I'm probably jinxing myself by jumping the gun and assuming I got the job after just being interviewed, BUT, I'm expecting to get a teaching assistant job, and I'm going to need some help dressing the part. I could be placed anywhere from grades K-12, but it looks like I'm probably heading into the junior high (7th & 8th graders).

I'm only 20 years old, so I don't want to look matronly, but I also don't want to look like a student. To my interview I wore black pants and a button down shirt, but I'm going to need a lot more career clothing ideas.

Does anyone have any ideas of clothing pieces I should buy, or where I should buy them? (My only other piece of career gear is this sassy navy polka-dotted white dress I picked up at a thrift store...it looks like what a teacher would wear in 1978)

I don't have any ideas, but I feel your pain! I'll be hunting a teaching job in the next 2 years. I'm 22 now, and my wardrobe consists of jeans, t-shirt, and tank tops... NOTHING to wear to work.

So, yeah, I'll be checking back on this thread :D

I recommend J. Crew and Banana Republic. Their clothes are youthful, yet job-appropriate. They can be a little pricey, so try to get things that are mix-and-matchable.

The J. Crew catalogue (online and print) has a two lines of wool suiting, one in wool twill and one in wool crepe. I prefer the crepe, but they're both good fabrics for most of the year. Each usually comes in four neutral colors, and you have a choice of 2 blazer styles, 2 trouser styles and a skirt. Then all you need are a couple of button-down shirts and a nice sweater, and you're all set.

eta: If it's out of your price range, just go to eBay and do a search for "J Crew" and you'll find tons of stuff cheap.

I get my dress up clothes from all over... You just can't go wrong with your choice of button-downs, black pants, slim knee-length skirts, and comfortable sandals and oxfords. I would also recommend matched sweater sets, as dorky as it seems, for being simply practical. A short-sleeved shell and cardigan will go a lot of places.

old navy has some nice stuff career wise so does target..gap...h and m ...kohls....sears...jcpenny......sweater sets are like my friends in the work place u can do so much with them......

also look for blouses, long skirts, pants, dresses at the thrift store too...and funky blazers...ive gotten some really cool career clothes fromthere that my coworkers think i spent a bundle.....

I have several staples that I mix and match, then throw in something fun occasionally. A pair of grey pants, a pr of black pants, a midi or knee length grey skirt, a midi or knee length black skirt. From that, anything goes: sweater, sweater set, nice knit shirt, button up shirt etc.
My theory on boring work clothes is that the bottoms are key: get something that doesn't stand out and you can wear it 2-3x a week without anyone noticing! I swear. Just switch up the shirts. If you need to look even more dressed up a blazer does the trick so easily, even if it's just a t-shirt underneath.
For a TA job, you'll probably doing a lot of moving around, so if you stick with nothing above the knee and nothing low cut you'll probably feel a lot more comfortable. But if you go with ankle length, you might look matronly :)
Oh, and Dansko shoes rule for comfort!

JC Penney has a store brand called "Worthington." Their stuff is very easy to wear, and not overly dowdy. Go to www.jcpenney.com, and click on "brands," and "Worthington," and you'll see what I mean. I've had Worthington t-shirts for a long time, if they're "tailored" enough, they work well with jackets.

Polyester pants are OK, but make sure they breathe. You can hold the pants up to the store lights - if you see little specks of light in the weave, and it doesn't look too sheer, then they'll breathe.

Don't forget to hit the clearance racks! :)

Also, Target's had nice blazers lately. (That Isaac Mizrahi fellow, such a great guy! Wish they had petites, though.)

***Edit: You can also try to see if online stores have an "Outlet" site.

Eddie Bauer has one:
>http://makeashorterlink.com/?V21C52C97


And so does JC Penney:

http://makeashorterlink.com/?O22C62C97


The *best* tip I've seen so far is, "Get a neutral pair of black pants." Unbelievably great tip. A pair (or two) of black pants that fit you well, and are professional-ish, can carry you for years.

(...says she, who's wearing the $8.00 pair of drapey poly crepe black pants that she's owned for over 6 years! I'm tellin ya, bargain racks.)

***ETA: Holy CRAP! Those links were long! Sorry, OK, I made them shorter. ;)

"The J. Crew catalogue (online and print) has a two lines of wool suiting, one in wool twill and one in wool crepe. I prefer the crepe..." - jodysomething.

