Eek - face to face interview - 5ft3in, 14 stone, massive norks....any tips?

[anon666]

I've got an interview - great news - but to my horror after a year of lockdown, eating sourdough bread etc, I'm heavier than ever.

It's a formal, professional position high up in an organisation, so power dressing is needed.

However, I'm short and dumpy, and don't tend to look good in suits or anything formal really. I have disproportionately enormous boobs which teeter on the brink of beach postcard no matter what I do with them, but apart from that I'm fairly cylindrical in shape. 😂

I'm old enough to be relaxed and happy with myself as I am. However, formal interview clothes are a bit of a nemesis, as I tend to go colour and interesting in work clothes day to day.

I'm torn between going for long linen trousers with a smart expensive T shirt type top, or dress with smart cardigan.

I really can't carry off a jacket, I always look like a child wearing parents clothes.

Any advice?

I’m 5’4” , size 18/20. Big boobs also , and I find wide legged trousers flattering . You don’t get what I call the the “funnel “ effect that comes with narrow legged ones . Plain or patterned are equally good options .

I'm similar and my go to is usually black jersey dress, nice cardigan and jewellery. I also have some really comfy Clarkes heels that help!

Came to this thread to find out what norks were!!

I think wide legged trousers can look great but Ime need quite a posh tucked top to look smart for an interview. I’m a size 20, quite senior, and also struggle with jackets unless they are more unstructured - otherwise if they fit me through the bust they are often too big on the shoulders. That could work with linen? So if you wore your wide legged trousers and a matching jacket, you’d be in a trouser suit but a quite relaxed version of one. If it’s a darker colour, the lovely natural rumple will also be less pronounced, which should help with the formal feel.

Tbh I often rely on a good tailored shift dress in this situation, rather than separates that can make me look messy. Well-fitting dress with bracelet sleeves, loafers, good jewellery, great hair and make up. It’s a bit boring but doesn’t distract from what you’re saying and if colour is your thing, it gives you an opportunity to wear it in a strong way.

Navy smart trousers, navy heels, silver jewellery, gorgeous floaty scarf, smart silky but looseish top and fab hair, big smile and confidence do it for me at 5ft size 20. Your dress sounds great though. I just can't wear a dress sadly but if I could, I'd possibly go for that.

Also, I struggle with jackets but I've found that knitted jackets (a sort of more structured cardigan) can work better as give the effect of a jacket but in a more relaxed way.

What @Tangelo said about the dress is spot on and would go with that.

Have you tried a round necked cropped collarless jacket? They look good in me (stole idea from a colleague of similar stature) at size 18-20. And they are not designed to fasten so good for ample norkage.

Good luck for you interview!

My boobs are vast. I find if I want to feel that they are a bit flatter and at lease firmly held in place (which is what I want for an interview) I need to wear a high impact sports bra. The challenge then is hiding the straps with the right neckline on my too but thought I'd share that with you.

Black dress with a smart cardigan (black or navy) and a colourful silk scarf

Was coming on to recommend a silk scarf - instantly gives an upmarket look and distracts from big boobs without being an obvious cover-up.

Good luck with the interview.

Bravissimo generally have smart tops that are cut to fit large boobs

I wear wide legged slightly trousers to balance out the norkage. And I have a smart silky (but slightly thicker than silk but stretchy ) top with small discreet geometric print that I wear for formal occasions that has an elasticated waist. It covers a multitude of sins in the nork and belly department. It's from Esprit and they have done a few every year recently. Looks good under a jacket.

If you do go for a jacket buy it to fit your shoulders, nor your waist and leave open with some longish necklaces, but not so long that they drop "off the cliff" ifyswim. Make sure jacket waist hits your waist and that it has a curvy cut so that it gives you a flare at the back. Avoid anything remotely boxy.

Sometimes those cape like jackets without sleeves can look good with big boobs but you have to be careful. not to look too fussy.

And in generally with big boobs avoid any puffiness in sleeves accept at wrist or any frills around neckline, or epaulettes, or pockets that sit on bust with buttons that imitate nips

Remember good underpinnings!

Good luck

Oh wow, superb, thank you all so much for your suggestions. Am working through comments one by one.

Most of all it's good to know we are all out there! Short, wider, older ladies, working in professional jobs. 👍 I sometimes feel a bit intimidated by all the tall, slim, "management consultanty" men who look great in suits. I always think that despite paying lip service to diversity, they seem to have the advantage.

