I need a good casual, first to third date jacket. I have one from Zara, it’s linen and I bought it years ago. Sadly they just don’t make them anymore. Anyone with any suggestions get in touch
My daughter-in-law is a prep school teacher & she tends to wear dresses or trousers with tops both of which she adds jackets to for parents’ evenings etc. Having been into M&Em on Tuesday & tried on two completely unnecessary dresses I agree that they are cut supremely well & I would have felt amazing in either of them, however I do agree that depending on your social circle there may be someone else in one, moving in farming circles it is unlikely for me to bump into one. With a £700 budget Ridley London is an option as they are a smaller brand & the styles & fabrics are interchangeable so more options. https://ridleylondon.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqyrcqPheAbttWhIStz7g5LK8G1B9JDcxe90rGqr32DDwPyLIoz
Wedding witness dress - one of the silk twill la double j swing dresses in your print of choice. £670 and they are stylish, smart but comfy AND they even have pockets.
Love this post. Rixo popped into my head for a wedding outfit but there is a certain line in your book about the character ordering garish Rixo dresses Esther, that has made me see them differently now 🤣 I like the look of Day Dress if I were looking for a smart wedding outfit. Teacher clothing chat is fascinating. My parents were teachers and always dressed smartly, my mum was alarmed at young teachers wearing leggings and flip flops to work!
Sezanne is lovely for the teacher if pricey BUT go on Vinted and filter for new/very good and you can get pieces for half price. Lovely blouses and cardigans for a bit more than M&S
Agree Uniqlo for trousers but wash the dark colours on completely cold or the colour fades v quickly.
Wedding - try Fee-G.com. Irish designer. V reasonable (c£300) and you won’t risk wearing the Me and Em dress everyone else is wearing (sorry Esther)
For the wedding dress budget: Saloni, Reformation, Jigsaw (excellent suits when they make them), Bella Freud, SIR, Sea New York, Rixo, second hand Vampire’s Wife and DOEN.
Make sure you’re not flashing your top half as you bend over desks! Even t shirts can open up and give a child a full view. Worth doing a practice run bending over a low table.
I have taught in schools where I was expected to be smart and others where anything goes. Just make sure you’re comfortable.
Re. wedding outfits, I love the look of Beulah dresses, there are also some dreamy options at Rouje and Doên. I like the look of Sezane, but I’ve seen a few posts complaining about their clothes not fitting well, so I suppose it depends on one’s figure.
I think it entirely depends on what school you're working in, is it private or state? Primary or secondary? I have worked in very smart private schools where you would absolutely not be allowed to wear trainers and a loafer would be ideal. I now live in Uniqlo wide legged trousers and gazelles, with a plain t shirt and a cardi in the colder months and Nobody's Child dresses in the summer. Never anything revealing though, we're talking boob and leg. Ultimately, the days are long, you're on your feet a lot and you need to be comfy.
Another teacher here, in a secondary with quite a formal dress code, not everyone sticks to it but I mostly do. I have 2 formulas for work wear
1) the Uniqlo jersey barrel leg trousers (but don’t look like jersey) that I think Esther has linked to before. I have them in 3 colour and wear with shirts and more often than not a sleeveless knitted vest type thing.
2) a dress (mine are from Arket, Uniqlo and Hobbs) and a knitted cardigan/ jacket hybrid. Mine are from Arket and cos.
I have just bought Mary Jane type ballet flats from fitflop which are dream teacher shoes- going to see if they have anything else that’s not too ugly. And brogues or boots in winter.
I’d go for some loose fitting, well tailored high waisted trousers. Find them at a discount online in Reiss (summer sales there are ridiculous)and the bonus is that the wide leg will hide slightly scuffed trainers (should you need to be on your feet all day.)
Agreed Me & Em all the way for an occasion dress. My daughter is getting married this month (eek) and my dress is from there. Last season’s and bought in the winter sale and still more than I’ve ever pain for a dress.
I have had a similar experience shopping for a dress for my son's graduation - which of course will live on forever in the photos. I rejected a pricey Me+Em as it made me look frumpy: too busty and thick waisted. I actually went to a second hand designer boutique in Wimbledon Village (Phoenix) and got a 100% silk designer dress for £220, it's great. Layered skirt, floaty sleeves and nice deep V but not rude. Bustled into Ely's department store down the road and bought appropriate underwear. Stopped panicking.
Second another reader's Suzannah recommendation for great wedding guest dresses, I bought one years ago which I still love. For the teacher, Busby and Fox for smart but comfy trousers. Palome for smart jumpers and cardigans.
