Wanting a show up to your classroom wearing comfy tee shirts to school but not sure how to look professional or appropriate for your school? You’ve come to the right place! I’ll show you three simple ways to style a basic tee shirt that are cute, comfortable, kinder and admin approved! So let’s jump in together!
BUT FIRST! You need some actual teacher tee shirts, girl! These can be teacher themed (have you seen those adorable retro flower tee shirts?), book character or subject themed (Mo Willems, anyone?), or season or holiday themed (this company makes my favorite ones!). Don’t have any yet or not sure where to start? No worries! Check out my previous post on where to stock up on cute teacher graphic tees before school starts!
3 Ways to Style Teacher Graphic Tees
Graphic Tee & Paper Bag Pants
The easiest and comfiest way to style a graphic tee for the classroom is to throw one on with some simple paper bag pants. Paper bag pants come in a few styles and fabrics that would work for any body shape or preference. They usually have an elastic waistband and has a bit of room in the hip area. This makes them a perfect choice for a teacher! They are polished and chic, but not constricting. Feel free to sit on your Morning Meeting carpet with your kiddos with ease.
Take a look below at some options of paper bag pants for women. Tons of color options to go as bright or neutral as you’d like at afford prices. Some are made of a light linen material that would be perfect for early fall, spring, or even summer (do ya’ll teacher summer school?). There’s wide leg, straight, leg, cropped, or even tapered leg paper bag pants with adorable bows at the cinched ankles! It the little details in the outfits that get me…
Tuck in your tee into your pants and tie that cute bow around your waist! Roll up the sleeve of your graphic tee for a more fitted look and wear a statement necklace to make the outfit really POP with personality! Finally, sandals or some white kicks would do just fine to keep the outfit comfy but cute.
Graphic Tee & Midi Skirt
The Midi skirt is probably one of my favorite teacher essentials in my closet. It doesn’t drag on the floor and it’s the right length to be modest in the classroom and definitely passes the bend and snap rule and reach overhead rule so you don’t have to worry when you’re moving and grooving with your kiddos all day long. Midi skirts come in an A-line silhouette which is universally flattering on all body types AND they usually have an elastic waistband, which you all know are my absolute favorite for comfort and support.
One of my favorite things about midi skirts is that they come in a variety of colors, fabrics, and patterns. Want a chic silky look? How about a dreamy tulle teacher outfit? Midi skirts can achieve all your dream looks on a budget. Take a look at a few of my favorite below. Some are classic and some are a big more bold. Choose the one the just right for you!
You can also totally wear a midi skirt at any point in the school year. Throw on a pair of loafers and denim jacket with your midi & graphic tee for the fall. Wear tights and booties in the winter. Wear sandals and the soft sweater in the spring!
My favorite trick to getting this style down to a perfect fit every time is actually not tucking in the shirt. Take a small portion of the tee shirt and pull like you are going to tie a tiny knot. Instead, use a clear hair elastic and wrap it around to secure. Voila! Nobody will ever know and your tee will be secure all day long! Take a peek at my look above for inspiration or to see how it looks in person.
Graphic Tee & Blazer
Want to look absolutely show stopping in the classroom but still feel comfortable? Easy. Where either of the outfit stylings above and just throw on a blazer! A blazer is the easiest way to make any outfit look workplace ready and polished. I love that blazers have come a long way to the everyday wardrobe! No longer stuffy, but actually really sleek and chic with are variety of colors and details (like puff sleeves or gold buttons! YES!)
You can totally pair a blazer with a teacher graphic tee and paper bag pants OR a midi skirt. You can also wear a blazer with class work pants or denim. My favorite work pants happen to be black, white, or colored denim but SHHH, that’s my teacher style secret! You know a blazer will finish the look every time.
Take a look at my favorite blazers below that will match any graphic tee you have and really elevate your look. You’re bound to get compliments from colleagues or administrators for bringing your passion for education into your teacher fashion choices!
Finishing the Look
Now that you have some idea of how to style teacher graphic tee for back to school, I always like to throw in my colorful and themed accessories because hey, they don’t call me Glitter in Kindergarten for nothing! I always need to sparkle! Check the photo above and you’ll see I’ve got accessories on my arm, ears, and head (okay, the picture was from my birthday…I don’t actually wear tiaras to school on the regular! Or should I?)
Statement Jewelry
Did you really think I’d skip a blog post without adding details about jewelry? I wear statement pieces probably every single day of the school year simply because I love to feel a bit extra (and the kids make me feel like a teacher princess when I’m all dolled up!)
All of these outfit stylings would look great with a statement necklace or statement jewelry – basically BIG jewelry that sparkles or is themed that will really make the outfit POP! My favorite statement necklaces are usually from J. Crew, but Amazon has a few fun ones as well. The best statement earrings that are seasonally or holiday themed are definitely from Brianna Cannon (always 10% off with my link!). They a big but not heavy and you will definitely feel glamorous while wearing them both in class and out on the weekend.
Headbands
If you’ve been following me on Instagram for the last year, you know that I absolutely love my Brianna Cannon headbands (10% always with my code!). They are so comfortable and never pinch behind your ears, nor do they give you headaches! You’ll see me regularly rocking this both in the classroom and out! This brand has quickly become my favorite accessory brand do to their bold, blingy, and high quality holiday and seasonally themed pieces. Trust me, once you see the accessories offered and put one on your head, you will feel like a teacher fashion queen!
Shoes
Truthfully, I usually go for comfort over style when it comes to shoes for the classroom. I also believe in investing in high quality shoes that you can wear ALL DAY & EVERYDAY. All an elementary school teach, you are on your feet all day long. Uncomfortable shoes not only cause your feet to ache, but eventually your back and rest of your body too! That’s a straight up no-no, in my opinion. Why not invest in shoes that will keep you freely bee-bopping around with your kiddos.
Personally, I usually wear a trusty pair of white kicks to keep me going all day long. I choose these because firstly, they go with absolutely ANY outfit and secondly, they never go out of style or season. Take a look at a couple of my favorite options below…
