It’s time for one of my favorite blog posts of the year—my teacher capsule wardrobe post! As a former preschool teacher, I love putting together teacher outfits. I have always thought that teachers have one of the best dress codes. It’s important to dress professionally, but you also get to have a little more fun with your outfits than you would in a regular office setting. Today, I have picked 18 capsule pieces to create 72 outfits to wear to work this fall!
*This post contains affiliate links!
Why a capsule wardrobe?
Capsule wardrobe posts have become a staple in my content here at TWHL. It all started two years ago when I shared my first official teacher capsule wardrobe post. I always shared affordable teacher outfits in late summer when school starts back up, but I never thought to do a capsule wardrobe. I was shocked by the response I got. People loved having a few pieces to choose from and used the capsule and all the outfit inspiration to help them style their outfits throughout the school year.
The idea that less is more is always behind my capsule wardrobes. Having versatile clothes you can wear in new ways each day will make getting dressed easy and keep you out of a style rut. By switching out your shoes, layering pieces, or just adding a belt, you can completely transform your outfit into something fresh each day.
Teacher Capsule Wardrobe for Fall 2024?
This year, my capsule wardrobe is a mix of affordable, basic, and elevated pieces that will be great in the classroom but also translate well into your everyday life outside of work. I understand that as a teacher, price is important. That’s why almost everything in the capsule is under $50 this year, and if it’s not under $50, it will be when it’s on sale. I picked out pieces from all my favorite teacher-friendly and affordable retailers like Amazon, Loft, Old Navy, Maurices, and Target.
Another thing to note about this capsule is that it’s buildable. You can use this capsule as a guide to create your personalized capsule. You don’t need to buy everything here to recreate these looks. See what’s inside your own wardrobe first, then see if you need to fill in any gaps. All my capsule wardrobe posts have a similar flow, and you can take the pieces from prior years and mix them into your 2024 teacher capsule wardrobe, making even more outfits for you to wear. (Check out 2023’s teacher capsule wardrobe HERE!)
* For sizing reference: I am 5’1 and 110 lbs. I typically wear an xsmall in tops and dresses and a 0/25/petite in bottoms. I wear a 7.5 in shoes.
Tops:
- Black T-Shirt– Basic t-shirts are always essential in any capsule wardrobe. I prefer a black T-shirt over a white one. I find them easier to keep clean and they tend to get more wear in my wardrobe. When it comes to basic t-shirts, one of my favorite places to find them is Target. They always have a great selection and you can’t beat the prices! Mine in the photos below is a few years old, but I linked some of my favorite t-shirt options.
- Striped Top (small)- I always like to add a top with a pattern. To me, one of the easiest and most classic patterns is stripes. You can’t go wrong. I picked out this elevated striped top from Amazon for this year’s capsule, because I love the knit of it and the sleeve details. It’s easy to pair with lots of different bottom options!
- Short Sleeve Chambray Button-Down Shirt (xsmall)- I love chambray shirts. They work great in the fall! This chambray shirt from LOFT is a great option! It’s made with a very soft material, which I always like. It’s very comfortable and would be great to wear in the classroom.
- Elevated white shirt (small)- I thought this white button-down shirt from Amazon would be a great addition to this capsule. The button details dress it up, but the material makes it very comfortable. I like the white because it goes with everything, but it also comes in lots of color options.
- Graphic T-shirt (small)- I feel like no teacher capsule wardrobe is complete without a graphic tee. Teachers love graphic tees, and it’s the one profession where you get to wear them all the time. There are so many fun ways you can dress up a graphic tee as a teacher, so I always have fun styling them! I love this t-shirt from Amazon and the colors flow well in the capsule.
Layers:
- Tan Blazer (xsmall)- I love blazers! They are the perfect layering piece, especially when you think of workwear. A blazer can elevate any outfit! I love lighter colors of blazers and I find this tan blazer from Amazon to be a great color for fall. It’s very versatile.
- Cardigan (xsmall)- You can’t head into fall without a cardigan. Old Navy always has some of my favorite cardigans! I love how versatile a shorter cardigan witih buttons can be. You can wear them opened or buttoned up to create new looks each time you wear them.
