Urgent interview outfit help please!

[petitpasta]

Out of the blue I am being made redundant. I have managed to bag an interview for a senior role in an education charity. Director job title, working directly to the CEO. Charity does not work in schools and is more vocational education focused.

I have recently lost 8 stone and wasn't expecting to be job hunting so I don't have an interview outfit.

I need opinions please on these outfits. If they're not suitable I need to do an online shop now for delivery tomorrow or Saturday. I have six possibles so I will add 3 here and 3 in another comment:
Option 1: grey dress
Option 2: zig zag skirt
Option 3: snake print dress and lemon jacket

hmmm, for a £90k a year job would you not go more formal? Even if the workplace isn't formal is it not expected for interview?

@petitpasta My huge apologies! In that case, nothing you have suggested! Buy something new and make sure it suits you. A trouser suit could work but it makes you look a bit overweight judging by the trousers you posted. So maybe a dress that skims is better. I’ve interviewed for head teachers and I’ve seen way too many black suits worn by women. They look like they are going to a funeral. You need something for the time of year that is classy. I’ll have a think!

So I think these show your personality. When interviewing I like someone who knows who they are. I don’t like corporate dressing and people who don’t express any personality. I do like to see people make an effort and show me who they are. These are all on the J Lewis website. They have belts in the main but I think shirt dresses work really well. You can add a jewellery to a plain dress and shorter sleeves keep you cool.

Some more. M&S has a few too. Don’t be afraid of colour. You don’t need to blend into the background.

Have to agree that for a director level role it would be advisable to buy something new that displays a suitable level of authority and up to date-ness.

A shirt dress is a great idea.
I have this in the red and it looks really good, material has a good drape and the belt gives it a nice shape.

https://www.crewclothing.co.uk/womens/clothing-and-accessories/womens-dresses-and-skirts/bethany-cotton-shirt-dress-blue-wwj069/

This, in spades!

The grey dress really suits you and would be lovely for a night out. The zigzag skirt may be suitable once you are in the job, but not for the interview.

I would buy a new short-sleeved dress, that you can wear with a jacket, which you may want to take off once seated, but gives a suitable level of formality for first impressions

I have shirt dresses but I had dismissed them as far too casual. Will have another look in my wardrobe

I do not mean this to sound mean, but none of them.
Nothing there looks very formal/smart.
Definitely buy a new shirt at least.

Nothing here looks very formal. I’d be going to M&S, getting a nicely fitted black dress and matching blazer.

Of all the outfits, I think #8 (brown trousers and cream top with jacket) is best.

For a £90k a year director level job, you need to be more formal than what you have posted so far. My work takes me to lots of these sort of organisations and the senior people do dress a little smarter. Invest in yourself and even if you just go to M&S you will be able to find something. The crepe tab wide leg trousers come in different leg lengths and hang well and have a matching jacket. You can then add personaity with patterned top and jewellery. I wore a pair into London on the hottest day this week and was perfectly comfortable.

I think choose one from the dresses & skirt. I'm quite drawn to the first outfit, which would look well if it's a sunny day. If formal attire is the norm, the grey dress would be good.

Hope it goes well for you.

Grey dress. Professional and no nonsense.

I think option 7 looks perfect for an interview.

Depends on the fabric and cut. Try some on with the blazers and show us how some of them look.

@frumpydumpBlack is just awful now! DD is a barrister, so it’s her uniform - anyone else should avoid at all costs. Unless it for law or a funeral director.

@petitpasta Cut and fabric will matter. The dress should say it’s classy. You can add a gold necklace and earrings. Plus a very good bag and shoes.

Im sorry, but the grey dress is all wrong for now. It’s summer. Don’t drag things out of your wardrobe that are not in the right season. Many employers don’t expect corporate formal now but do expect to see something that looks good on you and makes the right first impression. Don’t go in looking like a black crow!

Grey/beige dress - it demonstrates effort and a serious approach to the job in a way the trousers don’t. Also you look very nice in it.

Best of luck

I too then the grey dress is quite funeral or wintery.

@LizzieSiddal No one looks smart in a winter dress on a hot day in June. It looks like poor judgement and you couldn’t be bothered to buy anything suitable.

Grey dress with cream jacket i think. Best of luck!

I’m reluctant to say this, @petitpasta - but from the clothes you showed, I imagine many people on the thread would have assumed your proposed salary was perhaps a third, or at most half the amount you state.

But you do say you’ve recently lost 8 stone (which is extraordinary!) so perhaps your wardrobe is in a state of transition?

You could be wearing very much nicer, more up to date clothes. (Though I have no idea what the dress code for charity directors might be as it’s not my area.)

Black trousers are an office staple and easy to wear as a plus size person, affordable and an a wide range of styles. It could look very nice with a cream jacket and top.

OP I hope you have found something you like. Have you had the interview?

I like the outfit with the black trousers and white jacket, black and white top the best.
You might feel better in something new though! I think a light jacket (not necessarily a suit one) does look more suitable for an interview
good luck!