Teachers, staff sprinkle their personal senses of style into everyday ensembles

To demonstrate his passion for classical literature or simply the desire to look debonair, English teacher and Instructional Lead Paul Dunlap’s wardrobe displays a diverse combination of funky colors and unique patterns. From eccentric ties to quirky socks, Dunlap’s choices in fashion have been nothing if not eye-catching, colorful and immersive. Dunlap’s outfit planning begins the night before...

When English teacher Terence Kitada first came to Gunn in 2013, he was appreciative of the English department’s pseudo-dress code. “I heard from other English teachers that [semi-formal attire] is what you have to wear,” he said. “For me, that was great because I came from teaching in Japan, where the look is more formal.” To pick an outfit, Kitada rotates between his collection of dress...

Pantsuits, boots and—on special occasions—dresses are Principal Wendy Stratton’s staples. Starting with a blazer, Stratton aims to strike a balance between professional and casual in each outfit she builds, embellishing with a few versatile, minimalist accessories—often gold hoops and a gold necklace. Stratton’s primary focus when choosing her everyday outfits, however, is to wear pieces...

Thankfully for math teacher and fashion lover Kathy Hawes, the math department does not have a dress code, meaning that teachers are able to choose their day-to-day outfits based on personal preference. Hawes takes much joy in this freedom because of her love of fashion. “I find getting dressed to be joyful,” she said. “It just gives me pleasure.” Hawes used to view fashion as complicated....

For some people, getting dressed everyday is solely about fashion. For history and economics teacher Jeff Patrick, however, it’s about changing into a teaching mindset before going to work. Patrick is known for his classic combination of colored shirts and ties, which are central to setting his professional attitude for the day. “Part of changing into a shirt and tie is changing my mindset and...

For physics teacher Jacintha Kompella, fashion goes beyond just looks. Since shewas young, clothing has played a defining role in her life. Now, it follows her into the workplace. Kompella’s fascination with clothing stems from her early desire to become a teacher. “Even though I trained to be an engineer, my heart always wanted to teach,” she said. “When I was in school, I would see what...

On Valentine’s Day, instead of the typical red and pink color palette, English teacher Mark Hernandez opted for a black double-breasted suit and a gray and gold tie. The classic and traditional outfit was perfect for Hernandez’s Shakespeare class that day, where he was playing Claudius in “Hamlet.” While Hernandez has a rule against layering patterns in multiple pieces of clothing, he...

English teacher Kate Weymouth believes that clothing style is a reflection of somebody’s personality and interests. “Your taste [in clothing] is the culmination of everything you’ve seen over the course of your life,” she said. “You’re picking up these little pieces along the way and exploring all of these different tastes [to find out] the style that truly suits you the best.” While...