Queens of Archive!!! I was recently at an event in “Jessica” dress and 3 people from separate came up and gushed about said dress. It was so so lovely that they bothered but high recommend for absolutely glamorous and gorgeous, well made, utterly comfortable clothes. No shape wear required
I need a good casual, first to third date jacket. I have one from Zara, it’s linen and I bought it years ago. Sadly they just don’t make them anymore. Anyone with any suggestions get in touch
My daughter-in-law is a prep school teacher & she tends to wear dresses or trousers with tops both of which she adds jackets to for parents’ evenings etc. Having been into M&Em on Tuesday & tried on two completely unnecessary dresses I agree that they are cut supremely well & I would have felt amazing in either of them, however I do agree that depending on your social circle there may be someone else in one, moving in farming circles it is unlikely for me to bump into one. With a £700 budget Ridley London is an option as they are a smaller brand & the styles & fabrics are interchangeable so more options. https://ridleylondon.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqyrcqPheAbttWhIStz7g5LK8G1B9JDcxe90rGqr32DDwPyLIoz
Wedding witness dress - one of the silk twill la double j swing dresses in your print of choice. £670 and they are stylish, smart but comfy AND they even have pockets.
Love this post. Rixo popped into my head for a wedding outfit but there is a certain line in your book about the character ordering garish Rixo dresses Esther, that has made me see them differently now 🤣 I like the look of Day Dress if I were looking for a smart wedding outfit. Teacher clothing chat is fascinating. My parents were teachers and always dressed smartly, my mum was alarmed at young teachers wearing leggings and flip flops to work!
Sezanne is lovely for the teacher if pricey BUT go on Vinted and filter for new/very good and you can get pieces for half price. Lovely blouses and cardigans for a bit more than M&S
Agree Uniqlo for trousers but wash the dark colours on completely cold or the colour fades v quickly.
Wedding - try Fee-G.com. Irish designer. V reasonable (c£300) and you won’t risk wearing the Me and Em dress everyone else is wearing (sorry Esther)
For teaching, I recommend a suit of armour.
For the wedding dress budget: Saloni, Reformation, Jigsaw (excellent suits when they make them), Bella Freud, SIR, Sea New York, Rixo, second hand Vampire’s Wife and DOEN.
Tip from a retired teacher: make sure that you’re not flashing you latest
Oops. Finger slipped!
Make sure you’re not flashing your top half as you bend over desks! Even t shirts can open up and give a child a full view. Worth doing a practice run bending over a low table.
I have taught in schools where I was expected to be smart and others where anything goes. Just make sure you’re comfortable.
Re. wedding outfits, I love the look of Beulah dresses, there are also some dreamy options at Rouje and Doên. I like the look of Sezane, but I’ve seen a few posts complaining about their clothes not fitting well, so I suppose it depends on one’s figure.
I think it entirely depends on what school you're working in, is it private or state? Primary or secondary? I have worked in very smart private schools where you would absolutely not be allowed to wear trainers and a loafer would be ideal. I now live in Uniqlo wide legged trousers and gazelles, with a plain t shirt and a cardi in the colder months and Nobody's Child dresses in the summer. Never anything revealing though, we're talking boob and leg. Ultimately, the days are long, you're on your feet a lot and you need to be comfy.
Another teacher here, in a secondary with quite a formal dress code, not everyone sticks to it but I mostly do. I have 2 formulas for work wear
1) the Uniqlo jersey barrel leg trousers (but don’t look like jersey) that I think Esther has linked to before. I have them in 3 colour and wear with shirts and more often than not a sleeveless knitted vest type thing.
2) a dress (mine are from Arket, Uniqlo and Hobbs) and a knitted cardigan/ jacket hybrid. Mine are from Arket and cos.
I have just bought Mary Jane type ballet flats from fitflop which are dream teacher shoes- going to see if they have anything else that’s not too ugly. And brogues or boots in winter.
I’d go for some loose fitting, well tailored high waisted trousers. Find them at a discount online in Reiss (summer sales there are ridiculous)and the bonus is that the wide leg will hide slightly scuffed trainers (should you need to be on your feet all day.)
Agreed Me & Em all the way for an occasion dress. My daughter is getting married this month (eek) and my dress is from there. Last season’s and bought in the winter sale and still more than I’ve ever pain for a dress.
I have had a similar experience shopping for a dress for my son's graduation - which of course will live on forever in the photos. I rejected a pricey Me+Em as it made me look frumpy: too busty and thick waisted. I actually went to a second hand designer boutique in Wimbledon Village (Phoenix) and got a 100% silk designer dress for £220, it's great. Layered skirt, floaty sleeves and nice deep V but not rude. Bustled into Ely's department store down the road and bought appropriate underwear. Stopped panicking.
Second another reader's Suzannah recommendation for great wedding guest dresses, I bought one years ago which I still love. For the teacher, Busby and Fox for smart but comfy trousers. Palome for smart jumpers and cardigans.
Queens of Archive!!! I was recently at an event in “Jessica” dress and 3 people from separate came up and gushed about said dress. It was so so lovely that they bothered but high recommend for absolutely glamorous and gorgeous, well made, utterly comfortable clothes. No shape wear required