I've noticed that most people have *very* un-educated eyes when it comes to fabric. I've had a lot of people who've mistaken poly crepe pants I own for wool crepe. :)

Just my experience...people think that if it *looks* or *feels* luxurious, you spent a bundle. I think the stretch velvet-y top I'm now wearing, I bought for less than $12 off a clearance rack - post holiday sale. But people think it's all decked out. Which I find funny as hell, because I'm a cheap broad. :)

***ETA: OO! Land's End overstocks:
>http://www.landsend.com/cd/ov/frontdoor/0,,,00.html?sid=2746092138044175610

And, good luck on the job!

ladyjane, who loves talking bargains!

***ETA: Oh, gawd, somebody stop me!

One of the most surprising places I've found good-enough work clothing is BJ's Price Club. I don't know if Sam's Club or other such buying clubs/price clubs sell clothes, but I've gotten some really nice long skirts at BJ's. The only bummer is - you can't try stuff on. :P So, if you're at a price club that sells clothes, take a look. (And try to get in on your friend's or relative's card. Heh.)

Something I learned was to make sure most of your work clothes are washable. (But have a nice dry-clean-only suit for when you're going on an interview or want to impress someone.)

Look for a couple of pairs of comfortable shoes, since you're probably going to be standing most of the day. I like Clarks and Danskos. (Zappos.com has good sales, I think.)

To start out, just make sure you have enough clothes to make it through a week.

Then, keep watch for good sales and supplement your wardrobe gradually. I agree with LJ that store like Sam's Club, Costco, etc. are great for some things. The drawback is that in my experience, everyone starts to wear the same clothes.

Also, you might want to make or buy some interesting jewelry pieces, especially a couple of funky pins to make yourself stand out a little more.

Oh, and if you're not a morning person, set your clothes up ahead of time, either the night before or for the week. (And have an emergency outfit, in case you put something on and realize that it has a stain or some other minor flub.)

-mystril

I just started out in the working world, so I had the same issue as you, at least for when I need to be at conferences and stuff.

Gap and Ann Taylor Loft have good stuff, but definitely shop ON SALE. Don't buy full price if you don't need to. H&M also has good things at good prices. I wouldn't recommend Old Navy, cos I find their stuff to be poorer quality...I don't think it holds up very well. I think quality is really important when buying clothes....I'd rather spend a little more on something that I know will last a lot longer.

TJ Maxx and Filene's Basement also rock!! Name brand stuff at a fraction of the cost. Just make sure that they are not damaged, and you're good to go!

kat

"TJ Maxx and Filene's Basement also rock!! Name brand stuff at a fraction of the cost. Just make sure that they are not damaged, and you're good to go!" - kat

Yeah, sometimes the designer-y stuff shows up at Filene's, too.

...did I mention that I just got a cute pair of shoes at Filene's yesterday? :D Whee!

*ducks flying lamp!*

I noticed that you're close-ish to Philly...maybe you should make a trip to Franklin Mills? If you can stand being there, they have an H&M, a Bannana Republic outlet, a Saks outlet, and a Neiman's outlet.

H&M has good stuff--I'm wearing a jacket (I hate the word "blazer" for some reason) I just bought there. It's conservative enough for my job, but unlike a lot of stuff I find at Ann Taylor or J Crew, it doesn't make me feel like I'm wearing a uniform/corporate disguise.

ETA: I totally forgot, Daffy's is great for suits and other work wear. There's one in Philly and in NY; I don't know about NJ.

"I noticed that you're close-ish to Philly...maybe you should make a trip to Franklin Mills?" - monkeyrocker

...and, eventually, if you want, you could do a road trip to the outlets in Reading, PA.

Does Franklin Mills do the philly sales tax on clothes? I hate sales tax on clothes. I never realized how unusual PA was with the "no sales tax on clothing" thing until I left. :(

I wouldn't invest in a lot of skirts/dresses just yet. My friend is a HS teacher and she says that she does not feel safe wearing skirts/dresses because there are some very hormonal teenagers in her classes, and she won't resume wearing them until they have graduated...but then again more could enter the system. I'd stick with pants and nice blouses/sweaters and get a feel for the atmosphere before investing too much $. Also she said the year starts out formal and then gets more relaxed.

jt