What to Wear Back-to-School Teacher Edition

I feel like I say this every year, but how is it back to school time already?! Didn't summer just start last week? There's no way I have less than a month before I have to head back to my classroom.

Last year, our start date got pushed back quite a bit when our district decided to shorten the school year to a more traditional 160 days. The change came without sacrificing any of our normal breaks and adding in a new, week-long winter break we've never gotten before; however, teachers had to report earlier and stay later, and we lost a month of instructional time. This year, they pushed our start back back by about a week...at the request of teachers.

So, as much as I hate that the end-of-summer countdown has begun, it really has. Starting with back-to-school shopping. Every year, my state does a school sales tax free holiday weekend (it's this weekend, fyi - July 18-20), so I've been browsing my favorite sites getting ready for that.

Truth be told, I don't need much this year, even after doing a pretty thorough closet clean-out this summer, but I do have my eye on a few things at Old Navy, JCPenney, Kohl's, and (of course) Amazon, which I'm sharing in today's post.

P.S. I'm also sharing some of my most-used basic pieces at the bottom of this post.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Top Row

• White Wide-Leg Jeans (in my cart) - I tossed my old white, skinny jeans at the end of this year for a couple of reasons. First, they were getting a bit grungy -- I'm pretty sure I got expo marker dust on them. Second, skinny jeans aren't really in style anymore and have never really been my preferred style. 
• Stevie Straight Ankle Pants (in my cart) - I wear the heck out of my skinny Stevie pants in the winter. They're like wearing leggings but with the structure of pants. These straight leg ones feel even more practical. They also come in a dark brown and navy blue.
• Black Linen Pants (in my cart) - Linen pants are perfect for teaching, especially in the south where summer holds on until almost Thanksgiving some years.
• Wide Leg Pants (in my cart)- I really like this style of pants (and this brand). I have a pair of linen pants in a similar color that I frequently wear, so I think I would get a lot of use out of these more structured pants. The color is Canyon Dust, by the way. They also come in a navy blue, light blue, and light pink.
• Patch Pocket Pants - These feel a bit more casual than the above pair. Maybe because of the material? I'm not sure, but I am digging the Hawaii Rose colored ones.
• Cropped White Pants - Worthington has always been a go-to professional brand for me, and these cropped pants are really nice.
• Soft Drape Wide Leg Jeans (in my cart) - How pretty are these? I want them real bad. They also come in an olive green that's nice, but I have a bunch of green pants already.

Middle Row

• Pink Overalls (in my cart) - Yes, these are the same overalls that I have in three other colors. They're just that good, y'all. Expect to see me rocking these pink ones all year long.
• Belted Shirt Dress - I really like this dress.
• Brown Plaid Swing Dress (in my cart) - This is one of those dresses that's perfect for fall but also won't cause you to overheat when it still feels like summer.
• Overall Dress - I've had my eye on this one for awhile. The price point is what always keeps me from adding it to my cart, but man it's so cute.
• Sleeveless Black Sweater Dress (in my cart) - This is made out of Old Navy's SoSoft sweater material which is amazing.
• Green Floral Maxi Dress (in my cart) - I like wearing longer dresses to school, and this one is just so pretty.

Bottom Row

• Striped Yellow Sleeveless Sweater - I like that this can be worn on its own (with a cami underneath obviously) or layered over something when the weather cools off.
• SoSoft Cropped Cardigan - This comes in a ton of colors. I'm in love with the Buttercup.
• Jacquard Button-Down Top - These blouses are an easy way to dress up a skirt or pair of pants.
• Green Striped Short-Sleeve Sweater - Short-sleeved sweaters are my go-to for fall when I want to dress for the season, but the season isn't seasoning.
• Button-Front Sweater Vest (in my cart)- This is another top that can be worn on its own or layered over something for cooler weather. It comes in three colors, but I like the navy blue.

• Red Polka Dot Skirt (in my cart) - I've been wanting a bright red skirt, and this one is just so pretty.
• Floral Print Skirt (in my cart) - This is technically the same skirt as the red one, but I love the big flowers on it. It feels very me.
• Oversized Graphic Sweatshirts (New York & Unsubscribe) - I love a good graphic sweatshirt for casual Fridays or those rare weeks when we get to wear jeans because it's actually cold.
• Brown Loafers  - Don't sleep on Old Navy's shoes, y'all. Several of my favorite pairs are from there...and you can't go wrong with a pair of brown loafers. They go with everything.
• Mesh Black Flats (in my cart) - I bought a pair of square-toed Mary Janes last year and didn't love them as much as I hoped. It's the toe shape -- square is not my jam. These ones, though, I think I would actually wear.
  
  

BONUS

The following items are things I already own and highly recommend.

• Ribbed Tank Tops - These are great for layering but can also be worn on their own thanks to the wider straps. I have it in five colors.
• Lace Undershirts - These are another great layering option. I have three different colors in short-sleeve and a white long-sleeve (I plan on adding at least a black long-sleeve as well). I layer these under dresses mostly. They're great for covering my shoulders without adding a lot of bulk.
• Long-Sleeve Layering Tees - Trust me. You need these for winter. They're soft and stretchy and really comfortable.
• Solid-Colored Eyelet Tops - These are what I call an elevated basic. They're somewhere between a t-shirt and a blouse. They add interest to your outfits without being loud and can be casual or dressed up.
• Denim Maxi Skirt - This is a recent purchase, but I already know I'm going to get a lot of use out of it. I sized up to 8 and am glad I did. My usual size 6 would have been snug.
• Stretchy Wide Woven Belts - These are good for cinching the waist of a dress or creating definition between a top and skirt.
• Faux Leather Belts - These are my go-to belts for pants, jeans, anything with belt loops really.