Challenge for you 😃

[gemandjule]

My daughter has an interview for uni next week in Scotland. We are not in the U.K. and don’t have interviews for uni here so she has no handle on what to wear. She is a curvy size 10 who is self conscious, as most 18 year olds are, because all her friends are size 6-8 and she constantly feels fat 😡. She therefore hates shopping. Added to this she is very anti fast fashion and will only buy ethically.
Meanwhile we have to fly to Scotland this day week, she has nothing to wear, does not know what she should be looking for and hates shopping! Help 😃😃

They absolutely will not care what she’s wearing as long as it’s tidy to signify that she’s taking the process seriously.

What does she feel good in?

Thank a million for the reply. I was beginning to feel unloved 😂.
She generally wears jeans and hoodies with docs. She does wear dresses sometimes going out to a party etc
I went to town with her yesterday. Most of what I suggested she felt were too casual. The one dress she picked herself and tried on was a plain navy dress. She didn’t even let me see it but said she looked like one of the aunts from the handmaids take in it 😂. I suspect she’s right but I I suggest something younger she feels it’s not formal enough.
I think because she’s not very confident about her appearance and normally wears very casual clothes she feels self conscious

The picture is a dress I thought was perfect. She’s only 5’2 so it would be longer on her and I thought with ballet flats +/- tights it was perfect but no: too casual 😢

To be honest I would let her wear what she wants to wear. Unless she feels pressure to be very formal when that’s not who she is. There’s no need. She will feel more confident if she feels at ease in her outfit. So aim for tidy, well groomed (by which I mean nothing more than clean, tidy hair and clean nails, clean shoes if that’s how she feels comfortable or right up to subtle make up/hair/etc).

Did she try on the navy dress and like it? Does she have shoes or boots that will go nicely with it?

Oops sorry it says right there that she tried it on...

She doesn’t need to show her personality in her clothes unless she wants to - they’re looking for her to demonstrate her work ethic, academic capability, and a well rounded approach. If she wants to wear formal clothing that won’t work against her by any means. By the same token, if someone wants to wear jeans and a nice jumper, or quirky/studenty outfit, that’s fine too.

Sorry, misunderstanding. She picked out the navy dress herself and tried it on and then hated it. I think she has a very firm idea in her mind about what’s “appropriate” and then hates that when she tries it on. I’m trying to help her to be more recasted about it and feel comfortable and she tells me I’m too casual 😃
She’s my 4th child to go to university. She’s very smart and a hard worker so I have absolutely no worries about her. The others didn’t have to do an interview though as did not apply to the U.K. so we have no great handle on what people wear. As I say I think she’s quite self conscious and is afraid she’ll get it wrong. It’s a group interview which probably isn’t helping.

Yeah sorry I understood that on second reading, I just skimmed the first time which is a terrible habit of mine!

Assure her that she should concentrate on wearing something that she feels good in, and that her appearance won’t matter. As long as she’s tidy/appropriate and feels good in herself that will be absolutely fine. There is no universally accepted convention when it comes to what clothing to wear in university interviews - it’s not like a job interview.

Great. Thanks a million for your help. Now I just to get her to believe me 😃

Pepperberry by Bravissimo has a nice range of clothes for curvier women. You can dress a lot of the items up and and down and get a lot of wear out of them

She’s a size 10! She just feels bigger than her peers.

The silliness of youth.

What does she wear when she’s dressing for smart/casual things like going out to eat?

I used to work in admissions for a university and arranged interview days. I'd echo what the others have said about not needing to go all out on a smart outfit but more important to look tidy and presentable, no matter what the specific clothes. Interviewees used to come in all sorts of outfits. If any used to phone in advance to ask about dress code we used to say it doesn't matter but the most common is 'office casual'.... dresses (including like the heart one you posted) and black jeans with smart-ish tops were probably the norm for the female students.
The most important thing would be for her to wear something she'll feel comfortable in as she wouldn't want to feel self-conscious in an unfamiliar style or spend time adjusting or fidgeting with clothes that she is not used to wearing. No one needs that worry on top of preparing for an interview!

Brogues are very trendy at the moment, as are loafers (heeled or flat). If they are quite chunky and/or have platform soles, even better.

Wear with a dress and short blazer, or a jumper on top if she likes.

My suggestion would be a long sleeved top, tee, or jumper. Cigarette trousers or ankle skimmers, or jeans. Wool blazer or jacket if she wants to look more formal.

Ninkanink

She’s a size 10! She just feels bigger than her peers.

The silliness of youth.

Exactly, in a nutshell 😃

Thanks so much for the advice. Very much appreciated

Lecturer here. It's not important. They will be far more interested in what she says about her interest in the course. Most of ours just come in normal clothes they wear everyday. Don't feel you have to buy new stuff.

@gemandjule have you found her something to wear that she’s happy with and feels comfortable in? I hope she feels more reassured that it really won’t matter. There will likely be a wide range of outfits on the day and many will likely be more casual than she is envisaging.

Ninkanink

So sorry I didn’t reply. Front line HCP here and absolutely swamped with Covid 19 protocols as well as normal work.

She found a pants belonging to her sister that she’s happy with. She is stil not sure on a top. She found a white blouse but thinks it’s too officey

Sorry, posted too soon.

So I’m trying to get her to look a a nice jumper instead. Flying out Thursday afternoon 😲
Did I mention work is chaotic 😲😲

Thank so much for all the advice and interest. Hopefully the interview goes well now. 🤞

Oh my goodness yes you must be absolutely shattered!

Tee and an informal blazer would work too (not matching to the trousers, most people wear separates that coordinate rather than matching).

In any case I’m sure whatever she wears she’ll do great and I’ll have my fingers crossed for her interview(s). 🤞

@gemandjule

Did you fly out as planned or has it been postponed?