Why Teacher Fashion Matters: Part Two

You may have already seen my earlier post about appearance in the classroom and read of how important I feel appearances are in that regard. Luckily, I work at a school where what you wear to work is highly valued - you won't see any teachers in sweats, short shorts, or tops cut way too low at my school. But I've been on campus at quite a few other schools and noticed some terrible outfit choices - low cut tops, UGG boots (I love my UGG slippers, just not for work!), disheveled and wrinkled clothing - I'm sure you've all seen it before. While some of these choices may work well for other outings or events, I strongly feel that they do not belong in the classroom. 

Without further ado, here is my second tip to ensure you will feel fabulous in the classroom!

Invest in Button-Up & Pullover Cardigans & Sweaters.

I own too many of these, but I wear them all the time! They are a classic style that can make nearly anything look professional (sans aforementioned outfit choices above ...). I mix cardigans and sweaters with dress pants, skirts, dresses, even black jeggings and colorful pants! They are a "go-to" staple in my closet. I buy most of my cardigans and sweaters from Old Navy, J. Crew, Banana Republic and Nordstrom.

Some of my favorite pull-overs.

And some of my favorite button-ups!

I've linked up some of my favorite pull-overs and cardigans that are teacher-affordable!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more outfit ideas! 

How do you style cardigans and sweaters?

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Why Teacher Fashion Matters: Part One

Welcome to Part One of Teacher Fashion 101. Today, I'll be sharing my thoughts and opinions on the semi-controversial topic of WHY TEACHER FASHION MATTERS, as well as giving you tips and tricks to help make dressing for success in the classroom just a bit easier!

As a teacher, I've always noticed the underlying importance of one's appearance as an educator. Yes, on some level, I do dislike the "keeping up with the Jones' " that fashion can sometimes create, but as a teacher, appearance means a lot - probably more than you think.

Let's be honest here. Your appearance is your first impression when you meet new people - whether you like it or not. Beyond this though, putting effort into what you wear and how you present yourself can make a BIG difference in how you feel throughout the course of the day. When I throw on jeans and a cute blouse instead of sweats and a workout shirt, I feel just a little bit more confident and better about how I look. (We all know the feeling of bumping into someone when we aren't looking our best ...)

Most importantly, as educators, it is our JOB to be role models for our students, and if we don't look like we spent any time preparing ourselves for our job, how can we expect our students to do the same (or look like they at least showered within the past week!)?*

Here is my first tip (of many) to ensure you will feel fantastic about yourself throughout the day!

PLAN YOUR OUTFIT THE NIGHT BEFORE

I always spend about 5 minutes the night before picking out an outfit. In the morning, I just throw it on, and I'm ready to go! No standing in front of my closet for 10 minutes trying to figure out what to wear or changing my outfit FIVE times before heading out the door!

I like to hang my outfit up to see how (and if!) the pieces will go together. If it works, I leave it hanging up in my closet just like this, so I can grab and go in the morning. (Sometimes I will even try my outfit on the night before to make sure it works - especially if it's a new look I'm trying out.) All of this takes quite a bit of stress off of my shoulders when trying to get out the door on time. 

What are your thoughts on appearance in education? Please share in the comments below!

Check out Part Two of Why Teacher Fashion Matters here.

*This does not apply to teachers who risk the chance of getting thrown-up on or glitter and glue stuck to his/her clothes! ;)

Want more teacher fashion? Stop by my Instagram for more inspiration! 

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How to Wear Booties

One of the biggest questions I get asked is how to properly wear booties. First of all, I think you can wear booties however you would like, as long as you like the way they look! These are all just suggestions based on my personal opinions :) It's not the end all be all of bootie fashion! Here are my top 5 favorite ways to wear booties - all of which are appropriate for the classroom.

#1 Wear your pants tucked all the way into your boots!
You may have to wear leggings (only if you're wearing a long tunic or really long shirt - leggings are not pants!) or pants that go all the way to your ankles because it will look silly if you can partially see your skin.

#2 Wear them with a dress (with or without tights). 
I love wearing booties with dresses during the fall and winter - they help take less wintery outfits into the different seasons.

#3 Wear them with pencil skirts! 
This is honestly one of my favorite looks. Booties and pencil skirts look so super cute and are perfect for you teacher fashionistas! #buyallthepencilskirts

#4 Cuffed. 
I love cuffing about 2 inches so they hit just above where the bootie starts. Make sure you do this with tight-legged jeans otherwise it can look a little sloppy.

#5 Rolled hem. 

This is probably how I wear my booties most often and with any of my straight leg pants. I roll the hem over as close to the hem as possible and then roll them one more time. Really easy and cute!

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3 Boots Perfect for the Classroom

There are so many different kinds of boots to choose from and in all different colors. Believe me, I own way too many. But I found myself wearing these same three boots over and over again. I realized that if I needed to get rid of all of my other boots but keep these three pairs, I'd be all set to style any of my teacher outfits.

I've included links to the exact boots that I'm wearing as well as similar and less expensive versions (although, as you know, I love my Earth Brands shoes!).

