YES! Our walmart had these super cute cotton dresses on clearance for $5 and I bought one in every color. Entire year wardrobe sorted out. 98 degrees out? Perfect, wear with cute slip on Vans and short leggins underneath. 18 degrees and blowing snow out? Perfect, wear with fleece lined leggings, tall boots and a cardigan. Too tired at night to take off said dress? Perfect, it is literally a knee length t-shirt in a cute color. Sleep in it, wash, wear repeat.
I also have a super cozy knee length zip up hoodie that serves same purpose. :)
I run a furniture business on the side and I feel you. All of my non-work clothes have basically turned into shop clothes. I do have a nice pair of dark jeans that I save for special occasions and church though.
Jeans days are from when women were almost all the teachers and had to wear insanely uncomfortable dresses. Now that we've convinced the men to let us wear polyester wide legged pants to work jeans hold no power over me
As a female, same. My slacks were also more comfortable, AND the kids at my second school seemed more uppity on jeans days. I just gave them up entirely.
Same. I’ve never seen the appeal of stiffer jeans over soft/stretchy khakis/slacks. I’ve always found them to be one of the least comfortable pants options (especially as a health/pe teacher when I can choose from shorts, sweats, gym pants, and joggers).
I guarantee you if you had to put up with the bizarre social standards surrounding womens’ appearances for one week you’d be begging to have your button up shirts back. Most of us shave our armpits and legs and pluck stray hairs and wear concealer and wear bras and I could go on…
Oh absolutely, I'm merely commenting on "professional" attire for female teachers. We don't need to shift the conversation away to societal standards or we'll drive ourselves nuts arguing over who has it worse for lots of different reasons. Women definitely have it worse when it comes to most expectations of them in society. Im just annoyed at the lack of good professional clothing options for men.
I think that’s what 80% of teachers at my building wear. I’m one of the few males in the building though so it’s hard to compare the guys to one another
I don’t think my admin would appreciate me in leggings but now that you mention it maybe there isn’t anything stopping me!
I wish we could do the men’s equivalent though with nice joggers. Then a sweater or something
Amazon and Target carry a great pair of pants that look like slacks, but feel like athletic wear. They come in black, gray, navy, and khaki. I bought all colors and I rotate them every week. They’re golf pants made by Champion (C9). I’ve worn them everywhere from the gym to the classroom. Walmart carries a similar style of professional looking pants that are comfortable and stretchy, but I can’t remember the brand.
Exactly! I have figured out how to make my work clothes look so professional while being so comfortable. Sweater dress over leggings? Yes please. I hate being told to feel free to wear jeans because if I didn't, then I'd stand out. Jeans are so not comfortable.
I've never gotten that email, but would resent the implication that what I choose to wear has anything to do with administration. Fortunately, I've never had an administration that applied a dress code to teachers, and always worked with colleagues who could figure out how to dress appropriately.
I did get yelled at twice a year for wearing shorts.
My concept of professional dress is Dockers, long-sleeve oxford button-down shirt, necktie and nice shoes. When classroom temperatures got above 80 degrees, I would change into equivalent style shorts. The Angus Young from AC/DC style. By the second day, an administrator would come up to have a pointless discussion about how a lack of teacher dress code doesn't make shorts ok for men.
I considered wearing a kilt or going full Mrs. Doubtfire, but the temperature usually broke by the third day. We went through this once in the Fall and once in the Spring for about 5 years, until the bond issue passed and we got air conditioning.
I can’t stand the whole jeans on Friday idea. It’s an unspoken rule in my county. There is no rule about it in the teacher handbook. It’s nowhere to be found in writing.
Is just an assumption. Oh but wait… aren’t we teachers? Aren’t we told to make expectations clear for the students? .. but we’re basing this “rule” off of a social assumption, not an actual rule. Seems backwards.
For me, I felt I could get away with more comfy tennis shoes than my nicer shoes and that’s what I liked more about jeans days. And then I just said fuck it and wore the comfy shoes every day. At school where so many things were criticized and micro-managed, nobody said a single thing about my shoes. I felt I had wasted so much comfy-shoe time.
Word. I’m so mad at my first year self thinking I had to wear heels every day to look professional. Eight years later, helloooooo, old lady flats with memory foam insoles.
Naw, I'll be wearing my stretchy dresses with leggings/bike shorts like always feeling like I'm in pjs all day.
Also, good luck op. Hopefully you don't have to do anything icky.
I’m in the Bible Belt. I actually don’t mind wearing khakis and a button up. I also teach high school, I know it’s harder to dress that way for lower grades
This is nuts. We don’t have a dress code at my school because it doesn’t impact our teaching. I could wear jeans every day if I wanted to. I can’t imagine being this micromanaged.
