Suits to suit the large of nork

[HombreLobo]

I need to buy an interview suit but wondering if there are any do's and don't's when it comes to styles of jackets if you're well endowed.

The last time I had to do this, fresh out of university, to get something that would do up over my chest ended up looking a bit frumpy and I'd like to look a bit more tailored now.

Suggestions of shops to try also welcome.

Don't buy anything that will actually button over the chest. You need one-button blazers, like this:
www.bananarepublic.co.uk/products/res/mainimg/coral-sateen-one-button-blazer-bright-coral-2.jpg
There's also Pepperberry, but they are often quite frumpy.

If you are near a big department store, see if they have a personal shopper. I got all my work clothes that way when my body changed shape post baby. They don't typically charge.

Personal shopper might be an idea. Although last time I did that they admitted defeat! But then again nothing ventured nothing gained

Hobbs can be good, and I have a suit from Planet that actually buttons up and looks good. However, I prefer to wear a dress suit with the dress open (and generally not big enough to actually fasten over my norks) - still looks very smart but far more comfortable.

With the jacket open. Not the dress. That would be wrong!

Dress suit would mean sorting out shoes and I don't really do smart shoes. I have boots to wear with a trouser suit.

I'd go with dark colours, single buttoned, waist length jacket (cropped), pencil skirt that's at least knee length or slim fit trousers... And buy the jacket to fit your shoulders/chest with some cash left over to get it tailored to fit under boobs/around waist (taking it in down front and back darts isn't too complex, as long as the shoulders and sleeves fit plus you've got enough space to fit your boobs in without squishing).

Not sure I'll have time for tailoring options. And I just remembered my main issue with jackets is not boobs but the fact that I have weird arms/shoulders which means I can't put them on.

Memories rushing back of me telling my mum I couldn't get a jacket on, and then my dad trying to manhandle my arm into the arm hole and exclaiming it just wouldn't fit...

How do you mean you can't get them on? Muscly arms, or is it the shape of your shoulders? You can get more unstructured jackets which don't have shoulder pads in them and are a bit less fitted which might work?

Do you think you could wear tailored trousers and a contrasting soft jacket? I must admit, I think it looks just as smart and is a lot more versatile in the future as you can mix and match.

My arms don't bend in the right direction to put a fitted jacket on. I don't have the range of movement in my shoulders to reach behind and put arms in sleeves.

By the time i find a size that i can get on its miles too big.

Sweater jackets? Something like this:
www.anntaylor.com/sweater-jacket/331282?colorExplode=false&skuId=15436078&catid=cata00008&productPageType=fullPriceProducts&defaultColor=1606

First unsuccessful shopping trip complete

Got very annoyed with all the places that stick whacking great security tags in the back of jackets so you get a nice hunchback effect then ended up having to get a shop assistant to unzip me from the dress suit I tried on

Not a good day

I sympathise as a 32FF but honestly I would step away from the tailored jacket and go for the dress option or perhaps a nice cardigan and tailored skirt.

Even in very formal work situations I find that I seldom see suits now. I work at a senior level and regularly meet high ranking types and most workwear is now smart casual.

Unless you have £££ I think tailoring will never fit.

I'm leaning towards the idea of not bothering with the suit, especially as beyond the interview stage I'm unlikely to wear again. I'm pretty sure the companies I'm interviewing for are more the casual side of smart casual. But most of the smart dresses I've seen have had no arms which is no good without a jacket.

I've never managed a cardigan without looking frumpy.

Could you find a dress that would work with a shirt under it instead?

Possibly, the ones I tried on today didn't have the right sort of neckline for that. I really prefer stuff where I can dress and undress myself though