Teacher Outfits
It’s that time of the year…everyone’s back to school and ready for an exciting 2023-2024 year. Recently, we got quite a few requests for teacher outfits so we wanted to share some outfit inspiration so you can go back to school in style. Even if you’re not a teacher, these workwear looks could be perfect for your office dress code too! We’re sharing TWENTY comfortable, stylish, and affordable teacher outfit ideas below. We’re sharing classic wardrobe basics styled in multiple ways so you can see just how versatile these pieces are. Consider this your mini capsule wardrobe for work. Plus, some of the best affordable brands for teacher clothes…
Affordable Brands for Teacher Clothes
- Loft gives teachers 15% off and has great workwear pieces!
- Madewell also gives teachers 15% off. Their pieces range from workwear to weekend basics every teacher (and woman) loves.
- Banana Republic gives teachers 15% off with their Teacher ID but they always have great sales all the time so look for the sales and take advantage of your teacher discount.
- J. Crew also gives teachers 15% off with their Teacher ID and has great sales to take advantage of.
- Express is a great place to grab some dressier pieces, must-have dress pants, cute tops & sweaters, etc. They usually have a sale so you can snag some chic pieces at a major discount too.
- Target is a store that really needs no explanation. Different locations are hit or miss with clothing so consider shopping online and taking advantage of their free shipping on orders over $35…we all know it’s not hard to spend $35 at Target 😉
- Gap has really had a resurgence over the past year and whether you love classic basics or something a little trendy, you can find it at Gap. Plus, they have sizing from 23 to 35 in regular, 27 to 33 in tall, and 24 to 30 in petite.
- H&M has really affordable pieces that are stylish and trendy. But you can also get some wonderful basics!
NOTE: Team Busbee tries to stay away from fast fashion and focuses on sustainability, but we know that’s not completely doable on a teacher’s salary. We’re sharing a few retailers that we wouldn’t normally promote because of the fast fashion aspect, but that are wonderful options for budget-friendly workwear pieces and worth sharing.
For more on our take on sustainability and making smart fashion choices, make sure you check out this post next.
Teacher Outfit Ideas
#1) Black Pants
In these four looks, we’re featuring a pair of black pants from Loft. They are a tapered leg, have a subtle seam detail down the front, and are a pull-on style. The reviews online are great and say that they are super comfortable. AND…they’re machine washable! These are the kind of basic black pants you can style with pretty much anything from sweaters to blouses to button-downs. These pants also come in tall and petite lengths.
Look #1: We love a pretty printed blouse and this one has a print that’s not too busy. Throw on a pair of classic black booties and a blazer for a simple, professional, and polished fall look.
Look #2: In this look, we would layer the sleeveless vest over the white button-down and leave them untucked for a cool, on-trend look. The shoes are a pair of pointed-toe flats by Rothy’s that come in a ton of colors and get great reviews for all-day comfort.
Look #3: We love mixing black and brown so you’ll see that a lot throughout these looks. A classic striped sweater and black double-breasted blazer are a must-have in any teacher’s wardrobe. Throw on a pair of flat mules for a pulled-together and sophisticated look.
Look #4: This look is a more casual option but still very stylish and chic. We paired the ribbed Madewell tee with the pants and threw on a denim jacket. The loafers we’re featuring are a pair Erin bought in July and says are SO good, stylish, and comfortable…perfect work shoes!
#2) Black Midi Skirt
Having a black skirt in your work wardrobe is a must! Whether that’s an A-line skirt, pencil skirt, maxi skirt, etc., having some sort of work-appropriate black skirt makes it easier to get dressed each week. This black skirt from Madewell is a midi length and slip-skirt style. The plissé pleated look and stretchy material make it an ultra-comfy elevated basic.
Look #1: We styled the skirt with a tie-neck blouse from Loft that’s a beautiful basic. Something we considered with all of these picks was the necklines and whether they were classroom-appropriate. This top’s v-neckline is flattering but not too low and you have the option of leaving the neck untied or tying it up.
Look #2: For a more casual way to style your black skirt, throw on a fun sweater and sneakers. This sweater comes in multiple colors, but the bright yellow is SO vibrant!
Look #3: For the days you really want to wear a tee but need something a little more elevated, this black ruffle-sleeve top is perfect! Tuck it into your skirt, throw on a jacket or blazer and you’re ready to go!
Look #4: We told you we love to mix brown and black! This look is similar to Look #2 but a little more elevated because we added the pointed-toe flats and a tailored but edgy jacket.
