Interview outfit for DD (11)

[WouldIsaythisinreallife]

Please help - this isn’t my world at all and I’m not quite sure which way to jump on this one.

DD has been invited for an interview for a senior school in January and has to wear “something she’s comfortable in that isn’t her school uniform”. Presumably it should also be reasonably smart.

We found this in Zara today: https://www.zara.com/uk/en/box-pleat-knit-mini-dress-p02142140.html

it does look smart on her but I’m not sure whether to just give her a lightweight plain navy cardigan, or whether that would be social death, and also what shoes to wear with it? The only non-trainers which tweens seem to wear at the moment are black Chelsea boots and I don’t know whether that would work? Any views would be very much appreciated - thank you.

Lovely dress, it would be fine with Chelsea boots, perhaps a chunky cardigan in a pale neutral colour?

Thank you. I’ve just realised that the dress looks black in the picture; it’s actually navy. I might be able to get away with black boots but possibly adding another colour in as well might be a little bit much..?

I left it up to dd and she wore a pair of chinos with a striped top

There were girls in a range of outfits from leggings and hoodies to office wear

I'd say the ones that were smart casual looked most appropriate

Entrance exam and interview was done the same morning so needed to be comfortable enough for both

I wouldn’t stress too much about this if I were you. Some of my year 6 class go for these interviews every year and it really is, as pp said, smart casual. The boys tend to go in chinos and a jumper and the girls maybe trousers, maybe a dress, but definitely something comfortable that they’re going to feel relaxed in.

I'm not sure that is the right dress. It's very grown-up looking for a Y6. She might be better in some chinos or a simple skirt with a smart jumper.

Meant trousers not chinos- had a boy in my head. Maybe cords?

I think you need to pay attention to the "be comfortale in" part of the instruction. So something that physically and emotionally feels comfortable. If that was DD, it would most likely be a pair of jeans, a good t-shirt and a nice jumper as a "smarter" version. Or possibly one of her pairs of bootleg style leggings with a jumper. I wouldn't be going with smart dresses outside of what she normally wears.

A bit grown up looking just let her wear something familiar that is smarter than Jeans or joggers.

I think that's too grown up. I would go with jeans and a T shirt, personally, plus a jumper. Or a nice day dress that she already owns if she is more of a dress kind of girl. DD wore jeans and a T shirt for interview. She did not look particularly smart but she did look like an 11 year old girl. That dress seems like more of a smart dress for an evening out or something and also more appropriate for a teenager rather than a child.

I don't know what you mean by 'social death'. Nobody will care what she is wearing as long as it isn't peculiar and is clean and tidy.

looks very prim and proper!
What about a sweater dress and chunky tights?

This. It really isn't part of the test. The important thing is she feels comfortable.

To be honest, I went shopping to try to get trousers that weren’t jeans; that was what I had in mind too. DD is really tall and unfortunately we are now in that funny stage where she’s grown out of children’s ranges in all the shops I can think of but doesn’t yet have the hip width to fit even the extra small sizes in adult trousers - I have to pretty much tie her jeans on to her with belts in order to have ones that are long enough to keep her shins warm! She only really has jeans or mini-kilts, for this reason, and neither of those feel very suitable.

We spent ages trying to find trousers but with no success. We’re off to Bath tomorrow to visit family - we’ll try again there.

I'd have thought a mini kilt with opaque tights would be absolutely fine. I can't remember but wouldn't be surprised if the best I could do with my girls was dark wash jeans with no rips!

Would she be 'happy' to wear it? It looks very grown up for a child of her age.
M&S goes to older on their children's as does George at Asda ( I believe)

She says she loves it - I’ve tried very hard to persuade her to come out shopping again tomorrow to hunt down some trousers but she really wants to wear it. 🤦‍♀️

Next goes up to age 16 online I think. Kids sizes in shops seem to stop about age 12 which is quite annoying.

what about this with tights and a cardi? looks smart but still appropriate for an 11 year old.
https://fhwt.app.link/f4MZ0MTqJPb

Shoes wise I’d go for traditional school shoes.

As a concession, she has said that she will come shopping for some boots to wear with it, with black tights. Black lace-up ones, apparently. We may have come full circle on this - I’m not sure how much I can move her from this position.

A mini kilt with a nice jumper or jeans with a jumper sounds fine tbh!

If she loves it then that's fine. It certainly isn't inappropriate and I think boots (clumpy ones?) will make it less "politician's wife".

It is a bit grown up but fine if she likes it and it’s comfortable. Her feeling good it’s important!
not sure about navy and black together. Would she wear navy brogues?

If she likes it & is comfortable in it then it sounds perfect to me. Tights & boots with it would look fine.