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Lover · Joined: 14 Feb 2005 Posts: 86

I hope my blonde hair doesn't show in this next question. I am going shopping this weekend to buy clothes for teaching in! I'd been to the school a few times, but didn't really notice what everyone was wearing!

What kind of clothes should I buy to teach at a private high school! I know the girls are forced to wear skirts so should I wear a skirt? Does anyone know if I have the privilege of wearing slacks. I don't remember seeing any of the female teachers wearing slacks but then again I wasn't really looking.

Thanks again everyone for all this advice!

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Instead of speculating, why don't you contact the school and ask.. duh.

buffy · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 57

I agree with bearcat. It depends on the school.
At my high school teachers can wear jeans if they want.
Casual is the way to go where I work, but I think it is the exception rather than the norm.

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

Lover: aim for "conservative" and semi-formal -- especially if you're female. That's not meant as a sexist comment, just a real reflection on Japan's sexist society.

To start with, I would probably err on the side of caution and wear something along the lines of a calf-length skirt, blouse, sweater or nice top. Nothing body-shaping or tight-fitting. My wife has had enough trouble as it is getting groped by students because she's a bit more uhh.. top-heavy than many Japanese women. (She's not Japanese)... Bear in mind you will likely have to change into "indoor shoes" while at school, which is something to remember if you're going to coordinate with socks or hosiery.
At the same time I'd avoid the "power-suit" look, as you are not a businesswoman, not a porn-star for a Japanese fetish-flick... Then, look around and see what other teachers are wearing. I suspect nice slacks will likely be acceptable -- all the schools where I've worked have seen many women dress that way -- but I've never seen anyone wear jeans to work -- neither male nor female....

Just use common sense and dress no differently than if you were teaching in a high-school classroom back home.

This topic, by the way has also been discussed here:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=17387&highlight=attire
and here:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=11036&highlight=attire

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I call em as I see em. At least in our schools. Wouldn't be my first choice either but this is no Paris catwalk.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

At my private HS, the Japanese women teachers wear conservative skirts and tops, or they wear pants suits. Many put lab coats over them just to protect against chalk dust and whiteboard ink stains. (Guys, too, wear the lab coats.)

The foreign women teachers wear the same clothing, minus the lab coats.

Captain Onigiri · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 103 Location: fly-over land

Most of my work clothes come from Landsend.com. Their clothes are comfortable, sturdy and covers all the areas that need to be covered. The prices tend to be on par with places like The Gap, they will hem your trousers to within a quarter of an inch and I'm told (I've yet to try this out for myself) that they will ship overseas. The sweater sets will probably tend to make you look like your mother but teachers are suppose to look like your mother not Ally McBeal. And as a person who was once a boy in his early teens, I can tell that you are not doing them any favors if you provide them any extra visual stimulation.

This advert for Landsend.com brought to you by....

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

And the foot goes down!

If you're in the states, pick up this month's issue of Lucky. There is a whole section on how to wear this seasons trends to work. That way, you'll be approprate, and best of all, not tacky. I'm sorry, I just feel like wearing your mother's sweater set to work is just plain lazy. It's the equiv. to eating McDonald's every night for dinner b/c it saves time from making a balanced meal. It is possible to look nice and not be a sex kitten at work. Even my high school teachers could manage not looking 70.

Captain Onigiri · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 103 Location: fly-over land

And this foot goes down, too!

I wouldn't go so far as saying Landsend is the fashion equivilant of eating at McDonalds. Buying your clothes at Sears or Wal-Mart is the fashion equivilant of eating at McDonalds. Landsend is more like eating at the Olive Garden. Not the most ambitious but still respectable and anyway not all of us can eat at the Russian Tea Room for various reasons.

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Brilliant post captain, oh my captain. Laughing

PAULH · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 4672 Location: Western Japan

nicyvesweet · Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 90

Captain Onigiri · Joined: 20 Jan 2005 Posts: 103 Location: fly-over land

I think I understand why we're not quite on the same page now even though I think our advice is somewhat similar. I recomended Landsend.com because I'm a TJ Maxx/Marshalls, wait till it's on sale, champange tastes on a beer budget kind of guy. You're a Banana Republic, champange taste on a champange budget kind of girl. I almost didn't recomend Landsend because I thought it was too expensive. I guess it all comes down to what percentage of your income you want to spend on clothes. A completely personal decision....except Kate Spade handbags. I hate Kate Spade handbags. It seems every woman in Kansas City carries one. Every time I walk through the Country Club Plaza I want to turn into a purse-snatcher, grab their purse, beat them over their highly coiffed head with it, screaming "this purse was ugly back when they were popular, stop carrying one!" and then return it to their stunned, praying mantis arm and walk on. See, not all gay fantasy is pornographic.