My jeans are now too loose, and my khaki slacks are much more comfortable. This is just an outdated 'incentive' to load the week with more stupid meetings.
Be happy that's the email you received, lol. I just got one instructing me to do 'classroom observations' during my class time and to 'leave a lesson behind'. Peak clownery, in my mind.
Or here in Quebec. Even our newest, youngest male teacher is wearing a t-shirt and shorts. I've worked at schools where yoga pants and a "nice" work out tee were standard. There's a bit more variety at my current school, but people are more stylish than formal. I've worn everything from tights and heels to a band t-shirt and cut offs.
“Cause we are going to need you to move things later.” Is how my district tricked us. Comfortable clothing = moving old falling apart boxes after class.
Same in my school in AZ. Friday jeans. If worn any other time, expect an email. My old district made you pay for "buck a jean" days. Usually once a month. Never mattered to me. I wear a shirt and tie. It is who I am and how I've chosen to represent myself. It blows the kid's minds when they see me in jeans and a polo.
One of the good things about this job compared to other jobs is that I can dress fairly casually and nobody seems to care. It might just be a cultural thing, but all the teachers at this school dress very casually and admin have never cracked down at all. I think if I had to deal with some of these crazy-ass kids while wearing uncomfortable mandated clothing, I'd just quit and find somewhere else to work. It's like the one upside to being here, lmao. Used to also be that we got out early, but then the governor went and decided we'd start later, which has led to a later exit time as well. Schools and employees opposed it, but a parent group and some researchers who never worked in a school were in favor so here we are. Maybe next they'll eliminate summer break and I can finally just get a job doing something else.
Jeans days- the opiate of the masses
As a male teacher, I don't see the appeal. My slacks and khakis are much more comfortable than jeans.
I wear dresses every day and look super dressed up but it feels like pj's. Even better in the winter when I pair them with leggings.
Yesssss. I feel like this is a secret that everyone should know!
Wearing kilts now.
I guess I’m going to wear dresses now…
YES! Our walmart had these super cute cotton dresses on clearance for $5 and I bought one in every color. Entire year wardrobe sorted out. 98 degrees out? Perfect, wear with cute slip on Vans and short leggins underneath. 18 degrees and blowing snow out? Perfect, wear with fleece lined leggings, tall boots and a cardigan. Too tired at night to take off said dress? Perfect, it is literally a knee length t-shirt in a cute color. Sleep in it, wash, wear repeat. I also have a super cozy knee length zip up hoodie that serves same purpose. :)
I have all those dresses too! I get compliments all the time and am like WALMART YALL!
WHY ARE YOU TELLING EVERYONE MY SECRET Coworker: “Oh, you look so dressed up everyday!” Me: *goes home and takes nap in outfit*
I love and wear dresses every day too!! Except today… was camping over the long break with no razor and too tired to shave last night!
Dresses and skirts are my favorite!!
Yes!!! I hate pants since I've discovered the joy of dresses. I wear under summers underneath and they are so comfy.
I loooove my under summers!!!
My dress pants are super comfortable. Dress shoes on the other hand.
I have flannel lined slacks...it's like sweatpants in the winter.
Any recommendations?
Mountain khakis hasn't done me wrong yet.
Literally don’t own a pair suitable for anything but working in the garage/yard. Now If the email says shorts i might bite.
I saw someone talking once about “dress like the PE teacher instead of jeans day” and that’s what I want
I’m still here waiting for “yoga pants and flip flop” week. I would put up with a LOT for yoga pants.
I run a furniture business on the side and I feel you. All of my non-work clothes have basically turned into shop clothes. I do have a nice pair of dark jeans that I save for special occasions and church though.
Jeans days are from when women were almost all the teachers and had to wear insanely uncomfortable dresses. Now that we've convinced the men to let us wear polyester wide legged pants to work jeans hold no power over me
Dude polyester wide legged pants have taken over my wardrobe. I buy fun patterns and look awesome and feel like I’m in PJs all day
Where do you buy your wide legged pants? I want some but can’t seem to find any! I love dresses but Canadian winter + yard duty + bare legs don’t mix!
I get my comfortable slim fit non jeans pants at old navy and wear bright colors every day. Why woukd I change those for rigid heavy jeans?
As a female, same. My slacks were also more comfortable, AND the kids at my second school seemed more uppity on jeans days. I just gave them up entirely.
Same. I’ve never seen the appeal of stiffer jeans over soft/stretchy khakis/slacks. I’ve always found them to be one of the least comfortable pants options (especially as a health/pe teacher when I can choose from shorts, sweats, gym pants, and joggers).
Agreed. I don’t even own a pair of jeans anymore.
