Job interview - help!

[DoingJustFine]

I’ve got a lovely job interview this Friday at a big company in London and I have nothing to wear! I want to look cool, stylish but understated. And 20 years younger and 3 stone lighter.

I’ve got long hair and I’m sort of glamorous but I’m mid-50s and can’t walk in heels anymore.

i used to be slim but recent stress-eating means I’m now a 12-14 with a gut, thighs and chunky upper arms. The outfit must hide all of these, please.

I look nice in dresses, wide trousers, navy blue, teal, dark green and black.

Budget up to £300 including shoes.

Thank you!

Massimo Dutti? Lots of drapey linen trousers and long skirts, nice shirts and cotton jumpers, good jewellery, great jackets. The dresses alas are gorgeous fabrics but made for young creatures with tits like rocks, or no tits at all. You could do chunky flatform style shoes rather than heels.

I don't know if this proposal makes you cringe, but recently I have found Trinny (Closet Confessions) on YouTube quite a good source of inspiration. She's good on stuff like using padded shoulder t-shirts underneath shirts to give more structure in the shoulders, doing shirts up at the collar for a stronger look, imaginative ways of layering, judicious use of neon/brights with whites, strong accessories.

Good luck with the interview! And next time, don't leave it so close to the big day to organise the wardrobe!

Thank you! I like Trinny.

I only found out about the interview on Friday and I’ve been working every day since then. I’m going shopping on Wednesday.

I bought a dress online but it’s awful in so that’s going back.

Can you still get personal shoppers in department stores? (Can you still get department stores?!)

I was also going to suggest Massimo Dutti! (The only thing they lack is wide variety of strong colours.)

Alternatively these trousers from Cos are a noticeably modern but understated cut and 100% wool, so would hang well. Sure you could find something to put with them.

Bit limited as you presumably don’t want to order online at this stage - unless you’re actually in London and can get instant delivery from Net-a-Porter?

Thank you for that trouser link. Do barrel-leg trousers look nice when your actual legs are barrel-shaped too? I tried on some old (too tight) wide trousers in my wardrobe earlier and they were nice — long and wide at the bottoms which was flattering.

I’ve been freelance and out of London for years so I’m terrified I’m going to look hopelessly frumpy and dated.

I he ad no idea this was really last minute. But it is, isn’t it? Oh God. breathes into paper bag then considers wearing it

I wish this was a Zoom interview. Then i’d only have to find something to wear on my top half.

Looking ‘dated’ is not going to happen if you go to an at least moderately contemporary shop, @DoingJustFine, so I wouldn’t worry too much.

Is this Ted Baker dress hideous and frumpy?

https://www.tedbaker.com/uk/p/Womens/Clothing/Dresses/COMUS-Midi-Shirt-Dress-With-Belted-Waist-Black/273360-BLACK

No, I think that's restrained but stylish. Is 100% polyester a good idea in warm weather though?

True… 😂

I think I’m going to just go shopppinv on Wednesday and literally go into EVERY shop. I have a Fenwick, John Lewis, M&S, Hobbs, LK Bennett and Zara nearby so fingers crossed!

The Ted Baker dress?

I don’t think I’d choose shiny polyester for an interview where I wanted to look ‘cool’ in both senses of the word. Matt fabrics and trousers would look more zippy and work-like.

I also love this, but it’s a bit loud…

https://www.karenmillen.com/paisley-printed-morocain-woven-midi-shirt-dress/BKK18864.html?color=130&_gl=1x3vqog_upMQ.._gaMTM2MjQ5MTUxMi4xNzE2MjM0OTg2_ga_PQ6VBY5QT3*MTcxNjIzNDk4Ni4xLjEuMTcxNjIzNTE0OS4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6auyBhDzARIsALIo6v_JciqeWHHZeLzHueQMyDdxtCKrpzNE8oPeQUrmW0xRID2_PVmSTPgaAj-aEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

@BlossomBlossomBlossom - thank you. You’re right. I’ll look for a simple but classy shirt/trouser type outfit.

Ooh, those COS trousers are very desirable. Can't go wrong with navy. And if you go to the 'tailoring' section of their website, they have long-line and structured waistcoats/tunics that you could have skim your tummy. And they have some lovely shirts with big collars/scarf/oversized cuff details that you could wear underneath a waistcoat or just over the trousers that would draw the eye to the bits you like - nice hair, glam make-up, pretty hands and nails, whatever.

