Dress [c/o] || Heels || Scarf [c/o] || Earrings || Bag || Bracelet

There are few dresses that genuinely take my breath away. I look for something that is classic, flattering, and comfortable. It’s the perfect trifecta that is surprisingly hard to find. Enter this absolutely stunner of a dress from Talbots. As soon as I saw it, I instantly knew I was going to fall in love. The navy herringbone material is as soft as butter and has just the right amount of stretch. The faux pockets and piping detail are added in just the right places to make this little number very flattering.

I think the best thing about this dress is in how many occasions it would work for. You know I’ll be wearing into the classroom to feel ultra professional with my little kiddos, but the possibilities are endless! It’s perfect for church, a job interview, or showers. If there’s any occasion you can think of where you want to look prim, proper, and put together, this dress is going to do the trick!

To make this outfit even more ladylike, I just had to add this silk-inspired scarf, also from Talbots. The navy color and clean, white pearl pattern means that it’s going to go with absolutely everything. It’s so fun to play around with a good, versatile scarf and see where the best place it is on an outfit. I’m always partial to the ‘over the shoulder’ look, but doesn’t it look great tied to my Louis Vuitton crossbody bag? I’m not sure which spot I like better!

One of my favorite things about moving to New York City is that I feel so much more comfortable wearing more classic outfits as I’m out and about in the city. St. Pete (and Florida in general) has such a laid back culture that wearing something so put together would probably look out of place, at least for me. I’ve been having such a blast playing with and embracing a new style to fit my new city. I’m not changing my style, I’m just letting myself grow with a new home. You don’t have to make a move across the country to try on a new personal style. Visit a boutique or store that you haven’t shopped at before and let your creativity loose. Feel excited about getting dressed in the morning. Why not start with Talbots? I’ve been blown away by their ladylike pieces recently that still have that charm and whimsy so many girls are looking for.

Love from NYC,
Katie

Dress || Shoes || Earrings

Yesterday was the beginning of my 23rd first day of school. As a teacher, you never lose that feeling of first day jitters and excitement for what the new year will bring. The only difference is what you worry about. This year, I’m at a new school, in a new city and have been anxious for over a month. Even though there are a lot of differences between my new school and old school, first impressions of my new surroundings are pretty good. All of my new co-workers have been very kind and helpful. My 29 new kiddos are all cute as a button and I know we’re going to get a lot of learning done this year.

I would be lying if I said I didn’t love ‘teacher style’ and all that it entails. It’s true that dressing professionally, even for the youngest students, sets a good example for them later in life. I also just feel more put together and organized when I dress up just a tad for work. I’ve been confused for the school principal quite a few times, I think, based on how I dress. Does that mean I take it too far? Probably, but, as I see it, it’s always best to be overdressed than underdressed.

I also get a lot of questions from teachers as to why I wear heels so often to work. Again, it goes back to looking professional and dressing the part. Like all teachers, I’m on my feet almost the entire day, but if you find a good pair of heels, you’re feet will be fine. Be sure to buy those comfy heels in every color. These heels from Target and Marc Fisher always do the trick for me. I also like to give myself a little extra height because kiddos run really tall these days and I want to make sure my 5′ 5″ frame stands above even when I’m walking with older grades.

Since the colors in my classroom this year are navy, green, and a little bit nautical, I knew this dress from J. Crew had to be the one I wore on my first day. The midi length is perfect for crouching down low to talk with my tiny students, but is still extremely comfortable for the long work day. Bonus! Did I mention that is has deep pockets? That’s always needed for teachers to store their keys, markers, or whatever else they pick up along the way.

This dress comes in several different colors, both solid and striped. I can’t speak for all colors, but I found that the navy and green one ran very small. I’m normally a size 8 in everything, but had to size up to a 12 to make sure the buttons weren’t pulling. I think the thought process is that they wanted a form-fitting shirt dress, but I just wanted to give you the heads up. Even with the bigger size tag, I absolutely love this dress.

For all of my teacher readers out there, and especially my former co-workers, I hope you have an amazing school year. Enjoy each and every day with your kiddos and remember to roll with the punches.

Love from NYC,
Katie