As teachers, we often have flexibility in what we wear; it can range from casual, to smart casual, to corporate smart. However, choosing what to wear can often be the best or worst part of our day, and can leave us feeling stressed and anxious either with ‘nothing to wear’ or simply not feeling right in our outfit of choice, or feeling amazing and ready for the day.
But have we ever stopped to wonder what it is about the clothes we end up wearing that make a difference …?
Over the years, my enjoyment in getting ready in the morning for the teaching day keeps increasing. There is a care and dedication to getting ready. It doesn’t have to mean a whole lot of time is spent on the preparation but the quality in which I tend to myself continues to increase which plays out in the value I place on how I look and feel for the day. How I put on my makeup, take the time to check in and look at myself in the mirror, to sit on the edge of the bed to put on my shoes instead of hopping around the room, are all factors contributing to this quality.
The permission I give myself to enjoy getting ready and actually love how I look in the mirror has increased with age.
What is reflected back captures how I feel about myself, and just as importantly, I want this inner joy captured in my clothes, as an outer joy and reflection which expresses that the students and colleagues I’m about to spend the day with, matter to me.
I take my outfit and what I wear seriously and as part of my job – I’ve come to really get to know what my ‘style’ is and what colours and styles look good on me. Quite often, the whole outfit, or the shoes, top, or earrings are commented on by a student during the day. I have come to realise over the years of teaching that students are highly observational and acutely aware of the clothes teachers wear. So, when a student comments on something I wear, it offers a great opportunity to connect with that student and break down barriers they perceive between them as young people and ‘us’ as teachers.
What they see is more than the clothes. They get to also feel how I have shopped for the clothes, the joy, fun and love for outfits that I have. And they clock the quality in which I prepare and get ready in the morning. There is nothing about what I wear which shows a rush or not taking care.
They feel that what I wear is important, not just because I value myself, but more significantly because it is showing that I value my role, and I value them – it shows them that they, the students, matter to me.
I have come to realise I actually don’t choose what to wear. It can appear that I do because either the night before or when I’m getting ready in the morning, the outfit for the day literally drops into my mind. It feels so complete and settling – especially as traditionally I am someone who is challenged with decisions about what to wear. But since I’ve clocked how much students observe what we wear and how many comments I receive about what I wear, I actually realise the decision of the outfit is decided with students in mind.
It is also a reflection for our colleagues.
Our clothes reflect to colleagues the value we hold of our professions, and the value we hold for each other. It offers a depth of appreciation of each other and the job we do.
How we ‘wear’ our clothes with an openness and joy brings an often needed reminder that there is a world out there outside of the school gates! I love the connections with colleagues that have been developed simply through a conversation instigated by what I or they are wearing.
What we wear and how we prepare ourselves in the morning sets a fabulous foundation for our day – we can show our value towards ourselves, our jobs and those we work with simply through the outfit we have on. Add a smile to the mix and it is always a sure-fire way to pick up and uplift our own and another’s day.