Layering, embracing your style, and other things I learned from my friend

Say, "Hello!" to my awesome friend Lindsay! I've had the pleasure of working with her for a while now, and every time she comes down my hallway during the passing periods I always tell her how much I love her outfit. So it only made sense to interview her for this blog. I wanted to talk to her about how she came to find her teacher style and how she puts her outfits together. 

The thing I most love about her style is how she layers things...and her shoes...I love her shoes.
Here are a couple of moments from our conversation about teacher fashion and developing a "grown-up" wardrobe:

So how does Lindsay put together her outfits? She starts by thinking about textures. Lindsay said she really likes to mix textures (cotton, woven, leather, etc.) through layering, especially since her classroom tends to be on the colder side of things. Lindsay has avoided the "cardigan every day" trap that I so easily fall into by building up a wardrobe of layers that work together--sweaters, blazers, long sleeve shirts, etc. And whether it's a sweater and mid-length pleated skirt with ankle boots or jeans, lace-up suede shoes and a sweater, she always has a put-together, unique and teacher-friendly style. 

She also noted that she uses cute outfits as a way to brace for harder days. When she knows a day might be rough or she might have to deal with a challenging situation, she will face it with a great outfit. The temptation is to hide out in comfy clothes on days like that, but we both agreed that there's something about feeling put together that makes you feel more prepared to face the day. 

We also talked about who helped to shape the way we thought about fashion. Lindsay quickly responded that her mom is someone she looks up to. She is "cute, but not in a traditional way. She puts a spin on it. She'll mix vintage pieces with department store pieces." She talked about the way her mom took her shopping to help her build her work wardrobe when she was first getting started. They headed to a local version of TJ Maxx (but better), and she was able to find really great designer clothes at a price that fit her budget. She said she still has items from that shopping trip. 

She said her mom taught her to look past trendy items of the day and choose pieces that were comfortable and would work once the trends had changed. As Lindsay talked about her mom, and I thought about some of her outfits that I most admired, I could see the influence. 

Okay--I'm off to my next adventure! Thanks again to Lindsay for letting me snap a few pictures and pick her brain! 

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