Job Discussion Forums

[TheLongWayHome]

[MO39]

[hlamb]

[guatetaliana]

[MO39]

[Mrs L]

As for the shorts thing, I only used to see them at the beach in Mexico but in the last couple of years city shorts have been all the rage for women (knee length, tailored, cotton or linen, dark colours for those that don't follow fashion) and on my last trip to Mexico I was surprised to find lots of women wearing them with heals and dressy tops- the same way we do here in England. We went to a christening where several guests had them on, and on a visit to my old school one of the local teachers was even wearing some- they look quite smart with a tailored blouse. All mine got repossessd by my sisters-in-law (they don't seem so easy to find in Mexico ) and I bought more when I got home.
We're heading back in 6 weeks and I'm getting endless demands for more in various colours, as well as long denim shorts- so I'm guessing they're still the height of fashion.

I lived in leather sandals, pencil skirts (with bare legs-no nylons) or wide-leg trousers with short-sleeved fitted blouses to teach. I have lots of tatoos that I always kept covered when in or near the school because they still have very negative connotations in Mexico. Casually I lived in jeans, flip flops and strappy tops. I never wore skirts above knee-length even on the hottest days because it drew too much attention. My advice would be to take as many good quality basics with you as possible because I found the shopping in Mexico terrible. It's overpriced and low qualitiy but you can get great accessories on the markets to update your look each season. Ladies, I hope that helps

[Linda T.]

Just a few more questions regarding teaching-clothing for gals:

1. No need to bring nylons? (even with knee-length skirts?)

2. Would it even be worth the suitcase space to bring any knee-length skirts? (or would long granny/gypsy-type skirts be a better use of the space . . . or just forget skirts altogether and go with all slacks).

3. Is it best to bring long-sleeved blouses just to be on the safe side? Are there restrictions against short-sleeved blouses?

[Samantha]

Maybe I missed it, but which region or city are you planning to work in? The weather in varous areas will greatly influence your attire.

[Mrs L]

The most important thing Linda is to bring clothes you're comfortable in. If you prefer trousers and long skirts, or just trousers, then that's what you should bring. I never wore nylons with knee-length skirts because I wore them with open-toed (but relatively dressy) heals. Then again I only wore those skirts because it's a style I'm comfy in, a colleague of mine always wore capri pants and loose fitting tops.

I've never heard of a restriction on short sleeve blouses, but some schools may not like you teaching in sleeveless/strappy tops.

Samantha's right about the weather affecting your choice of dress. It can get surprisingly chilly in the higher altitude regions in winter. I bought some heeled boots one October and they saw me through, but I was also grateful to have a few smartish jumpers (sweaters) , fleecy pyjamas and slippers (obviously not for teaching in) and a hot water bottle in my suitcase- the houses aren't central heated and those tiled floors can make it seem really chilly. Then again if you're near the coast you'll be wanting summer wear.

Hope that helps.

[MO39]

[MELEE]

It's also worth mentioning for those who have not been in Mexico before that most of the buildings are not climate controlled and can be quite drafty.
It rained all night here and I'm actually quite cold right now in my office, but if the sun manages to come out before 4 I'll most certainly be sweating in my office by then.

[Samantha]

Right, and the concrete houses and apartments hold the heat of the blazing summer sun well into the night in the summer (which means air conditioning is needed to sleep). In the winter, it's the opposite effect and very chilly inside even when the sun is shining brightly outside. Rain in my area means unbearable humidity right after the air is cleansed and more air conditioning use. We have a 50 percent electricity subsidity in our coastal region to compensate for the use of air conditioners (for 6 months of the year).

Different areas of the country have quite different climates, which definitely have an affect on how people dress to stay cool. The uniform for the construction labourers is quite interesting. They go to work in t-shirts in the early morning, but by the afternoon t-shirts are wrapped around heads in the form of a hat of novel design, to protect from the sun.

[MO39]

The weather patterns in Mexico City are the opposite of those where Samantha lives. Since this is a dry (though not desert-dry) climate, when it's hot outside, it's cool inside in those concrete buildings she mentions. In the mild winters we have here, it's usually not too cold at night because the buildings have been heating up all day in the winter sun. Right after it rains here (mostly in the summer), it's cool and, surprisingly, dry with none of that horrible mugginess I suffered through during my summers in Philadelphia and New York City.

[Linda T.]

Once again, thank you ALL for the advice. Sounds like bringing clothes which can easily be layered might not be a bad idea.

I had to laugh at the comment that the fleecy pajamas would NOT be for work-wear because, here, in California . . . it's been common for a number of years now for young gals to wear pajama bottoms and slippers out in public.

[MO39]