To think teens aren’t expected to dress smart for an interview anymore?

[TeaAndBrie]

My DD16 has started applying for weekend jobs.
she has successfully secured an interview for a high street fashion shop. They have stated the dress code is ‘dress to represent yourself and the brand’.
what does even mean?!
I am used to interviews being smart dress but I work for the NHS so wondering if we’re a little old fashioned.
my daughter pretty much lives in joggers/sports leggings and tops which wouldn’t be appropriate. She doesn’t have any smart shoes and she wears black trainers for school. She has done v smart AF1s in several different colours.
I am happy to get her things if needed but not really sure what they would be looking for.
she has some black trousers and a black top from work experience she did in the summer so thinking that would be okay but perhaps lacks the individualism they’re hoping to see.
has anyone got any experience of what is expected from teens these days?

It’s a fashion store. Most of the time, staff wear the stores clothes. Therefore no need to wear a suit for interview.

A high street fashion brand is going to expect a different look from its members of staff than a high end restaurant or an office. To sell fashion they need sales assistants who know about fashion.

I'd go to shop. See what gear they have and pick a similar vibe.

Wear their clothes, generally.

I don’t think there’s no expectation for them to be smart anymore but a high street fashion store is different to working in an office. The staff will be expected to sell the clothes by wearing them, they want people who can style themselves well enough to sell the product.

Does she own any clothes from the store in question? I'd probably go with that so long as it doesn't look old/worn.

I would dress smartly, the way you dress for an interview says a lot about you as a person. First impressions count.

If you turn up well presented, it instantly leaves a good impression.

I’m sure there is a way of styling the black skirt with a top and shoes to fit their brand. That’s what I’d aim for anyway.

Study their SM paying attention to images and see if she can come up with a look that is both her and the company. It sounds like fashion sense is important and the SM images are likely to make it clear what kind of customer they cater for.

I don’t know if it’s the same anymore but I used to work for a a high street fashion shop as a teen and we used to get heavily discounted clothes from the shop to wear.

I think they expect her to wear clothes in her style from their stock

I wouldn't think they'd hire someone based on their clothes. It's a high street shop, the main thing is that she's presentable for interview and comes across as someone who'll be reliable and able to converse with customers?

I'd suggest the black trousers and any fairly trendy smarting top? Sports wear, joggers ; I'd say No, not for an interview.

It's tricky isn't it? My teen son has a couple of interviews for apprenticeships, one for a digital marketing office. He has no idea whether to go in suit, a shirt and smart trousers?

It sounds like they're wanting sales assistants who'll also live and breathe the brand and style the clothes to help sales.

Does she have anything from the shop or in the same style?

Not when they’ve specifically requested you don’t do that.

She needs to go into the shop (or a different branch if she's worried they'll recognise her) and see what the sales assistants are wearing. Not that she needs to be identical, but she'll get a feel for their style and go with something similar. It's super easy to research this! You can understand that someone working in Crew Clothing will dress differently from someone in Topshop or H&M as the brand is very different

As well as looking on social media, could she go see what the sales assistants are wearing and dress similar to those wearing clothes that are 'her' but also at the smarter/more stylish end of the spectrum? eg a dress or trousers/top rather than leggings or loungewear.

Great minds @Labracadabra

Thanks everyone :)
I like the idea of scouting them out a little but the interview is in a couple of days so not sure we’re going to have time.
I will look on SM to see their style.
they’re the pricey-er end of high street so she has a couple of dresses from there but they wouldn’t be appropriate and were in the sale 😂
we will try and sort something from what she has already.
she’s good with hair and make up so that should show some of her style too.
I would hope they wouldn’t judge a 16 year old on their interview outfit looking for their first job in the same way that they would for a 25 year old going for deputy manager or something.
I just don’t want her to not have a chance based on her outfit or what I try and advise her to wear!

If she really wants the job I would look at what their adverts are showing and buy those same clothes and turn up in them! Maybe with you own twist?

You definitely haven’t understood the brief, @Beneficialchampion2! (But things are more complicated nowadays.)

Get her to scrutinise the store’s social media, @TeaAndBrie - and if she has even an accessory from the brand, she should wear it.

But it’s worth her thinking about whether she would actually enjoy ‘representing’ that particular brand.

Is it UO? I wouldn't dress smartly. The staff in there look like they are on their way home from a festival. In a good way. They will,be looking for someone who knows how to put an outfit together.

You are so wrong. Times have changed a lot.

I don’t know why I didn’t just say from the start tbh. It’s for River Island

DD17 has been working at River Island for the last year. She had a group interview and no dress code was stated so she had a look at what the sales assistants were wearing and decided on black flares and a white corset style top that she had from there already and she wore this with AF1s. Other people came in jeans and hoodies.

Just go with something that she thinks is stylish and that she would wear but not anything too overly casual I would say.

That’s super helpful, thank you :)
my DD was thinking of wearing her AF1’s so that’s good to know. She has done black flare trousers so we just need a top and all good. Thank you
I hope she’s enjoying working there :)