to resent the bear trap of choosing what to wear for an interview?

[Morphene]

My first interview in 9 years...I have no clue what to wear and I really resent that I have to give this head space when I feel it would be so much more straight forward for a bloke....

So AIBU? or alternatively what the hell do people wear to interviews in universities these days?

Could you go for a nice dress, which could be softish and non-tailored, then add ankle boots, dark tights, and a jacket or thin smart plain cardigan? Make sure the dress has sleeves and isn't too party-like.

I tend to prefer to wear tunic like tops, but I don't think there is an overlap between them and smart. Can you get longer blazers/jackets that would go well over a longer top, or does it need to be a dress or short top to fit under a jacket sensibly?

Just dress smartly and comfortably. For my last interview i wore a black trousers, heeled boots and a thigh length fitted blouse. I looked professional and I felt comfortable. As long as you look well turned out, that's the inprtant thing.

what does 'well turned out' mean?

You say you are applying for a job in a university, but do not specify the nature of the job? So it could be anything from cleaner to Professor. Bear in mind that some professional jobs are very informal now in their dress code. But... I would say consider the typical dress for the role and then just up it a bit i.e. go a bit more formal/smart than what you would normally wear for a day at work in the job applied for. This shows you are taking the interview seriously without being over the top. If your dress is way too formal for the type of job applied for or if you outdress the interviewers this may not go to well.

I think the negative connotations with ambition are in your head tbh. You are pleased to be able to 'get away' with jeans and converse as a rule, which suggests that you see yourself as subversive and outside the norms of too-corporate academia?? And yet something made you decide that applying for this job is desirable. Are you being forced to apply for your own job? Or is it a step up in money, autonomy, something else?

Perhaps a way to stay subversive is to be really open about going for the interview. Wear a really bright dress and boots, not an identikit suit.

Why not post on style and beauty with a specific remit without the ideological stuff?
Ask for ideas for smart interview outfit to include tunic etc and ideas of size/ height etc. You will get lots of ideas. And ask yourself & you really want this role and what it entails.

Please make sure your underwear is not visible (same thing applies to men incidentally) and don't overdo make-up.

Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Clothes are a message, and dressing smartly—more smartly than usual—signals “I think that this is important”. Don’t be put off by imagining comments about ambition—you are ambitious, and why not? I’d go for a smart neutral ‘suit’ (jacket and skirt or trousers) or dress and jacket at the top edge of your current range and indicate your quirky interesting nature through eg jewellery or gorgeous colour top. You can smarten considerably by adding different shoes jewellery etc to standard outfits.

You are pleased to be able to 'get away' with jeans and converse as a rule, which suggests that you see yourself as subversive and outside the norms of too-corporate academia??

Tbh I don't think OP is saying jeans + converse are "subversive" workwear for an academic!

It's similar to what I wear (also an academic) because it's the same stuff I wear outside work. I'm happy that I can "get away with" it in my dept because it means I don't have to have a separate work wardrobe, which is a great thing for me because I hate clothes shopping and don't feel comfortable in formal clothes. More laziness/comfort than subversion...

OP, I feel your pain

And yes you can get longer jackets but better worn not with a tunic, I think myself. Long jacket fulfils tunic role and you don’t need to double up. One thing about internal roles is that it’s easy to be overlooked. Prophet in own country iyswim. Looking different sharpens the interviewers and helps them to see you as they would an outside candidate.

I always 'default to a suit' for interviews in the same way a man would. If you're going for a job where the conventional smart suit might not be appropriate, I would imagine it's no easier for a man to choose - possibly harder, as there are more shades of smart casual open to women than men.

Hair cut, suit, blouse, smart clean shoes or boots, clothes that are comfortable

I’ve never worn a suit to an interview! Dress or trousers + top (same as an ordinary work day) plus jacket and maybe jewellery and lipstick (which I don’t usually wear)

what does 'well turned out' mean?

Hair clean and tidy. Clothes that fit, are clean and ironed and don't have hems coming down or buttons missing or loose threads hanging off. No very low necklines. No visible bra straps. Shoes polished and not scuffed or down at heel.

I don't see why black trousers and a long tunic top wouldn't be appropriate.

It's easy for an internal application. Dress like the person interviewing you. Or the person you'd like to be in the organisation.

First of all calm down! Don't waste your time envying the men, when do they ever get the pleasure of dressing up? I went 25 years between interviews and, funnily enough, had to "invest" in a new outfit.

Is expense an issue? Sainsbury's do some great inexpensive workwear. Maybe something like these...

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Pull-On-Tregging/132039599-Black

With something long line over the top like this? Then you won't need a jacket unless you want one.

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Cream-Zig-Zag-Tipped-Blouse/132569400-Cream

With some decent shoes.

You obviously want the job and I'm sure you'll be brilliant at it but, boy, I can feel the heat from your self-esteem issues! Get a haircut or at least a trim - you don't have to colour it, It's not the law. Add a dash of mascara and lipstick at least. Clean and neat fingernails. Sell yourself to you then you can sell yourself to them. Good luck

It can be a smart top, rather than a blouse / shirt. Plus some sort of jacket, that can be removed.

If you know what your interviewers are likely to wear, you're there really.

Though, I have noticed, having been out of the workplace for a few years, that suits seem no longer to be the 'go to smart outfit' for women. There seem to be a lot of 'dress and nice cardigan / jacket' combos being worn as everyday office and meeting wear. So the smarter end of that, with jacket, would be suitable.

