Twenties Girl Style

Back to the Classroom with DSW

It’s that time of year…back to school! I get so excited for the start of a new year! Even though 2020 has some new challenges, this year is no different! Whether you are teaching remotely, in the classroom or with a hybrid model, I think it’s important to prepare like you usually would! For me, preparing for a fresh school year includes shopping for some new back to school pieces and most importantly SHOES. Today I am partnering with DSW to share my must have shoes for the classroom!

Outfit 1: Converse High Tops // Tee // Denim Jacket // Skirt

Outfit 2: Steve Madden Starling Sneakers // Top // Pants

Outfit 3: Slip On Vans // Dress // Denim Jacket

When it comes to the classroom, I love a good pair of sneakers! As an elementary teacher, I often find myself on the floor, running, dancing and being on my feet for majority of the day. Comfortable shoes are an absolute must, and what is more comfortable than sneakers?

DSW is truly the sneaker headquarters of 2020, with all the best brands and styles for the entire fam! They are my first stop when shopping shoes because they have a huge variety of options with teacher friendly prices. I purchased all three of my all time favorite sneakers from DSW!  These three are on constant rotation because they are comfortable and easy to dress up or down!

  1. Converse High Tops: Converse high tops are a comfortable classic (they’ve passed the true test of comfort too…a full day of Disney). I love pairing these with skirts and dresses and love that they instantly make an outfit more fun.

2. Steve Madden Starling Sneakers: I got these last school year and they quickly became a classroom favorite. The all white goes with everything, but they have a slightly distressed look, so I don’t have to worry about them getting dirty. The flatform style gives a bit of lift and they are extremely breathable and comfortable! They also come with a second pair of neon laces that add a fun pop.

3. Slip on Vans: These are so popular with my students!  A few of them have the same pair and they always ask me when I am going to wear them so we can match. The slip on style is so easy and I don’t have to worry about my laces coming untied! I love that I can pair these with a super simple outfit to bring it all together.

DSW knows how magical teachers are and are honoring the start of the school year in some big ways! First up, score 20% off in stores at DSW all month long (must be a VIP and show valid teacher ID at checkout!). Next up, nominate yourself or your favorite teacher to win $10k cash and free shoes for a year! Find out all the details here.

No matter what this school year has in store, be prepared with cute sneaks and shop my faves from DSW!

A big thanks to DSW for sponsoring this post! As always, all selections and opinions are my own.

School Days: Holiday Wear

 Dress: c/o Julie Brown Designs // Jacket: c/o SheIn // Clutch: Clare V. // Shoes: BP ‘Trolley’ // 

 The most wonderful time of year is quickly approaching! I don’t know about you, but as the holidays draw nearer, my outfits get progressively more festive! Not only am I looking for pieces to wear to holiday parties and festive outings, but also pieces to add little bits of holiday cheer into my everyday work wardrobe! One simple way to get festive is to add a pop of red or green. I fell in love with this jacket the moment I laid eyes on it and knew it would be perfect for the holidays (the quality is pretty great, too!). I wore it over a simple shift dress for work, but love that by changing out the shoes this would be perfectly appropriate for a holiday party!

 This dress comes from Julie Brown Designs and fits like a dream. I fell in love with Julie Brown Designs last year when I wore this little striped number here. I absolutely adore the easy to wear pieces in this collection that transition easily from work to after hours. I am excited to share more holiday inspired outfits with Julie Brown Designs in the coming weeks!

Work Necessities: Packed for Confidence with #ubykotex

Life happens.

Maybe when you least expect it, or when you are the most unprepared, but one thing is for sure…it happens. 

As a teacher, I learned very early on to ALWAYS come to school prepared. With my own classroom, I already have a lot of necessities I might need tucked away in a cupboard at work (including an emergency kit with toothpaste, a toothbrush, etc…hey, you never know!), but there are a few things I always make sure to have in my bag. The important things I might need when traveling from school to meetings, or stashed for a rainy day, always make the trip to school with me in the morning, tucked in my trusty bag! 

Scroll down to see what I carry! 

 School Bag Necessities

Planner: This Erin Condren teacher plan book is my LIFE. It is so amazing as it has both teacher plan pages and monthly planner pages that help keep my crazy life organized. A little spendy, but worth it when used multiple times during the day! Definitely my favorite planner layout I have seen yet and so easy to use, that I can effortlessly follow my day plans and make sure I don’t miss a beat! 