I would just go to cos tbh. I have the trousers linked to and they are very flattering. Their wide leg trousers are also super flattering - size up and use the waist adjuster to make them fit so you get the right slouchy look. This shirt https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/shirts/product.oversized-tie-detail-cropped-shirt-white.1223363001.html or anything similar which is cropped is good with high waisted trousers - put a vest top in a colour you like underneath and leave quite a few buttons undone. Otherwise any shirt with the front tucked and trousers belted. Shoes eitherer ballet flats or chunky loafers. Jewellery you won't fiddle with. Done

These trousers https://www.cos.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/trousers/product.asymmetric-wrap-trousers-beige.1232335002.htmllook really cool too

Most important is that you are comfortable and that your outfit let's your confidence shine through. Best of luck hope you get the job x

Well that saved me from saying that. It's not quite so obvious on the black version but the pink version is quite something.

I’d wear this shirt-

https://www.massimodutti.com/gb/100-cotton-poplin-shirt-with-embroidered-detail-l05163954

and these trousers
https://www.massimodutti.com/gb/poplin-trousers-with-darts-l05086799#colorId=401

and these shoes
https://www.massimodutti.com/gb/ballet-flats-with-buckle-l11526350

and then I’d take a bag like this
https://www.massimodutti.com/gb/raffia-tote-bag-with-leather-strap-l06930642#colorId=800

i expect you have some trousers and shoes you can wear? If not get on vinted. But I would splurge on that particular shirt and bag. Very cool and elegant and ageless

I love all these recent posts! But I’d need to try them on in person. Can I find Cos on any high street?

Or Massimo Dutti? In a shop?

my shape has changed dramatically (I had a hysterectomy and then loads of stress so I’ve just… ballooned and melted simultaneously) so I can no longer predict what things will look like.

Cos stores

Cos

Massimo Dutti shops are all in London, apart from one in Glasgow.

Unsurprisingly I really don’t like the black cotton shirt and trousers from Massimo Dutti. To me the embroidery cheapens the shirt, and poplin seems a surprising choice for trousers. So neither would be my choice from there. But obviously other people do like them - and the shop in general is in a good phase.

@DoingJustFine I wouldn’t bother going to literally every shop in your local area. (I love Zara styling but wouldn’t rely on them for good quality work / interview clothes.) Would it be impossible for you to travel to London the day before and spend some time in Cos and Massimo Dutti? Or does your Fenwick or J dot Lewis have those concessions?

The Massimo Dutti poplin outfit isn't interview clothing; nor, lovely as it is,is the outfit suggested by Brillenbar47.

As you asked if Cos and Massimo Dutti are on every high street I assume you are unfamiliar with their clothes? Massimo Dutti hasn't caught my eye to any extent but Cos has.

Whilst they have some great stuff I think you do need to see it in person as (a) sizing is erratic and (b) you need to try it on and be comfortable with their non standard looks and style. For an interview you need to be smart but also comfortable - not in a "comfie slippers" sense but comfortable without worrying "is that assymetric hem / drape hanging right?/ is it meant to look like that" sense.

I think the KM dress is fine.

Strangely we’ve reached 23 posts without asking the OP what type of work the big company in London does! We have no clue about, or context for, the environment or culture or dress code - if there is any. So we’re all extrapolating from our own experience of what we might wear or expect others to wear - but that could be a set of chambers, an estate agency, advertising, clothes design, pharmaceutical sales, AI development, a gym chain, broadcasting - who knows? If everyone there is in Sweaty Betty leggings then tailored trousers would be wrong. If all the men are in updated Savile Row suits a cheap polyester dress is going to make one feel uncomfortably lumpen proletariat … Only you know what’s customary there, @DoingJustFine.

https://www.johnlewis.com/hobbs-marsha-button-detail-dress-navy/p110955201

My advice is to wear something new but that feels very “you”. If the KM dress is right up your street, choose that. Because you want to be comfortable and true to your personality, important if you’re successful. Obviously we’d probably all tone our personality down a bit for an interview but I think your outfit should definitely be a version of you, if that makes sense.

As an aside, I think the wide black trews and black shirt look is better suited to king fu fighting than an interview but that’s just me.