Interview, no good clothes, Please help S&B

[RosieSpring]

Hi all.
Lurker on this board, first post.
I have an interview for a dream job. School secretary. I have no appropriate clothes and dont know where to start. I live in leggings and big jumpers.
I'm 5.1 and round.

I'm going to agree with pp who say "don't go short".
If you wear a short shift dress, it'll ride up when you sit down. I've interviewed a lot of of people and one of the most memorable was a woman who wore a shift dress, it didn't look particularly short, but when she sat down we got a full view of her underwear.
I'm going to agree with trousers and a blazer, maybe a jersey one, because the fit is easier. A shirt always looks smart.

My mum who is 5 feet nothing tried on the short version of the M&S jersey trousers and they weren't too bad on her at all, they could have maybe done with coming up an inch but not to the point that you would have lost the shape of the trousers. They didn't suit her for other reasons unfortunately.

She finds it very hard to get decent quality petite trousers that actually fit her that she can try on in a shop. If she buys normal, non-petite, the waistband comes up to under her boobs, and she doesn't like the hassle of having to return online orders (even though I would be the one actually doing it for her).

Can you get to a John Lewis personal shopper? They could probably sort you out a coherent outfit of separates or a dress that would do for the interview and dressed down slightly, for the job too (or future interviews). Take pins with you so you can check for alterations, not everything is ruined by shortening and it's not that expensive.

@evilharpy yes I find the same with the short m&s, they only need an inch or two off (if I can be bothered, which sometimes I can't!). But 'normal' length trousers from most brands seem to be made for someone with legs six inches longer than mine.

Almost all my summer trousers are cropped length, which is full length on me! If I find trousers I like I buy a second pair, as it is a rare occurrence to find something right.

To the pp's suggesting me+em, Whistles, Jigsaw and John Lewis personal shoppers, it's a primary school secretary job!

I'm a short arse, and if I was going for this kind of role I would get on Vinted and search for flattering dresses by Boden/Fat Face/White Stuff/Monsoon, nothing that'll scare the horses basically. If you live in leggings and jumpers, you won't want to be trussed up in a shift dress or a suit (which would be ridiculously overdressed for the majority of state primary schools).

Dress codes in primary schools are really not that formal, although differ depending on small village primary v. large inner city academy v. private prep (I have experienced all).

Just add neat hair, clean nails, some nice jewellery and a friendly but no-nonsense manner and you'll be fine. Good luck!

There is a charity called smart works which lends clothes for interviews. There may be one near where you live?

I would counsel against a JL shopper, in my experience they're not great, and it's rarely budget friendly.
I think some good advice about perhaps wide legged jersey trousers or looser fit straight legs, a smart shirt, a jersey jacket, loafers or brogues would be fine.
H&M and New Look, maybe are worth a browse?

I'd be wary of going in too overdressed for a school but a jacket or blazer in an interview is usually a good thing.

John Lewis literally sell White Stuff and Fat face and smart casual brands (round here they do anyway). I agree they do vary, but you can tell them your budget and what you are looking for. In my experience they are helpful for people who are not much into fashion to get a reasonably put-together looking outfit.

Yes, I know what they literally sell.
Just my opinion based on experience.

Yes, made me smile too, unless purchased pre-loved.

I'm not sure PP’s know how little a school secretary is paid.

I would go and look in Sainsburys, tbh. You don’t need to spend loads on an interview outfit, and a primary school won’t be expecting to see anything more than smart and tidy.

As a fellow fan of leggings and big tops I would go for the smartest version of this that I could find as it is what you feel comfortable in.
Option 1. Decent quality and weight black leggings, tucked into black boots, long line shirt and longish jacket.
Option 2. High denier black tights, tunic dress and smart coatigan.
Option 3. Long sleeved dress with some sort of waist and a short jacket.
Next is good for long shirts, Seasalt, Whitestuff for tunic dresses, loads of places have dresses. TKMaxx great for jackets etc.

I’m afraid I wouldn’t find any of your options terribly impressive at an interview, @eatreadsleeprepeat.

Unless you are the actual Claudia Winkleman, leggings and a jacket is just weird for an interview. It’s leisure / off-duty wear.

Tunic dresses (unless you mean a midi length sweater dress?) are generally nasty and not flattering on a round figure.

A short jacket (and presumably you don’t mean a cropped bomber jacket) over a business type dress is rather unfashionable (and would cut a short person in half) and would make me think the interviewee might be somewhat rigid in their ideas, and resistant to innovation.

I don’t say one needs to dress as a runway model for a primary school interview, but it would be a good idea to present an impression of vitality and the ability to keep up.

How about a pleated skirt (loads in the shops and mostly come with elasticated waists so comfortable) with a plain long sleeve top under a blazer. Plus tights and shoes. M&S, Next and Boden are usually good for these types of things. You could also wear a necklace to jazz up the top. I’m short too and am swamped by trouser suits. Plus I find a skirt skims over my tummy area better than trousers - not sure if that’s a concern for you, but thought I’d mention it. I’ve worn this type of outfit loads to interviews and formal office things.

I’m worried that the OP is going to be overwhelmed by some of these suggestions. The interview is the most formal she’s ever likely to dress for a school sec job, and even then they won’t be looking for a highly tailored look. Clean, tidy and efficient is what they’re looking for. Don’t wear anything tatty, clingy or revealing and you should be good.

I guess if she didn’t want (an inevitably wide variety of) opinions the OP wouldn’t have started a thread? I imagine anyone capable of securing an interview for this job is also capable of weighing up options and making a decision, without too much angst.

I’d go to Sainsburys or Tesco or Asda. Lots of work appropriate clothes.
Asda had a nice black knitted type dress. Wear with black tights and flat loafers.

Am sorry you find my suggestions so unappealing. My concern was that if the OP was persuaded to a more formal outfit than she is used to then the garments might not be worn again, she might feel less comfortable and it would be counterproductive. I have never felt that just by putting on a business suit or a blazer one is automatically smart, yes it tells people that you know what formal means but it doesn’t necessarily make you look groomed and well presented.
Not all tunic dresses are nasty, and if short jackets are unfashionable I apologise. Maybe you should tell the shops which are selling them.
I would rather see someone make an effort at interview to be clean, tidy, a bit more formal than school gate but still be themself.

what about a shirt dress? They're comfy and can be quite flattering and smart enough with opaque tights and leather shoes. Google "petite shirt dress" and there's lots of reasonably priced options.

What about something like this. These ones aren't petite but can get similar

Buy Roman Red Geometric Shirt Midi Dress from the Next UK online shop

Buy Friends Like These Black/White Printed Midi Shirt Dress from the Next UK online shop

I'd go with m&s. Some dark wide legged trousers, a silky blouse (more forgiving when you are round shaped than a shirt!) and a blazer in a colour that suits you, or even a tailored cardigan as it's a primary school.

This sort of thing - comes in lots of lengths

https://www.marksandspencer.com/pinstripe-single-pleat-wide-leg-trousers/p/clp60741500?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share

Get to a big Sainsburys

I’d wear a dress.

https://www.next.co.uk/style/su613000/f07536