Top 12 Fierce Fashion Tips for Teachers on a Budget

Stereotypically, teachers aren't necessarily known for their fashion sense but those of us walking the hallways everyday know plenty of teachers who belong on the style honor roll. 

Looking good does not come easily for those of us at the head of the class.  Teachers face some serious fashion challenges. Full days on your feet surrounded by dry erase markers, crowded hallways and dirty students' hands don't bode well for high-priced, high-concept style. Nor does a teacher salary or insanely busy schedules. It's hard to find time to think much less plan the perfect outfit. 

To help, we've collected the Top 12 Fashion Tips just for teachers. Break out of your wardrobe rut this fall and bring practical and affordable style back into the classroom!

School ID Discount 

Several stores offer discounts just for being a teacher. J.Crew and Ann Taylor are two major retailers that offer teacher deals, but I'd suggest asking at the register wherever you're shopping.
If a brand wants to celebrate our profession with lower cost clothing options, I say embrace it as a not-so-minor perk of the job! (Can you name another career where you get summer vacations and 20% off at J.Crew? I didn’t think so).

Build on the Basics

Create a wardrobe with classic pieces that can be worn a multitude of ways.   I know buying a plain dress or white button-up blouse doesn’t sound terribly exciting, but if you think of these staple pieces as canvases that can be styled an infinite number of ways, it opens up a world of opportunity.
Dallas Stylist, Valerie Elizabeth’s “little black dress experiment" illustrates how easy it is to look chic without spending a fortune. 
Elizabeth wore the same dress for 30 days and, by using different accessories, shoes and layers, was able to create a new look each day of the challenge. I am not advocating wearing the same article for an entire semester or anything (I think our students would catch on), but I encourage you to look to Elizabeth for inspiration on getting maximum mileage out of great basics.  

Target is Your Friend 

I love Target. I do. I am consistently impressed by the high-quality, fashion-conscious items that are available at your local Target or online at Target.com. You can find everything from statement pieces (Check out the Mossimo, Merona and Designers for Target lines) to great versatile layering tops. 
Bonus tip: Shop the Target junior’s department for the softer, lighter weight cotton tees. 

Vintage Values

It seems like fashionistas everywhere salivate upon the mere mention of the word “vintage.” Lucky for us, vintage is (more or less) a fancy way of saying thrifted finds, so why not head over to your local thrift shop to find your own low-cost treasures! 
While thrifting, read the labels! You will be amazed by the number of items you find by major fashion houses - not to mention, all of the pieces that come from Italy or France. Oooh lala.  To make the search easier, try the touch test. Run your hand down the rack and you'll easily feel the difference between the high quality fabrics and the polyblends.
Not sure about how to incorporate vintage pieces without looking like you raided your mother’s closet? Check out the blog, What I Wore, for daily photos and advice on how to successfully integrate older pieces into a contemporary wardrobe!

We Can’t Afford Designer Clothes… or Can We?

Gone are the days when the only people with access to designer clothes are the insanely wealthy and the handful of New Yorkers with the time to visit midday (midweek) sample sales held in designers showrooms. 
Designers are increasingly turning to online sale sites to clear out their fancy-fancy merchandise, which is basically awesome news for us common folk! Sites such as Gilt Group, Rue La La, and Hautelook host clearance sales with up to 80% off of apparel and accessories from designers such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Juicy Couture and Theory. 

Be a Fashion Student

Turn to the professionals to track the season’s hottest trends. There are hundreds of free online fashion resources, meaning you can get cutting-edge style advice without shelling out the $6 for your copy of Vogue. You just have to do your research!
Sites such as Who What Wear, Intermix and Shopbop all have well-styled (free) lookbooks for you to study. 
And my favorite fashion learning aid definitely comes from celebrity stylist, Rachel Zoe. Ms. Zoe just launched The Zoe Report, a daily newsletter with her recommendations on hot products, brands and pieces. Her selections are often under the radar, but are always exquisite.
Lucky for us, every edition of the Zoe Report also features a low-cost alternative to that day’s highlighted trend.

