Teachers should be able to glean a couple of fashion tips this season as the hit TV show "Glee" returns.
The show's fashion — especially that of guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury [played by actress Jayma Mays] — has captured audience members as much as the punchy dialogue and toe-tapping renditions of catchy pop songs.
Pillsbury's prim yet fashionable wardrobe also inspired the Website "What Would Emma Pillsbury Wear?" In less than a year, the site has attracted 1 million visitors and was recently mentioned in People magazine.
"I think her look is perfect for a teacher," said Danielle Bruno, the creator of the site who works as a resource teacher for an elementary school in Fairfax County, Va. "It is professional, but comfortable at the same time. It is colorful. (Teachers generally have colorful personalities. It's great for our clothes to reflect that.) It's easy care. It's stylish. I think that draws people to her. She looks great all the time."
Bruno's site dissects each garment and piece of jewelry used to create the character's prim and proper appearance. The site's goal is to re-create the character's look or close approximations on a teacher's budget, according to Bruno.
"The focus of [the site] is always on the fashion," Bruno said. "Each week, I identify the exact items that Emma wore on the show, and share tips on how to infuse Emma's style into one's own wardrobe on a variety of budget levels."
Bruno tries to feature independent jewelry and clothing artists she discovers on Etsy.com, and small-business owners like Shabby Apple, a Website that claims to offer "stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make the owners feel comfortable." Bruno knows that many of the outfits featured on "Glee" originate from the pricier J. Crew and Anthropolgie.
"For those of us on a tighter budget, Target is a fantastic resource for Emma-worthy pieces," Bruno said.
john-john.williams@baltsun.com