#3) Little Black Dress
Another teacher outfit must-have is…an easy breezy dress (or a few). This cute little tiered mini dress from J. Crew is perfect for dressing up or down. It has a higher neckline so that’s not a worry, the short sleeves cover enough of the arm, and the length is perfect depending on your height. One thing we saw while doing our research for this post is that for those of you who teach younger-age students and might be bending down, putting your hands above your head, etc…. wearing a pair of biker shorts under your dress is a great tip!
Look #1: In this look, we styled a black ribbed cardigan from Loft over the black mini dress. You could leave the cardigan unbuttoned and belt it and the dress for an added touch of style (and a defined waist). Or just leave it open and loose. We paired the black booties with it for a classic fall look but you could swap them for another pair of the other shoes featured in this post too!
Look #2: For a more casual feel, style your black dress with some white sneakers, a denim jacket, your favorite tote bag, and some gold jewelry. For your work wardrobe, we recommend having a few go-to everyday pieces that go with everything.
Look #3: For something a little more elevated, swap the denim jacket for a blazer and sneakers for mules. You can do the same styling trick mentioned in Look #1 to cinch the waist with the belt if you want too!
Look #4: Aaaand another black/brown combo! For this look, we threw on the camel blazer from Loft, Rothy’s flats, and a brown tote to get that fun, unexpected color combination.
#4) Jeans
Everyone needs a pair of jeans for casual Fridays. We recommend finding a pair of jeans that are still elevated and not too casual…like these black jeans from Madewell! Madewell makes great jeans and this style comes in multiple washes. They are a cropped kick flare with a high rise and just the right amount of stretch. They also come in plus sizes and tall and petite lengths.
Look #1: The easiest way to style your jeans is with a white button-down shirt. This one has a little more of an oversized fit that’s great for every day. If you need extra warmth, throw on a cardigan for a casual feel. The great thing about the length of these jeans is that they go with pretty much any shoes and I love the loafers with them!
Look #2: Another option for casual Friday is to style your jeans with a tee and sneakers. Elevate it a little more by throwing on a moto jacket or blazer and you’re ready to go!
Look #3: In this look, we paired the pretty printed blouse with the black jeans, black booties, and a denim jacket. The black booties with black jeans will really elongate your legs!
Look #4: This top has beautiful, draped blouson sleeves. The more elevated top dresses up the jeans a bit more and throwing on the camel blazer really takes it up a notch!
#5) Tailored Pants
You should have a few different pairs of pants in your wardrobe so you don’t feel like you’re wearing the same thing every day. I would start with the classic black pants from the first four looks, but having a few pairs of more fun, exciting pants will make getting dressed every day more fun! Your other work pants can be whatever feels like your personal style…printed or colorful pants, paper bag pants, wide-leg pants, pleated pants, etc. We chose a pair of tan wide-leg trousers from Loft because they felt different but still very versatile. Plus, they also come in petite lengths! By the way, we did an entire post on how to style pleated trousers here in case you’re interested.
Look #1: For this look, we created our own matching suit with the tan blazer and pants. Keep it simple by wearing a white button-down shirt and throw on some sneakers for a more casual feel.
Look #2: This look is a little edgier and on-trend because of the moto jacket and black loafers. You could also wear the pretty black blouse with the pants and mules if you don’t want the third layer or don’t love loafers.
Look #3: Style this black tie-neck blouse under the classic black blazer and tuck it into your tan trousers. Then throw on your favorite work shoes and you’re ready!
Look #4: You have some options with this look…tuck your striped sweater into your pants and throw on a lightweight jacket. OR style your striped sweater underneath a sleeveless vest for an on-trend look.
Which of these looks is your favorite? If you’re a teacher, leave any helpful tips, favroite retailers, or anything else you want to share in the comments below!
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Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you so much for ALL of your beautiful style posts. I love your classy style and look forward to every new post. This post hits home for me in so many ways! I am a teacher on a tight budget so having so many quality functional pieces to mix and match in chic and stylish ways is great!!! Keep em coming! I appreciate you and your team very much.
We’re so glad you enjoyed this post, Lynda! We appreciate YOU! Enjoy your week. ~Team Busbee
Any of the pant options are awesome and ideal for me as I start my substitute position at the local school district! This was a timely and helpful guide! Thanks Erin and team!
So glad this was helpful for you Paula! Good luck with starting your substitute position! ~Team Busbee
This guide is incredible. It is rare to find a collection of so many simple, chic but achievable pairings. Thank you so much for including so many wearable useful outfits for a casual but elevated wardrobe. I can use this for traveling ideas too! Would you do one for spring too?
We’re SO happy you liked this post and the outfits, Janis! We’ll put it on the list for spring too…great idea! ~Team Busbee