This week was a bit unusual, so I thought I would post a few teacher outfits for warm days and testing days. We had students taking the SAT on Tuesday and the weather become really warm as the week went on. I thought I would show a few of the ways I deal with testing days and Fridays. 

This outfit was for testing. This time of year, is so tricky. The AC isn't turned on until it is consistently warm, so I study the weather with the dedication of a meteorologist. This day we were lucky to have mild weather, so I focused more on something comfortable and shoes that would't be loud while patrolling...I mean proctoring... 

While my shirt is from a season or two ago, I'm attaching a few options. Just click on the pictures below:
​

I must say that as much as I love this shirt, it's not as flexible as I would have hoped. I like it with these grey jeans that I love (here's a link to a similar pair), but I'm not finding as many other options as I thought I would. I'm going to try it out with some skirts and shorts, so I'll keep you posted (I'm sure you will wait with bated breath!). Either way, it's so helpful to have really stretching jeans and a comfortable top for a day that is lots of sitting, walking and staring at kids. It also doesn't make sense to dress up on these days because you're not leading a class and most dress shoes are noisy if your day consists of walking among desks. 

I paired this with my Birkenstock sandals. You can click on the picture to the right to go to the Zappos page. 

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. On testing days, here are my questions about an outfit:
1. Will it adapt to unfamiliar classroom layout and temperature?
2. Will it be comfortable no matter where I end up sitting (stool, student desk, teacher desk, etc.)? 
3. Will the shoes be comfortable for walking to the bathroom 3 million times, standing for long periods, and walking around a classroom? 
4. Will my outfit be quiet while I'm moving around? 
This may seem like a lot to think about for just one day, but these days happen often enough to be worthy of a routine. 

I'm also including my Friday outfit because it's another one of those "Spring is so weird" outfits. We got an email earlier in the week warning us that it was supposed to be warm and the AC wouldn't be turned on until the weekend. So, I wanted my most summer-y school outfit. I got this linen-ish shirt from Banana Republic a few weeks ago when they sent me a coupon. I had been looking at it for a few months any time it came up in a Facebook ad, so when I got a coupon, I thought it was a good time to go for it. It was perfect for the day. The loose fit and summer material made it perfect for a day that got warmer as the day went on.  Click on the picture for this shirt. Oh--and it's a hi-low, which I love, but I think you could probably also tuck it into a skirt or jeans for a bit dressier look. 

I paired the shirt with these Lucky Brand "super skinny" jeans. If you're like me, you are terrified of that word, especially in online shopping, but these actually fit really well, and I think they are really versatile. I switched up the rest of my outfit for the Nats game last night, and I would say that these jeans looked just as cute with my Nats shirt, baseball hat and sneakers as they did with this outfit, and I think I've also paired them with heels and a blazer. They stretch just the right amount throughout the day and return to their original, more fitted (shall we say) shape after coming out of the washer. I also really like the color. 

I also like them because they are high rise enough that it wasn't a pain to wear them to the ballgame or to school. 

And I wore my new Birks again. They still are a bit uncomfortable on one foot at the crossover point, but it was way better, and I'm thinking by the next time I wear them, it'll be no big deal. I've linked them to the picture, and I'm leaving you with a few more pictures of the outfit. In closing, on hot days, be kind to yourself. It's always good to have a few sleeveless shirts that can stand a hot day...maybe even a lesson outside if it gets too bad! 

Hello! It's finally beginning to feel like spring around here, and I'm probably more excited than I should be. As I said in my last post, I patiently waited until after Easter to break out the spring stuff, but that was as long as I was willing to wait. When I got this dress, I wondered how often I would get to wear it since it's a spring dress with long sleeves. So, when I saw the forecast for today, I knew today was my day. Doesn't that sound like something the hero of a movie says when they're talking about something that's actually important? 

But still--it was a good decision. A bright green dress on one of the first warm days of spring is a good idea. This one has a few things that make it delightful:
1. It has an elastic waist.
2. While it has long sleeves, they are not heavy. 
3. It's a loose fit. 

This dress from J. Crew Factory comes in green and navy. I love the green because I'm a firm believer that spring is a great excuse to wear all the bright colors you can find. 

I paired it with a belt to give it a bit more of a structured look and wore some of my favorite spring shoes. I was at DSW the other day and saw that they were selling these again this year (although in a different shade). Hooray for all! 
​
They also have these cute shoes ...that I might like better...

  I love these shoes because they make it through the day but still have a bit of a dressier look than flats or sandals. I've also had this belt for several years, but I'm linking a few cute options. I really like Banana Republic belts because they hold up really well. 

Here are three options (I finally figured out how to put the link with the picture, so just click on the image! Yay for technology!):

I do have one philosophical thing to say before I go. I must say that this dress is not necessarily the most flattering for me, and I'm not exactly in peak physical condition, and I am so white it's almost like I'm translucent. But I just decided that I like this dress, it's comfortable and forgiving, and looking like a runway model isn't really a top priority for me, so I'm wearing this dress whenever I want. I think as teachers, having so many eyes on you every day, it's easy to be self conscious, but I'd say, as I've said before on here, wear what you want. As long as it is school-appropriate, wear what makes you happy. Wearing a bright green dress made me happy. 
So here are my spring tips for you:
1. Wear what makes you happy--within reason. 
2. Once you've built a stable wardrobe that gets you through most seasons, it's fun to add in a few spring and fall items. While I wouldn't encourage these purchases in the first few years of trying to build a wardrobe, they are fun to have and fill a great space between fully warm or fully cold weather. 

Well--I'm off to finish up this lovely Friday!