Quick & urgent question re:interview - must I wear a suit?

[Ifem]

I hate suits.

Hard to find one that fits (am 5'11, looong legs, busty). Feel like a schoolgirl in trousers suits.

BUT...what the hell else to wear? Its for a management position so I HAVE too look smart. Not sure about suit dresses or pencil skirts either. Feel like a sexy secretary with my legs out and I want to appear serious.

Help!

I'd go for nice work dress with proper sleeves from somewhere like Hobbs, no shorter than on knee, no cardi, nude tights from M and S Autograph, pointed flats. Low key necklace perhaps .

The Jaeger dress is excellent for purpose .

I think the first outfit tethers linked is perfect and really nice

the second outfit she posted is beyond bonkers though

I would always go for dress + jacket. Dress = not formal enough, suit = too 80s.

I've got an interview this week and I've already done the suit option for the same panel so I will be going in a nice black and white dotty dress, knee length. Good fitting black jacket. Nude tights and Mary Jane court shoes. Good hair, make up and nails done.

Please no cardigans!

That Jaeger dress looks gorgeous. Wool crepe, a beautiful fabric.

Seriously in lust with that jaeger dress. It's as nice in real life as it looks.... Sighhhh

Is it, Merriboo? I wish I didn't know that....

Aargh - at risk of hijacking thread. I have interview for senior management role at top uni next week. Was going to wear Autograph dress, knee length,3/4 arms, nude tights. Now panicking should wear suit!

I dislike that Jaeger dress, the proportions look weird to me somehow, I'd feel awkward in it. The waist looks too high on the model and the neckline looks wrong, like a jumper v neck. It looks too small or something, like a dressing up dress somehow but I don't tend to like waisted dresses so ignore my musings.

Banana Republic do good suits if you can get to one, or Reiss if you have more to spend.

cashmere don't panic, sounds lovely.

You can always add a jacket as an option (not cardi) if you feel the need

Either I live in a parallel universe or people are getting way too uptight about interview garb - and I speak as someone who has had at least 10 in the past 18 months.

Yes, look neat and 'professional', but most important of all, you have to feel comfortable and not wear something that is totally alien to you, imo.

I have never seen anyone checking out my shoes, and I'm pretty sure at least half of my interviewers haven't had a chance to even look my feet. I have sat behind a desk for all my interviews.

I wore a jacket for for 9/10 of my interviews and failed them all! I wore a dress with half-sleeves, low-heeled black shoes and black opaques to my last interview (no jacket!) and got offered the job.

(for what it's worth, someone got a reasonably senior sales job at my last company and she turned up to her interview in leather trousers, although admittedly I'm not sure how that happened!)

I'd DEFINITELY employ someone who turned up to interview in leather trousers. That shows balls. Literally, in some cases.

tethersend - yep, she definitely proved herself to be 'ballsy'

How did it go ifem?

Ah, thanks for asking

I didnt get it. I got good feedback, though. They said I was a strong candidate and got the impression I was their second choice (out of ten candidates, so not bad going).

It was my first SLT interview, so am just happy I did the interview, to be honest!

I wore a black trouser suit in the end. Bit 90s-tastic, I know, but on the day I just suddenly felt really exposed with my legs out and heels on.

Onwards and upwards, though! Thanks for all your advice x

Well done on the first interview, the first one for promotions is always scary but fabulous experience and shows that you are serious about moving onward and upward.

Runner up in a field of 10 is fantastic. Hope you are proud of yourself and had a lovely weekend :)

Panicking here now....I'm in a similar position, interview tomorrow with an agency that is shortlisting for a local gov job. I'm 6ft so have small capsule wardrobe of stuff I don't like! Currently considering trouser suit and long sleeve red shirt or grey herringbone type dress with cap sleeves (haven't got one that fits with sleeves) and a jacket (not the usual cardi). Prob I have is that its heated up in London and I'll melt in both options!

Actually. ..just discovered a teal chiffon cap sleeve/almost sleeveless that looks ok under my suit jacket. Might go for that and suit trousers as then I can strip off when I get back to my office....and if I do have to take the jacket off it is quite decent