Plus size interview outfit - where to start?

[llamalines]

I have an actual in-person interview coming up. I haven't had one of them in years!

I used to wear trousers suits to interviews, but when I was a bit slimmer. I'm size 24 now and it's really hard to find suits that suit

So, I think I need advice on what else I can wear up and interview. What would you wear?

I'm size 24, with a huge round tum!

Thanks for any help :)

Op, try Jolie Moi. Their dresses go up to a 28 and almost every style comes in different colours. I’m a size 20 and have quite a few of them.

joliemoi.co.uk/collections/all-dresses?filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&filter.v.option.size=24

And unless you literally don't own any shoes don't allocate (waste) any part of your £200 budget to shoes and accessories.

No one will care less how you accesorise your outfit. Don't even bother trying.

If you really have no shoes or smart black ankle boots get the cheapest pair of plain black pumps from anywhere who sells them.

This dress for example doesn't need any accessories or jewellry. Almost any flat, flattish or low heeled shoe or sandal or knee or ankle boot is wearable. It's £16 over your budget but I would go for it.

Marina Rinaldi

In the south of France last year a colleague of mine who might be a similar dress size to you, @llamalines, appeared every day - in weather like today - in one of a series of frocks very like the blue Marina Rinaldi. She looked … epic.

(And I was filled with envy because cotton poplin turns me into a hot sweaty mess, so I had to make do with very simple linen items from Toast, borrowed from my mother.)

(Which is to say I totally get it if that sort of dress doesn’t work for other people.)

Here are all Marina Rinaldi sale dresses. There are several which are perfect for interviews in the range £170 to around £250. I'm a 14. (16 on a bad day) I'd be happy to wear most of Marina Rinaldi although most of it isn't even in my size. They're basically Max Mara in bigger sizes.

None of them need accessories. None of them need a jacket. MN is obsesssed with putting jackets over dresses. I don't know why - at best it hides the dress and jackets over dresses isn't an easy look.

Marina Rinaldi sale dresses

I would go for wide black trousers, possibly with a side stripe, just pull on ones like are everywhere just now, with a black top and a nice scarf or earrings to dress it up.

I agree about not putting jackets over dresses! You don’t need a jacket these days

I regularly interview people and my first piece of advice is to wear something comfortable and weather appropriate, the number of times I've seen people literally sweating in front of me wearing a formal suit on a blistering day.

Secondly unless it's an extremely formal area of work eg. solicitor, a smart/casual dress will be absolutely fine. There's really no need to worry about it too much. Just make sure it's not too casual and I'd avoid anything strappy or short. Plain trousers and a blouse would be fine too. Definitely no jeans, hoodies or slogan tops. If you have a jacket you can wear that's great if not a cardigan works just as well, or just stick to your blouse/dress.

Make sure your shoes are clean and that you can walk on in them, the interview room may be up stairs so high shoes last worn 5 years ago for a wedding might not be ideal.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/tailored-relaxed-double-breasted-blazer/p/clp60678448?color=NAVY#intid=pid_pg1pip48g4r3c3

https://www.marksandspencer.com/woven-straight-leg-trousers-with-stretch/p/clp60690456#intid=crosssell_matchingitem_T591209J_P60678448

https://www.marksandspencer.com/modal-rich-round-neck-relaxed-blouse/p/clp60687819#intid=pid_pg1pip24g4r1c3

This could look quite smart, a suit with a blouse that you don't need to tuck in.

and a nice scarf … to dress it up.

Godhelpyou - the men on the interviewing panel will have you in the kitchen making the tea before you’ve signed for your Visitor name badge …

I'm always underwhelmed by Marina Rinaldi whenever I order from there. I also find the sizing small, so I have to buy an 18 where I am a 16 max in every other shop I buy from.

these from Asda are lovely and come in lots of bigger sizes. They actually have loads of suitable things. A black top, decent shoes and you’d look classy and interview ready

Ha! I get what you mean, but I like to wear my McQueen or other designer scarves to liven up a plain work outfit, even if I take it off when I sit down.

I get what both of you mean, but in this situation I think scarves only work if (a) that's something you do naturally anyway and (b) you already own McQueen, Hermès, Delvaux, Liberty etc. There's no point in buying a cheap scarf out of a £200 budget.

