to wear a dress and not a suit?

[soupforbrains]

I have job interview tomorrow. It is my first interview for 7 years as I've been in the same job all that time.

The interview was set up yesterday pm (wednesday) and is scheduled for 11:30 tomorrow(Friday). I only put my CV online on Tuesday so this has all happened very quickly.

I have just now received an email confirming the address details fro the interview and who I should ask for etc.

The email (from a recruitment agency) ends with "The office dress is smart, so if you could wear a suit that would be great."

This has worried me a little. I currently work in an office environment where the dress code is smart but it doesn't stipulate suits for female staff. I find it difficult to find suits that fit (big thighs, massive bum, smallish waist, big bosom and VERY broad shoulders) so I always wear smart office dresses and do not own a suit.

Obviously it's only 24hrs to the interview and I don't have time (or the money) to find and buy a suit. Will it be ok to wear a dress, not a suit?

Obviously I was always planning on dressing smartly for the interview, but it hadn't dawned on me that a suit might be required. Have I been terribly naive?

For interviews I have a smart grey "pinafore" type dress which I wear with black tights and a shirt. I don't think people would expect a jacket and trousers.

Good luck

Soup - I think Bravissimo currently have a structured stretchy blazer that might do the trick:

www.bravissimo.com/products/textured-jersey-blazer-midnight-pc179mng/

Like I say, I have the broad back/boobs problem too, so can struggle in their non-flexible fabrics, but I have their stretchy 'biker' style jacket, and don't feel like I'm ripping it at the seams!

tempus sadly I don't EVEN have a shell suit. My waddle is clearly sadly lacking

kate I wasn't planning on wearing anything over the dress. It is a bit like this one (see pic) but in black and with a round neck rather than a slash neck. I was just planning on wearing the dress with natural tights and my black Court shoes. I have tried Evans. I can get them on but can't move and end up stuck in a permanent 'shoulders back tits out' position which isn't ideal...

Ugh, it won't let me add the pic.

Try this. goo.gl/images/VKTgnn

Oh and thank you for the tip cats I get paid next week and am going to going on a big hunt for a blazer/jacket so that I have at least 1 in my wardrobe.

new look do a curves bit that can be quite good.
looks like a beautiful dress and very smart and lovely

How did it go @soupforbrains? Was your dress ok?

Hi! My dress was definitely ok. the managers who interviewed me were super casually dress as they do dress down Friday. Obviously that wouldn't have affected what i would have chosen to wear but it did make me feel at ease, and sure that I was smart enough.

They're interviewing for two different roles and had another interview after me and she did not look smartly dressed at all. So I feel confident that my dress will have drawn zero comments from them.

Thanks again everyone for calming me down!

Oh and the interview itself went really well, they pretty much told me there and then that I'm through to the second phase so that's good.

Yay for dress. Glad it went well

Excellent! Well done!

For future reference tailoring suits is not very expensive for the return you get in quality and fit.

Just to update everyone I've just been invited back for a second interview so it definitely went well. Thanks again for all putting my mind at ease. The interview definitely wouldn't have gone as well as it did if I'd been mentally distracted with sartorial concerns!

Dress smart you'll be fine.

Oh well done soup. Let us know how you get on

And I'm taking all the credit as the first one to say a dress will be grand.

OP, well done on securing a second interview and good luck for that.

The suit was just the recruitment agent being ultra-unimaginative. Suits in the office are so passé. You don't want to look dated.

Excellent!!! Well done!!

There's a brand called Yours, they might be good if you were looking for a jacket in the future.

Thank you @kentgirl1 I will keep an eye out. Might do some shopping over this weekend

@BitOutOfPractice the credit is all yours. If I get the job I'll bake you a cake.

Just had a thought - Bravissimo brand - Pepperberry might have a jacket that would fit.
Other option would be a smart cardigan/jacket type thing. (I have similar problems)

Brilliant news on the second interview. Congratulations. Good luck for the next step.

I managed to find a plain black blazer/jacket that fits so I'm wearing it for my 2nd interview tomorrow. Over a smart bright blue dress.

Thanks for all the tips, ended up finding a particular style in M&S which fitted my giant shoulder in!

Oh best of luck op. Let us know how you get on

Good luck for tomorrow.

Thanks everyone, second round interview went well this morning. It was very much more about organisational fit than skills based and I think I got on well with everyone I spoke to. Now just have to wait and see.

Sartorially speaking, I wore my new jacket and felt comfortable professional and smart.

I was definitely the most stylish of the applicants I saw ;)

Thanks everyone again!