Need a smart bag to go with my interview suit

[littlelamb]

Finally got an interview It is on thursday morning and I will be wearing my new black trouser suit. But I need a bag to go with it, preferably large enough to fit A4 documents in (I could be wrong about this. Being a size 14, I think small bags just make me look giant sized, iyswim) Am open to any suggestions though, as it will be a practical buy, but I also love bags so it will be a treat too, to celebrate getting an interview!

What you need is something in the style of an Anya Hindmarch Ebury (but not a real one unless you actually have £1k to spend), though possibly with longer handles thus if you'll want to put it on your shoulder (though this will always knacker your suit and isn't recommended on the way to an interview).

I'd avoid black leather with a black suit unless you're wearing a really bright blouse, and go for another colour (tan, red, green all possible) or something texturally interesting like tweed or an embossed leather - what shoes are you wearing?

I hear the top tip for Autumn is patent bags, so if you want to be ahead of the trend...

Thanks for that. I will be wearing black heeled boots, which are slightly, but not cripplingly pointy. My blouse is from M and S, can't find it on the website, but is a lovely creamy coulour with a bluey-black design on it. The point about ruining the suit is a good one, so I'll look for something that I can carry instead. Still no idea where to start. Might Next be a good bet?

hmm - I looked for some I could recommend but all the Next ones seemed to me to be either too fashionable (ie covered in buckles etc) or too slouchy to be quite right - does depend what kind of job it is though - a blue-chip City law firm demands a smarter bag than somewhere less formal and uptight. M&S is worth a look, and Debenhams etc are always worth a try as they have a big selection from different manufacturers.

And actually I think a black bag will probably work fine with that outfit if you want it to - it was the waitressy all black-and-white look I was trying to avoid.

Long handles are v useful day-to-day (esp when hanging on to tinies, with puschair etc), so don't discount them, just remember not to sling it on on the way to the interview itself!

Thanks for your help. I managed to get a lovely black bag in the Next sale, it looks really smart and goes really well with my suit. But another thought has occured to me now. Would it be hugely unprofessional to wear a black cotton scoop neck top under my suit? I have been prancing around in front of my mirror and I think it gives a nicer, less fussy look than the blouse. But would it be a big no-no? I would then be dressed head to toe in black. Would I be in danger of being mistaken for an unemployed goth?!

Go very carefully with all black - it really doesn't suit everyone and can make you look a bit severe, intimidating and/or like you're power-dressing to cover insecurities, which may not be ideal for the image you want to project during the interview!

Remember no amount of makeup will compensate if the black makes you look tired and pallid, and definitely wear the blouse if the cotton top is the faintest bit washed-out or greying.

Can you tell I favour the blouse?

Just slightly MrsB! I think you are right. I think the blouse is a bit fussy, but I can see the arguement for it. Maybe I will look for a simpler one tomorrow. I think it probably looks fine to be honest, I am just getting nervous and picking at every little thing. Am thanking my stars I went for a make up consultation with the Body Shop though- I am no longer the washed out ghost I was a mere month ago. My skin has never looked so good, which has really given me extra confidence.