Interview Wardrobe & Grooming?

[PosyNarker]

Okay Style & Beauty Gurus - what are your interview dos and don'ts?

I find myself likely to interview for a corporate management role outside my company for the first time in a few years. I'm a few pounds heavier, a few years older, but I think I know my stuff.

City type job, but not London. Corporate but not usually client facing.

I'm thinking well cut knee length black skirt suit, brighter coloured blouse (got a few jewel coloured tops from Thomas Pink that would work), black patent mary janes, subtle brown toned make-up and short, neutral coloured nails (mine are not good enough to leave plain so I'd need a very light pearly pink or at the very least a glossy top coat).

I've had a few suggestions in private though I hadn't even thought of, so wondered if these hit any of your 'don't list':

• Apparently my mid-back length curly hair is unprofessional & ought to be straightened / put up. Any thoughts on curly hair as unprofessional?! (I can take it, honest, but I haven't a hope of straightening so would have to learn a suitable 'up do').

• Told ought not to wear a black suit, although I'm wearing it with a bright shirt (and I got every damn job I've got bar one while wearing a black suit). Is this a new one? I would have to go shopping as my current job is often skirt & blazer or dress & jacket which I wouldn't wear to interview. My other suits don't fit as well damned pies or are a bit too 'different'.

• Designer handbag a no-no? My work bag is a pale blue Miu Miu. It's a well paid job I'm going for, but should I go for something more sober? I genuinely doubt the interview will notice and most of my peers seem to tote Bayswaters that cost just as much! (Also seems to contradict don't wear black!)

I am short, ginger and booby if that makes any difference. I will obviously be avoiding unnecessary boobage

Anyone?

The issue with black suits is that they can look cheap and shiny. But if you have a lovely suit, then go for that.

Personally, I think long hair down generally doesn't give a sharp, professional feeling. My favourite up do is a bun over a doughnut - very easy to do, and stays firmly in place.

A neat, smallish bag in black would seem better than a pale blue bag. Doesn't matter if designer or not, just neat and tidy.

I have a nice suit from Jaeger, bought early this year in a sale so no danger of shiny cheapness.

I have a smallish back Osprey bag that might do the trick. It's a bit Maggie Thatcher but not conspicuous.

I will need to try doughnut buns, but I guess it's easy enough for me to pick one up at the weekend and see how it goes. I can always ask my assistant for bun tips - hers always look great. I am terribly lazy with my hair (because it is objectively, really quite nice naturally).

I had exactly the same comments about my hair a few months ago. I straightened it for the interviews but since I got the job, I am leaving it curly again. I think the bag sounds fine, but I do prefer grey dresses and jackets for interviews

I agree with everything CMOT said. On the hair point even if it does look lovely down I think for working in a corporate environment it doesn't come across as so professional or polished. Agree as well that non-black suits are often more flattering.

Apart from that nails, shoes and make-up all sound fine
Good luck!

A grey dress as suggested by 'Solde* and jacket is ideal. A dress and jacket gives a more clean, as in lines look.
Agree, with hair put back . If you are not confident in wearing a different style, straightening your hair and a few bobby pins to hold your hair back from your face can make a world of difference but is really easy.

Mid back length hair is long so I would definitely tie it back or put it up neatly.
The problem with black suits is that they can look a bit samey and unoriginal. I only say that because I have interviewed 8 people in a row and believe me it's sometimes difficult to remember who was who! A statement brooch, necklace or scarf can help if you're going with the black suit.
Are the shoes flat? I'd go for a small heel.

Definitely wear your hair up, but don't worry if people can still tell that it's curly.
Black suit is fine imo. I got my current and previous jobs wearing my black suit :)

domestic No shoes aren't flat - moderate heel. I tend to wear heels anyway, but they're not skyscrapers.

I'd be going for a shirt in bright blue most likely. The suit is quite wide across the lapels so there will be plenty of blue on show.

Hair can't be straightened really (it won't stay at my length for any amount of time), so it's down or up. I guess I can try some up-dos. It's a bit of trademark of mine, so I will feel a bit odd without it. I guess I can wear bun to the office a bit and try to get used to it. I don't have the best hairline, which is one of the reasons I rarely pull it back (other than a ponytail for the gym). I'll need to get out the barrel brushes & hairdryers to make my fringe look decent.

3 days straight spray and some serum will kick your hair into touch. That said nothing wrong with curls/ waves but the same goes with using a good product.

Play around with your hair.Have you a friend that can hekp?

kaumana No not really - DP has been known to help me curl it or straighten it, but tbh I don't want to wear it straight / tame it ordinarily. I have curly hair yes, but it's not mad curls.

www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/package/gallery/0,,20332903_20337884_20732745,00.html

is a good approximation, although I'm not quite that dark.

Sorry can't see the link.

I saw some well conducted research which found, surprisingly, that women came across as more competent at interview if in a trouser suit than in a skirt suit. Since I read it I tend to wear a black Armani or similar trouser suit to interviews and that generally works for me. Also have curly hair but I keep it bobbed...

For what it's worth!

www.peoplestylewatch.com/people/stylewatch/package/gallery/0,,20332903_20337884_20732745,00.html

Hopefully that works!

I do not claim to be that good looking and I am certainly not that tall, but I do have better hair ;-)

Damn! That is good hair. I'm very jealous of your locks ,however, I stick to what I said before, pull your hair away from your face and you'll be fine.

having curly hair never did me any professional harm! (That said, now sporting swishy smoother lock, Wellastrate is the business!)

but probably worth tying back so you don't have to push it back or play with it. No need for frumpy bun or chignon. Also Rebecca Brooks has done curly red heads no favours!

best of luck.

celestial I used to be a trouser suit woman but I've gained some weight and it's damned hard to get a trouser suit to fit. Effectively I have a big ass, & tiny waist, but at the moment I am too tubby for a trouser suit.

Although I have heard that trouser suits can be sounder productive....

FWIW I have got a job in a trouser suit.

special YY to Rebecca Brooks. I am a good ten years younger and she is tall while I am short but I did feel uncomfortable because there is a slight resemblance (we have the same hair, but mine is nicer, damn it).