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"Reader Kelsey writes, &amp;quot;Please help! I recently graduated with a Degree in Theatre and I will be teaching in a high school this next year (January). I have to look professional and follow dress code (ie no jeans, and no short skirts) and be comfortable enough to move around when rehearsing with my students. The quandary comes though when I have to mix that with my excessive love of fashion! How can I follow the rules without losing my sense of style in the process? Please please help!&amp;quot; It must be tough transitioning from super-comfy student style into all-grown-up with a real job territory so quickly, so I&amp;#x27;m going to help you take baby steps (but still look incredibly chic doing it!). They key here is to select appropriate basics and conservative silhouettes, then express your personal style through fabulous accessories and smart color choices. Here&amp;#x27;s my advice: Dresses are your friends. Start thinking of daytime frocks as your new jeans--ie, something you can always throw on and be comfortable in, something you have a version of to wear just about anywhere, and something you can dress up or down depending on your mood and the occasion. Go for maximum comfort factor with easy jersey knits that have fashion-forward silhouettes (cowl necks, flutter sleeves); simple cotton shirt dresses that can be belted; and wrap dresses that aren&amp;#x27;t too revealing. I&amp;#x27;d say owning one of each of those in a neutral (navy, gray, black) is a great place to start building your school wardrobe. Then you can change up the shoes, tights, and layering pieces underneath to create completely different looks each day: Sign up for Glamour.com&amp;amp;#8217;s Style Tips of the Week and Beauty Tip of the Day newsletters! Invest in a few well-tailored pieces: You won&amp;#x27;t want to wear a dress every day, which means you&amp;#x27;ll need a few pairs of pants, as well. When we&amp;#x27;ve talked teacher wardrobes around here before, some readers made the point that you don&amp;#x27;t want to be confused for a student (not to mention dressing the part will help you earn instant respect). Go for sophisticated shapes no 16-year-old could really pull off--ultra wide-leg pants, peak-shoulder blazers, and tailored cigarette trousers--then pair them with easier pieces you already feel comfortable in. A crisp white cotton blouse should also be your new best friend--it&amp;#x27;s the perfect chic backdrop for the statement necklace or long dangling earrings that help you feel like you! Just promise me you won&amp;#x27;t fall into the boring, badly-cut khaki pants and a pink button-down shirt trap... Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize: It&amp;#x27;ll come as no surprise to anyone who&amp;#x27;s been reading this blog for a while, but the easiest, cheapest way to freshen up your look (and maintain some style within the confines of a dress code) is by adding accessories. Are you an edgy, super-trendy type? Go for a pair of studded flats and long layers of chain necklaces with your simple white blouse. Glam-and-girly more your thing? Jeweled shoes and a Blair Waldorf-style headband will totally announce that. There aren&amp;#x27;t too many inappropriate-for-school accessories (stripper stilettos and brass knuckles notwithstanding), so let your imagination run free: Best of luck in you new job, Kelsey! Send us a photo of how fabulous you look... Got a style problem that needs solving? Leave your query here or upload it to the STF contact form and we&amp;#x27;ll have you looking chic in no time! More Ways to Get Glamour You could win $50,000 just for registering or logging in to Glamour.com! Add Glamour to your iGoogle homepage Follow Slaves to Fashion on Twitter! Photo: Macy&amp;#x27;s"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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