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!!

the red one;
www.johnlewis.com/350035/Product.aspx?s_kwcid=ppc_pla&tmad=c&tmcampid=73&pup_ptid={adwords_producttargetid}&pup_kw={keyword}&pup_c={adtype}

'stone' one;
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_54488+017462204_-1?breadcrumb=Home~Women~Dresses

its not hinting at anything, its called 'snake print dress'!
www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_54488+01628791_-1?breadcrumb=Home~Women~Dresses

i wish i could find the 'purple' one on line, because it was quite pink and sleeveless...it was one of my favourite, but i was worried about the colour being too bright, and of course if its sleeveless i need a jacket

I have this and it looks very smart and (I think) fashionable. I wear it with opaque tights and boots.

Oh yeah, the link would help dress

this is same shape as the pink/purple one...

www.johnlewis.com/344151/Product.aspx

i like the colour of tis...i migt order it

That would be OK if red suits you and if you've got a jacket or cardi, which I guess is how you're planning to wear it. Sleeveless it would look OTT, IMO (the site describes it as 'sultry', which isn't an ideal look for interviews).

I personally would prefer something plainer with less ruching etc, that I could just accessorise interestingly then put on and forget. More like some of the plain coloured Boden ones, I guess.

I really like the Fat Face one but 30'' would just about make a tunic on me - however, I'm 5'9''. Sorry, forgot how tall you are. Might be fine if you're short.

I like the Kaliko.

I have this Teal Side Tie Jersey Dress in violet. This range is sold online and in House Of Fraser (if you fancy a try on) . I am 5'6" and not petite btw.

This is my current interview dress Phase 8 grey number.

Good luck

I occasionally wear a suit when having an interview but admit I feel self conscious and over-dressed. (NQT) for my interview for my pgce I wore one of those shirts with a jumper, a really smart one and I got the place. Most others wore blouses or dresses. Only a few wore suits.

I'm half way through my PGCE now (where are you applying??). I wore a smart dress and smart casual black jacket from uniqlo. My number one tip is wear something different/unique (whatever suits you, a patterned dress, necklace, hairband) so when they discuss you later you're memorable.

I wore biker boots to my PGCE interview and a suit for my GTP interview
I got the GTP place
Depends on the institution a bit - all the PGCE-rs were in suits and the GTP-ers were more casual - but I'd go as smart as you feel comfortable with.

Gosh - teachers don't have to wear suits, and especially not black ones. You should wear a power cardie (my favourite new S&B phrase, copywright Alexandre Shulman) over a nice top that reveals nothing and a skirt and boots. Wear colour and print!

The Power Cardie

I need to know what a power cardi is & that link doesn't work. Come back bonsoir & enlighten me please :)

Agree with pebble.

Link works but doesn't really tell you anything.

Takat - I like the shape of the red one & sounds ok in purple, with cardi as it's sleeveless. I think better than the snake skin. Better to err on the side of caution & dress on the conservative side for interviews imo. :)

The link works for me! Maybe you need to subscribe to the FT? The link is to an article in last weekend's FT.

slainte i really like that dress; i am really drawn to Fat Face and White Stuff, because I have realised ovder the course of this thread, i really like patterns...and I also like that shape...is it called 'empire line'

i've just spent hours trawling the John Lewis website...wow! who'da thunk there was sooo many dresses?!

look at this, i love this!! obviously not for an interview though..you may have created a dress monster!

www.johnlewis.com/362282/Product.aspx

I like this, but too expensive;
www.johnlewis.com/360306/Product.aspx

is this too casual? obviously i wouldnt wear those tights/that cardigan, but black tights and cardi???

www.johnlewis.com/384594/Product.aspx

this?
www.johnlewis.com/369326/Product.aspx

im going to JL on Tuesday, so will report back...

this is a nice jacket, no?

www.johnlewis.com/343348/Product.aspx

Like the last one lots, think that would be fab for interview & reckon you'd get lots of wear out of it at work afterwards.

Imo the second to last one looks more everyday in comparison, but could still work if you use clever accessorise.

Like the jacket too

Hello, I had a PGCE interview last spring. I had very little choice about what to wear because I had only had DS six months before and so very few of my non mat clothes would fit across my boobs!

I wore one of those tank tops with the blouse included that Next do so many of, a calf length skirt and polished boots.

There were very few people there in suits, most were in nice dresses as linked above or in similar outfits to me.

When is your interview? My top tip (and sort of style and beauty related) is to remember how confusing university campuses are if you are not familiar with them and to try and do a reccy first. You stand a better chance of parking near where you need to be and not getting soaked as you race around the campus looking for your interview!

Ps I am trying this on later. I am also rather nork-tastic and can make lower cut dresses look far to revealing for the classroom, so I am hoping this will work.

*too

takataka I love that first dress, might even get it for myself

i tried this on today. It is lovely, but is it interview worthy?

www.east.co.uk/martina-jersey-dress-black/

also bought the slouchy Warehouse jacket. I think its a bit too slouchy but there was only 1, so i panicked i bought it...it is something i could wear to work so its not a waste, i need new black cardi/jackets...there was one which was more formal which i prefered but they didnt have it in my size. But I am definitely won over on the jacket thing. They look nice huh, with a dress and boots?!

I went to look at the Tescos dress quickquick but they dont have it in stores near me. Im going to double up some vouchers and buy it on line..that is a bargain, and again; if its not suitable for interview, it would be ok for work/whatever

Im starting to enjoy this...it was nice to go into House of Fraser today and know what i was looking for, instead of wandering around aimlessly, getting overwhelmed and sweaty and leaving with nothing. Im am lovely all these lovely dresses. Oh dear!