3 hour train journey to “meet the team” What to wear.

[GargoylesofBeelzebub]

I have stage 4 of an interview process next week. They want me to meet them face to face before formally offering me the role. There’s lunch and then some meetings with the team.

Because the team are spread all over the country we’re to meet in a central location which is a 3 hour train journey for me. I arrive on the day with very little time to spare before the lunch.

Really struggling with what to wear in terms of how formal to be but also something that will survive the train journey without me looking like a crumpled mess. Or should I change just before the train gets in?

I need sleeves as hate my arms and have big boobs so need something that has a waist. Any suggestions?

Some kind of crepe fabric dress would do well without wrinkling and would be cool for the heat as well.

Yes. And I haven't seen anyone wearing that sort of pre Covid corporate wear since well, pre Covid

Not sure where you are in the country, but down south, it’s going to be hot, very hot.

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-tuck-detail-short-sleeve-cotton-midi-dress-teal/p114806871

https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-cotton-tie-waist-short-sleeve-midi-shirt-dress-navy/p115254378

https://www.johnlewis.com/jolie-moi-polka-dot-jersey-midi-dress-navy-polka-dot/p114685937

https://www.boden.com/products/women-bridget-ponte-shirt-dress-navy-d1491nav

There's not much that could decimate your outfit on a 3 hour train journey so just wear what you intent to show up in. Swap shoes for more comfortable ones, that's it really. Good luck with your interview 👍 xx

Whoa, seriously? Sweat. Coffee drips. Mayo leaking from a sandwich. Tomato ditto. Some idiot jogging against you with something. A nosebleed. A passing kid who's just eaten a jam sandwich.
So. Many. Possibilities. 😂

This is the best recommendation on the thread. It’s a lovely dress. Will pair great with some leather flats.

I’d look a mess in that M&S blouse after sitting for three hours on a train 😂I’m not the most demure of people. I was boiling hot a few weeks ago after having to travel a few hours across London. The train had A/C but it was so hot outside when the doors opened at stations.

British trains are also not very clean.

I prefer this one. The higher neck looks more formal but without being "corporate"

You might like this at John Lewis:
www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-short-sleeve-cotton-kimono-dress-auro-orange/p115096767?s_share=jlappdroid

Surely as a senior finance professional you can say 'sod the ticket they booked' and not use it? Travel like a normal human being the night before?

There’s also the second part of the post that’s relevant to why not…

If you order the M & S blouse order one a size down as well as I have tried it on in the shop and it comes up quite large. I usually buy a 12 and the 10 was still roomy. I ended up not buying it due to the fit.

I have a couple of these wrap look dresses (they're not full wrap dresses, they have a zip up the back) from Closet - I bought from Vinted new with tags. V flattering for boobs/waist although you might want to wear a vest underneath. The reason I'm recommending is that the fabric, somehow, just never seems to wrinkle. The black one has been a godsend for me when going to far flung places for work on multiple trains etc. I have it in sage green too.

https://share.google/BHifHoYUKmLunzl5R

I would wear one of my baukjen dresses for a big interview. They dont crease and are certainly smart enough even with flat shoes.

https://www.baukjen.com/products/daryl-printed-midi-dress-black-polka?variant=58163866501501

https://www.baukjen.com/products/mariella-printed-midi-dress?variant=56827650244989

I might change into smarter shoes at the venue.

I also haven’t done an in-person interview for years until recently. Although I knew that the sector I was interviewing in was likely more relaxed in dress code than my current sector (career change!) I went smarter than I thought their day to day normal would be. I wanted to signal professionalism and thought better slightly overdressed than underdressed.

I had a two hour train journey and wore a soft wool midi skirt from Whistles - thick material that I knew wouldn’t crease and is comfy. I took a blazer in a bag and put it on when I got there. Same with smart shoes - I travelled in trainers and changed. I got the job. It wasn’t the outfit, obviously, but things like that need to be right so you don’t raise red flags and can get on with the business of impressing them!

Good luck, although it sounds like a relative formality.

I'd wear something like the lululemon align wide leg trousers in a dark colour and a loose blouse in crease free fabric, with a smartish jacket/coat depending on the weather

That is kind of the opposite of having sleeves.

Very pretty dresses but imo nowhere near smart enough for a professional meeting

Both of those are perfectly suitable.

Spot on (especially the polka dot, no pun intended)

I think that the line about sleeves was added in a later edit.

Not, in my opinion, for a senior finance role. I have never seen a woman in this sort of role wear a floaty chiffon dress for a business meeting. Lovely for lunch or early dinner. Inappropriate for a corporate interview - sorry!

Neither of those dresses are "floaty chiffon"

They are entirely appropriate for this time of year and current temperatures.