Not to wear a suit to a job interview?

[monoclepolish]

They've always looked awful on me but somehow I have the impression that you're supposed to wear a suit for a job interview, if the role is office based.

I really hate them and how I look in them. Would a smart, "corporate style" dress with no blazer or jacket be acceptable?

YABU: You need to wear a suit to an office based job interview.

YANBU: You can wear an appropriate dress with no jacket.

Well, as a hiring manager, it depends entirely on the role, sector, employer and office culture! No one here knows what's appropriate without context.

It really does depend on the industry I think. I work at the most senior level in a creative sector & thinking back the only time I've worn a suit to an interview was to the interview to current job. I wore a black The Kooples tuxedo style suit with silk open necked shit & suede heeled ankle boots. It was a good look & I felt v good in it.

For the interview in the role before that I wore navy wide legged whistles trousers, brogues & a navy broidere anglace fitted jacket- sounds weird but it was lovely.

For other roles I've worn variations of this kind of thing. I've never gone for an interview & not been offered the job!

Good luck OP I think dress 1 is the best option

@BuffySummersReportingforSanity

To a senior management position generally a suit would be preferable

I think a senior manager would be even less likely to wear a matching suit than a more junior person everywhere I've worked, tbh. A suit is very "grad on their first interview and Mum bought it at M&S". A senior manager would wear an interesting, well tailored dress or very well-cut separates, unless it was a brightly coloured or properly fashion forward suit.

Yes exactly this!

I think dresses look smart, put together and confident. You could sling a blazer over your arm but doesn’t sound like the type of industry that needs it.

I wore cropped black fitted trousers, purple pointed flats and a tucked-in green blouse with little purple flowers to my last interview in financial services and got it (just after lockdown 1). However the MD opened the door in jeans, t shirt and trainers! In my experience it's all gone a bit more relaxed recently.

@BuffySummersReportingforSanity

To a senior management position generally a suit would be preferable

I think a senior manager would be even less likely to wear a matching suit than a more junior person everywhere I've worked, tbh. A suit is very "grad on their first interview and Mum bought it at M&S". A senior manager would wear an interesting, well tailored dress or very well-cut separates, unless it was a brightly coloured or properly fashion forward suit.

Agreed. I had a meeting with the female CEO of a big multinational recently, and she was wearing an asymmetric black dress over a red blouse of some kind, and her hair in a curly crop -- she looked wonderful, actually. Sort of funky power-dressing.

[quote VillanellesOrangeCoat]@thisplaceisweird

I think you can't go wrong with flattering wide leg tailored trousers and a great blouse.

Unless you’re only 5’ and curvy like me 🤣[/quote]
Wrong! You've just not found the right pair. They're perfect for someone wanting to look taller and slimmer