Help! I need an interview outfit!

[WeeDangerousSpike]

I've got an interview next week and I have nothing to wear.

I've no idea what's fashionable.

It's for an administrative office role. Current office job I've been wearing non-denim jeans iykwim, and non iron collarless blouse type things with chunky mid calf boots - so not really suitable for a more formal employer.

I'm a 14/16
large ish bust at 34f/g (after intervention, before I thought I was a 36d/dd if that helps) proper buttoned blouses don't always fit well.
Hourglass shape but with a bit of a tum at the front. Bit of an overhang from having DD so low waisted trousers don't look very good.
OK legs, but I can't wear heels.
Chubby upper arms, often cap sleeves or tailored short sleeves are too tight.
Very pale skin.
Lightish brown hair.
Mid 30s

I think cigarette trousers might be a good idea? With ballet flats?

I'm going shopping tomorrow night to a place with a next, m&s, H&m, topshop, newlook, monsoon, primark, fat face, white stuff. Think that's it.

Please help - I'm completely clueless.

Oh, and I'm skint.

Bump for the after work crowd...

Cigarette pants relaxed shirt and loafers alternatively you could wear a smart collarless blouse and blazer. My go to interview outfit is a dress and blazer.

I've got a black jacket that's quite short - only to my waist at the back but a bit lower in the front - kind of tuxedo style?

Is that horribly out of fashion?

I think you need to be a bit smart which to my mind doesn't really mean ballet pumps. I recruit quite a bit so if you want flat shoes make them smart loafers but a heel even if small would be better. A bit of colour gives you personality. So if you can a dark green or blue blazer and trousers maybe? Accessories simple but a chain and maybe simple earrings just to say you pay attention to detail. I'd expect the same of a bloke. Hair tidy and either up do or a bit styled not a slick back ponytail. I do work in a customer facing corporate environment though so might be fussier than most.

I second not ballet flats, they never look smart. A dark dress may suit you, more flattering than separates, giving a longer line, and easier to accessorise.

This is great, thanks. I've steered away from loafers as they don't make me feel very feminine, but will try some on tomorrow.

I have curly hair. Very curly if I style it and not tie it back in a bun when wet. It does tend towards a bit of frizz, unfortunately. So it's a bit of a fine line between looking a bit over the top curly and being scragged back out the way. Sigh.

Oh god, a dress, really? What sort of thing? I don't even know what length is fashionable. Celebrities seem to be wearing a lot of those very pleated long synthetic things that look like skirts my granny wears - I'm not sure they're suitable for work??

Oh god, this shopping trip is going to be painful, I'm going to be staring bewildered at mannequins. If you see me you'll recognise me by the softly muttered swearing and out of control hair....

This kind of thing. I swear my 91yr old granny has this exact skirt.

Please tell me there's other styles that are current?

What about these - Next 1
Next 2
next 3
next 4
Debs
Debs 2
Debs 3

I prefer a dress and heels for interviews, even just for an admin role. They look really smart and there is less decision making involved than with separates!

I've recently bought my first Boden items, a Mia Ottoman dress (in the sale) and a short sleeved shift dress with a stripe down the back.

I know what you mean about those skirts, my grandma used to wear exactly the same. I've seen them look great on other people, but fear I am not of the right age or build!

No idea. Just popping on to wish you good luck for your interview lass.

If you can get to a next store early on Saturday morning they have a small half price sale - you might be able to pick up a decent formal dress

Thanks runkle that was really kind of you I'm not sure about the unfitted look at the waist - do you think it looks smart enough? I'm not a huge fan of frilly bits like the sleeve of the blue dress.
I like the asymmetric black one though, but again not sure it's smart enough for an interview, but that may well be my out of date fashion sense...

DinosApple those boden dresses are more my style, but would something like that work with flats?

Thanks MrsMozart and it's actually reassuring to know I'm not alone in not having a clue

The second would work better with flats, it's an ottoman Jemima, navy front, multi coloured vertical stripes at the back. Personally I'd wear both with flat knee high boots (if I could find some to stuff my calf's into) or low black heel.
Boden also do flat smart pointy shoes which would look good with the first dress, but I don't own a pair so not sure of comfort.

Tbh I've only just 'found' Boden (ironically on a thread asking for alternatives!). My usual price bracket is more H&M and Sainsbury's though.

Actually, Sainsbury's has some really nice smart stuff too at the moment.

I wore this www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses/smart-day-dresses/j0290-blk/womens-black-estella-jacquard-dress Boden dress to my last interview; if you Google you can almost always find a 20% discount code for Boden somewhere.

Thanks all, that dress is nice DeadCertain - did you get the job?

Which shops would you head for if it was you? I'll be going in the late afternoon, shops open till 7/8 so I won't have loads of time to trawl round everywhere.

It's flattering WeeDangerousSpike because it's a thick fabric too - and yes, I got the job!!

If you have a large Debenhams nearby perhaps try there - lots of different brands there. I am useless really because there are very few decent shops where I live, so online shopping is my friend.

Well I went shopping. Didn't buy anything.

Lovely blazer and trousers in h&m but all too small.
Other than that nothing that looked even remotely good
I couldn't go to Debenhams because they don't do the evening shopping hours that the shopping centre do, which was a shame.

I tried on a few dresses, but they all made me look chunky and frumpy. Something about the round neck makes me look like I've been upholstered. Like Trunchbull in Matilda.

I'm going to have to resort to M&Co and Peacocks.

M&S will be better. Order on line. I think cigarette pants and low heels are chic. M&S has loads! Look for a blouse to go over, but not with front buttons. They have a few pull over ones and the grey silk t shirt they have is perfect for hiding lumps and bumps. You dont need a jacket. Offices are heated.

Go for v necks if you have any sort of chest otherwise it will look upholstered. Or use a scarf to draw the eye down. Anything that elongates the body and draws the eye down is good. So think v neck, ending on or just below the knee in a solid colour or solid with colour down the middle. If you have curves, anything that covers them up will look frumpy, so better to go for a v neck dress in a solid colour with a waist that has a same colour belt or a knot to one side drawing the dress in and shaping it. Tights should be skin colour. Have you thought about going to JL and just trying loads on at once to see what suits?

Cinching in waist with a big bust and a tum doesn’t look great, believe me! I have abandoned that look and I’m similar size to the OP. Looking sleek with trousers and a smart silk top is way more flattering!