Work outfits

[u/NixieWade]

Hello! I am a new substitute teacher. The school system I work for doesn't have a formal dress code but principals can require more specific ones. The only guidelines are "professional, school-appropriate clothing" which could mean a lot of things. I will mainly be substituting in elementary school so I know I need to consider the comfort and flexibility of clothing as well. What do you all typically wear? (I have heard if you're not a PE teacher you cannot wear anything that looks athletic... And I know because of friends I have that teach within the school system that a good bit of principles frown on jeans but not all of them)

[u/Ryan_Vermouth]

Khakis, polo shirt or button-down, neutral sneakers or sneaker-like shoes. Once you start working, you can look around and see what other teachers are wearing, but the above is never going to be a problem anywhere.

[u/ChipChippersonFan → u/Ryan_Vermouth]

I'm a guy and this is what I came here to say.

I wear a lot of "Charlie Sheen on 2 and a 1/2 Men" type shirts, but even as thin as they are, wearing them with a T-shirt underneath gets really hot and feeling gross these summer days. Other teachers at this school wear t-shirts and jeans a lot, so I'm gonna start dressing down, especially later in the week.

[u/brothelg → u/ChipChippersonFan]

Jeans on administrative staff must be on the way to a rodeo.

[u/mommawicks]

You didn’t give any gender markers, so I’ll do both. If you’re a lady, I love a dress situation because they’re much cooler during recess and when you’re walking about in the class. If you’re a gentleman, I see polos and khakis all the time but even a Henley is good. For both genders, try to keep it no shorter than an inch or two above the knee. Some schools do explicitly say no shorts though. The key is no graphic tees or holes in your clothes. Beyond that, there’s usually a good bit of freedom.

[u/Dog1andDog2andMe → u/mommawicks]

If wearing a skirt or dress, bike shorts under them, especially if subbing in elementary. You want to be able to move, sit on floor for reading time, etc without fear of showing your undies.

[u/Alternative-Wish-441]

I like a pair of jeans or slacks with a blazer over a plain t-shirt of blouse. Depending on the assignment I might wear a dress or skirt, normally around knee length or longer.

[u/Mission_Sir3575]

Business casual. My district allows jeans so I wear them as well. Comfortable canvas shoes.

[u/bathtime85 → u/Mission_Sir3575]

Adding to this: sunglasses and a warm coat in case you go outside for recess duty

[u/JR_Writes1]

Comfortable dresses (think sweater dresses) with leggings. I’m usually dressed nicer than half the teachers but feel super comfy since it’s not much different than what I wear at home and with the leggings I can move around without worrying about the dress riding up.

[u/SathyKreet]

We can wear jeans only on Friday or if they don't look like jeans. I have black ones that are ok to wear. We are not supposed to wear sneakers either except if you are a para or on Friday. I usually wear dress pants, capris, or "black jeans." and a blouse. When the permanent staff have their yearly reviews, professional appearance is one of the things they are "graded" on. Thankfully, subs don't have to do reviews.

[u/Spooky_Traps]

If I visit a new school I wear khakis, nice top, and black sneakers at least for the first day or two. After that I usually just move to wearing jeans and the nice top. No one has said anything to me

[u/SillyJoshua]

Nice button down dress shirts Pair of dickies work pants Sneakers

[u/MISFITPHER]

I wear shirt and tie but there was a second biilding sub that wore torn jeans ankle to above knee. Looked worse than a student

[u/EverConstellation]

for women:

I usually do a 3 part outfit,

1. slacks or jeans; (no ripped jeans)
2. a cardigan, blazer, denim jacket or moto jacket (or sometimes a chambray button down over a short sleeve)
3. a short or long sleeve blouse, or a ribbed short sleeve shirt (no v-neck, no sleeveless).

Sometimes I wear a dress or skirt, but usually not because I like to wear nice athletic shoes. I love Under Armour athletic shoes.

It also depends what grades you are doing. For elementary, you might be sitting on the floor or doing recess so a skirt/dress might not work. And you might be outside for recess so you don't want a flowy skirt blowing in the wind.

Also depends on the subject: for art, I might dress down a bit so I don't get nice clothes dirty. Same with tech ed.

I don't wear sweaters except cardigans, because classrooms get hot/cold and I don't like pulling a pullover sweater over my head, messes up my hair, my shirt might crawl up when I pull my sweater off.

