Interview clothes - help!

[ImperialBlether]

Hope someone can help me.

My daughter's fresh out of university and has got a job interview next week at a big international company with state of the art offices.

She's 22, 5'8", size 10, dark red (wine coloured) hair in a bob.

She doesn't like suits and wants a dress which is smart but shows some individuality. I'm paying, so curb your enthusiasm, please!

[ImperialBlether]

We're near a major city or we can order online.

[BornToFolk]

She may not like suits, but she should wear one for interview with a big international company, IMHO, especially if her role is going to be client-facing.

[ImperialBlether]

It's not client facing, BornToFolk. I was wondering that myself, though. Any ideas which shops would be best for someone that age? I'm in my early fifties and struggle to advise!

[Olivetti]

I agree, she should wear a suit. Client-facing or not, she's too young not to make a maximum effort for an interview.

However, if she is absolutely set on a dress, I would go to somewhere like Joseph, where they do fitted dresses with matching jackets.

[ImperialBlether]

Right, thanks very much. A suit it is. Not sure whether I can run to Joseph. I think there'll be a second interview and that will mean something else, too. Arrgh!

[Olivetti]

....it is pricey, though.

Jigsaw traditionally did lovely suits, but I'm not sure how high the quality is these days.

[Olivetti]

Or Hobbs is cheaper than Joseph, although I always think it's borderline frumpy. That said, I bought Hobbs suits in my 20s and I had a pretty good strike rate with interviews

[HoneyDuke]

A shift dress and jacket might be a viable alternative, but I agree she needs to be extra smart as she's so young. Phase eight and hobbs are good for business wear.

[ImperialBlether]

She's desperate not to look frumpy. I'll look at those sites, thanks.

[HoneyDuke]

I think a shift dress and jacket could be stunning. frumpy is better than scruffy in this situation tbh

[ImperialBlether]

Can't see anything in Hobbs under £300 or so.

Don't you think it's acceptable for a young woman just out of university, applying for her first job, to wear something a bit cheaper than the sort of thing she'd buy when she's working? Or am I being unrealistic?

[ImperialBlether]

Yes, she won't look scruffy. She doesn't intend that to happen thank god!

[HoneyDuke]

Hobbs have a good sale on atm. French connection has smart stuff but a lot of their dresses are very short.

[JennyPiccolo]

i've never worn a suit to an interview. Whats the job?

[ImperialBlether]

I can't say the company name, sorry, but it's a massive multinational organisation and it's graduate entry level.

[Mammonite]

Graduate job, big company, suit is a definite if she wants to be taken seriously. She sounds young, slim and attractive enough she won't look frumpy whatever she wears

There are quite a few dress-and-jacket outfits around, you should be able to find something under £200. Next, M&S, the concessions in Debenhams/house of Fraser etc - even a plainish outfit can be well accessorised and they are interviewing her, not her clothes. The autumn collections are coming into the shops so there should be lots of choice.

www.houseoffraser.co.uk/Linea+Textured+swing+jacket/151846060,default,pd.html this is just a random pick but would be quite smart enough IMO.

[HoneyDuke]

Next have suits and shift dresses. Choose carefully though

[JennyPiccolo]

www.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Ponti-Pencil-Dress-with-Pockets/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=667555&SearchQuery=workwear%20dress&sh=0&pge=3&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Empresspurple

[ImperialBlether]

Thanks, Mammonite, but would they expect her to wear a £200 suit? I'll have to buy her shoes as well and a bag.

Trying to avoid Next, HoneyDuke - went in there the other day and haven't seen such a load of rubbish for a long time. I was hoping for their prices, though.

[nicecupofteaplease]

Try Austin Reed, there have some great stuff in the sale, think Apprentice contestant style skirt suits, and some nice shift dresses. If you choose carefully, there's some lovely stuff there and their sale is really good.

[twentyten]

Have a look at the corporate website for the company.She needs to dress to the job she aspires to.

Wish her luck!Why a different outfit for 2nd interview?maybe different blouse-but chaps would be in the same suit!

[Soups]

I think she should wear a suit (skirt or trouser), or shift dress + jacket. If it's trousers she could go for a more skinny leg, rather than boot cut. Maybe the jewellery could be delicate with a bit of personality? Does she have smart shoes already that have just enough personality, but not too much ;)?

They will not be expecting her to turn up in clothes costing £100's. High street will be fine, I think the fit is more important. A few pounds on a bit of grooming would add more. Eyebrow threading, if she needs it. Nails, with subtle varnish.

I'd go for something she can mix and match with when she gets a job. If she's not going for a customer facing job, then they'll notice if she's not dressed ok for an interview, then it'll be all about her.

Good luck to her :)

[Mammonite]

I sympathise it's a nightmare. I had an interview recently and managed to get a suit in the sales for about £110. It is plain black and frumpy but I was offered the job!

Next do have a lot of rubbish but there are a number of decent looking suits in the Directory - how about doing a big order - it can all be sent back - of 4 or 5 feasible looking outfits in the right size.

If in doubt get a plain skirt suit and let her personality do the talking. Colourful top/scarf/jewellery is fine. Unless it's a very creative company, or interviewers are all women, they will not remember what she wears but they will have an overall impression of whether she looked as if she would fit into their business environment.

No student likes suits, I don't either, but at interviews, like weddings and funerals, you just have to dress the part and play the game.

[ImperialBlether]

Thanks, everyone; will report back on what she gets.

[scotsgirl23]

I'm going to buck the trend here ever so slightly - I think she can possibly get away with not wearing a suit. I'm just about to start a graduate level position in what sounds like a similar level of company. I also had several other offers - I didn't actually fail any interviews, and I think I only wore my suit about half of the time as at one point I had interviews almost every day, and some of them involved travelling for hours first..suit would have looked like it had never seen an iron by the time I arrived!

There were also several times I was at assessment days with multiple people and not that many of the women wore suits - although the person who wore a very short grey silky dress and pastel pink opaques may have missed the mark a tad.

However, if she decides not to wear a suit then she needs to play it very safe - i.e. a dress, with decent sleeves, knee length, not low cut and preferably black. Might be a cheaper option.