Teacher-Appropriate Trends

Once you begin to study the great stylists, certain trends will emerge that inspire and excite you. Go for it! Embrace the trends, but please, please look age-appropriate. We don’t, after all, want to be confused with (gasp!) one of our students!
A few tips on how to wear this season’s white hot trends:

• Summery Skirts with Bulky Sweaters
• Pairing summer-style skirts and maxi dresses with big, bulky sweaters is all the rage. What a great way to keep your summer clothes in rotation while still staying in fashion. ~ Glamour's 2011 Fall Fashion Trends
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• Textures & Ties for Foot-friendly Shoes
• With wedges, flats, and chunky heels still in fashion, it's a good time to find fashion-forward work shoes. Looking for some extra fashion fun: add buckles, textures and ties!
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• According to Fashionizers.com, the top trends for this year include buckles, extreme laces, patent leather, satins, suedes, reptile-skins and even wearing sox with your heals.
• For men, funky wingtip patterns are stomping down the runways, so go classic with a twist.

• Plaids & Polka Dots
• "If Marc Jacobs and Diane von Furstenberg put the same print out on the runway, then you know it’s a real trend, with a capital T. If the head-to-toe patterned look isn’t your thing, try a polka-dot blouse or scarf to put a playful—and trendy!—spin on your everyday outfit."~ Glamour on polka dots.
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• Glamour also recommends fun plaids to add flare to jackets, skirt, etc.
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• Men's Back to School Fashion Tips
• Women aren't the only ones rocking serious style in the classroom. My advice for male teachers this year: Be Bold!!
• - Embrace vibrant colors, sweaters and man cardigans 
• - Have fun with ties
• - Carry your school work in a fashionable messenger bag
• - Amp up accessories with a nice watch (Remember: silver goes with everything) 
• - Find the perfect fit for your Oxford shirts
• - Integrate vests in your wardrobe to add some class without overheating and
• - Add other pieces that make your day-to-day dress stand out.
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• Just as in women's fashion, plaids, textures (think suedes or leather aviator-style jackets) and bold accessories are a must. 

Go Librarian Chic

We all know how the temperature in our classrooms can vacillate between Dante’s inferno and arctic blast over the course of one period. Embrace your inner librarian and layer, layer, layer! Oversized cardigans paired with belts, scarves and tights will help you seamlessly navigate the change in seasons, not to mention the schizophrenic in-school climate.
Button-up collars and long skirts/dresses are also in this season, so your first librarian layer will give you a fashion-forward look!

Fall for the “Boyfriend Blazer”

Last fall's big hit, the boyfriend blazer, is still very much in fashion. To keep it fresh and new, add hanging earrings, an architectural choker or other statement-making accessories.
Oversized jackets are getting a lot of attention. We are seeing the traditional blazer look being shaken up with a disregard for structure and an appreciation for unexpected editing. To find the right relaxed jacket, shop in your closet. 

 

If you own a suit jacket or blazer, it likely can be transformed into this season’s hottest piece by simply cuffing the sleeves and wearing it with a casual t-shirt or tank and some statement jewelry.
Take advantage of this professional yet trendy look by throwing a boyfriend blazer over almost any outfit!

Make a Statement with Accessories! 

This fall, jewelry is big, bold and ornate and is designed to bring flair to even the most basic of outfits. Have fun with it! There is no reason to spend a lot of money on pieces that will inevitably go out of style next season, so I say turn to less expensive stores and let your imagination run wild! Forever 21, H&M and Topshop (the chic & cheap British store is now available online) are my go-to places to find maximum impact bling.

A warning: the opulent statement necklaces (like these expensive, but to-die-for pieces from Anthropologie) may be hard to pull off at work, but would be a great way to transition some of your basics from day-to-night, if you have after work plans.

Comfortable Shoes Don’t Have To Be Ugly

Being on our feet for most of the day means comfortable shoes are imperative. But please don’t let that be an excuse for sporting busted footwear! I am not saying you should try and suffer through the day in high heels - not at all. Instead, I encourage you to think sensibly AND stylishly, by turning to wedges, flat boots and ballet flats to complete your outfits.
It is worth noting, that all hopes for high heels are not lost. Cole Haan makes an incredible line of beautiful shoes with Nike Air technology built into each one. These shoes can only be described as magical - pumps, flats and boots that look extremely luxe while feeling like a sneaker.

