Help with “business professional” dress code!!

[happytobemrsg]

I have a video interview with a law firm. I’ve been asked to dress “business professional” (though I’m convinced only my head be visible it’ll be good to understand the dress code should I be successful).

What is considered “business professional”? I’m 34 & usually dress in chunky jumpers & mom jeans 🤦🏻‍♀️

It's unlikely you'll need to stand up, but if I was being interviewed wearing what would appear to be pyjama bottoms, I'd be so worried about them asking me to stand up that it would really distract me.

Do you have any plain, fitted tops to go under the jacket? With your tidiest, darkest jeans that could pass for trousers on Zoom if you did need to stand up.

As per previous poster, totally depends on what the role at the firm is. Eg receptionist / secretary / head of department/ IT? If you’re a solicitor - jacket is essential. If a reception role also likely to be essential (though at my firm the receptionist team have suits provided by the firm). If you’re a legal Secretary smart top like what you posted with some appropriate jewellery.

We've gone from Business Professional to Business Casual post pandemic, and the former really is a suit or blazer/jacket with a smart skirt or trousers. Definitely no patterns or casual shoes.

www.silkfred.com/womens/clothing/dresses/day-dresses/awama/black-elegant-midi-dress-with-3-slash-4-sleeves?locale=en-GB&universal=true&utm_campaign=PMax%3A%20PLAs_Marketplace%20Dresses_Smart&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9YugBhCZARIsAACXxeIYs7yLOvdqp5Ch_sonRc8aldBUhYChaqn042EiCv4-XkG5G6myP2oaAv1wEALw_wcB

Not a brand I'd have thought of but this with a Hermés style scarf to cover the slightly low back.

Or this

www.silkfred.com/womens/clothing/dresses/mini-dresses/moe/drop-waist-dress-with-pleats-in-black

Cos have black dreeses which might do as well.

I'm a solicitor and a partner in a large non legal aid firm. I wear dresses all the time- even before the pandemic l rarely wore tailored jackets.

I wore a black shift dress with matching little black jacket for my last law firm interview. The one before that, I wore a smart Hobbs wrap dress with black tights and black (smart) ballet flats, with a wool coat over the top. I never wear a full trousers suit though, like I used to back in the day.

You can't go too far wrong with a black shift dress

Agreed.

That sounds perfect.

Although Hobbs' current iteration of "work wear" is hopeless. I looked it up expecting it would have an easy, no brainer solution for the OP. It hasn't.

The black jacket’s good but the patterned trousers are too frivolous. You can pick up smart plain trousers or a skirt in a supermarket or order some online if you genuinely don’t have any. Then any plain or subtly patterned top. You can wear a cardi or jumper or whatever to go to work, just take it off before the interview.

Guess it really depends where you work. And even then what team you’re in. I’m a solicitor in a magic circle firm and have worn a jacket to work every day since joining as that’s the norm for my department. Even if I’m wearing a dress I would have a jacket to go with it, unless it’s blazing hot. Other departments: jackets on women not so prevalent.

So OP - again as previous posters have advised - look at the firm website and see how the staff are dressed eg in their profile pics. Additionally, people usually expect you to be wearing your “best” work outfit at interview (you don’t necessarily have to keep to that standard every day once engaged!). When I sit on interview panels it is evident when interviewees have made an effort. People are usually very smartly dressed and even if slightly overdressed for the role it presents better than being slightly underdressed.

These - £12 at Sainsbury:

tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/p/Black-Tapered-Ponte-Trousers/141518794-Black?searchTerm=:newArrivals:type:Trousers:colour:Black&searchProduct=

@mewkins I have black skinny jeans or black skinny faux leather pull on trousers (also skinny). I have some black/white check trousers but they are a bit tight on the tummy so not very comfy.

@TheOtherBoleynGirls essentially a trainee corporate solicitor role in London. I have the black/white spot Zara dress from a few seasons ago but I think that would be too ubiquitous. I don’t really wear dresses so I haven’t got many.

In my head, I have a vision of long, straight leg trousers (navy or stone maybe), a plain top & straight blazer. I just don’t own any of it 😂

I’m in a catch 22. Im having the interview during my lunch break & at my current role the dress code is super informal. If I rock up in a shift dress (which I’d never usually wear) I’d raise a lot of eyebrows. Equally, I’m well aware I cannot wear my usual work wear either 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have black skinny jeans or black skinny faux leather pull on trousers (also skinny).

if I were interviewing you , or if you were my own solicitor, and you turned up like that you'd have to be bloody brilliant to make up for the bad impression you'd make.

Your jacket

plain black supermarket trousers

plain white fitted t shirt , shirt or blouse under the jacket

keep any jewellery simple, a single chain, simple non dangly earrings, no noisy bracelets. Hair tidy, subdued make up.

good luck in the interview

Which Zara dress?

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/295090404177?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=TMU5H0z5RAu&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=zl3JmcypQ0S&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

No

www.zara.com/uk/en/polka-dot-print-dress-p08921834.html

Yes

Bring interview clothes to work and do a quick change. Will save you the angst of spilling coffee down yourself as well. Do work know about the interview?

Very good advice but not a t-shirt.

It’s a video call. The last call I had with them you could barely see my shoulders let alone my trousers

What @viques suggested. Every single trainee solicitor interviewee I’ve ever met has almost bar none worn a jacket of some description for the interview. If it’s going to cause a problem at your current workplace just swap your jumper for the jacket at the last minute (assuming you can hang up the jacket and it’s not going to get crumpled).

No one will see it’s a t shirt under the jacket. Keep the grateful dead one at home though.

I’m more nervous about my clothes than the interview now 😳

Yes to the jacket, black jeans and any plain T-shirt/shirt with a not too big necklace perhaps. When I say T-shirt , ideally one with a slightly lower neck, or in drapey fabric, but you can’t really tell via video I don’t think, if it’s under a jacket.