress codes like you describe are the norm are dwindling rapidly. It's basically finance, law, accounting, consulting, and similar old-school fields. And apparently some uppity schools in Texas. Get out of your bubble now and again. The tech world is full of millions of employees who by and large don't have dress codes, manage to function as adult professionals without wearing ties or overly fussy clothes, and the world doesn't treat them like day care workers. And that's just one industry, though they led the way in changing the norms for work attire. She would be appalled to know that as an attorney I rarely wear a suit. I normally wear dress pants, a dress shirt, but never a button up shirt, and a cardigan or unstructured jacket. Normally a thin cardigan. Some days it’s even a nicer t shirt under the cardigan or jacket. Or dress pants and a sweater. I always wear black slip on sketchers. I only wear a suit if it’s a jury trial. It’s is still always pants. This is perfectly normal attire for all female attorneys in my area. Men usually wear a tie and jacket but it’s perfectly acceptable for it to be a blazer or more casual jacket than a suit. One of my best friends retired from Meta as a Director-level Associate General Counsel in IP (he was not a litigator) and he wore basketball shorts to work everyday lol |
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,427
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Aug 17, 2023 1:45:46 GMT
Teacher dress code in my district is the same as students....
When I started teaching at 24 years old (25 years ago), I wore cute skirts, tee shirts, chunky heel shoes, cardigans. NEVER jeans or shorts or capris. I taught middle school.
Now, at almost 50, and teaching continuation HS for the last 2 years, I wear jeans, cropped jeans, leggings, tee shirts (fun nerdy ones, tie dye, solids), tank tops (both loose and fitted, v neck, racerback, high neck, round neck), hoodies, doc Martens, chaco sandals, Birkenstocks, flip flips, tennis shoes. I still don't wear shorts. I NEVER wear button up shirts or cardigans or skirts or chunky heels. When I am teaching math/science/electives I tend to wear jeans and tee's daily. In the terms that I teach PE, I wear leggings (both full length and cropped) daily with a tank top, tee shirt, hoodie, tennis shoes.
My principal bought us each 2 polo shirts that we wear sometimes. I DETEST polo shirts. They have buttons and collars and the fabric is weird (I might have sensory issues- LOL). EW! I do wear them to humor him but I always have a tank top under so I can put it on when I get to school and rip if off as soon as the kids leave. I can suck it up for 5 hours. The polos live in my classroom closet until I put them on. I bring them home, wash and take back. I try to wear one at least every other Friday. I also have a mascot shirt that I made with rhinestones and a few hoodies I've made. Our school colors are purple and gray- both of which I love so I have LOTS of "school colors" in my wardrobe.
I've had 2 kids in the meantime and my cute skirts and tee shirts no longer fit (totally my fault- they're still in my closet for when I "lose those 15 lbs" that is now 20) and my cute shoes are falling apart.
Any given day, I am showing WAY less skin than my students!
I could never survive in a district that dictated what I HAVE to wear! Teachers don't get paid enough to purchase "professional" clothing and have it get damaged in the classroom. I ripped my favorite pair of denim crops a few years back walking past a desk that had a broken weld. I was so sad. BUT those are still my favorites and are all "distressed" and I do wear them for school. In fact, I wore them yesterday!
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Post by whipea on Aug 17, 2023 2:14:00 GMT
I work at a university that had a crazy strict dress code for students, faculty and staff. Shirts and ties for men, business professional for women. No leggings even under dresses and no pants with outside stitching like jeans and shoes had to be dress, no athletic shoes or open toes. After Covid and a change of administration it has loosened up considerably.
Before the Covid revolution I wore a suit every day. I have been faculty in the past then moved into an administrative leadership position. Now just about every day I wear colored jeans, cargo type pants, peasant or tailored shirts, blazer with band or super hero tee shirts and a variety of Dr. Martens in various colors and prints.
Guess what? I am treated with respect and as a professional by students, faculty and staff, just the same as I was when I wore a suit. No difference at all except I have way more fun dressing for work.
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katybee
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,378
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Post by katybee on Aug 17, 2023 4:57:55 GMT
No dress code here. Right now, I wear mostly cotton dresses, because they are cool and comfy (we don’t have AC). As it cools down, I will start wearing jeans and leggings with sweaters and cardigans. I have one pair of cropped cotton pants that look cute with flats. That’s the closest thing I have to a pair of “dress pants.” I also do not own any “blouses” and certainly do not own a suit.  Maybe I should go get some? I could pick up some panty hose while I’m out. And I could wear heels while I’m at work, but put on socks and tennies over my panty hose for my commute! Like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl. When I was a little girl, I thought that’s what I would do as an adult. |
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Post by leannec on Aug 17, 2023 9:54:21 GMT
My school is super casual ... most teachers wear jeans or casual pants and tops ... P.E. wears athletic wear ... I have a style all my own ... I'm old and have decided that I can look good and still be myself ... no one in my school dresses like me most days ... My "go to uniform" is a pair of black Lululemon leggings, a nice blazer (I have many in different colours), a matching shell or tank top underneath and my fav black cowboy boots ... you read that right - I teach all day in leggings and cowboy boots!  Here is a photo of me in an example of that exact outfit from my oldest dd's university graduation this year (she's a teacher now too!) ... the other young woman is my youngest dd.   I also have many long tunics and sweaters that I wear with my Lulu's and boots ... On Fridays I wear cropped leggings and nice hoodies/sweatshirts with my selection of Vans ... and often the school logo gear ... I will wear the odd skirt or dress but they are LONG (think April Cornell) and I wear them with my boots ... if they are shorter with some ballet flats ... No heels ever. No jeans ever because I hate the way they feel not because they are not allowed. I go for comfort and so this works for me!  |
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Maybe I should go get some? I could pick up some panty hose while I’m out. And I could wear heels while I’m at work, but put on socks and tennies over my panty hose for my commute! Like Melanie Griffith in Working Girl. When I was a little girl, I thought that’s what I would do as an adult. 
