8 Cute Teacher Outfits that are Classic & Comfortable

One of the most popular requests I get when I offer to help people shop on Instagram is for cute teacher outfits. And as someone who isn’t a teacher, and considering my son is just starting his first year of preschool, I’m not necessarily the expert when it comes to this. However, I did work in an elementary school for a few years during college, my mom worked in an elementary school for almost 20 years and I have a few friends that are teachers, so I pulled all of that knowledge together to put together this post.

From what I’ve learned, most schools ask teachers to dress professionally, but what does that really mean anyway? Professional dress can mean formal in a corporate setting, or it can just mean that you you should look polished and put together. From what I’ve gathered, it’s the latter for teachers.

This depends on where you teach, but for the most part, black or white jeans are considered appropriate (and one of my friends mentioned that there’s an unspoken rule at her school where they wear blue jeans on Fridays). So when I was putting this post together, I focused on outfits that felt polished, neat, and conservative while still being cute and feminine.

That’s how I try to dress in my own life, actually. I’d say that my wardrobe is about 80% teacher-approved. I hope this post inspires your fall wardrobe to help rock some cute teacher outfits in the classroom this year! And while some items are splurges, they are items that will last me for years since they are timeless pieces, like denim and classic striped dresses. But I also included some Amazon and Walmart finds so you can create cute and affordable teacher outfits. And many of these will also work for business casual work outfits!

8 Cute Teacher Outfits that are Polished & Comfortable

1. Black Jeans and a White Blouse

One of the simplest outfits I put together was this white blouse paired with black jeans. The style of the jeans here is key because the little kick flare allows for any type of shoe. The most natural shoe option is a loafer since it’s a perfect shoe for a work setting, but you could easily pair these with a pair of fashion sneakers like Vejas for a more casual look.

My top is an old Walmart find, but the shape is classic and an it’s easy to find similar options. (I linked a handful of others below). The black jeans I’m wearing are a bit of a splurge, but worth every penny for the comfort and quality. They run true to size. You can also find a very similar style of kick flare jeans at J.Crew factory. My brown lugsole loafers are by Madewell. They’re expensive but will hold up for years. I’ve always found the quality of my Madewell items to be really good.

2. White Jeans and a Sleeveless Blouse

The next simple outfit I put together was with my favorite straight leg white jeans. I own white jeans from Madewell in three different styles (see them all in this white jeans review), but the straight leg fit is my favorite, by far. They look and feel more laid back than my white skinny jeans or kick flare crop pair. You can easily style straight leg white jeans with loafers, sneakers, or flats like I’ve shown below. And like the black jeans above, white jeans are a versatile option for all types of tops and blouses.

The pink sleeveless smocked top below is an Amazon find! The quality shocked me, and I’ve worn (and washed) it multiple times this past summer.

My flats were a steal I got from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. The tan color I have is mostly sold out now, but they do come in other colors.

3. Collared Shirt Dress

When thinking through teacher outfit ideas, this green sleeveless shirt dress came to mind very first since it’s a great option when it’s still hot but you want fall vibes. This would be a great option to wear on the first day since most schools start in August when it’s still sweltering. I truly LOVE everything about it from the collar to the rounded drop of the skirt, and the fact that it has pockets is an added bonus. While you may get a little chilly in this dress on its own, you could easily layer a denim jacket on top or bring a cardigan to throw on over your shoulders. This dress comes in 10 other fun colors and fits true to size. I styled it below with Madewell lugsole loafers, but you could also wear sneakers.

4. Colored jeans and a solid blouse

Next on the list are my favorite taupe colored AG Jeans paired with a simple white blouse. The jeans themselves are a GREAT teacher-approved option because the coloring is so similar to khaki. When I first ordered them, I didn’t expect to wear them as often as I have. You can style them with mules like I have below, sneakers, or even heeled sandals.

The white top I’m wearing below is from Banana Republic Factory and has such a unique shape! Unfortunately it’s from last season, so the sizing is limited. However, you can achieve the same look with any white blouse. My suede shoes are mule slides and they are SO versatile and comfortable. And they don’t annoyingly smack the ground like most mules or flip flops do. They run true to size.

5. Striped Tee and Blue Jeans

I wanted to throw in a couple casual teacher outfits since I know some schools do casual Fridays. This rainbow striped tee from Amazon is one of my favorite tops and just makes me smile. I love the bright colors and the simple fit, especially paired with blue jeans. It comes in other colorways though, if these colors aren’t your thing. I also own the green striped one.

My jeans are by MOTHER, which are worth the splurge. They’re stretchy but don’t look loose or slouchy by the end of the day, They are expensive, but you could get away with only owning 1 pair of blue jeans if it were these. They run true to size and I have a size 25. I styled this outfit with Veja velcro sneakers since it’s definitely a casual look.

6. Striped T-Shirt Dress

Another one of my go-tos for a polished yet feminine look is this striped knit stripe shirt dress. The knit material makes it the perfect option for an air conditioned classroom because it’s cozy! I wear an XS in this and it fits perfectly. Since it’s on the more expensive side, I also found a more affordable alternative.

My suede mules run true to size and go with almost every outfit.

7. Black Blouse and White Jeans

This outfit is pretty similar to the the first and second outfit I shared in this post, but I wanted to show another way to style things you likely already own. The black top I’m wearing below is from Tuckernuck, and it’s seriously a great investment. You can tell in the last photo, but the sleeves are a different material than the rest of the top, and the buttons add a nice polished detail.

My jeans are the straight leg style from Madewell and I LOVE them. The creamy white shade is less stark than the white skinny jeans from Madewell, which makes them perfect to wear year round. They run true to size. You could wear mules, flats, pumps, you name it, with this outfit, but I love how it looks paired with these white Veja sneakers.

8. Tuckernuck Shirtdress

This chambray shirtdress from Tuckernuck has been one of the most worn dresses in my closet! The linen material is lightweight and breathable, but the long sleeves make it a perfect option for an air conditioned classroom or office. I LOVE the ruffled hem and collar detail.

You could dress this up a tad with loafers or flats, but you can also get away with wearing Veja sneakers with it. While this light blue color is almost sold out, they made this style in a few colors and materials that are even more appropriate for the fall. You will love how feminine and polished you feel in this dress.

I know that Tuckernuck is pricey, but thankfully GAP has a great alternative for a great price!

I hope these outfits give you a little inspiration for things you already own, or a few things to add to your wishlist! I’ll continue to update this post throughout the fall as well.

Happy back-to-school season!

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