- Denim Jacket (small)- Of course I have a denim jacket in this capsule! For this capsule, I wanted to keep it budget-friendly, so I included my favorite affordable denim jacket. This denim jacket from maurices is of nice quality. It’s easy to layer! I also included it in my spring capsules wardrobe post!
Bottoms:
- Green wide-leg linen pants (small)- I love these linen pants from Amazon. I bought them in an apricot color last year, but this year I wanted to get them in a forest green color. These pants are nice and lightweight. They pair well with everything! I will warn you that if you wash and dry these pants they will shrink up a couple inches in length, but if you are on the shorter side, that will be to your advantage. If you are taller, make sure you hang dry them.
- Slim straight-leg black jeans (26/short)- Black jeans were always a staple in my teacher wardrobe when I was working. There are so many great styles to choose from, but my favorite is a slim straight-leg. It has the look and feel of a skinny jean, with a modern update. This pair from Gap Factory is a great mid-rise option, but I have linked some other options above as well.
- Kick flare cropped jeans (24/petite)- I know that most schools do allow jeans, even if it’s just on casual Friday. This is why I always like to include a pair of jeans in my teacher capsule wardrobe. This dark pair of kick-flare cropped jeans from LOFT would be great for work. I love the cropped length. I always feel that dark denim is the most professional color for workwear. Don’t forget that teachers get an extra 15% off at LOFT!!
- Yellow pleated skirt (small)- I love pleated skirts and this yellow pleated skirt is perfect for fall! It has a very comfortable stretchy waistband. It can be dressed up or down. It also comes in other colors too!
Dress:
- Green floral wrap dress (xsmall)- I fell in love with this LC Lauren Conrad wrap dress from Kohl’s. It’s such a flattering style, and I love the green floral print, although it does come in other prints. I recommend wearing bike shorts underneath it for extra coverage in the classroom. I did that when I was a teacher and I still do it when I wear dresses around my kids. You just never know with little ones around.
Shoes:
- Gold ballet flats (7.5)- A classic pair of ballet flats was always a staple in my teacher wardrobe. I love the gold flats because they pair well with almost everything in my closet. I found this cute pair of flats on Amazon and they are quickly becoming my favorite shoe for fall!
- Black-toe sling-back flats (7.5)- Another style of flats I love at the moment is the black-toe sling-back flats. They do a great job of elevating your work looks without needing a add a heel.
- White sneakers (7.5)- As a teacher, having a comfortable pair of sneakers is always key. I went with these white sneakers from maurices. For the price, they are a really great option. They go with pretty much everything! If you’re willing to spend a little more on sneakers, I also love my white Sam Edelman sneakers.
Accessories:
- Brown and black belts– Belts are such important accessories. They do a great job of completing your look. I like to buy my belts in a two back with 2 different color options. This way I can mix and match them with my outfits. This set from Amazon is one of my favorites. They are designer-inspired and really polish up the looks!
72 Teacher Outfit Ideas
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Hello! This has been so helpful. There are so many things to think about back to school, and your help making outfits means one less thing! I like looking cute but dislike shopping… this has been extremely helpful. I am buying almost half of the pieces you posted, and going through my wardrobe to see what else I have to mix and match. Thank you!!
I am hoping now for another post to add pieces to transition into winter… which where I live can start in October.
(p.s.-Sadly for the amazon stuff the affiliate links don’t work for me, since I have to search for it on the Canada amazon page.)
Thanks again!
Thank you so much! I’m glad the outfits have made back-to-school easier for you. I’ll definitely work on a post for transitioning into winter—especially with those early cold months.
Sorry about the Amazon links! I hope you were still able to find some options!
I just wanted to thank you for putting together this wardrobe. I am starting a new job as a preschool teacher (after being a stay at home mom for the last 7 years) and I had to completely revitalize my wardrobe and I am SO grateful for all your hard work (and great taste!). There are so many outfits I would never have dreamed of putting together. Thank you for helping me with this daunting task and making me look super cute on the first day of school!
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m so happy to help you find your teacher style and get ready for your year! I hope you have a great school year ahead!!