As a teacher, polished and practical clothing works best. Think of trousers or smart pants, a knitted top, polo or blouse and a cardigan. Choose calm colours, fabrics that barely crease and shoes you can stand in all day. Above all, choose clothes you can easily move, stand and sit in.
Why clothing for the classroom matters
A teacher is in view all day. Pupils watch you while you explain, and parents see you at meetings and parents' evenings. The right level of formality depends mainly on the school, the age group and the occasion. Polished without becoming too formal is usually a safe base.
A teaching day also involves a lot of movement. You stand, walk through the classroom, bend over a small desk, reach for the top of the board and sometimes sit on a low chair. Clothing that pinches or rides up can quickly become annoying then.
Five requirements for teachers' clothing
- Freedom of movement: trousers and tops with a little stretch or a supple cut.
- Low-crease: knitwear and fabrics with elastane still look neat after six lessons.
- Layers: classrooms are cold in the morning and warm after lunch. A cardigan solves that.
- Easy to care for: chalk, markers and coffee come with the job. Choose fabrics you can wash at home.
- A calm image: busy prints and large texts distract. Plain colours or a fine stripe work better.
For women teachers
A knitted polo is a practical middle ground between a T-shirt and a blouse. You wear the Josephine knitted polo with V-neck in cream with trousers or a skirt and, thanks to the knit, it stays neat even if you move all day. The V-neck with collar gives a polished edge without becoming formal.
Underneath, the Florence flared ankle-length trousers in grey work well. The wide, flared leg gives freedom of movement and the ankle length prevents the trousers from dragging on the floor when you wear flat shoes. For the cold mornings, lay out the Eleanor ribbed knitted cardigan in white: easy to put on for the first hour and to take off as soon as the classroom warms up. You will find more knitted pieces in the knitwear for Women collection, and trousers in trousers and smart trousers for Women.
For men teachers
For men, a knitted polo with quarter zip can be a practical middle ground between a shirt and a sweater. The Edmund fine-knit polo with quarter zip in olive green melange is 100% lyocell and feels cool, even in a warm classroom. With the zip open a little it looks relaxed, zipped up further more polished for a parents' evening.
On warmer days choose the Montgomery smooth-draping modal polo in navy. Combine both with the Vincent slim-fit trousers in khaki: thanks to the elastane in the fabric you can easily bend and cycle in them. The mid-rise waist sits comfortably when you stand and sit a lot. See more in the trousers for Men.
A teaching week in five outfits
| Day | Situation | Outfit |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Ordinary teaching day | Knitted polo, grey trousers, leather sneakers |
| Tuesday | Practical lessons or crafts | Dark trousers, polo in a dark colour, cardigan off |
| Wednesday | Meeting with colleagues | Polo with quarter zip, trousers, loafers |
| Thursday | Parents' evening | Knitted top or polo with collar, smart trousers, cardigan |
| Friday | Excursion or sports day | Stretch trousers, polo, comfortable shoes, raincoat |
Shoes for a long teaching day
Teachers stand and walk a lot during a working day. So choose shoes with a good sole and a stable heel. Leather sneakers in a calm colour, loafers with a soft sole or ankle boots with a low heel are polished and comfortable. Alternate per day, so shoes can air out and your feet are not always loaded at the same point.
Chalk, markers and coffee: how to save your clothes
- Chalk dust you shake out and brush away with a dry clothes brush. Do not wet it, or it will smear.
- Whiteboard marker you treat with a little alcohol on a cotton pad, dabbing and not rubbing. Test on an invisible spot first.
- Coffee you rinse out with cold water as soon as possible.
On our care instructions page you can read per material how best to wash afterwards.
Polished and practical
Many teachers look for clothing that looks professional without being too formal. A few guidelines that work at most schools: a collar or neat neckline gives structure, soft fabrics such as knitwear make you approachable. Calm colours keep the attention on you and the lesson. A good fit does the rest. A good fit keeps the outfit calm.
The first day of school
On the first day pupils get to know their new teacher, and the first impression is just a little more important than usual. Choose your most polished combination that day: smart trousers, a knitted top or polo with a collar and shoes that are polished. You do not have to wear a suit, but you do show that you are starting the new year seriously. In the weeks after, you can make the tone a little more relaxed, depending on the culture at school and the age of your pupils.
Shop the look
Josephine: knitted polo with V-neck, cream
Florence: flared ankle-length trousers, grey
Eleanor: ribbed knitted cardigan, white
Edmund: fine-knit polo with quarter zip, olive green melange
Vincent: slim-fit trousers with mid-rise, khaki
Montgomery: smooth-draping modal polo, navy
Frequently asked questions
Can a teacher wear jeans?
At many schools yes, as long as the jeans are dark and polished and you combine them with a smart top, polo or cardigan. Look at the culture at your school.
Which clothing is handy for a long teaching day?
Trousers with a little stretch, low-crease knitwear and a cardigan for the cold mornings. Combine with comfortable, polished shoes.
What do you wear to a parents' evening as a teacher?
Something a bit more polished than on an ordinary teaching day, for example smart trousers with a knitted polo with collar, or a blouse and a cardigan.
