Well, we survived the most recent Nor’easter intact and without loss of power at our home, thankfully! When I got home from school on Friday, completely drenched from the 2-minute-turned-7-minute walk to my car from the building, I knew that it was the kind of day to snuggle up inside and write a post about teacher shoes.

I’ve thought a lot lately about the best shoes for work. Recently, a number of my shoes have actually broken and having to do without them has made me see how crucial they are to my teacher wardrobe. This year’s new work environment has also added challenges that have affected my shoe choices. First, I work on a two-building campus. Twice a week I have to “make the crossing” from one building, across the quad, to the other building. This long walk makes comfortable shoes crucial. Secondly, I have to make that walk in the extremes of New England weather, which means sometimes through snow, on ice or, like last Friday, through gale-force-winds and driving rain. Friday (being casual Friday) I actually wore my Hunter Rainboots to work!

Having worked in two different work environments (one more causal and one more formal), I have a pretty good idea of what shoes have stood the test of both teaching environments.

Teacher Shoes: Heels

On most days, you will find me in heels. Every teacher has a different style and different preferences when it comes to comfort. But as I mentioned last week, I believe that you can be both fashionable and comfortable. You will never see me wearing tennis shoes to work, though I can understand why some teachers do. There’s just something about heels that I think is very professional. That being said, I get that not everyone can handle being in heels all day. Personally, I actually do better in some of my heels than some of my flats because they are built with more support.

When I worked in a more casual environment, my favorite outfit was jeans and a blazer. Adding a pair of heels took the casual outfit up a notch and made it more professional. Here’s a more recent example of the heels with blazer and jeans look.

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Now that I work in a more professional dress work environment, I wear them with pencil skirts, work pants, etc.

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My key to buying heels for work is to buy a mid-heel (which is more comfortable) and spend a bit more to get a better quality shoe. A great quality shoe will last you much longer and your feet will feel better.

Black Pumps

My favorite heels for work are my black pumps. Each pair I have owned have lasted 5 or more years. They are an absolute staple. See a few ways I have worn them below.

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Leopard Pumps

If you’ve followed my blog a long time, you will already understand my passion for Leopard Pumps. I wear them ALL the time. The leopard pumps I own are the perfect height and go with jeans and work pants alike.  I wear them with both bright colors and solid neutrals and get compliments on them all the time.

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Favorite Brands for Heeled Work Pumps

Some of my favorite brands for work heels are Vince Camuto, Sole Society, and Steve Madden. Sole Society, in particular, has great sales and I love their variety of colors and patterns. It’s easy to shop their sales and search by heel height.

Teacher Shoes: Flats

Tall Black Boots

It’s actually interesting that I don’t really have any pictures of myself wearing these boots. I guess I didn’t wear them as much when I was living in the Seattle area because I wore jeans and pumps more often to work. Now that I’m in New England, I find myself turning more often to flats that can handle the long walks and the weather. These black equestrian boots fit the bill perfectly. I’ve owned them for years and they’re still in great condition. Though I own both black and brown tall boots, I find myself turning to the black ones much more frequently for work.

 

Black Embellished Flats

I have gone through at least 3 pairs of black flats for work. I always buy a pair with an embellishment on the toe just because I think it makes them more fun. I bought my current pair during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale this past fall and I love the style.

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Mules

Though a recent addition to my teacher wardrobe, these mules have become a near-daily must-have. In fact, once our house officially closes, I want to add some more mules to my wardrobe for spring. I’ve seen a lot of great press about these beauties and just saw these last week in Ashley’s top 10 post! Mules are perfect for teaching because they’re so comfortable! It’s like wearing slippers that are appropriate for work!

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My tip for buying mules for work is to find a pair that fit snugly to your foot. For me this means the kind of mules that have a side piece going all the way to the back of the foot, as you will see in the mules I’ve listed for you below.

 

If you’re looking for comfortable flats like mules that have a back, I can’t recommend these loafers enough. They are SO comfortable. I have them in fuchsia and wear them often. These look similar if you want ones similar to the fuchsia ones I wore here.

Ok! Those are my absolute favorite, can’t-do-without teacher shoes. Because I tend to go for a higher-quality shoe, I recommend looking at TJMaxx, Ross, or Nordstrom Rack. These stores will sell name brand shoes at reduced prices. Another tip is to watch out for the Nordstrom Anniversary sale to get great quality shoes at a discounted price. Trust me, it’s worth it.

 

If you’re a teacher (or other professional) looking to build a professional wardrobe, make sure to check out my post on the Top 5 Places to Shop for Teacher Clothes.

What are your favorite shoes for work? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

-Virginia

 

Linking up with:  More Pieces of Me | Sincerely Jenna Marie | Glass of Glam | On the Daily Express | Straight A Style Blog | Pumps & Pushups | The Pleated Poppy | Curly Crafty Mom | Lizzie in Lace | Lady in Violet