Fall Teacher Style on a Budget

For a teacher starting a new school year is much like New Years is to everyone else in the world.  It's a fresh start!  A clean slate.  The year ahead is full of promise.  We set goals for ourselves both professionally and personally.  It's also a time when we feel extremely broke :) (again much like after Christmas and New Years).  Many of us get paid over 10 months and even though we save and plan to cover our expenses, school start-up is always a little hard and the end of September and our first paycheck can't come soon enough.  

I don't always shop at Old Navy but I do find that they often have trendy items that have a great price point.  I did a little "window shopping" and then real shopping, in  ON the other evening, kid free, and found myself pairing work appropriate outfits all over the place.  I purchased everything for $200 and honestly can remix all the times multiple times, making these picks a staple in my world.  Let's see what I placed in my cart.

#1 Plaid Pants

Plaid is everywhere this year, especially pants and blazers.  A plaid blazer, such as this one, is on my wish list but it's $$$ and needs to wait until payday.  When I saw these plaid pants I knew that I could recreate so many different looks with the tops I already had in my closet (light pink, black turtleneck, white blazer, etc).  These pants are a keeper for me. Let's look at the three ways I styled them.

First, I styled them with the items in my closet.  Blush pink and gray always go so well togther and I love how this outfit turned out.  Perfect now as we are transitioning from summer to fall, or in spring.

This knit top is super comfy from ON and pairs really well with the pants but I feel that I just wouldn't get enough wear out of it at this time of the year so it's going back.   NOTE:  This top would also go really well with the burgundy, corduroy skirt.

Unexpected pairing!!!!  Bold, rich, burgundy floral with plaid for the win!  I absolutely love this outfit and the blazer is the perfect laying top for chillier days and for a more polish office look. 

#2 Swing Dress

Okay, a girl can never had too many of these dresses and they are often on sale for like $20!!!  They currently have them in forest green, charcoal, burgundy & yellow.  I really, really, really wanted to love the yellow dress but I just don't on me.  I think it's just too much yellow in one item.  I absolutely adore the burgundy but as my husband pointed out, I seem to have too much of that color in my wardrobe.  I think I'll keep the burgundy one regardless and trade the yellow in for a green one.  These dresses are perfect with bare legs and  flats now, or pair them up with  tights and booties later, or with leggings and boots!  So many ways to wear a swing dress.

#3 Corduroy Skirt & The Cardigan that you NEED!

A long, duster cardigan is a must have and honestly, can you really have too many?  They wear out and pill over time but at this price, you really can't go wrong.  This cardigan is super soft, lightweight but will keep you warm as the weather changes and layers are needed throughout the day.  I picked it up in this camel brown color because it's nuteral,plus it's all over the place this fall season.  Wear it with a skirt, jeans, dress pants, dress, etc.  

The corduroy skirt is much like the suede skirt was a couple of seasons ago, a must have.  What is the best part of this skirt, well it's the BUTTONS.  Big, chunky buttons are very popular this season and add fun detailing to blazers, skirts, sweaters, etc.  I also love that this skirt didn't seem to collect static and stick between my legs when I walked.  I can also see it being worn with a black turtleneck, tights and black booties for the winter.

There you guys have it!  ON always has sales so even if you don't buy these items all at once you can just watch and wait for them to go down in price.  Let me know if you want to see some other pieces styled multiple ways!

Shop This Post:
Corduroy Skirt (in blue too) $34.99
Brunch Crew Sweatshirt Swing Dress (in multiple colors) $34.94
Floral Print Swing Blouse (3 colors, green, burgundy & black) $34.94
Ruffle Tank Top (several colors) $24.94
Long Open Sweater (several colors) $34.99
Plaid Pixie Pants $44.99 - several colors but plaid are on trend