This is my first fall in 20 years that I'm not starting classes of my own and I'm realizing how different it is to dress for a first day where I am only teaching, instead of a first day taking classes, as well. I found myself much less concerned about looking cute and put-together, and much more concerned about what tone my outfit conveys.
So this outfit is pretty boring. But here's why: it's the first day of the new semester of teaching and I want to make a particular impression. I don't want to be too dressed up, because that reads as overcompensating. I don't want to wear a ton of bright colors, because that reads as "fun and carefree" when I want students to take me seriously (at least initially). I don't want to wear high heels because I do a lot of walking through my classroom and I want to feel comfortable. And I want to look at least a little bit intimidating, because the truth is, I'm kind of a soft teacher, so I need my first day attire to be a little tougher than I am :)
Hope all you other teachers and students are having/will have/have had terrific first days! xo
I'm a bike-riding bookworm in DC trying to make better use of a sometimes-vanilla closet. You can read a little more about this blog
57 comments:
i love it! but i think it's because i have boring style...
I love that you referred to the first day of school as "Nerd Christmas" on twitter. I wholeheartedly agree!!
I love this outfit. It is very cute and put together. It looks like a dress that could easily go from summer into fall. That is exciting that you are just teaching today. I hope youf first day goes well.
thequeenofwanderlust.blogspot.com
Good luck with your first day! I think the dress is very pretty & classy. I think you'll make a great first impression this semester!
Happy first day of school! You look great! I really like your necklace.
Love it - I think this look is perfect for the description you gave of the image you ant to give off to your students. Nice job! ;o)
The dress is FAB, and conveys the perfect mix of serious and chic.
I adore that dress. Such wonderful details and the fit is perfect. Hope you had a great first day back!
Wow! I went through all those same emotion on my first day of teaching this semester.
Great choice for your first day! You definitely conveyed what you wanted to with this outfit!
Best of luck! You look amazing.
Good luck at school, I'm sure you'll do great! I have the same exact H&M dress, it looks lovely on you! XOXO, Natalya
It's so funny that you're going back to school today because most schools in Canada don't start until after Sept. 6! And I'm going on an exchange to England this year, so I don't start until Oct. 8! School still feels so far away!
I really like this outfit, and how much though you put into it. It's definitely the kind of thing I would wear in that situation, and the same kind of thought I would put in!
Ce qui m'inspire
Love that dress!! Very professional and stylish at the same time!
Great first day outfit! I hope your day was equally great! :)
Um, #1--I have this exact dress. #2--I am planning on wearing it tomorrow to start my new job, which is pretty similar to starting a new semester of teaching. #3--I was planning on doing a post about the reasons behind my outfit. #4--I think we are the same person.
I hope the first day goes well!
Looks and Books
I really like that dress! And I know what you mean about getting the right sober look the very first day.
What do you teach? Have you seen any particularly funny student yet?
Have a great school year! And best luck!
Miki.
Your look definitely commands attention and respect, but in a non-threatening way. You look fantastic! Good luck this school year.
I love your dress!! That colour really suits you, and the shape is so nice!
From Carys of La Ville Inconnue
Enjoy your first day of school Tania!
<3,
natasha @ twenty-something blog
http://poshxoxo.blogspot.com
great choice! i think it conveys everything you want it too- good teacher choice!
You look cute and professional. good luck with the teaching gig.
You look very professional. I love the design of that dress. Hope everything is going smoothly this week!
I loved reading your rationale for "choosing the first day of teaching outfit." The same thoughts have been going through my head, as I transition from grad student (technically still am, have a dissertation to finish) to "professor." We're on quarters instead of semesters, so I still have a month to fret over what I'll wear the first day. But from my perspective, I think you set the tone just right. (And for what it's worth, I totally agree on needing a "tougher" outfit to compensate for a "softer" teaching style!)
my partner and i have a rule: nothing can go wrong when you're carrying a foyles bag (both of the plastic and the canvas variety). i have the exact same canvas tote and i love it. especially that little velcro-ed pocket for keys and change and tube passes.
you look fab. hope your first day was/is brilliant :) (mine isn't until the 13th of sept. so i can slouch around in jeans for just a bit longer!) x
I think you chose wisely. Professional yet stylish.
I think you have the perfect first-teaching-day look going on. The dress fits you like a glove. Hope you had a great day!
