How to dress for a professional interview | Plus Size Edition
May 13, 2015With graduation around the corner, I thought it would be a good idea to review what to wear to a job interview. You'd be surprised at the amount of people who just have no idea how to dress for an interview anymore.
If you're graduating from high school, you'll still want to pay attention. You'll want at least one professional outfit to take to college with you. A growing number of professors require business attire for presentations, not to mention they're great to have for internship interviews.
This post in particular is going to deal with dressing for a professional interview, such as attorney or accountant. This may be too stuffy for positions such as graphic designers, but it's a good base to work from.
Let's start off with the base of the outfit: the suit. For a formal professional interview I think you need a suit; a blazer with your choice of pants, skirt, or a dress. I featured this Halogen suit from Nordstrom as the blazer has a bit of personality. I love the slightest of peplum and the neckline. Gray is also a good choice for suits, you can mix and match with other pieces you own and is appropriate for all seasons. Skirts shouldn't be shorter than 3" above your knee. Oh, and make sure you hem your pants. I used to have a coworker who would just cut her pants to the right length. Trust me, my manager noticed that immediately.
Underneath your blazer you have a lot of leeway of what you wear. I recommend keeping prints and bright colors to a minimum, though. Also, don't confuse a regular cotton t-shirt from a shell. The best way I can think of to describe a shell is a fitted collarless blouse, typically with short sleeves or sleeveless.
Shoes should be closed toe and closed back. I've only heard amazing things about the comfort of the Michael Michael Kors Flex pumps. They're in the $100 range, and if you wear heels a lot they sound like they'd be worth the cash. Obviously, a job interview is not the place to wear hooker heels, i.e. heels above 3", and easy on the platforms. Pointed toes look the best for pants, as it creates a nice line.
Accessories should be minimal: one necklace, simple earrings, and either a nice bracelet or watch. I've heard a lot of people say you shouldn't wear a watch to an interview in case you look at it, but I like them. Surprisingly, they can make great conversation piece. Handbags should be nice and complement your look.
Keep your hair and makeup natural. I do think for this level of job position you need to wear a bit of makeup, even if it's just some concealer, mascara, and lipstick. Make sure your clothes are pressed and shoes and bag free of scuffs and dirt.
Underneath your blazer you have a lot of leeway of what you wear. I recommend keeping prints and bright colors to a minimum, though. Also, don't confuse a regular cotton t-shirt from a shell. The best way I can think of to describe a shell is a fitted collarless blouse, typically with short sleeves or sleeveless.
Shoes should be closed toe and closed back. I've only heard amazing things about the comfort of the Michael Michael Kors Flex pumps. They're in the $100 range, and if you wear heels a lot they sound like they'd be worth the cash. Obviously, a job interview is not the place to wear hooker heels, i.e. heels above 3", and easy on the platforms. Pointed toes look the best for pants, as it creates a nice line.
Accessories should be minimal: one necklace, simple earrings, and either a nice bracelet or watch. I've heard a lot of people say you shouldn't wear a watch to an interview in case you look at it, but I like them. Surprisingly, they can make great conversation piece. Handbags should be nice and complement your look.
Keep your hair and makeup natural. I do think for this level of job position you need to wear a bit of makeup, even if it's just some concealer, mascara, and lipstick. Make sure your clothes are pressed and shoes and bag free of scuffs and dirt.
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