Let's talk about proper work attire

I believe in dressing for success.  Partly this is because I think dressing appropriately is an element of being a responsible human being, and partly this is because I like dressing nice.  So when I go to work as a substitute teacher I try to look my best.  Not formal wedding gown best, but business casual best.  I usually wear slacks and a sweater and put in every effort to not look like I'm pushing any envelopes so as not to excite the hormones of teenage boys.  And I'd like to think I succeed fairly well in looking both young and professional. 

But today I saw something so disturbing that I had to comment on it in my blog.  I subbed for 5th grade and the day went really well.  The kids were pleasant and well behaved and very helpful whenever I had a question.  But there were a few times that I had to interact with other teachers to get questions answered and shuffle kids around and things like that.  And one teacher was wearing an outfit that I found nothing short of shocking.  She had on khaki capris, crocs (not real crocy crocs, but the kind that are more of a mary jane shoe version while still looking very much like traditional crocs), a school sweatshirt exactly like the kind one of the 5th graders was wearing, no makeup, and face-washing hair.  Ladies know what I'm talking about.  The kind of hairstyle where you just throw your hair up really quickly in order to wash your face.  I will now visually recreate this outfit with photos.

 

Hair.  Pretty accurate image.

Sweatshirt.  Just like what the kids wear.

Khaki capris.  Pants for people who are afraid of shorts.

Crocs.  The bottom of the barrel in professional footwear.  

Yea, that was her work outfit.  Maybe I'm being overly critical, but I think that people should still be putting in a little bit of effort, even if all they do is teach grade school children.  What is this outfit?!  Oh, and I forgot to mention the worst part.  The sweatshirt she was wearing is not the sweatshirt of the current school.  It's the sweatshirt of the school before it combined with another school.  Ten years ago.  Go ahead, go back and reread those sentences.  You were right the first time.  She was wearing a ten year old sweatshirt to work.  This is exactly why Stacy and Clinton have jobs.