Help turn frumpy 37 year old mother into formal-yet-cool looking interview candidate!

[Pittacos]

Having spend the past decade in the public sector with quite a casual dress code (which, sadly, means that I have allowed myself to become really quite frumpy), I now have an interview for a much more corporate job.

It's quite a 'young' environment, (I think I will be about ten years older than most of the other staff) so I don't want to appear too matronly.

How do achieve looking smart and formal, yet also fashionable and cool? Please help me, I have literally no idea.

Face: Quite youthful-looking (could pass for mid twenties)

Hair: Long bob. Reddish-brown (happy to get a cut)

Dress size: 12 pushing a 14

Height: 5'2"

Body shape: Un-toned and wobbly. Boobs about a 34 D. Fat tum.

Budget is flexible, but don't want to go tooooo spendy as will regret it if I don't get the job!

I have this m.hobbs.co.uk/product-detail?productid=0114-2025-9845L00&productvarid=0114-2025-9845L00-NAVY-6&refpage=nw3&view=2&searchpage=1&pagesize=150
I wear with bright red pointed flats and silver jewellery.

Jigsaw also do have some funkier bits. Good luck.

I always think suits are a good idea for interviews, or a dress w a blazer.

As for suits not looking cool, I think this one does (as it's all about the fit and this one is fairly modern) looking.

I wore this for my (very corporate) interview recently and got the job www.next.co.uk/x5314s1#890157x53. I decided I wanted something bright and showed my personality a bit. Prob not to everyone's taste but I've had a lot of compliments wearing it.

Have a look at Belinda's site, some great ideas there.

Thanks so much everyone! Feeling slightly bewildered but very grateful.

A bit worried about being short and a bit tubby in terms of skirts or trousers - I like the idea of a dress.

trainersandaches "For my interviews I wore one of those ruched Whistles dress, bright lipstick, a navy manicure and statement jewellery. For my last interview I wore a Damsel in a Dress shift, a brightly coloured Oliver Bonas necklace and a beige manicure."

This is definitely the sort of thing I had in mind. Please could someone link me to a few?

I like that suit in the picture Belinda but that model is tall and thin and young. I am...not.

Also now quite sold on bright colour with bright jewelry.

Jewelry! Can someone give me ideas for that too?

Sorry, Belinda's site

Maybe I'm way off the mark. Boden is hardly young and cool, but my thinking is that the colour is young and not frumpy, the shape might smooth out the middle and balance out the top and the bottom, the length is petite so it won't swamp you and the price is good. red dress

I'm concerned that one's a bit too informal burnishedsilver...

How about this? Would it look ridiculous on my body shape?
bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?cid=1006131&vid=1&pid=000554945G013-14754

Here it is on a model in black. I think the wool fabric makes it more formal.

You could order the banana republic one and try it on. Personally, I think my tummy would look massive in it, but you've bigger boobs than me which might balance it out a bit.

Yes you're right. Too much of a fatty for the BR dress.

Hmmm. Boden takes ages to arrive though, worry it wouldn't come in time.

You're putting words in my mouth! I never said anything about being too fat. It just that on me the high waist seam emphasises the tummy!

No, I know you didn't! I said it. It's true

Pittacos this would be the kind of dress I'd wear: www.whistles.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/dept/new_in-dresses?resetFilters=true#product=903000061884

Or this Damsel in a Dress one - they often sell them in TKMaxx for about £30. www.damselinadress.co.uk/shop/dresses/day-dresses/piet-dress-blush.aspx

To be honest, I wouldn't be wearing a dress w a sweetheart neckline (dated) or a skater shape (adds bulk).

Why don't you choose a sheath dress or the sort of suit in the pic I posted (you don't need to be young or thin to look cool! I think that sort of suit flatters most shapes).

Re trouser suits, if you don't want to spend a lot, the Mango SHANGHAI2 cotton sateen trouser suit is flattering and is £70 in total.

Re dresses, with your height, how about a TM Lewin dress? They are true to size and a little shorter than I like on me (come to the top of my knee) but I am a bit taller than you. The Banana Republic wool skirt suiting might work, too.

A bright coloured top, good jewellery and sleek shoes w a neutral suit and it's job done (ha!).

these with a pretty black top with sleeves (to give slimming effect and cover wobbly arms? Chiffon is a forgiving fabric for work tops and can be worn with jeans . U can easily find a top for a tenner odd in primark but worth splashing out on trousers. Boden cut is fantastic. I have several pairs in style in wool (black grey and navy) and a pair in white cotton.

35 quid in sale v reasonable imo. They are sexy cool and modest all at once.

Wear with pointy shiny black slingbacks to elongate your legs/ decanklefy.

Treat yourself to some decent underwear. You'll feel more confident and your figure will look better so you'll feel confident and sexy cool and get the job .

Get your hair blowdried. It's only a tenner and will stop u looking frumpy. Worth it to get the job...

Source: have never failed an interview. Recently lent my work clothes and shoes to a friend for an interview and she got the job

Noticed ppl saying upthread boden is frumpy. Im 26 btw. Any brand will lool frumpy on you if you chose the wrong clothes for your figure but for some reason I think you have good legs

wrap dress from cos

I've no idea if it's cool but it's smart and flattering with heels