What's the cardi thing? Just following on from interview thread

[mintysmum]

OK - I don't get the idea of not wearing a cardi to an interview. Obviously not a big wafti type cardi, not a waterfall type, but a brightly coloured neat cardi could brighten up a plain navy, grey or black dress and be fine. Couldn't it?! With smart shoes or shoe boots?

I feel very out of it in terms of what people wear in the commercial sector or for management jobs and maybe it's not relevant for me anyway as I work in a para medical field, where I give advice and support to people who are often unwell. I sometimes visit them at home when they're too ill to be at work so a suit in that context is wrong. Other times I go to their workplace and meet with HR or management.

I wear dark tailored trousers, white/pale top and a bright short cardi with flat ballet shoes or medium height shoe boots. I am really very bored wearing this but feel like it's my self inflicted uniform!

Any ideas for work clothes that are more casual than a suit but professional looking. I think I need to ditch the cardi/trouser combo but not sure how!

Cardis are a bit casual. Imagine a man wearing a cardi to work? It happens but it screams casual.

Just switch to jackets. Zara has casual ones.

I agree with mirpuppet. A soft jersey blazer in a colour other than black?

I don't really like cardigans, I don't think they are very flattering.

I wear the trouser/skirt and neat cardigan combo, often with a scarf. It's comfortable, washable etc. If it's appropriate for your workplace, stick with it.

Uniqlo do lovely merino cardis.

I'm sniggering a bit at the fact that a casual jacket its fine but a cardi is casual and therefore wrong :)

Absolutely agree. Useful, yes, but seldom flattering.

I live in cardigans but not for an interview. They're too relaxed - which is why I like them plus I feel too busty without them

I'd wear a jacket to an interview but your work uniform seems appropriate for your job. I'd wear a jacket when dealing with management - just my thoughts but I'd feel more competent

I don't think were talking casual jacket as in biker, leather or denim. A jersey blazer is smart yet relaxed but tailored and therefore not casual.(IMHO)

It's interesting how we all perceive things, isn't it. I see soft jersey blazers as obviously weekend wear, whereas a neat, fine knit cardi is much more office friendly imho. Different environments and associations I guess.

I also think cardigans look neater than a jersey jacket. But that's because I have comedy breasts and even jersey jackets make me look like a slightly overdressed street walker.

I struggle with jackets as they tend to gape across the boobs, also way too formal for all but uppermost management in our office and even then not most of those on the technical side. I confess to wearing 'waterfall cardis' as they are warm and I find them fairly flattering over trousers and a long sleeved top of some description (again rarely shirts due to gaping). It hadn't occurred to me that this might be less formal than the men who wear trousers and open neck shirts or in some cases polo shirts, no jackets - hmmm.
This has been a bit of an eye opener, if I were to interview at a similar company I'll have to remember to drag out the interview suit I used when I got this job rather than throw on my regular work clothes!

I think it's a return to Dynasty era values that's done a stealth creep.

The respect for padded structured shoulders has reared it's head again.

The only reason a jersey jacket is more acceptable than a cardi is because it's more like a male suit jacket. ie power dressing.

I will look for 'casual' jackets as I think I would feel different/better in one of those rather than a cardi - plus it means I can downgrade all my neat cardis to weekend wear rather than having to save them for work!

I like my cardis with smart trousers as they sort of fall in a casual way often slightly higher than my top which looks ok but in a jacket that looks messy although jackets I've tried on are often really short. I would prefer a longer jacket if I'm wearing one.

Anyone seen any casual work dresses? The skater dress or shift dress is really too smart for me - I'm often going into someone's home and sitting on their settee which can be low and I don't want to flash leg. Plus they might be in their dressing gown and I need to be approachable - but occasionally I go from a home visit to a workplace meeting with HR where I do need to look professional.

My other problem is I prefer travelling by train/taxi so can't really carry more than my briefcase with laptop and lunch in already. So complex!