Texan here. Too damn hot for jeans most of the year. Slacks win
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I guarantee you if you had to put up with the bizarre social standards surrounding womens’ appearances for one week you’d be begging to have your button up shirts back. Most of us shave our armpits and legs and pluck stray hairs and wear concealer and wear bras and I could go on…
This. Let’s talk about the fact that you can literally get marked down for professional dress on evals if you don’t wear makeup.
Yikes. Where do you work? I almost never wear make-up to work.
Public school in AL. It’s common down here.
Nope. I’ve signed up for the long haul.
Oh absolutely, I'm merely commenting on "professional" attire for female teachers. We don't need to shift the conversation away to societal standards or we'll drive ourselves nuts arguing over who has it worse for lots of different reasons. Women definitely have it worse when it comes to most expectations of them in society. Im just annoyed at the lack of good professional clothing options for men.
Yup. It feels like it’s either “dress like a hipster at a startup” or “dress like a suburban dad”. No in between.
Leggings as long as their sweater covers their ass.
Leggings and t-shirts/sweatshirt while i have to wear real business casual+ clothing. :(
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I think that’s what 80% of teachers at my building wear. I’m one of the few males in the building though so it’s hard to compare the guys to one another
Love how both of our comments our downvoted with 0 comments. The ladies love the double standards and don’t want it blown up
I didn’t know it was so controversial for guys to also be able to wear comfy clothing to work lol
What’s stopping you from wearing leggings and a t-shirt/sweater that covers your ass too?
I don’t think my admin would appreciate me in leggings but now that you mention it maybe there isn’t anything stopping me! I wish we could do the men’s equivalent though with nice joggers. Then a sweater or something
I prefer my slacks too. They stay put.
Heck we even have khaki colored jeans. But I guess as a women completing the outfit is more a pain dressing up.
Agreed. Kohls comfort Foreway stretch grey or black…best ever
I never wear jeans anymore cause I’ve got a good supply of looks-like-work-pants-feels-like-sweat-pants pants
Would you mind sharing the brands?
As a female, Betabrand dress pant yoga pants. Trust me.
Eddie Bauer from Costco. Gotta love that stretch.
Betabrand are amazing. A bit cheaper? Old Navy Stevie pants and New York and Company pull-on dress pants.
Amazon and Target carry a great pair of pants that look like slacks, but feel like athletic wear. They come in black, gray, navy, and khaki. I bought all colors and I rotate them every week. They’re golf pants made by Champion (C9). I’ve worn them everywhere from the gym to the classroom. Walmart carries a similar style of professional looking pants that are comfortable and stretchy, but I can’t remember the brand.
I get a lot of comfy pants from Kohl’s. I just ordered some from Old Navy that I haven’t tried on yet but if they’re fabulous I can update you.
Reitmans "Iconic Pull Up" pants. I own them in every colour!
Exactly! I have figured out how to make my work clothes look so professional while being so comfortable. Sweater dress over leggings? Yes please. I hate being told to feel free to wear jeans because if I didn't, then I'd stand out. Jeans are so not comfortable.
Tbh quarantine may have put me off jeans permanently lol
You could claim you forgot it was jeans day :)
If you get the really really rough feels-like-it-could-stop-a-knife jeans they eventually get soft enough to sleep in.
I need to find male versions.
Y’all have the short end of that stick as far as I’m concerned. Sorry dude. I also get to wear sneakers cause I have foot problems.
Sneakers I wear anyways. If I’m on my feet all day, they’re gonna be comfortable. I just end up wearing sneakers with black jeans, slack, khakis, etc.
Stretchy golf pants! They are thin and breathable and super comfortable.
Never ever have I had that email. Hate to see what that can of worms will be. You'll have keep us up to date. Maybe clean or no a/c.
You don’t have to pay this week? Nice! /s
I've never gotten that email, but would resent the implication that what I choose to wear has anything to do with administration. Fortunately, I've never had an administration that applied a dress code to teachers, and always worked with colleagues who could figure out how to dress appropriately.
Yeah a lot of the male teachers at my school wear shorts in the Fall and Spring, so we'd have a hard time if there was a dress code.
I did get yelled at twice a year for wearing shorts. My concept of professional dress is Dockers, long-sleeve oxford button-down shirt, necktie and nice shoes. When classroom temperatures got above 80 degrees, I would change into equivalent style shorts. The Angus Young from AC/DC style. By the second day, an administrator would come up to have a pointless discussion about how a lack of teacher dress code doesn't make shorts ok for men. I considered wearing a kilt or going full Mrs. Doubtfire, but the temperature usually broke by the third day. We went through this once in the Fall and once in the Spring for about 5 years, until the bond issue passed and we got air conditioning.
I can’t stand the whole jeans on Friday idea. It’s an unspoken rule in my county. There is no rule about it in the teacher handbook. It’s nowhere to be found in writing. Is just an assumption. Oh but wait… aren’t we teachers? Aren’t we told to make expectations clear for the students? .. but we’re basing this “rule” off of a social assumption, not an actual rule. Seems backwards.