Think you are over worrying! Definitely better to dress too smart than too casual. And I actually think women have better deal with work wear there are so many different options, men have to (fork out for) an expensive (if they want it to fit and look good) suit. My favourite personally is the cropped black trousers and jacket with a top. And brogues or heels and a smart casual top / blouse

Op, if you're happy with smart black trousers and ankle boots but not with the blouse/jacket (I can't pull this off either and feel so uncomfortable in this sort of outfit) then how about a smart, plain, well pressed t shirt and a blazer with a bit of stretch, or a smart jumper (cashmere or something that looks like it) with a fake collar underneath?

I completely sympathise tho - I worked in a office setting for a decade before I went for an interview in a corporate setting. The trouble was my job was in "fashion" so it was much less formal. I found it really difficult selecting (and forking out a lot of money for) an outfit I'd never wear again!

I used to interview lots and I really never noticed what people wore. I mean I would sometimes write "red blouse" or "blue dress" alongside my other notes, just so I could match my comments to the person (after a day the candidates can start to merge into one, and it helps to remind yourself who it was who gave a really good answer about X) - but outfits would never, ever, form the basis of my judgement on suitability for the job. Look clean and reasonably smart - look like you've made a bit of an effort - and don't worry about the detail.

That's true. I was thinking about one occasion when I interviewed people. I remember one male candidate because he was really quite scruffy (the unsuitably casual trousers are memorable), in stark contrast to the be-suited interview panel. Can I remember what the well-presented, professional women candidates wore? No.

It’s a job interview. Wear a suit, or skirt / trousers with a plain smart blouse and a proper jacket & nice shoes. Problem solved.

I really don’t think it’s any different for women than for men.

OP, I have to respectfully echo some of the previous comments that this is more about your self confidence than the gender differences in office wear.

I can relate and also sympathise with the practical challenges!

My general advice is to dress like a man. Buy some smart brogues, you will wear them again. Clark's Hamble or, if you don't mind spending a lot, Grenson.

If you like longline things, oversized double breasted styles are in and could be worn casually with jeans.
Eg
www.marksandspencer.com/double-breasted-longline-blazer/p/p60151742?extid=ps_gglpla_Women_748425016_42016657897&s_kwcid=AL!2750!3!204116548702!!!g!381196055486!EFKW&device=m&cvosrc=ppc%20shopping.google.Women%20%3E%20Clothing%20%3E%20Workwear%20%3E%20Jackets%20%26%20Blazers&cvo_pid=42016657897&gclid=CLnuweKGwtoCFcowGwod4gYJYQ&gclsrc=ds&pdpredirect

Or a sleeveless blazer in a longer line if you overheat easily.

I also struggle with button up shirts, they just don't look neat on me. I wear fine merino knits in winter or silk t-shirts in summer.

Since you like tunics, you could try something a bit bolder like a tunic and trouser matching co ord look? I think it's cool in a 70s/ Star Wars sort of way and is put together without looking corporate.

E.g

www.ebay.co.uk/i/183040023683?chn=ps&var=690338956722&adgroupid=55749637321&rlsatarget=pla-416862109892&abcId=1133906&adtype=pla&merchantid=10122074&googleloc=9046948&device=m&campaignid=1057747883&crdt=0&ul_ref=https%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-134428-41853-0%252F2%253Fmpre%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252Fi%25252F183040023683%25253Fchn%25253Dps%252526var%25253D690338956722%2526itemid%253D690338956722_183040023683%2526targetid%253D416862109892%2526device%253Dm%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9046948%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D1057747883%2526adgroupid%253D55749637321%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-416862109892%2526abcId%253D1133906%2526merchantid%253D10122074%2526gclid%253DCj0KCQjwttbWBRDyARIsAN8zhbITTXdpfxhsCZK-ndfkO2Q6CiE4qctvbo2l2ehuCiWTsKQXfUzB9V4aAo6iEALw_wcB%2526srcrot%253D710-134428-41853-0%2526rvr_id%253D1502440997326%2526rvr_ts%253Dd51536ee1620aa4866534ebffffbbf03
www.ebay.co.uk/i/183040023683?chn=ps&var=690338956722&adgroupid=55749637321&rlsatarget=pla-416862109892&abcId=1133906&adtype=pla&merchantid=10122074&googleloc=9046948&device=m&campaignid=1057747883&crdt=0&ul_ref=https%253A%252F%252Frover.ebay.com%252Frover%252F1%252F710-134428-41853-0%252F2%253Fmpre%253Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%25252Fi%25252F183040023683%25253Fchn%25253Dps%252526var%25253D690338956722%2526itemid%253D690338956722_183040023683%2526targetid%253D416862109892%2526device%253Dm%2526adtype%253Dpla%2526googleloc%253D9046948%2526poi%253D%2526campaignid%253D1057747883%2526adgroupid%253D55749637321%2526rlsatarget%253Dpla-416862109892%2526abcId%253D1133906%2526merchantid%253D10122074%2526gclid%253DCj0KCQjwttbWBRDyARIsAN8zhbITTXdpfxhsCZK-ndfkO2Q6CiE4qctvbo2l2ehuCiWTsKQXfUzB9V4aAo6iEALw_wcB%2526srcrot%253D710-134428-41853-0%2526rvr_id%253D1502440997326%2526rvr_ts%253Dd51536ee1620aa4866534ebffffbbf03

The navy tunic dress here would also look really smart over matching navy trousers, with brogues.

Sorry the other co ord tunic links!

m.asos.com/weekday/weekday-pleated-co-ord-top/prd/8951558?CTAref=Recently+Viewed&clr=doveblue

www.marksandspencer.com/shop-this-outfit/p/ds3c30f0c08912c84b88f3add35d9d9990