What on earth is smart business dress?! I'm totally lost.

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

I have an interview on Thurs.

At the moment, I work at home, so no smart dress required. I don't have much money at the moment.

The only smart dress I have is this in orange which DP assured me is nice, and matches what people at work wear. But someone just pointed out that it's a bit low cut on another thread, and now I'm lost again.

I'm a 32E/F, so hiding my boobs isn't an option. I don't wear anything high necked, because it looks really top heavy and horrid. I tend to live in jeans and vests, but ripped my jeans last week and don't have any more. I don't own black trousers. At the moment, I'm wearing colorful playsuits that really aren't workwear.

I am utterly lost for what to wear. I had hoped to borrow something but DP's mum is a 14, and I'm an 8/10, and she only has a very posh wedding skirt. It keeps falling down, I can hardly walk. It looks stupid.

What on earth do I wear?

[coffeewineandchocolate]

m.clothingattesco.com/tesco/product/detail.do?categoryId=2167590&itemId=br320005

[flowery]

I find it strange that an employer whose business is PR is requesting "smart business dress" in the first place tbh, that seems a bit odd.

Either way, that dress is far too low cut for an interview imo.

[coffeewineandchocolate]

m.clothingattesco.com/tesco/product/detail.do?categoryId=2167590&itemId=br312344

[coffeewineandchocolate]

are you sure they didn't say 'smart business dress' as opposed to 'a smart business dress' ?

[badguider]

I think you could just about get away with the orange dress if you put a black suit jacket over the top (and arrive with it buttoned).

Everything else should be very low-key (shoes, bag).

Unfortunately PR is to some extent about appearances so is less forgiving to an interviewee without an interview outfit than other jobs.

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

Oh, I know I don't need to wear a dress, but I own it already so I'd hoped it would be okay. I can see that it won't be, I'll sell it or something.

I'm looking through the links now. It's tough because DP isn't paid til next week either, and it's been a really hard month. I do appreciate all the advice and suggestions, though, thank you all.

[GummyLopes]

I think if you like and feel comfortable in that dress you should wear it - from the pic you posted it looks lovely on and very adaptable with accessories without buying a whole new outfit in a panic. If you have thick dark tights and eg a stripey blue and white blazer, and wedges.

[SolomanDaisy]

If you use somewhere like Next you won't have to pay straight awAy, maybe you could do that. Having seen the photo I wouldn't wear that dress.

[GummyLopes]

NOOO!

I think it would be more that OK Caja and I disagree with most of the advice on here, I have to go now but will come back.

[ThingsThatGoHumpInTheNight]

The other thing you could do as pp suggested is tack the collar together and dye the dress black. Use nylon, easy to do, cost you £3. Bargain?

[soaccidentprone]

could you do a swapz?

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

I'm 90% sure that I wouldn't get away with this, but DP is convinced I will.

I own this and I'm only 5 ft so it comes to just above knee length. DP thinks with a black jacket it'd be fine, I think it's casual. MN opinion?

I love the Phase 8 wrap dress. I'm just trying to work out if I can afford it. I'll have to wear it with black ballet shoes - they aren't very comfortable but the alternatives are high nude wedge sandals or trainers, so I think it'd do?

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

Or one of DP's friends has offered me this blue dress or this but she couldn't get them here for me to try on til Thurs morn, so I'd have to be confident.

She is the same size as me...

[munchkinmaster]

Oh dear. Your DH doesn't really want you to get this job does he. All these frocks are totally unsuitable. The orange is the best. Those short jersey ones are not suitable.

Ballet flats or nude sandals both fine with the phase 8 dress.

[hermioneweasley]

The superdry dress looks v short. You say it comes "just above the knee". Anything too short is a no-no so make sure yo try out sitting down etc and see how far it rides up. With a black jacket, smart jewellery and shoes it coukd work. Ditto the blue dress if not too short. A no to the myleene colour block one (for anything ever)

[MrsBertMacklin]

Found this in the Jaeger outlet in an 8, just looking to see if there's anything else.

Please stay away from the 2 dresses your DP has said will be ok, especially the second one! Both very nice, but not suitable for an interview!

[MrsBertMacklin]

This in a size 8, £40? I actually own this, so be polite...!

[hermioneweasley]

MrsBert, both of those are great, and a fantastic price. Jaeger lasts really well and is good quality so £35/40 is a bargain

[specialsubject]

too much boob on the model, let alone the well endowed. Needs a higher neck and a jacket over it.

charity shop, plenty of work clothing there. You don't have to be covered to your chin but that cut is not professional.

tidy shoes (no stupid heels, you need to walk not waddle), bag OR document case, not both. Not smelling of anything (no excessive perfume), and a firm handshake, not a weak girly one please. Whatever makeup you normally wear.

that's my definition of professional. You need to be more interesting than your outfit.

[soaccidentprone]

The jaeger dress is lovely, and a complete bargain (apart from the fact it is dry clean only).

Depending on the op's coloring the pink may be good with the jacket over the top to break up the colour a bit?

[eurozammo]

I think your partner might be thinking about what he would like women in the workplace to be wearing...

The blue FC dress might be ok with a black jacket over the top. The superdry one is too clingy. The Myleene one is a definite no-no!

[specialsubject]

that stripey dress is ok, again with a jacket over it, and ONLY if it is not too short.

[thaliablogs]

I own that first jaeger one and don't love it, it is pretty clingy jersey material and, IMO, does not therefore feel that smart. It's ok, not great. However I am a hippy size 14 so OP will undoubtedly look better in it than i do.

No no no to your superdry dress or the 2 loaners, they are not suitable. Remember PR is all about image so you need to be chic.

Ballet flats absolutely fine esp in this weather, I notice all the younger women in our office wearing them at the moment (sheesh I am old).

[CajaDeLaMemoria]

The superdry dress is just above the knee sat down. I can pull it down to knee-length with a done up jacket over it.

The blue one is knee length on his colleague, I'm slightly shorter. No idea about the Myleene one, it looks itchy, but I didn't want to rule anything out.

DP's colleague works with him in dresses like that, so I guess he's thinking if it's okay for them, it's okay for me.

I like those Jaeger. Is black the only acceptable colour really? I love the pink, but I'm thinking that my taste in clothes is pretty terrible.

(Thank you again, everyone. I really appreciate the honest opinions, even if I feel quite self conscious now!)

[EhricLovesTeamQhuay]

Get a little woods account. They do free delivery, free returns and interest free credit if you pay over 20 weeks. Fast delivery too. They have loads of dresses at £35 or under which comes in at £5 a month.
this in grey
this in black
this is good
this would do and cheap