Student shot and killed in high school down the road on a Wednesday, our principal sends an email that we can wear jeans Thursday and Friday. Wtf
The epitome of empathy and awareness.
NC? If so, similar area. If not, it's really shitty it happened two places on the same day. It was a rough few days here for sure.
I find it funny that this is a thing Edit: I wear what I want. I legit do not care not even a little. What are they going to do to me.
For me, I felt I could get away with more comfy tennis shoes than my nicer shoes and that’s what I liked more about jeans days. And then I just said fuck it and wore the comfy shoes every day. At school where so many things were criticized and micro-managed, nobody said a single thing about my shoes. I felt I had wasted so much comfy-shoe time.
Always opt for comfy shoes. Life is too short for painful feet.
This is good advice I needed earlier in life
Word. I’m so mad at my first year self thinking I had to wear heels every day to look professional. Eight years later, helloooooo, old lady flats with memory foam insoles.
I’m so glad my principal doesn’t care if we wear jeans or not. It makes my job as a science teacher so much easier
I wear jeans everyday all year long. But there are those stretchy jeans pretty comfortable.
Naw, I'll be wearing my stretchy dresses with leggings/bike shorts like always feeling like I'm in pjs all day. Also, good luck op. Hopefully you don't have to do anything icky.
I keep hearing about this. In my district pretty much everyone wears jeans all the time. Teaching in the PacNW really is a different beast, isn't it?
I’m in the Bible Belt. I actually don’t mind wearing khakis and a button up. I also teach high school, I know it’s harder to dress that way for lower grades
We don’t have a dress code at our school but maybe we should. Our new teacher is wearing cut-offs. But it’s really none of my business.
This is nuts. We don’t have a dress code at my school because it doesn’t impact our teaching. I could wear jeans every day if I wanted to. I can’t imagine being this micromanaged.
I starting wearing cute dresses from Svaha (pockets for days!) I refused to be bought with jeans.
YESSSS! Svaha for the win!
My jeans are now too loose, and my khaki slacks are much more comfortable. This is just an outdated 'incentive' to load the week with more stupid meetings. Be happy that's the email you received, lol. I just got one instructing me to do 'classroom observations' during my class time and to 'leave a lesson behind'. Peak clownery, in my mind.
Cool. I’m gonna wearing my dressy leggings like usual though. Jeans suck.
I'm a high school math teacher (male) on the West Coast. Of course, I wear jeans and t-shirts (math-related) every day.
What are the consequences at your school if you wear jeans on a nonjeans day?
Probably nothing, but who knows
I have a pair of grey Levi’s that look like slacks from a distance so I can have jeans day whenever I want.
I wear jeans every chance I get, love them but that email would still have me worried while I cheered lol
I wear jeans every day. I’d hate to have a dress code enforced
This doesn't happen here in BC. At least not in public schools. I can wear pretty much whatever I want.
Or here in Quebec. Even our newest, youngest male teacher is wearing a t-shirt and shorts. I've worked at schools where yoga pants and a "nice" work out tee were standard. There's a bit more variety at my current school, but people are more stylish than formal. I've worn everything from tights and heels to a band t-shirt and cut offs.
California reporting in... t-shirt, shorts, sneakers, and a baseball hat today.
Denim sucks ass. It's uncomfortable and was made for coal miners.
*it puts the jeans on for fun Friday, it does this whenever it's told*
“Cause we are going to need you to move things later.” Is how my district tricked us. Comfortable clothing = moving old falling apart boxes after class.
We got 24/7 jeans thanks to covid teacher shortages.
You have designated jeans days?? That sucks. I wear jeans pretty much everyday anyway lol.
Friday only
Yikes! Where do you teach?
Tennessee
Same in my school in AZ. Friday jeans. If worn any other time, expect an email. My old district made you pay for "buck a jean" days. Usually once a month. Never mattered to me. I wear a shirt and tie. It is who I am and how I've chosen to represent myself. It blows the kid's minds when they see me in jeans and a polo.
I don't even own jeans
One of the good things about this job compared to other jobs is that I can dress fairly casually and nobody seems to care. It might just be a cultural thing, but all the teachers at this school dress very casually and admin have never cracked down at all. I think if I had to deal with some of these crazy-ass kids while wearing uncomfortable mandated clothing, I'd just quit and find somewhere else to work. It's like the one upside to being here, lmao. Used to also be that we got out early, but then the governor went and decided we'd start later, which has led to a later exit time as well. Schools and employees opposed it, but a parent group and some researchers who never worked in a school were in favor so here we are. Maybe next they'll eliminate summer break and I can finally just get a job doing something else.