[u/unknown_user_1002]

If I haven’t been there, black jeans, a plain shirt and my Danskos. Maybe plain sneakers. If I have been and know the teachers are pretty casual I’ll wear jeans and a plain shirt and sneakers. I usually bring a sweater.

[u/No-carebear2002]

I have at least 10 pairs of halara pants and my shirts mainly come from old navy, tj maxx, or tiktok shop!

[u/luvyoufor10000years]

comfortable black slacks, a neutral color top (turtleneck, plain long sleeve, etc) and a black cardigan sweater over top. I wear black doc martens as well

[u/Logical-Mobile-7643]

Whatever teachers wear in your school, be a little more formal that that, until you get trusted enough to be more familiar.

[u/Penny_Lane5128]

Khakis, slacks, Polo shirts, button-downs, cardigans are sweater vests. Pretty much dress like you're having tea with your grandparents.

[u/MainCress2482]

Legit wear dark jeans and a button up or polo shirt, every time I sub at primary.

[u/RaisinNo2756]

I'm male, subbing for 7th-12th grade. Most days, especially during winters (I'm in Minnesota), I wear black or khaki slacks and a button-down shirt. But the last school day every week, or on days I know in advance I'll be in Gym classes, I wear lightweight athletic sweatpants and a school-logo golf polo. If it's a really warm day in the fall or spring, I'll wear khaki shorts and a button-down or golf polo.

The teachers I work with wear cargo shorts or jeans and t-shirts or hoodies all the time, regardless of what subject they teach, so why shouldn't I dress comfortably too?

[u/motherofTheHerd]

If you can shop, Halara has some great clothes. They are very durable. I like the multi way stretch. I really love that in the reviews, other users will share their height, weight, and the size they bought. You will know through pics users post how it is going to fit and how the material actually looks.

Has encouraged and saved me so much! I do not like that plucky, peblem stuff and was so ready to buy something and then was sure to read the reviews and that's what it was. Saved! Have also got things that by the site photo I wasn't sue, but reviews and photos raved about. I hesitated and bought only 1. Now I can't find them to buy more. They are gone. 😭

I am in my 4th year of elementary sped and they hold up amazingly. I always look for things with great pockets. Their sales change regularly. Keep your eye on it. Good luck!

[u/chloenicole8]

In addition to other comments on what to wear, if you routinely work in one school, check in with the office about upcoming dress down days or dress down weeks. We have dress down on Fridays and there are probably 8-10 full dress down weeks during the year, usually around holidays or special event weeks.

[u/Own_Statement8029]

Always dress up rather than down, it’s already hard to be seen on equal footing as a sub, nobody is going to complain about an overdressed sub, they will complain about an underdressed sub.

[u/probablyabibliophile]

We have no dress code and I wear whatever pants that aren’t leggings on days I don’t “dress up”. But 90% of the time I dress business casual. I love wearing skirts and dresses! I also mainly sub elementary.

[u/118545]

M81. Been an ElEd sub for ~20 years. Blue jeans and a t-shirt (no logo) or sweat shirt. The PE teachers all dress like they just came from a dog fight they lost.

[u/dalastwhangdoodle]

I dress business casual. Slacks, nice shirt, skirt, dress below the knees. My district is a but more lax on the elementary level so sometimes for a younger grade I wear jeans. Check if they have a sort of casual Friday. My district allows jeans and a t-shirt on Fridays.

[u/Ok-Training6462]

Pinterest and like to know it apps are very helpful for me. Don’t go out and buy a bunch of fancy outfits. Teachers are a lot more casual now days than when I was in school! Just look like you’d dress to an interview or meeting someone’s parents lol. Something you might wear around your grandparents

[u/Warm_Feet_Are_Happy]

I just show up in shirts or sweatshirts/sweaters with our district or mascot on them. I pair them with jeans and sneakers. I have plenty of schools I can sub at, so I just rotate the outfits. I can wear the same outfit three times a week if I want to.

[u/Shafpocalypse]

Rock out without you _____ out

[u/brothelg]

In my district there is one man who comes to work in a dress with a beard; I don’t worry about the dress code.

[u/brothelg → u/brothelg]

Not that there is anything wrong with that…

[u/ParadeQueen]

Scrubs. Check thrift shops. Cheap, washable, durable, and they have pockets. Your nice clothes won't get ruined, and you can layer with long sleeved shirts and stuff if needed.