Part of getting a new outfit is me trying to smash that myth for myself and gain some body positivity - "I am what I am" and all that.

Will work through comments one by one, loving the ideas......

@The4teddybears
I have literally just found my first pair of wide legged linen trousers, and they were a revelation. I had always tried to go for something "slimming" but now I find l am done with trying to look smaller, I just want to look smart and be comfortable.

@Sunshinegirl82 yes, I have definitely gone with this combo before. Jewellery is a good way of showing effort has been made with a plainer outfit. 👍

@Tangelo 100% agree with everything you've said there. Anything but unstructured jackets make me look odd, but I did do an initial reccy last night at John Lewis and another dept store - there were some great thick fabric knitted jackets that I think could work. I like to have some sort of jacket or cardigan, and I think I need to move a bit upmarket from the usual, White Stuff thin cardigan.

@Chunkymenrock

You've inspired me to do a great hair moment - I'm getting my heated rollers out! Lol. I agree it can make a world of difference.

Plus am going to look for some navy heels, to go with a navy smart cardigan/jacket over a simple dress and jewellery. The outfit is forming in my head as I read through the ideas.

@somuddled Genius about the sports bra. I love wearing one, the secure feeling. Might test out that one.

@cherrypiepie The cropped collarless jacket could be good alternative to cardigan. Esp in boiling hot weather.

@Arbadacarba and @musthavebeenlove I literally always wear floaty scarves - was thinking too casual for interview but will give it some more thought.

@Sunshinegirl82

Also, I struggle with jackets but I've found that knitted jackets (a sort of more structured cardigan) can work better as give the effect of a jacket but in a more relaxed way.

I think this is a really good tip (whatever your size). It gives a more formal vibe than a cardi, but is less restrictive than a jacket while smartening up an outfit. I got two really nice ones from M&S, very versatile.

Try phase eight for collarless soft cardi jacket things

@anon666 Choose something more silky than floaty for a more formal look.

John Lewis have a good own brand formal jacket made of jersey which is soft but looks formal. Smart dress underneath. Wear colour but avoid floaty silk scarf unless you want to age 30 years

@JellyMouldJnr I love bravissimo! As you say, they are brilliant for tops. As I've got older and my waist has disappeared I feel the tight fitting thing is getting a bit revealing. I didn't realise how "sexualised" I might have looked with tight fitting tops around my boobs until I got older and didn't feel I wanted to project that "ambience" at all any more. I never realised I had wanted to project it in the first place, until I definitely didn't want to. 😂

@Stanleysaysyes so much useful info there. Are you a personal shopper?

I will try esprit, did see some of their clothes on my recce yesterday.

As for the frilly fussy tops thing, it is hilarious. My daughter pointed me towards a white broderie anglaise smocked blouse, with puffed sleeves, frills, lace, ribbons etc. It would look beautiful on her skinny size 4 boobless figure. But I would have looked like an oversized toilet doll.

Also the jacket to fit shoulders thing - that explains slot over the years. Jackets and card that fit the shoulders are so much more flattering, I've bought sizes 12 and 14 without even connecting why.

Thanks for all the advice. I've also booked in a virtual slot with a personal shopper at John Lewis. Might be good to get someone who knows what's in stock/season, and the sale.

My last couple of interviews I've gone with dress and cropped jacket (coordinating, not suit), and a long sleeved dress which was smart enough not to need a jacket. I've been beaten with both the booby and hippy sticks as well as being overweight and formal workwear can be really challenging. I just can't do fitted skirts or trousers, they look dreadful. But that wipes out most suits before you even get to "suit jacket to fit jj cups" issue.

Phase eight often have cropped jackets, coast used to as well although I don't kniw if the still do since they were taken over. Agree with fitting the shoulders - if you won't be wearing it closed don't worry if it doesn't close

I’m short with rather large knockers, and have found kimono type jackets can also work quite well.
As they tend to have 3/4 length sleeves and hit about at about the hip. Plus are unstructured, but cover up the boobage.
With smart trousers, a plain cami and a silk scarf (as suggested by a PP) you could do well.
I’ll try and find one for you.

Plain black
www.boohoo.com/chiffon-kimono/FZZ95527.html

(Patterned ones are gorgeous but maybe not as ‘smart’)

This was the kind of thing I meant not sure if would be any good. They have it in size 20. I would have to brave to wear cream ( it would look fab) but they have similar in Marks' but quilted. They see quite fashionable!

(Spent far too long worrying about the apostrophe on this post)