What to Wear: Teacher

Is it possible to get through spring without starting to hate your wardrobe? I find the cure is to pull out all your least favorites and host a clothing swap with some friends. Here is Adrienne’s request:

I’m an elementary school teacher living near Seattle. I’m 25 years old, 5”9″ and a size 4/6 with shoulder length wavy brown hair (to set the scene 🙂 ). I’ve become disenchanted with my current school wardrobe and am looking forward to spring! I’m relatively new to teaching so my budget makes it so that anything I buy for work needs to translate over to my everyday wardrobe. I’m looking for some classy/fun pieces to create a youthful spring wardrobe. I love skirts, but I’ve been eyeing some J.Crew capris lately. Can you create a fashion miracle with a few mix and match pieces that will be wearable for work and play that also meet my weather requirements?

In my imagination, I’d wear all sorts of pencil skirts and pumps if I were a teacher. But I’m not and that’s not very rooted in reality. Here’s what I recommend:

Dress – It doesn’t get much easier than a dress. Especially one in a tempera paint resistant print. Just throw it on and you’re ready for school looking perky and put together. This looks extra cute in the photo on the model and they have a sale for $20 off a purchase over $100 right now. The quality from Boden is worth the slightly higher price.
Jacket – Take advantage of J.Crew’s sales to stock up on basics. This would be really nice with jeans, too.
Shoes – I love these super comfortable flats. They pass as more formal than their rubber soles would indicate.
Earrings – From Anthropologie.