Careers >> Browse Articles >> Career Trends
What Teachers Should Never (Ever!) Wear
Kayla Baxter, Anna Hennings, and Alice Handley | Monster
We hate to admit it, because we personally feel that clothes shouldn’t matter. In a perfect world, a person would be judged at their workplace based solely on the caliber of their work. Unfortunately, that’s not how the world works.
How you choose to dress each morning reflects how you feel about your job – that you take your position seriously, that you are ready to work and that you pay attention to detail and know what you expect to encounter that day. You wouldn’t go to a construction site in your favorite four-inch stilettos, right? Of course not, you’d go in a hard hat, because it’s appropriate for the situation. Appearances matter!
We’ve all been there, though. The days you wake up feeling sick, but still have to make it into the office, so you throw on any old thing that’s (kind of ) clean.
Regardless of the excuses, there are some things that professionals should just never wear. Ever.
We’ll show you what these things are, why they’re a terrible wardrobe choice and if you’re guilty of having one in your closet – or (gasp!) in your daily rotation – we’ll give you a much better alternative.
And for your men out there who are teachers: this article is geared towards women since we know you probably don’t care as much about fashion as females do!
ShannonFWright
5 months ago
2 comments
This is great for clueless people, but for those same people this may be too much to absorb. A great rule of thumb is to think whether what you choose to wear will be a distraction from your teaching in anyway. If it's a possibility, then go for something more conservative. Teaching is about the students, not teachers' needs to make a fashion statement.
iammicha
5 months ago
2 comments
This article seemed to be geared towards office workers, not teachers. There are many situations where dressing outlandishly is perfectly acceptable, ie: theme units, color of the week, situations like that.
At the same time I think that it is important to teach teachers appropriate attire. Mini skirts, see thru tops, lower than low cut tops --- NOT apropriate. I am still in college, and each time that I go into a classroom for practicum my instructors can relate at least one instance of a student dressing inappropriately. Guy teacher candidates wearing torn jeans or female teacher candidates wearing mini skirts, some people just don't get what is appropriate. Whether you wear a scrunchie or an elastic band....not so important an issue. As for facial piercings, I think that that goes in with the facial tatoo category. Culturally insensitive? Only if the person sporting the impliment is of the culture. Tongue and facial piercings are seldom done because it is ones culture to have that done.
captchristopher
5 months ago
2 comments
"Teachers with nose rings, eyebrow rings? Maybe, if you teach kids in a circus. As for other items, much of the article is pretty superficial & it makes a great deal of sense to go with local customs. I'm more in agreement with the member from HI. BTW, facial tattoos might be OK in Polynesia. If in doubt, why not ask your Principal? After all, they deal with student dress codes all the time. Usually, they, or the School Board, sets dress policies for faculty & staff, too. Plus, a modicum of common sense might help."
siwinskid
5 months ago
24 comments
First telling us not to wear scrunchies, but wear a HAT for those days when your hair is dirty (who would show up to work with hair dirty enough to cover with a hat, anyway?) or uncontrollable...and then further down the list tell us NO HATS...hmmm?
Most schools do not allow hats or sunglasses, so that tip was like giving Michelangelo a crayon, and telling him to create the Cysteine Chapel masterpiece!
Really now, this is rather condescending to those of us who are on this site looking for helpful teaching insights...not fashion insults.
IF you are not smart enough to have already known the dress-for success guidelines, then your probably not smart enough to be a teacher.
Maybe this article should have been intended for some of the students who create classroom distractions with their goofy sense of fashion.
tibu720
5 months ago
26 comments
Opinions on piercings, anyone? Small eyebrow ring???
oneflychick_26
5 months ago
2 comments
seriously? Is there nothing better to write about? This was an entertaining article, but I was looking for some more real advise. I guess fashion in's and what's the new look for professional educators. I'm pretty sure that this article will NOT be taken seriously by anyone.
However, it would have been nice to write an article on what is in fashion in the office. I come from a very interesting school community who, although dresses very casual, is not this lame. Come on...help my colleagues out in a better way than this....
sarahbeth
5 months ago
4 comments
I see that I am in the minority here, but I agree with nearly all of the items. Unless it is a special dress day some of these things should never be in the professional closet. Even during dress down week, the sweat pants should stay in the dresser.
Scrunchies...well that is a personal taste issue, you either love them or hate them, I am on the hate them side. But I wouldn't judge based on a hair accessory.
As a young teacher I want to show that I am professional.I have my own personal style, some of the items that are in style shouldn't be worn in the classroom. How do you expect to gain the studnents respect if you don't look like you deserve their respect.
RebaWilliam1
5 months ago
2 comments
Do you normally deal with business morons?
emistretta
5 months ago
2 comments
i am glad i had none of the 'bad' items.
texgirlandrea
5 months ago
6 comments
I understand the need to dress professionally, mainly to not reveal too much so as to distract from the students' learning and to establish yourself as a person of authority, but some of these "forbidden items" seem over scrutinized. When it comes to criticizing teachers about their good fashion sense, I cringe because, unlike some other professions, teachers are not paid enough as it is, overworked and underfunded, and the last of their worries is buying the latest fashion trend.
cmwible
5 months ago
6 comments
And darn it, I spelled a word wrong...I also have a tattoo on my shoulder and I'm very conscious about covering it up (was a thing, wish I hadn't gotten it) and I have a lot of ear piercings, but my hair always covers them. I try to dress like the superintendent is mad, lol.
cmwible
5 months ago
6 comments
I am 37 and still waer scrunchies because of my big old hair, lol. I really don't see a problem with that. I agree on the too much skin and there are a lot of peple out there that either don't realize or don't care about the amount they are showing.
Someone said it was culturally insensitive to say no to face tattoos, but come on, what do you think the kids are going to be focusing on all day??
I thought the article was cute and since I'm such a boring dresser with the exception of my scrunchies, there's nothing here I really learned, haha
memason2007
5 months ago
4 comments
If the hat matches the outfit it is a acceptable fashion comment not a forbidden item and yes many days it is for bad hair days and no the use of dry shampoo is not for everyone.
tibu720
5 months ago
26 comments
Interesting article. Funny "exceptions". What is everyone's opinion of a small nose piercing or eyebrow ring for teachers?
nomadnick
5 months ago
4 comments
This list is so generic and plays to stereotypes. The author named almost everything in the closet. Why do teachers all have to conform to one strict fashion? Elementary teachers are especially more active so dress standards should be more relaxed. This article was not fashion forward and is probably written by a women way beyond her years.