Interview wear- smart, smart casual? The pitfalls!

[OwlMother]

I have an interview this week which I am assuming will be quite formal, financial services, customer facing etc. I'm just not sure what is required to be worn for a formal interview? I had thought a smart blouse/ trousers or a smart dress but having looked at their website people seem to wear more formal things than this.

What should I wear, assuming it is formal, and how important do you think it is that I get it right? If I'm a bit off will it really count against me? I'm an over thinker and am starting to panic.

For Financial Services interviews, I always go with a dress and jacket. If in doubt, err on the side of conservative.

Thank you, that makes sense. Would a smart tailored dress (Hobbs or similar)!be ok without a jacket, do you think? I have a decent wool coat which I plan to wear. Haven't worked for the last month or two so trying to minimise outlay.

Personally for an interview in FS, I'd always wear a jacket. Even in summer.Sorry, I appreciate that's not the answer you wanted to hear.

I think a tailored dress and wool coat is suitably smart that no comment/judgement/memory would be of your outfit.
Tidy hair, clean shoes and suitable makeup (if you wear it) should pull it all together.

Best of luck with the interview.

Thanks both. I have a blow dry booked and a decent choice of shoes so really just hoping to pick up a dress tomorrow.

I have a couple of jackets that would be suitable for interview but wouldn't go over dresses, so I would need trousers/ skirt and blouse which seems complicated and expensive to get in a rush. Dress seemed the easy option. And I'm really not sure I can justify the cost of a jacket too.