Interview outfit help

[aracena]

I have some interviews lined up for education management jobs. I need help with getting an interview outfit together. For work as a teacher I usually wear Fatface comfy Simone dresses with long boots or flat Clark’s brogues and long cardigans. I hate heels and tight clothes. I have funny feet and can’t wear ‘slip-on’ shoes of any kind - they always rub and slip off. But I suppose I should try to smarten up a bit for interviews and maybe management roles in general.
Should I just buy a new black trouser suit with jacket and new white blouse and wear with brogues? That’s what I think I’d feel ok in but seems a bit boring and also vaguely uncomfortable to be honest. I need to feel comfortablish and be able to take jacket off if I get too hot but also I feel the cold a lot too. Not sure I’d be warm enough in just a blouse and thin jacket until at least May! I am mid 40s and size 12. I don’t want to spend too much money but could go up to £200 maybe. I’ve looked at Hobbs and Karen Millen and feel very uninspired…and everything seems to be styled with horrible heels or trainers which are a complete no-no. I would really appreciate some help! Thanks

Don’t ‘decide what you need and then search for it’! That way lies misery. Have a look at some new shops and see what appeals. The fact you say that you hate heels and tight clothes suggests you haven’t been shopping or noticed what other people are wearing for … a while! No one wears those things now. You would look odd if you did.

The shops you mention are long past their best days! Have you ever looked at Arket? Wonderfully contemporary, work friendly clothes. Mid range prices.

Cos is the same family, slightly more structural (and harder to guess sizing online) but all their clothes are stylish.

Trying to think where else … But wherever you shop you really don’t have to buy a suit. Maybe lose the long cardigans but a smart dress on its own would be perfectly acceptable.

Thank you! You are right I don’t notice what people are wearing much…and I never go shopping. My worst nightmare! So I get everything online. I do have a couple of rather voluminous dresses from Uniqlo - maybe I could wear something like that but with a jacket of some sort.
Thanks for those links - they look interesting. I will have a look!

Ha! I managed to get one wear out of my beautifully voluminous dress last year. So if you can get a jacket over yours I’ll be cheering you on.

More randomly, I wondered if you might find a thread I re-opened yesterday rather entertaining and informative. It might alert you to some new sources of clothes - including low-key interview outfits.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/4281220-If-Monty-Don-was-a-woman?msgid=108546944

I also do 99%of my shopping online. I don’t find it limits me at all - I love the constant discovery of new brands and new stores, though Brexit has interfered with my joyous virtual browsing and buying around Europe.