#1 Black High Heel Boots 
Now, when I say "high heel," I don't mean crazy, 3-4 inch heels. I'm talking about cute, short, stacked heels. The ones that are all the rage right now. These are the perfect boot to have because they can be dressed up or down. You can wear them with black jeggings, denim, skirts and dresses. This is my favorite pair from Earth Brands, but they no longer have this specific pair available. I've linked up a similar style, but you can grab similar, flat Earth Brands boots here.

#2 Brown Wedge or Stacked Booties 

I wear my brown booties with everything and all the time! Whoever said that black and brown cannot be worn together was obviously crazy because I wear my brown booties with black jeggings at least 3-4 times a week in the winter. It is such a cute and easy-to-put-together look. I've included a link to my favorite Earth Brands booties as well as a similar pair from Nordstrom. Those Nordstrom ones might be making their way into my wardrobe here soon ... !

#3 Brown Flat Boots 

Last but not least, a pair of flat brown boots is the perfect go-to casual boot. They go with nearly everything and are a staple item for every teacher's closet (and person's really!). I like looking for brown boots that have buckles, straps or anything interesting going on. Since these cover so much of your calf, if there's not some exciting elements to the boot, they can look kind of drab and boring. Again, I'm loving this Earth Brands pair that I took to Europe with me. I walked miles upon miles in them, and I never had any issues with my feet!

What are your favorite pair of boots? Share in the comments below or tag me on Instagram so I can see what you're styling! 

What to Wear on a Plane

So, what to wear on a plane? This always seems to be a big struggle for people. My mom will call me to ask what she should wear on a 16-hour flight to Sydney or a 9-hour flight to Europe every single time. And I have to say, I think I may have mastered the art of what to wear on a plane this past trip to Europe.

Normally, I would wear leggings with a long tunic, or workout clothes in order to stay comfortable. But this past trip, we would be landing in London at noon with only 48 hours to spend in the city. I had to be ready to walk off of that plane, drop off my bag, and start touring the city. So how can one be stylish and comfortable enough while flying to be able to sleep? Here's what I wear:

Black long-sleeve dress (like wearing a nightgown but much more socially acceptable - they call this a "tunic" on Anthropologie, but I wore it as a dress the whole time)
Comfortable brown boots (I chose flat boots for walking miles upon miles in London)
Long-sleeve sweater (to keep me warm on the plane - make sure to get one that doesn't wrinkle!)
Scarf (because scarves always make everything more stylish - I don't have a link to this exact scarf, but I just bought the one I linked up for you!)

If I wanted to, I could have added warm leggings (for traveling to colder climates), a vest, or even a heavier jacket. Either way, I'm in layers that are going to keep me warm on a plane (because planes get cold!), but that I can take off while standing in customs or waiting to get off the plane when everything starts to swelter up!

The second look is a different version of my plane outfit. This picture is on our way home from Munich (same trip as the picture above). Mind you, I packed carry-on for this trip and at this point, this dress had been worn at least 7 or 8 of the past 18 days :)

Shop some of these looks below!

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Crossover Strap Pumps

I'm so happy to have added these crossover strap pumps from Ssh-oes to my shoe collection. They are super versatile and would you believe it - they are SUPER comfortable! I wore them all night on Friday night, and my feet didn't hurt once (shocking, I know). I also love that these shoes are quiet, as in, they don't make that ridiculous CLONK, CLONK noise as you walk around (hence, the play-on-words name, Ssh-oes ... brilliant, right?). As a teacher, walking around in my classroom in heels, especially when kids were testing, was like a game of hot lava, trying not to make too much noise as I would walk. So I love that Mary, the founder of Ssh-oes, came up with this great concept (I also love the story behind what inspired her design).

Make sure to follow along with me on Instagram, as I will be partnering with Ssh-oes today for an awesome giveaway!

   

Southern California Teachers Pay Teachers Meet-Up

I recently had the pleasure of hosting an incredible TpT / Teacher Blogger Meet-Up with Aris from Sailing into Second, Holly from Research and Play, and Janice from Island Lover Teacher! The four of us had the best time organizing everything, booking the venue, collaborating with awesome vendors and donors, and decorating on the day of! Who knew that when I met these ladies a year ago that they would become some of my best friends! I don't know what I'd do without them ... seriously!

I just adore these sweet friends of mine :) And it's all thanks to Teachers Pay Teachers that I have them in my life! We hosted the meet-up at the swanky Manhattan Beach Shade Hotel with over 35 guests joining us - including some extra special guests from Teachers Pay Teachers - Sam, the Social Media Community Developer, and Jillian the Events Specialist! And I must just say that Sam and Jillian are hilarious, genuine and down to earth, AND so much fun! Thank you to Teachers Pay Teachers for sending them out to us!! :)

Check out all of the awesome swag our donors sent our way! We want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to our following donors:

Teachers Pay Teachers 

Erin Condren 

Sheila Jane Teaching 

Ellison Edu 

Ladie Katie 

Corina Nielsen 

Pretty Letters Shop on Esty 

Astrobrights 

GoNoodle

I mean, who wouldn't want to win this perfect Erin Condren teacher planner - EC sent us TWO?? They also sent swag for every, single person who attended the meet-up - THANK YOU Erin Condren! I've personally been using my EC notepads ever since the meet-up!

Love all of the TpT Teacher Authors and Teacher Bloggers who joined us for this epic meet-up!

Have you hosted a meet-up before? Tell me about it in the comments below!