It's OK, ML... The evil cowlneck and I have achieved a truce and it has paid me compensation for the injuries I received getting knocked out multiple times by a heavy frypan.

*Turns and shoos away pretty butterflies that aren't really there*

Thank you so much Angie, Fashintern and L’Abeille. Your insights and wisdom make so much sense to me. How very true that times have changed. I think I may be a little late to the realization party that I have been hanging onto certain criteria for longer than necessary. It never occurred to me that as the world and expectations changed, not evolving with those changes would date me. I feel lighter, enlightened and very grateful for all the wisdom and support that dwells here.
I am going to wear my boots and strut my more casual style with confidence!

*Cries happy tears for ML*

Passing the tissues, Cee.

I feel casualisation at workplaces, too, or rather a "comfi"nalisation:-) so feeling comfy while still looking polished, I would say. We are lucky to have all the elastane and lycra contents for serving as a great favour, and I just love it! My fave is nr 1 (as hard to make a bl&w outfit and not look too stiff-this time) but You always look polished and fab-these outfits prouve that again!!

*HONNNNK*

Ta, my dear

All these outfits look sharp and educational professional... and now you have me thinking about the beads one of my French teachers wore. She had a nice uniform... dress, slings, and her beads.

I think you look great. I would call your style "casual chic" with more emphasis on "chic". Anyone can wear a top and pants to work but you still make an effort to make your outfits very nice. I enjoy seeing your photos. Keep up the good work.

Wow! Love, love, LOVE your looks! They left me with bangle envy.

More outfit cheers from me !
Angie and Bijou Fully articulated my thoughts so well!
You look FAB in each outfit and accessorized beautifully!

Lyn67, I agree, we are soooo fortunate to have a variety of fabrics that allow for movement and comfort. Sometimes it is tricky to find ones that maintain their shape without getting baggy in places.
LOL Cee!
Rachylou, ooh la la! Your French teacher sounds like she found her signature style and worked it!
Thank you hgr. You are so kind. I don’t feel quite dressed until I add at least a little something to a top and pair of pants.
JennaB, my sister gets credit for the bangles. She has stacked her bracelets for as long as I can remember and her combos are truly inspiring as well as beautiful.
Thank you, Taylor!

Mainelady, your accessories game ups the level of these outfits so that they're extremely polished looking. Why not also be comfortable? As Angie says, everything is more casual now anyway. I'm sure you want to be comfortable, dealing with first graders all day!

I can SO relate to your situation because when I started full-time teaching in the 80s at the university, the standard was still jacket, skirts, and pumps for female professors—unless, of course, you were in a “creative” field. By the time I was thinking of retirement, “casualization” was in full swing and some of my colleagues were happily sporting whatever was trendy among their 18 and 19 year-old-students at the time. The sight of one accounting instructor in red-plaid pajama bottoms and a ripped sweatshirt, though, struggling to maintain his composure at an executive meeting, did strike me as both sad and funny. While his students may have loved his casual, comfortable “approachability”, his misinterpretation of the sartorial public requirements of his role had unintended effects. And, no, he never did get the tenured position he so badly wanted

Looking approachable and “modern” while retaining your professional dignity as a seasoned professional isn’t that easy, but I think you’ve pulled it off in the outfits you’ve pictured here. You look like you’ve embraced “casualization” but not like you’ve been overtaken by it. Well done!

Yes, yes, yes to all of these. You have a few variations of a perfectly polished uniform here, which will take you through the Maine winter with style. I think you look perfectly proper for a teacher - you are neat, polished, approachable, and look like you are ready to work (professional-wise) but also, ready to work (with kids who I'm sure keep you hopping, moving, crouching, and running all day). Honestly, as a parent of primary-school aged kids, if I saw a teacher who was either too dressy or too business-y looking, I'd be wondering how the heck they were going to get their job done!

11/10 for this set, my lovely! xx

Christina F, thank you. You are right, being comfortable is becoming more important as time goes by and the umbrella of teaching grows.
Oh Gaylene, I can almost see the accounting instructor.....yikes! As you said, both sad and kind of funny. Casualization has varying degrees and in some settings the level of casualization can make either a favorable, or unfavorable impression.
Awwww thank you so much TG! You are right, keeping up with ( and often ahead of) the students is essential. I don’t have time to fuss with and adjust my clothing during the day. Thinking back to a comment that Angie once made about wearing clothing you can put on and forget about, that rings so true for working with children! When I make a mistake about how clothing will function at work, I only make that mistake once!

You look wonderfully dressy enough and cosy warm and comfortable. I especially like your arm candy. It gives me ideas. My favorite is the outfit with the leopard scarf.

Thank you, Joy! I am glad I can dress more casually and still look like a professional . I am never fully dressed until I add arm candy and a smile.