Meet Trailblazer Aisha Khan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Aisha Khan.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Aisha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
This year will be my 10th year teaching (3 ESL in Spain and 7 Spanish in Chicago) and I’ve always enjoyed fashion as a mode of expression. When I was in high school, I even had my own mini t-shirt company called Cinco & Jealous and sold hand-painted t-shirts to my classmates. I grew up watching shows like What Not to Wear and Queer Eye and believe that fashion and clothing should be available to everyone and pride myself in putting together outfits that are professional yet flattering and trendy.

I’ve always been interested in social media but never thought that it would be possible for me to do anything with it besides having my private account. Last year, I strived to find a better work/life balance and create more opportunities to have hobbies outside of teaching and I was naturally drawn to the aesthetic appeal of Instagram. I brainstormed for quite a while before coming up with the idea for Classroom Couture. I wanted to share my fashion tips with other busy teachers who, like me, might want to look and feel fabulous but don’t have the time to put outfits together on their own. I don’t show my face in my photographs because I shouldn’t be the focus of the post- the clothing, message and story should be the main focus. My goal is to connect with teachers around the globe in the hopes of boosting self-esteem and confidence which in turn will help us all become better instructors for our students.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s so easy to get down on yourself and think that no one cares about what you’re doing, especially in the internet obsessed world we live in. I work full-time and don’t have access to unlimited clothing or have a professional photographer (I have an Instagram husband, lol). It can seem like an impossible dream to achieve but it is possible, although it won’t happen overnight. Just the other day one of my pictures wasn’t doing well and getting the amount of likes that I wanted it to get and I felt like failure, which is crazy if you think about. I’ve been blogging and posting since February and have over 5k followers which, in reality, is a major success.

Not everyone will support you either. I have some friends who have continuously discouraged me from posting or think I’m crazy for even thinking that I can be successful on Instagram but you have to brush it off and keep going. I’m doing this for myself and the community of women that I’ve connected with and if someone isn’t interested, then that’s fine. I know I won’t be everyone’s cup of couture. The most important thing to do is focus on the day by day, be authentically you and don’t let the haters get you down.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Classroom Couture – what should we know?
I’m a full-time high school Spanish teacher with a love of clothing and fashion. I focus on work appropriate apparel for teachers and anyone in a business casual profession. One of my most popular looks is a great, printed fit and flare dress because it’s so flattering on almost any body type. I have a slightly vintage and eclectic style and love switching it up and keeping my looks fresh. I don’t believe that it’s necessary to spend a lot of money to look amazing. Mixing and matching items is key to create a deep clothing rotation and the illusion of owning a ton of clothing. One of the main principles of my life is wear what you love and you’ll feel great. To be my best for my students, I need to feel my best which means wearing my personality on my sleeve – literally. I am always authentic to myself and will never post anything that doesn’t speak to my personality and lifestyle. I’m not here to mindlessly promote items or convince people to buy anything. I want to educate and create a sense of community within my followers and be there for them as a real human being and not the face of some brand.

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Never give up and believe in yourself. You are worth doing something for yourself and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s so easy to compare yourself to others but you’re uniquely you and trying to be someone else is only going to hold you back from achieving your dreams. Take care of yourself and be kind to yourself when something doesn’t work out. If something doesn’t work, pick up and move on to the next thing. Try your best and know that you’re giving it your all and you’ll never regret what you’re doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: classroomcouture.weebly.com
• Email: classroomcouture1@gmail.com
• Instagram: classroom.couture
• Other: https://www.liketoknow.it/classroom.couture

Image Credit:
Antonio Amo Quintanilla

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