Notepads and Pens: I always carry multiple notepads and pens with me. You never know when you may need to take notes, make a shopping list or to do list! I am constantly listing things I need to get done to prepare for the next day. This usually helps me round up what I need to get done or take home to have ready for the next school day. I also use them to jot down blog ideas. You never know when you might be inspired!

Make-Up Remover Wipes: These are in my bag for my late evenings at work. School gets out a little after 2, but I am usually there until 5 or later. I don’t know about you, but taking off my make-up is one of my favorite things after a long day! These Simple cleansing facial wipes are so refreshing and help remove all of my make-up easily. 

Hair Brush: I literally can’t get through a day of work without brushing my hair through at least 2 or 3 times! I don’t know what it is about being at school, but my hair ALWAYS get’s knotted. This detangler brush is perfect for quickly swiping through my hair to remove those pesky knots! 

Lipstick: A neutral lipstick is a must have in my school bag. This one is by Bite cosmetics in the color fig. I love putting some on throughout the day, especially after lunch, as a little pick me up. Nothing like adding a little lipstick to boost your confidence! 

Fizzy Drink: I quit drinking soda about a year ago, but still crave the fizz. I usually tote a fizzy drink, like sparkling juice or water, to give me that little bit of fizz I need to keep me going through my day. I am currently addicted to Izze sparkling juices! 

Feminine Products: This is a MUST. You never know when Aunt Flo will come knocking at the door! I always feel better knowing I have some stashed in my bag for emergencies! And U by Kotex have quickly become my product of choice. 

 These U by Kotex pads and tampons are PERFECT for a girl on the go. I am in love with the bright colors and fun prints of the packaging. I usually stash my feminine products in a secret compartment in my bag, but the packaging on these pads is so cute and discreet (i.e it doesn’t scream HEY…I’M A PAD!) that tossing them in my bag is a non-issue. I was in awe of the selection of U by Kotex products at my local Wal-Mart…seriously, they have something for every girl! I picked up a bonus pack of my favorite Ultra Thin liners and was so excited to see an adorable patterned Kleenex pack included! More adorably packaged life necessities? Yes, please!





Being prepared is a huge confidence booster for me. I know that when prepared for the little things (including a pesky period), nothing can catch me by surprise! 
What is one of your necessities you can’t leave the house without? 


This post was sponsored by U by Kotex, but all opinions are my own. 

Back to School in Mixed Prints

 Top: Old Navy ‘Boyfriend Tee’ // Skirt: Old Navy ‘Chiffon Mini’ in Red Floral  // Shoes: Halogen ‘Olson’ Pointy Toe T-strap Flat (color currently unavailable, but comes in 7 other colors!) // Bag: Tory Burch ‘Perry’ Tote // Sunnies: Ray Ban ‘Erika’ // Necklace: Mini Coin Crystal Necklace c/o Taudrey // 

Happy September!

School has officially started hence the lack of posts around these parts! It was a busy few days getting my classroom ready, and I spent a lot of hours making sure things were ready to go. All of you teachers know that no matter how much time you spend in the classroom it really is never enough!! Wednesday the 2nd was the official first day, and it was a good one! I forgot how little the first graders are when they start compared to how much they grow by the end of the year! It will take me some time getting back in to the swing of working full time and blogging while I find a balance that works, so thanks ahead of time for being patient with me!

This mixed prints combo was what I wore the first day of school, plus a denim jacket over to top it off as it was a little chillier than expected. Would you believe me if I told you this outfit (top and bottom) was under $25? I headed to Old Navy recently to pick up a few new things for school and this top and skirt immediately jumped out at me! I love easy to wear pieces, and the mixed prints adds a fun element. This top was $11 and the skirt was just $10. These are pieces I can mix into my teaching wardrobe all year long! Head in to Old Navy asap for the labor day sales! I promise you will find a steal of a deal or two! 

Get the Look

 This week’s blogger of the week from last week’s link up is Amanda Miller of The Miller Affect! Fall is just around the corner, and I have been so drawn to deep reds that Amanda’s little maroon dress totally fits the bill! I can’t get over the lace detailing and deep v-neck. Paired with some leopard pumps and a perfect clutch, Amanda is absolutely killing it! I can’t wait to re-create this look this fall!

Link-up with Jalynn, of The Red Closet Diary, and I for our weekly #WIWT link-up!

There are no rules or guidelines, but we would love if you followed us on Bloglovin or another one of our social media sites!


An InLinkz Link-up