Style me for my interview...?!

[analyticalquesadilla]

I need to look smart and stylish - but not too corporate or formal. So a tailored dress and jacket with heels would be too much, but my wardrobe full of ASDA and Sainsbury's tea dresses and leggings with my one pair of scruffy flat boots is too casual.

I'm 5"9, size 18. I could afford up to £150 for an outfit, including shoes.

I don't know where to start! Please help.

What kind of sector is the job in? Makes it easier to get an idea of what to recommend!

Tricky with it knowing what the job is, but I’d say smart dress (would any of your existing tea dresses be suitable?), dark blazer, tights and if you don’t want it to be too formal then smart flats like brogues or ballet pumps. Always better to overdress than underdress for an interview.

Thank you for replying! It's a job in the voluntary, social care sector. Reasonably senior but as I say, not corporate. There will be service users as part of the interview so I need to be comfortable and approachable.

Existing wardrobe is - as husband kindly pointed out today - suitable for the impoverished student I was a decade ago. None of it projects the confident professional woman vibe that I want to put out there!

Could you post a pic of some of your tea dresses. I regularly wear a tea dress and cardigan for work with ankle boots and tights or wedges....I reckon you'll have something already in your wardrobe... Do you have a blazer? If not that would be worth buying as you can get so many outfits from a blazer

Tea dress and blazer could work. Alternatively (and they can be used over summer anyway) get a nice pair of paper bag trousers. Wear with a simple plain top or blouse and a pair of flats. You could add a bit of statement jewellery if you fancy.

Something like this:

www.newlook.com/uk/womens/clothing/trousers/-black-paperbag-waist-trousers/p/557067201?comp=Browse.
(I have the black and they are incredibly comfortable!)

m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0591334002.html.
(Wear tucked in)

m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0292453034.html
(Any colour you prefer)

www.marksandspencer.com/leather-high-cut-ballerina-pumps/p/p60138726?prevPage=srp

I work with looked after teenagers. I go to interviews in exactly the sort of thing I wear to work. Skinny black jeans, DMs, t shirt but I wore a little black jacket and a bright scarf to smarten it up a bit. Most people wear some variation on this in this sector. If your working with people you need to look human! In my experience looking too smart conveys a certain level of aloofness and loftiness.

Maybe a tea dress, ankle boots and little jacket