Everything Looks Better with a Smile

I turn to a showtune for my final fall fashion tip: “You’re never fully dressed without a smile!”

How to Have a Soft or Fierce Model Look with Makeup

Models are paid to pull off different looks. One of their talents is how they can one day look like a soft, gentle expression of a feminine ideal, and then later that night they can change their presentation to appear fierce, tough, edgy, and confident. Here's how you can pull off both of these extremes.  

Steps

Soft Look

1. Put on foundation (color should match your neck). Pat it on gently with a sponge pad. Use whatever foundation you like best.
2. Put on some light, gentle blush. Use a fairly good sized brush, preferably bigger. Sweep it on your cheek bones.
3. Curl your eyelashes. It might take awhile to become comfortable with this, but you become used to it as you do it more often.
4. Apply mascara. Use a color that is close to your natural hair color, or try clear. Don't go for jet black unless your hair is jet black. It is not necessary to do both the top and bottom sets of lashes; however, you can do what looks best on your face.
5. Put on eyeliner. Don't use liquid or pencil eye liners, these can cause drippy eyeliner or harsh lines. A sponge tip is best. Apply your eyeliner on your lower eye lids, and above your upper lids. To soften it out, use the sponge and work with it stroking lightly for a smoky look that may be less harsh.
6. Apply eye shadow. Don't use a sponge-like applicator; instead, use a soft small brush. Apply the darkest shade first, then a lighter above it, and then one above it. Put the lightest (usually a shimmery or very pale color ) around the lower lash line to highlight them, and also in the corners of your eyes.
7. Wear your hair down, with soft, fluffy waves if you can.
8. Put on a light perfume, nothing too strong. Better yet, just use a nicely scented body wash and body lotion.
9. Choose a feminine, flowing outfit, with light, gentle colors that go with your complexion.

Fierce Look

1. Add dark eyeliner, preferably liquid, which grants a sharp, focused look to your eyes that can be intense and intimidating. Apply darker eyeshadow and mascara.
2. Put on a deep, intense shade of lipstick to make your lips stand out in a dramatic way.
3. Straighten your hair completely and/or pull it back into slick, tight ponytail or bun.
4. Stick to a strong, rich perfume.
5. Wear clothes that are slick, well-fitted, and exhibit clean, straight lines. Dark, rich colors are better than light, clean colors.
6. Get out your highest heels, or a pair of boots, if appropriate.
   
   

Tips

• Practice attitude looks in a mirror.
• Practice walking in high heel shoes.
• When applying blush, sweep up for a more attitude look.
• To find make-up colors, you can usually make an appointment somewhere. They will tell you your colors and some good ways to apply it.
• Avoid tanning, use sunscreen or sun block. If you want tanner skin, use a subtle fake tanner, like a tanning moisturizer.
• For a soft and fierce look at the same time, your skin and hair can be soft, while your eyes are dramatic and enhanced.
• Look at certain magazines and copy the model's facial expression. Do poses and practice them often.
• Have a signature look that is pretty or do looks that no one does.

Things You'll Need

• Foundation
• Blush
• Eye shadow
• Nail polish
• Lip gloss
• Mascara
• Eyeliner (sponge tip)
• Eyelash curler
• Tweezers or waxing kit (optional)
• Make-up brushes
• Good shampoos and conditioners and other hair products
• Sunscreen, high SPF
• Mirror
• High heels
• Skin products/moisturizers

 

10 tips to becoming FIERCE!

Change from who your caterpillar self into an even hotter, more confident butterfly more brains. Yes, fierce. But this isn't a word to be used lightly. Lady Gaga is fierce. Juliette Lewis is fierce. It's a hard nut to crack. Here's how to make the fierce happen.
So... how does one intuit what is right and wrong on one's (harsh) path to becoming fierce?

Be a feminist idol.

Do things that will inspire and influence other women. Okay, not just women. Do things that will inspire all people, as well as reaching your own life goals in the process. This will create respect for you from all of your peers, because no one truly respects a person with no personal ambition who isn't going anywhere.

