to think looking attractive will help me get the job?

[moustachio]

interview tomorrow and DP thinks I should wear my black primark suit. It's ill fitting but I don't have much money and was the best i could afford. My other option is this dress www.amychildsofficial.co.uk/store/index.php?route=product/product&path=94&product_id=298 . DP says that it's better to play it safe in white shirt & black suit rather than feel stupid.

I think looking good in the dress is much better than the frumpy suit! His office is full of techy people. I don't think he understands women do wear more fashionable things to offices nowdays. Any opinions? I know it's not right, but I do think that flattering my figure and looking 'pretty' will help with my confidence if nothing else!

[AnyFucker]

That is not an "interview" dress, sorry

I am all for dressing in what makes you feel good (as opposed to solely what makes you look good, from a confidence POV), but unless you are auditioning for a reality tv show, you will look inappropriate

[lottieandmia]

It depends what the job is for, but generally I would agree with AF.

[RikeBider]

What's the neckline of the dress like on you?

The dress looks fine for office wear to me, and if you feel confident and comfortable in it then pick that.

[PrettyKitty1986]

I disagree.

I think it would probably look good for an interview, as long as it's accessorised appropriately-down played jewellery, low heels, natural make up.

Amy childs would make a nuns outfit look like a lap dancing costume so I don't think the pic is a true representation.

[lottieandmia]

A shift dress with a more simple neckline and heels would be better imo.

[primallass]

I'd wear that dress to an interview (publishing industry).

[RikeBider]

Is that dress really "inappropriate"? Knee length, shoulders covered. It's difficult to tell what the neckline is actually like as Amy Childs is wearing a very push up bra at the least, but it's hardly a night club outfit.

[lottieandmia]

It does totally depend on what the job is though. If you're a beauty therapist that dress will be fine. If you're a legal secretary not so much for example.

[Sparklymommy]

Personally I think I would go with the dress, and accesrise it very carefully. I think feeling good is important.

[Damnautocorrect]

I like it, I'd wear it for an interview with sky high heels. If you've a jacket that goes with it that would be great.

[Oblomov]

Amy Childs looks AMZING in that dress.
TOTALLY unsuitable for interview. Half your chest is on show.They are lookign at you and all they see is a large expanse of skin. NOT GOOD at interview.

[RikeBider]

I don't see it as a "beauty therapist" dress. It looks fine for any reception/secretarial/sales etc position. I wouldn't wear it if you're applying to be a teaching assistant or vet nurse though!

[LEMisdisappointed]

That must be where i have been going wrong all this time then - not being a super model - there was me trying to use my brains, qualifications and experience when really I should have been dressing for the catwalk?

Have i just entered the 1950s? You are not there as eye candy - you are there to do the job. I don't think the dress is inappropriate really, with a jacket, but i'd be hoping you weren't style over substance. All job websites would recommend a suit, unless you are going for some snazzy advertising job or a job as a model then listen to your DH, he is right and you are wrong.

I don't think there will be a box on the interview sheet saying "does the candidate look attractive"

At least there shouldnt be

[TreesAndFlowers]

I think it depends on what the interview is for.
Conventional office - probably not.
Anything vaguely creative or where what you wear is not considered important (maybe academia)? - fine

[BubaMarra]

It will depend on the job type, but for most office jobs this dress seems inappropriate to me. If the dress really looks like on that picture, then no I don't think it's appropriate and I don't think it can be downplayed enough for office environment. It does not mean that you cannot wear another dress. You can look for another one in that price range and colour (but different style).

[BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack]

You CANNOT wear that dress for an interview!

[LessMissAbs]

I don't see anything wrong with that dress for an interview. As long as it doesn't show any cleavage on you. Team it with a smart jacket and its fine. Some very old fashioned views on here. I've seen solicitors dress far more tartily and no-one comments.

Though to "look attractive" for an interview, I'd concentrate just as much on having nice hair and plain but smart make up.

[Keztrel]

I think it's best to dress how the people working there already dress. Have you been to the office and to see what kind of thing they wear? I dressed much less dressily and less 'prettily' for the interview for my current job, because it's working with academics - I decided to wear my boringest grey trousers and grey jumper, and felt really comfortable during the interview because I looked like I fitted in with the people interviewing me. I didn't feel like myself exactly, but I didn't stand out like a sore thumb.

My feelings on the dress you linked are too glam and cleavagey, unless you're going to be doing a job requiring you to look glam. Dress down and let your skills and capability show through instead.

[diplodocus]

Academia??????
The interviewers would die of shock. One of the pre-requisites as an academic is you have to be resolutely unstylish and frumpy and ideally have spilt your lunch down your (M and S) cardie.

[SolomanDaisy]

Depends on the job. I wouldn't have thought the dress was inappropriate for most roles if it is not too low cut on you and you wear it with a jacket. If you look good in it and it is role appropriate, I think it is better than a cheap ill fitting suit.

[Keztrel]

Sorry that should read "I dressed much less dressily and less 'prettily' for the interview for my current job than I normally would"

Now I've got the job I'm the dressiest person in my office, but no one cares what I wear anyway

[TreesAndFlowers]

Re - academia -
Perhaps OP could wear it with a frumpy cardie?
OK, not best example - was trying to think of a career where you genuinely wouldn't be judged on what you wore and if you turned up wearing the nearest thing to hand it wouldn't be an immediate black mark.

[RikeBider]

A lot is going to depend on the cleavage situation. Any dress will look booby-er on someone who has had a boob job.

[Greythorne]

Cannot comment without knowing what the job is.

I bought an expensive trouser suit for interviews after I left uni. Got a few comments about 'trousers? for an interview' from very old people who were clueless but as I was going for jobs in PR, it was perfect.