Agreed @IHaveNeverLivedintheCastle

I don't think an all black outfit is a good idea. Too sombre.

I know people on S&B pooh-pooh the idea of looking ‘fashionable’ - but the men who’ll be interviewing have wives and girlfriends and daughters - and some of them will instinctively know if someone looks old fashioned - even if they can’t put their finger on why. At which point they’ll decide the person’s brain is no longer capable of taking on and using new information.

So it’s worth avoiding that scenario.

But at a size 16 you can shop pretty much anywhere - I imagine it’s much harder for size 24s to find stylish, managerial level work clothes? I’m not sure I know of even half a dozen ‘decent’ places in total.

I was a size 20 post chemotherapy last year and am still on a weight loss mission, but thanks for the input.

The premise is the same Marina Rinaldi are small cut.

https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/erica-linen-cotton-fitted-blazer?glCountry=GB&glCurrency=GBP&color=20815

Edit - link was supposed to be to the mid blue, not the red.

With the trainers this is too casual I think but they style the purple with heels and it looks great (no purple jackets tho). I prob would only be brave enough for the navy in a male environment interview OP, but the navy jacket’s out too unfortunately.

Putting it here just in case anyway, something a bit different.

Monsoon goes up to a size 24 and is very generously sized. They also have quite a few nice things in the tail end of their sale.

https://www.monsoon.co.uk/debra-drape-jersey-dress-blue-10016670003.html

I bought this in the green in a (not very much) smaller size and it’s lovely. I mostly work at home now or I’d have it for work in the navy too.

I hear you about wrap dresses OP.

This is simple but I think it could look really good with the right shoes

https://www.phase-eight.com/product/mylee-belted-dress-209935351.html#navAjax=true&imageType=model&is=true&sz=60&start=178&cgid=dresses&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=size&prefv1=24&pid=209935351&pos=190

Rune Studio does plus size clothes to size 28.
this dress is nice https://rune-studio.co.uk/products/linen-wrap-dress-black?variant=47937885503808
Karen Millen goes up to size 24, I like this dress
https://www.karenmillen.com/plus-size-fluid-tailored-tipped-full-skirted-midi-dress/BKK20904.html?color=105&_gl=11nmma64_upMQ.._gaMjAzMzI4Mzg4MS4xNzIzNDg0MDA3_ga_PQ6VBY5QT3*MTcyMzQ4NDAwNy4xLjAuMTcyMzQ4NDAwNy4wLjAuMA..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5ea1BhC6ARIsAEOG5pxrDTS3HjIfK8dB6kHl49P0XBLG9hTOOsCcks4VGkZvA9yp33n2WMQaAh-dEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

stick to classic flat/small black heels.

I am a size 20/22 solicitor, half the time I look crap as so much of the work clothes just do not fit a plus size girl properly and sadly I cannot afford tailoring! Occasionally I find a nice item but one off pieces.

Coast has some dresses in the sale.

https://www.coastfashion.com/categories/womens-sale-dresses/facet/sizes/24

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-plus-scallop-square-neck-ponte-dress_bcc08870?colour=black

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-plus-sweetheart-neck-twist-front-midi-pencil-dress_bcc08757?colour=black

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-plus-scallop-square-neck-ponte-dress_bcc08467?colour=red

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-plus-colour-block-scuba-midi-dress_bcc08874?colour=red

https://www.coastfashion.com/product/coast-plus-cross-front-jersey-midi-dress_bcc08682?colour=green

some examples.

Also, Phase Eight has a sale on as well

https://www.phase-eight.com/sale/24/?is=true&sz=60&start=0&isSecondPage=false&prefn1=clothingType&prefv1=Dresses

I am a size 24 and work in a law firm. I interviewed for the role 3 months ago. I wore an M&S dress ( they have lots) the one I wore isnot on there anymore. It was black and cream patterned. With a black jacket that was cropped at the waist - no buttons or pockets from Moonsoon via Next catalogue. Tights even if hot I think is good with smart shoes. Good haircut and presentation.

Similar to this. Goes up to 24. Moonsoon via Next online. Good delivery and easy returns. They do it in white as well. Mine was shorter - I have large hips and it looks less bulkier with a shorter jacket