What to wear as a male substitute teacher.

April 4, 2025

Looking in your closet, wondering what to wear as a male substitute teacher? Most schools’ dress codes fall into the “business casual” category, but sometimes this leaves a lot of room for both flexibility and interpretation. Let's dig in so you have a "go to" work wardrobe.

Checklist for what to wear as a male substitute teacher:

Professional
Comfortable
Practical
Something you feel confident in
Designed to earn you respect

Professional.

Professional doesn’t mean a three-piece suit, but it does mean dressing with respect for the people you will come across while at work. Many schools require that their teachers wear “business casual” or “smart casual,” which often means chinos or khakis paired with a sweater or collared shirt such as a golf shirt or button-down dress shirt. A tie and/or sports coat could also be part of the ensemble, and casual dress shoes or loafers work well with this style. Finally, whatever you wear should be clean, non-offensive, and should fit you properly. PRO TIP: Be sure to find out the school's dress code before your first day. If casual Friday is part of the dress code, wearing jeans and a T-shirt might be okay.

Comfortable.

As a teacher, you move a lot throughout the day. Not only do you walk around the classroom, but you also walk from class to class and other areas of the school. So, when deciding what to wear as a male substitute teacher, choose clothing you’ll be comfortable in. Loose-fitting clothes made of breathable fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool are best. Since you spend much of the day on your feet, balance comfort with style when choosing your footwear.

Practical.

Wear clothes that are practical for the setting in which you’ll be teaching. For example, substitute teaching for a middle school art class will require different clothing than a physical education class. Think about the subject and ages of the students you’ll be teaching, and wear what’s practical for that workday. Also, note that you may be asked to cover a different class, so versatility is important.

Something you feel confident in.

As a substitute teacher, it's difficult to feel settled and comfortable because you’re always on the move. Wearing something you like and feeling good about how you look is a great confidence booster.

Dress for respect.

Many teachers have observed that how they dress has an impact on how their students behave. For example, a tie and sports coat aren’t required, but it might make students look at you as an authority figure. If you dress just like the students, they may have trouble seeing you as the adult in the room. Dressing for respect will also earn the respect of other teachers and school faculty. As a rule, it’s always better to be a bit overdressed than underdressed.

Build your wardrobe.

Once you know what to wear as a male substitute teache r, you can build a simple yet versatile wardrobe. Just a few items of clothing can give you many different outfit options. Of course, you can expand your wardrobe to include different styles, colors, and accessories, but here are some items you should have in your closet (vary as needed to accommodate the climate or season:

Tops:

A few light-colored and dark-colored button-down shirts (some should be solid colored, while others can have patterns like checks or stripes)
A few collared shirts in different colors
Two- or three-quarter zips or sweaters, in case you need to dress in layers
Pullover or cardigan sweaters and a couple of turtlenecks
T-shirts for casual day

Bottoms:

Khakis or chinos in neutral colors like tan, blue, gray, and black

Accessories:

A few ties that will go with your shirts
At least two belts — brown and black

Shoes:

Casual dress shoes or loafers in brown and black
Sneakers if you’re supervising P.E.

What to avoid.

The first rule is to never violate the school’s dress code. Here's what else should be considered:

Avoid dressing overly casual or extreme.
Do not wear clothes that are distractingly trendy or have tears or holes in them.
No sandals or slippers.
Don’t over-accessorize with lots of rings, bracelets, and necklaces. A few well-chosen pieces are fine—too many will be distracting.
Stay away from clothing that anyone might consider controversial or inappropriate words, sayings, or images.

Grow as a Kelly Education substitute teacher.

Now that you have a good grasp on substitute teacher attire, get a few more tips. When you work with Kelly Education, we provide training before you ever enter the classroom. Check out our ever-growing free library of helpful articles for substitute teachers:

If you are interested in substitute teaching, fill out our brief interest form, and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions. We’ll also share more about opportunities to become a substitute teacher or support staff with one of our school district partners.