HELP!! Job Interview outfit, size 22.

[HCisFKDup]

Hi,

Could anyone help me out with finding an outfit for a job interview?

Possibly something I could wear more then once, maybe like a dress?

I'm 5ft 2, size 20/22 and have a weird body shape... my belly is big and my hips are wide. I've attached a photo.

And also hopefully keep it below a £50 budget as things are tight at the moment.

Thank you

What type of job?

Smart black trousers and long tunic top

Ankle length black trousers, nice shoes and a suit jacket. A t-shirt with a nice scarf or necklace under the jacket would work. Tunic tops only enhance size.

The OP doesn’t have enough to buy decent separate items if she’s buying new.

This dress:

https://www.asos.com/asos-curve/asos-design-curve-linen-cap-sleeve-shirt-midi-dress-with-pin-tucks-in-black/prd/206377492#colourWayId-206377493

should be fine for most interview situations in Summer. Maybe spend an extra few ££ getting it taken up at the hem.

Worldwide | Dress for Success

are you able/close enough to schedule an appointment with these people?

I'm the same size as you and I have this in green and it's great. With the discount code it's under budget, but if you need it quickly they are not the quickest.

https://www.laredoute.co.uk/ppdp/prod-350265268.aspx#shoppingtool=externalcampaign

I wear it with a jacket I got from H&M (unexpectedly!).

H+M has some stuff that might be suitable (no pun intended) and they do your size
Jacket £37.99
Single-breasted jacket - Long sleeve - Regular length - Black - Ladies | H&M GB (hm.com)

Flared leggings that look like trousers £12.99
Flared leggings - High waist - Long - Black - Ladies | H&M GB (hm.com)

Trousers £18.99
Flared trousers - High waist - Long - Black - Ladies | H&M GB (hm.com)

This amazon dress is actually quite nice material - I have one in black and looks smart on £33.10

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Essentials-Womens-Classic-Sleeve/dp/B09H2T7S7D/ref=asc_df_B09H2T7S7D/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=636472936215&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15461522557228355337&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007064&hvtargid=pla-1688921894533&psc=1&mcid=3ba9abba906d3b569e9e5f62c51d1535&th=1&psc=1

I really like this. Bargain for cotton and very suitable.

It's for a nursing job. The actual position/work environment is non-clinical.

This is a great suggestion - natural fibres, the buttons and collar keep it smart and you can rewear it in loads of situations.

I always notice fabric - I think it makes the biggest difference in terms of whether something looks quality. Oddly, I’ve found that Sainsburys has delivered this season - I’ve had a shirt, trousers, dress and a jacket that are all cotton or linen and wearing really well.

I have this blazer which is a viscose and linen mix and cut pretty well. I wear it with jeans so can’t speak for the trousers. But the co-ord would be in budget just I think and you could wear jacket and trousers separately too

https://tuclothing.sainsburys.co.uk/product/tuc144019721

Perfect for a non clinical role. Professional

@HCisFKDup do you have suitable shoes?

If funds are tight Asda have This shirt dress for under £20.

I'm the same size as you, but taller. To a recent interview I wore black trousers (Next) and an untucked shirt/blouse from Evans. Black trousers are versatile so you could wear them again on a work day with a more casual top, if the office environment isn't smart or smarten up with shirts etc if it is. To make it cheaper, you could try looking for new or second hand on ebay/vinted once you've worked out the sizing. Good luck!

This is nice too. And again natural fibres.

Congratulations on the job interview OP. I’m a similar size and trying to find smart clothes is hard sometimes

This dress from M&S is nice with good natural fibres .. would wear it with tights and brogues or ballet flats and a blazer https://www.marksandspencer.com/modal-rich-checked-midi-shirt-dress/p/clp60652844?colour=BLACK&extid=ps_ps-pla-pmax_ggl_ww_ch__-UK-_-_smec_treatment_prior3&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD7g6bQkbvaX071nsdQMJYALz4EE4&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_pKliK3ihgMVBZVQBh2VnQxPEAQYIiABEgJ9QPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Or this shift dress could be dressed up nicely too https://www.mandco.com/mco-navy-blue-button-detail-tailored-shift-dress-p?currency=GBP&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAp1VPSTqbab3JHHK55FJYIC-erK3I&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_pKliK3ihgMVBZVQBh2VnQxPEAQYBSABEgIfjvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Wouldn’t that M&Co shift dress look dowdy and outdated in a size 22? The interviewers might not care - but it would be a shame for the OP to spend money on something that wouldn’t make her look her best going forward.

A shirt dress has a better overall structure - collar, placket, length, and is also much more contemporary.

I'm a similar size to you (tiny bit bigger and a bit taller) and I would wear something like this. All from George at ASDA too so affordable. I wear stuff like this most days for work, minus the blazer, but I have a blazer specifically for interviews and important meetings.
Any nice blouse will do - I prefer ones that aren't too long or too short so they don't need tucking in, but still just cover my tum.
Shoe wise, I tend to wear loafers. Smart, but super comfy.

I am roughly same size and shape. My current "interview outfit" is slim leg black trousers, and long tunic over it (https://www.yoursclothing.co.uk/yours-curve-black-abstract-print-tunic-dress-p I have it in that pattern, and also plain black with I wear with a more statement necklace) and then ballerina shoes.

Hi

Wear almost what you like within reason as long as you feel very comfortable in it!!!

Interviews can be stressful for some so its important you are wearing something that you feel very comfy in!!

Good luck with the interview!!

Not sure you’ve thoroughly grasped the concept of the Style & Beauty board, @DistinguishedSocialCommentator!

OP is goinng to an "interview2- right!!

Therefore "style" in this instance is only part of the parcel as being very comfortable is also very important fact!!

How about looking in a charity shop if you don’t want to spend a lot on something you may not get much wear out of? There seems to be quite a lot of smart office wear suitable for interviews in the charity shops around my way. Probably because what people wear in offices is less formal these days and more people still WFH. My friend was bemoaning having to take a load of smart outfits to her load charity shop the other day, good brands like Reiss, Hobbs, Karen Millen, because she knows she won’t get any wear out of them now and they are just cluttering up the wardrobe. She’s not alone from what I can see in my area.

Black trousers - Asda had the ones I have for work at just £9 in store last week.

Tunic or long length blouse below the hips as minimum ideally covering bottom. Again supermarkets or primark should come up trumps on a budget.

Plain black shoes/boots, polished if leather type, don't worry too much if you don't have very smart shoes as long as they are plain black, no colouring on time for instance if converse style. Supermarkets sell cheaply

Long line jacket or smarter cardigan- might need to trawl Vinted for this if you don't have anything suitable already to stay in budget.

This assumes you can't raid your wardrobe. If you have a jersey dress for instance you could pair with trousers

Looking at the photo I would say not trousers and a tunic top.

The first couple of dresses would be perfect. Smart but also a bit more contemporary rather than boring. And DEFINITELY no scarf. No one wants to channel Therese Coffey in any aspect of their life.

@MetaDaughter

That shift dress looks perfect for an interview and work. Shirt dresses look pretty dire on larger sizes. Style and beauty doesn't have to mean latest fad of it doesn't suit you. All the other comments have been really constructive.

Many fashion forward outfits really aren't suited to interviews or any occasion where you need to fit in with others who may be less into trends.