Not boring at all! Classic and sophisticated is more like it. And I totally have those shoes and I LOVE them as a practical/cute alternative to heels!
You look great for your first day of teaching!
I like your dress! I'm sure you'll have a great first day of teaching - what do you teach?
Good luck with your first day of school. I love that dress! New reader here and this is my first comment, but I've been reading and enjoying your blog for several weeks now.
That's a great dress and I think it conveys exactly what you wanted it to. Look forward to seeing you wear it in different ways.
I remember the first day I started as a TA - I tried on like 40 outfits the night before and was so meticulous about what I wore.
xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com
P.S. You look great - you've put together a great teaching outfit
Good choice! I have that same dress and was actually contemplating it for my first day. Let me know how yours works out and then I'll decide . . .
Hope your day went well. I'm sure you come across great in the classroom and good idea sticking to flats.
I'm trying to decide on a first day outfit for my first day of teaching, and I'm thinking along the same lines as you! When you can drop the total-hardass-so-you-better-do-your-homework image a little more, that dress would look nice with a yellow belt, I think. Or brown leather.
Very thoughtful of you to dress like that. That´s just the right outfit to have students guessing what to think of you...i´d say it is pretty much like wearing white sheets: everyone can project his thoughts on to what you person you might be...
This is a great first day outfit! I hope your day rocked!
Love it! I think it absolutely conveys all that you were going for - plus, it also says "and not only am I teacher, I am also a stylish one" :)
Small Time Style
I think the outfit is perfect for first day of school...teacher style
Hope your day went well.
i think it's a good balance between fashionable and serious.
oh my goodness, thank you all for the sweet comments! it's so funny to hear that some of you have the same dress, too--it's so versatile!
and veronica--this semester, i'm teaching business writing (thrilling!).
You look great! Though I do kinda miss your more colorful tendencies today, I can totally understand the need to make the best first impression on your students.
Nailed it :)
Cute outfit... I can't wait for my classes to start. Not until the 8th though.
- Patricia
fivefootsomething.blogspot.com
I love the outfit, and it looks very appropriate. Hope you had a great first day! :)
Cute! Congrats on your first day of teaching!
The silhouette of the dress is just perfect - it really reads professional and put together. Hope you had a great first day!
Chic on the Cheap
i need to find a dress just like that for my first day of teaching in a few weeks! it's so simple yet so chic :)
Best of luck, you look great!
That is the perfect outfit then for first day of teaching. Love it. I'd wear that to class if I was still teaching. :)
www.modelmumma.blogspot.com
Great first day outfit! I agonized over that one too and went with something that was more somber than my usual for all the reasons you listed. I'm also a bit of a softie :) but am trying hard to hide that for the initial weeks. Hope your first day went well! S.
GREAT LOOK!! I start my first day in my own classroom as well but as an adjunct also taking grad courses. So insane! I've decided on muted colors for the outfit but fab heels just because I feel happy when I wear them. They're my birthday shoes from years ago and I plan to do some desk perching.
perfect first day outfit and it looks great on you!
Happy first day of school! You look great (and I think you accomplished all the things you wanted to with this outfit :-D).
I love your first day outfit. It's great and you look like a 'real' teacher, as a grad student I've never really felt like a 'real' one. On my first day I always dress really carefree and cute because I'm a hard-arse, and I'm always entertained throwing my students off their game.
I was moving and I missed this. I'm finally catching up and I want to belatedly say Happy First Day of School! This is my favorite time of the year! You teach those students and make 'em smarter. :)
I adore your dress,... and I guess I have different opinions when it comes to dressing for the classroom.
When I taught at the high school level, I covered up big time. Flats, pants, tops. That's about it. Once in grad school & now teaching college freshmen, I'm having more fun. I don't wear crazy patterns that'll make my students puke, but nothing is off limits (okay, my ripped up Silver jeans are, but you get my point). For my first day Tuesday, I went with a "proper lady" vibe like Mad Men. Wednesday was "country bumpkin" complete with cowboy boots and long yellow linen dress and then yesterday I was a hippie. Today, I pulled out the black platform heels and a vintage dress with black accessories.
Maybe being more of a blank slate is better, but I highly doubt my students will speak up more if my dress is red rather than gray.
You've really touched on some kind of interesting study possibility - is what we wear in the classroom as important as what we say, etc?
Have a lovely weekend & I look forward to reading via Google Reader. :o)
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