Be your own idol.

Don't look to other people too often for inspiration. Sure, for a few fashion tips here and there maybe, but don't make it your life. Be your own idol. Don't wait for someone else to become the person YOU are trying to be.

Fake it till you make it

We're not talking about being fake - about being someone you're not. We're talking about game face. If you feel like one of life's worst casualties, don't spend all your days showing your hurt, scared, victim side to people. Don't be a little lost girl. Fake a smile, fake your confidence... Hell, fake liking someone if you have to. Don't let that snotty girl next door know that you actually care what she thinks about your weight, or your makeup or clothes! Don't let your best friend know you're jealous of her sometimes! Always make yourself believe you are in control. Trust me ;)

Never, ever, ever, ever, EVER, give up.

Um... Yeah. That pretty much says it all. People help those who help themselves, and if you become one of those people always wallowing in self-pity, it doesn't make you the greatest candidate for support. Try your hardest at life; it will pay out eventually.

Know your edge.

What exactly is it that is special about you? What are your talents, your strengths? Work on them and improve them as much as you can every day. The one thing you can't fake is who you are and what you love - be you a bookworm or party animal. Everyone loves being around someone with a strong sense of self - so figure it out, and be proud of what you are.

Don't try too hard.

Don't bug people. This may seem obvious but to make new friends doesn't mean calling them every hour of the day. Same goes for a new relationship. In most cases, being subtle makes you seem more laid-back, and way sexier.

Get some experience.

Do your research, live your life and learn lessons from both. You need to know what you're talking about in all situations, because if you are trying to become a role model for people, they will come to you for advice. If world history is your thing, or fashion or hairdressing, become an expert at it. It will boost your confidence and earn your respect as a valuable source for information.

Don't be afraid.

Don't be afraid of anyone. Whatever they think, whatever they say, it's nothing. Set your mind straight about the things you love and hate, and stick to them, no matter who laughs or makes fun of them. Stick to your friends and family for advice. Like Dr. Seuss said, "Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."

Do something world - friendly.

There's no one cooler than someone who cares about our good old planet :) Not only will you be setting a good example for people, but you'll also be...err...saving the planet.

Believe in something!

I can't stress this point enough. Make a path for others to follow. It's totally okay to be original, quirky and unique. Be creative, find a few good things to put your mind to, and with all the pointers I've given, you'll be well on the path to FIERCE.

 

How to Be a Fierce Competitor

You have to love a book that does not beat around the bush. In an age of ever-escalating time management anxiety, sometimes you need a brief reminder of your business values and ethos. To learn about some business processes, a longer text is needed.  But for quick refreshers, you need a snack-size book that reminds you of key values (go ahead and picture those recent Snickers commercials with Betty White, Abe Vigoda, Aretha Franklin and Liza Minnelli).

Marketing strategy consultant Jeffery Fox offers a Snickers-level business reminder: a guide to competition and business success called How to Be a Fierce Competitor: What Winning Companies and Great Managers Do In Tough Times. Fox has written a few short books like this before, notably How to Become CEO and How to Become a Rainmaker.  He gets straight to the point, and many of his zingers can be helpful to small business owners on the go and under, well, fierce competition. I bought a copy after I started flipping through a few of the pages in a bookstore; I have read  How to Become CEO and wanted to see what new comments he had to share.

Tips to help you be the best competitor

The book does not give rambled musings about what you should do in business. Instead, the pages are an amalgamation of ideas, told crisply and distinctively.  Check out these few comments:

“Leaders respond and act. They may be wrong, but they don’t dither, dawdle, delay….Data deep dives are good, necessary, professional, but when you come up for air, that’s it. Decide.”

“In tough times the tough don’t start selling, they ratchet up their selling. Fierce competitors put more people out in the field selling. They make it possible for salespeople to make more money, not less.  They invest scarce dollars to visit and meet more customers. They don’t ‘save’ money by quarantining their salespeople, by cutting advertising, by reducing customer service reps.”

“There are endless ways to let customers know you care.  Leave weekend voicemails, bring homemade cookies, make charitable donations in their names, let them be the first to know company big news before they read it in the paper.”

