i need a suit for an interview, a REALLY important interview. I hate suits and I look awful in black. PLEASE HELP ME stylish people..

[takataka]

i have an interview for a PGCE place. Normally for an interview I would just go for smart trousers and top. But i think i need a suit don't i?

Im so clueless, and dont have much time for clueless shopping.

I hate suits..am thinking a skirt suit might be nice? with long boots? I dont wear heels, or dainty shoes. I feel self conscious of being 1.5 stone over weight-tummy is problem area mostly. Have heavy thighs and ample bottom so dont want short skirt or pencil skirt.

Black isnt good on me

what else? dont know...please help

oh...im skint but dont want to look cheap! could get something off ebay if I knew what to look for!!

not sure you would need a suit? Maybe go over to the 'primary education' bit of the board and ask the teachers?
Do you have a smartish dress?

no

my clothes are all falling to bits
i have the clothes i get away with at work, but i wouldnt wear them to an interview

show me a dress!

Smart trousers and a top - shirt might be best? - sound fine. Try to wear a smartish jacket or coat with them.

They won't exoect you to wear a suit to teach, so it's not really necessary for an interview IMO. Obviously important to be well turned out and look as if you've made an effort though.

I'm a secondary head of department and for my interview I wore a dress and jacket. Ditched the jacket early on.

How about a wrap dress with a jacket worn open over the top & vest top underneath? Wrap dresses are very flattering & good for the curvy of bosom/tummy (like me). How tall are you OP?

ok...this is good news

if i wore a smart work type dress, could i wear a nice cardigan??

ok, lets think about this..... you don't want to be shelling out cash for new shoes (or boots) so what smartish shoes/boots do you have? Colour/description and then we can find something to go with that

Wrap dress
www.whitestuff.com/mobile/tweetlings-dress-prod402999_dk_seal_gy/

You don't need a suit. I didn't wear one and I don't know a teacher that does. Most of my lecturers wore jeans. They'll just be expecting you to look smart.

pebbles Im 5ft 8

what kind of jacket would you wear over a wrap dress?

My bf wore a dress for her PGCE interview as she hated suits. You need to look smart but if you're uncomfortable it won't help - wear something you feel good in!

Yes - definitely. Dress, cardigan, boots or shoes and good grooming. I actually think dresses are nicer than suits - everyone wears the ubiquitous black trousers!

Super flattering on tum & boobs, I have one in this style. Do you think it would be smart enough?
www.joules.com/Women/Dresses/Monica/Womens-Stretch-Jersey-Dress/Blue?id=N_MONICA|BLUE

yes the joules dress could defo be smart enough if worn with the right things. I was thinking of something like this only not that colour (prefer the blue of the joules dress)

Jacket to go with the first dress I linked to
m.marksandspencer.com/mt/www.marksandspencer.com/Collar-Single-Breasted-Stretch-Jacket/dp/B002T0KRMA?ie=UTF8&ref=sr_1_8&nodeId=1966079031&sr=1-8&qid=1354130495&pf_rd_r=0NGY615FHZ02ZAWKD2B0&pf_rd_m=A2BO0OYVBKIQJM&pf_rd_t=301&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=321381407&pf_rd_s=center-3&un_jtt_v_color=Carbon

I didn't wear a suit for my PGCE interview - very few others did either. I wore a dress. You will be fine in whatever - the usual no ripped jeans, no midriff, no skirt worn as belt obviously applies here, but a nice dress will be fine and much more useful on placement too. Machine-washable ideally.

hettie i have been trying to find a picture of my boots but cant..they are soft black leather up the front and grey suede up the back (not as much differentiation as it sounds) with 3 'buckles' up the sides. Im probably compliacting it..they essentially look like smart/work biker boots.

my 'smart' shoes are mary jane style DMs

other than that its walking shoes or trainers

im hopeless i know...i am prepared to buy new shoes/boots if necessary

I work in a university and have taught PGCE students in the past. I would be looking for smart professional but appropriate clothes. Agree don't wear suit if it makes you uncomfortable. Dresses people have suggested look nice - with nice necklace/ scarf maybe. Something that suggests you look groomed, aware of the impact of your appearance, but comfortable and confident. Good luck with the interview.

i like the whitestuff dress..the joules one is nice in spotty

is the M&Co not a bit long to wear with boots?

ok..that kind of jacket. i dont like it, but if thats what goes with dress then so be it. Does it really go with that wrap dress???? in my mind it really doesnt! but i accept i know nothing of these things

a less nylon/suity looking jacket?

what about this or this or

hettie i really like that 2nd link...the blue dress with the frilly side
its a nice colour too

notgoing i like scarves and necklaces maybe this wont be as hard/bad as i think....

what about a longer jacket over one of these dresses? kind of anoraky length? i have one but i dont think it is smart enough

mmme not sure about the jacket for you... especilay if you're more of a dm kinda girl do you mean shoes like these? Think they might be better than the boots (which sound a bit bikerish?) and thick (but not too thick) tights

If you don't like that jacket, don't get! Difficult to tell really until you try them on together. I think it could have made the dress smarter, however from what others have said it sound like you could dispense with a jacket. That Joules dress in spotty may be enough with nice jewellry. (i have that dress, tis lush, in spotty, I will wear it for work & it also goes great over skinny jeans)

Rather than a jacket what about something like this