Creative professional outfits?

[DandelionSprout]

Apparently I don’t look right and that will prevent me building rapport with clients and making sales. For work I would usually wear plain black trousers and ballet flats with a simple long sleeved top. I have mousy hair and don’t wear jewellery although I sometimes wear a hair slide. Makeup is usually very minimal, just a tinted moisturiser worth lip gloss and mascara. I wear big Perspex glasses which I thought were trendy but perhaps not?

I'd wear some wide leg black trousers and some really fun printed shirts like the one below. Maybe some funky accessories to jazz things up a bit.

The Telegraph fashion and style web site has the best selections. Fairly easy to copy and definitely stylish. I do think working with wealthy people means you have to up your gene from black trousers!

The attached are cool and stylish. Decent trousers, sneakers or lowish heel shoes are fine, toning shirts, single colour outfits or maybe a check. Gingham will be big this year. A dress and long boots for winter. Last of all - a very decent work bag.

A few more.

I think these casual ones can work too

But WHO are you going for jobs with?
The interviews I’ve had have been for junior positions in interior design studios staffed by a small team of 5-10 people. On paper I sound intriguing but in person I obviously look boring. I asked a friend who was brutally honest and said “designers don’t wear polyester trousers they bought in Asda”.

Normally I don't think you can teach style (you either have it or you don't) - but if you work in interior design then you must have something to work with. Select clothes according to their silhouette and quality of the cut. Think natural fabrics.

Ditch the ballet pumps.

I also disagree with some of the advice you're being given here about colour and 'funky' blouses. If you don't have a flair for colourful dressing you could so easily get this wrong. You would be much better off sticking to muted tones - which can look just as creative and tasteful if not more so.

Maybe check out Instagram for inspiration, the first person I thought of when you mentioned the brief was Nick Wakeman instagram.com/nickwakeman?igshid=1djy5vo6c5eyd (not saying you suddenly need to start wearing clogs and culottes but the colour palette and contemporary feel to her womenswear might be a useful place to start).

I think you're right to stick to minimal make up and trendy glasses, instead use your clothes to elevate the look.

No they don’t. I would think you had no style and couldn’t design my home. The above suits would get you through the door.

Some of the ideas on that insta are quite difficult to copy if you don’t have style. It might end up looking silly. You have to be a little bit true to yourself.

I’m your age and work in a creative role. I quite like some stuff from Saint + Sofia for work. I wear a lot of black, but with some sort of edge- an unusual cut or detail, or unusual jewellery. Hair and make up are important. Definitely not your Asda trousers, sorry!

Hmm, I think there should always be some kind of 'twist' to your look that makes you, you. So it might be statement earrings, or unusual hair, a skirt with an unusual hem, something that sings to you. The glasses look quite statement, so that's a start, but don't let the rest of your look down with out-dated or ill-fitting clothes - I can't imagine Asda trousers fit particularly well? And I guess try to match your personal style to your interior style (I don't know if this would be the case in an agency?), so cottage-y interiors = boho clothes, sleek urban = 'architect' clothes, modern shapes and fabrics etc.

Op, are you going for interior jobs in that the clients are the general public? Or are you going for corporate interior designer job which requires you to work on big company fit outs, and your clients could be healthcare trusts, well known global companies etc, you use BIM, CAD, sketch up, Adobe creative cloud etc? There is a massive different between those two types of interior roles.

Yes maybe stick to black/ white with creative jewellery and accessories. Those coloured suits would make me think you weren’t for me if you landed in to design my home. But buy a decent pair of trousers that suit your shape and are on trend, definitely ditch the ballet pumps and get quality tops that hang right, nothing clingy. The glasses are good.

How tall and what dress size are you? Some of the outfits only work on young tall and thin.

Do you have a budget for new clothes - just one outfit needed to start with.

Dresses are really easy to style and can look pretty cool if you pick the right ones. No worrying about coordinating... just throw the dress on and a few accessories and you instantly look put together. I love dresses for this reason as I struggle sometimes to work out what ‘goes’ together when wearing separates.

Also can you see what others in the company are wearing before the interview to get ideas?

Have you looked at Kin womenswear at John Lewis? Some interesting shapes, cuts and colours but also quite easy to wear. Would look good with your glasses.

Op, are you going for interior jobs in that the clients are the general public?
Generally yes. Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, also some small commercial jobs such as a restaurant or a shop or office. Like a smaller version of Studio McGee on Netflix.

Also can you see what others in the company are wearing before the interview to get ideas?
Not really. Due to current circumstances it’s either a Zoom interview or a very small socially distanced meeting with 1-2 people. Even in normal times I’m not sure how I’d gain access to the office before the interview?

I am the most unfashionable person in the world and not creative at all. I have this dress, however, and my daughters think it is too kooky for a 49 year old, given the prominent flare at the bottom.

I do wear it with ‘out there’ jewellery, and chunky shoes. Would it work? A scarf maybe?

www.cosstores.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.a-line-mini-dress-blue.0977327005.html

How tall and what dress size are you?
5ft5, currently a size 14 but hoping to go back to a 10-12 when I lose the 30lb I gained during lockdown!

Do you have a budget for new clothes - just one outfit needed to start with
No specific budget. Currently unemployed so would only be buying half a dozen outfits to start. When I get a job I’ll need to have an idea what other outfits to buy.

[quote RaskolnikovsGarret]I am the most unfashionable person in the world and not creative at all. I have this dress, however, and my daughters think it is too kooky for a 49 year old, given the prominent flare at the bottom.

I do wear it with ‘out there’ jewellery, and chunky shoes. Would it work? A scarf maybe?

www.cosstores.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.a-line-mini-dress-blue.0977327005.html[/quote]
I've got one of these (but round neck and a contrast coloured hem). My boss has one too in a different colour way - they're ace!

@DandelionSprout

Also can you see what others in the company are wearing before the interview to get ideas? Not really. Due to current circumstances it’s either a Zoom interview or a very small socially distanced meeting with 1-2 people. Even in normal times I’m not sure how I’d gain access to the office before the interview?

Is there a website with pictures of the team? Might be able to get a sense of what they're wearing?

@DandelionSprout

Also can you see what others in the company are wearing before the interview to get ideas? Not really. Due to current circumstances it’s either a Zoom interview or a very small socially distanced meeting with 1-2 people. Even in normal times I’m not sure how I’d gain access to the office before the interview?

Facebook, Twitter or instagram. See if they have any staff photos at all.

I’m sure you look cooler than me though! And round necks emphasise my hefty bosom!

OP you look really pretty - I think you’d look fab in anything.

Some of the clothes posted so far seem even pricier than my dress, which I found very expensive.

Why don’t you chose a few things you like from Cos, Arket, Kin and put them on here? Things that suit your body shape. We could work with that.

Do you have a budget at all, even for one outfit?

I’d really not go for black trousers and a funky colored blouse. Please don’t do that. I know it sounds easy and may work for some roles but I don’t think it’s for your role.

I don’t think skinny trousers are great either.

If you wear Converse and DMs could you stick to those? Just clean ones?

Have you got a decent handbag? There are some of a particular designer available on eBay that are well priced and would show that you know what you’re talking about. I’ll pm you the name if you’re interested as I don’t want the whole world buying up the stock.

I’m pretty sure this creative professional said she always wears black so she doesn’t have to think about what to wear. You’d not go far wrong with her style. www.francescorner.com/back-to-black/