please help a size 20 hopeless case find a smart outfit for interview

[cansu]

Am a size 20 which is not making this easy! I need a smart, but not too conservative or businessy outfit for a teaching interview. I was hoping for a jacket with a dress but so far most of the dresses I have liked basically look crap. I want something to boost my confidence so am now thinking jacket and skirt, but dont really want to go for black business style suit. Any ideas please.

What about this it comes in 3 colours.

Or this it's quite bold though, so would have to suit your colouring.

I bought this dress (in navy) recently
There's a matching jacket of you feel you need one... and other suitable things on the workwear page that come in a 20.

I also think this is quite nice.

Quite like the skater dress but I have just tried one from Boden that looked similarly lovely on screen but looked like a sack on me. That last one Cantaloupe isnt what I would normally go for but is growing on me.

What height are you
What is your body shape

all those body con dresses are vile btw

Monsoon is your friend - I am a size 18 and most of my workwear comes from there. I find a shift dress and jacket quite flattering

What shape are you? I'm an apple size 20/22 (big tummy and boobs). I got a couple of wrap style dresses from marks and spencers, can be dressed up smart with a jacket for interviews and down with cardi and boots for days off, they are very comfy too (which helps if you are a bit self conscious and not used to wearing dresses).

What about something like this jacket and some navy trousers and a little navy top underneath?

what age are you?

I also have this from next which is surprisingly flattering with the matching jacket

I think the Boden one is far and away the nicest.

As a 'plus 'size myself, I try to avoid 'specialist plus size' labels like Simply Be at all costs - just don't seem to me to have the quality and style. Instead, I go for 'mainstream labels such as (carefully chosen) Boden.

All my teaching dresses are Boden, in fact.

The M and S one doesn't look like it's great quality but that may be just the pic online - you always need to see i- and feel -I n RL, particularly with M and S.

Asos Curve have some nice dresses. I got a nice smart, tea dress from there a little while ago.

Sorry, think my suggestions have gone down like a lead balloon!

Further to what you say on Boden, they do vary wildly, I find, so although one you tried looked awful, another might not. And vice versa, of course. That's why I say 'carefully chosen' about them - I send back many more of their items than I keep but think it's worth it to find the few that really suit me and aren't made by ghastly plus size labels!

this next dress is okay

If you want something smart and a little different, I'd go for this or this. (Both come with matching skirts btw)

Appreciate all your suggestions. I am looking through now. I am quite top heavy and not v tall! I think I look best in things which have a bit of shape to them as baggy or loose things make me look bigger somehow but obviously don't want my bulges on show. I had ordered the audrey ponte dress from Boden and although it fits I just feel sort of huge and a bit matronly in it.

nice textured jacket

Sorry, ButI but I'm afraid Simply Be will always go down like a lead balloon with me, whoever suggests them!

And, while I wouldn't suggest the OP wears anything sacklike or baggy, I don't think bodycon dresses are really ideal interview wear for many figures.

Sorry, a friend is a size 22 and bought a lovely dress from there. I don't know much more about it than that.

op I ordered something from Boden in that ponte fabric a while back... it's thick and nasty with no "drape" imo. The skater dress and this nice dress with sleeves are made of v good quality quite fine wool. They will be 100 x more flattering than the audrey dress on someone with your shape (imo). If you were to try this tipped shift dress you wouldn't need a jacket, you will look sleeker and simply polished (imo).

ps buy the long length and if you are average sort of height it will be knee length rather than above the knee

I oftne head to ebay for ideas . but love the suits from tethers. A pencil skirt and great top or shirt would probably do you well.
Not sure what the MN view on colour tight is but I often wear black pencil, colour tights and a toning top. Always black flats or knee high boots as no heels.

Get lots of comments, always look tidy. Jacket or cardi depending on the occassion.

Oh, and I am 20, 22, 24 or even and 18 dependng where I shop but critically have hips bum and tum. Which is a holy trinity of horror to balance!

What do you feel about long waistcoats rather than a long sleeved jacket?

They can be quite fitted, add less weight to your top half, and leave your arms free to teach.