An interesting personal favorite is the tip “Stay Off Magazine Covers.” Here’s why:

“Profiles give competitors clues as to strategy, spending, capital budgets, and upcoming products….This information is fodder for analysts on the teams fighting to get your customers, your meal tickets, and your lunch.”

A fierce complement to many strategy books

The advice in Fierce Competitor is very straightforward-no-chaser, like Rework, but the book’s pocket-sized journal structure is meant for general reminders that can add extra perspective to the reasoning behind more detailed works.

Some authors, like Stanley Bing, make the most of the journal structure with a witty tone that permeates from title to text.  Fox has his own style that accentuates  each raised point, with many of the comments focused on eliminating waste to manage growth and to operate for the best interests of your business.  In one instance he provides tips for eliminating a seemingly strategic client that in reality overwhelms your back-end processes.  He suggests you examine the cost to support that  “strategic” client, then:

“Give your competitors a present. Let them have the strategic account. Let the strategic account drain their resources while you redeploy to profitable current and future customers.”

For insight that feeds your mind, these thoughts are great, but keep the Snickers analogy in mind.  Still, like the candy, this book will satisfy.  Fox leaves out bloated jargon, not good business sense.

Now, reading only one book does not make you a vital competitor.  You still need to dig into specific details, which is where this book helps most.  How to Be a Fierce Competitor can complement sales strategy, such as How to Sell When No One Is Buying and Competitive Selling.  General-topic entrepreneurship books such as Kaching and Tipping The Odds for the Entrepreneur also work well as complements to this book. Finally, it also can make behavioral topics like that covered in Clutch come alive.

Enjoy How to Be a Fierce Competitor and be entertained as well as reminded of your business sensibilities.

 

Always seen the life of the party having ever so much fun? Well, you too can be outgoing, daring and sassy. Anyone can have fierce confidence - just love yourself!

Steps:

1. Fix anything that's stopping you! If it's your self-esteem, think about all your good features and why your friends love you. Confidence isn't about looking perfect - it's about knowing that you're just as good as anyone else in your own unique way. Being confident means not comparing yourself but being secure with who you are, because an an arrogant person crumbles in insecurity when a better person arrives. A true confident person doesn't compare themselves to others; comparison is arrogance, because it is essentially a judging of being better or not.

2. Join a few clubs or do volunteer work, if you're feeling shy. Get over shyness: say "Hello!" to people you wouldn't usually have said anything to. Don't underestimate your moods or how a friendly demeanor can change the entire person. You'll seem much nicer, and you'll feel more social too. Don't let "social barriers" stop you from doing anything!

3. Be happy and content with yourself. Buy clothes you WANT to wear, regardless of whether it's uncool or whatever. Soon enough, you'll be so cool people will want to look like you.

4. Do activities you LIKE to do. Know yourself, and accept yourself.

5. Hang out with some people you usually don't hang out with. Even if it's just for a few minutes, chat with them. People are genuinely welcoming - and those who aren't simply are not worth your time anyway.

6. Be happy in your skin! Love yourself and indulge in those weird things you like to do, geeky as they are.

7. Look at yourself in a mirror without combing your hair or putting on makeup and think, "I look just fine." Makeup is for the insecure, not for lovely girls with fierce confidence.

8. Wear anything down on the street. For the fun of it, wear something you love (but is outrageous) at school or at the mall (suspenders, neon shoes!) People might think you're weird, but they'll also think you're pretty brave (even if they don't say it.)

9. Hone all of your skills. Improve them all - the result will be worth it.

10. Learn to accept compliments. Enjoy any attention you get. More of it's coming.

11. Be fully comfortable wherever and whenever with yourself and you're good to go.

Tips:

• Say whatever you want to say! Don't let anything hold you back (unless it's really rude or vulgar, of course.)
• If anyone disses what you're doing, ignore them. They wish they could do it too!
• Don't take hurtful remarks too seriously - that's part of confidence.
• Always be optimistic. Things will always seem better that way.
• Remember that you can never feel inferior unless you give someone your permission. If you don't want to feel bad, don't! What someone else says is just their opinion, and it doesn't even affect you.