Developing Interview Wardrobe

[DeniseM]

I'm starting to go out on job interviews and I need to come up with a nice wardrobe that's not comprised of too many pieces, has clean lines and looks sophisticated. I'm middle aged and curvy so no flat planes of cloth type patterns will work for me. I wonder if anyone has suggestions of what would make up a good 3-5 piece collection that will go from summer into fall. Fabric is not an issue since I have enough to outfit an entire harem in Chanel and still have enough left over to get me through to ripe old age. I am really, really, really bad at organizing my own wardrobe which is why I'm reaching out to you more sophisticated types who do not, as I do, wear jeans, sneakers and T-shirts all day.

Oh yeah, I'm only 5' tall.  So baggy is out, too.

[Em]

An interview/work capsule or mini wardrobe of 5 pieces for a petite?

Made out of the right fabric and adjusted to fit you, this http://img.sewingtoday.com/cat/20000/itm_img/V8379.jpg  knit wrap dress would be perfect for interviews/work--not too dressy, but not too casual. 

I think a simple pencil skirt in black, a knit top or two--prints or solids, a white blouse and a jacket would make a nice capsule. 

Good luck!
Em

[Terri K]

Denise, I absolutely love Loes Hinse's Princess Tank Dress with many seams for alterations.  I've made several for myself and for my sisters in numerous fabrics, both woven w/stretch and knits.   It looks flattering on everyone and you also can cut the dress off for a top or use the top pattern that comes with it.   Pick one of her jackets that are not fitted - I think you already have the Sweater Coat pattern and go for it.    You'd like the Tango Skirt that looks great on everyone as well.
 
There are many photos of my wardrobes using these patterns and others that will give you some ideas on my Loes Hinse Flickr Collection


        Here's a Loes Hinse Tuxedo Jacket in a textured Rayon blend - great minimalist style and no buttons.  It is meant to be worn open


         Loes Hinse Princess Tank Dress in Italian textured cotton/lycra that looks great with the Tuxedo Jacket

[Martha Domke]

Em, I think you hit that nail right on the head.  That wrap dress is a wonderful idea.  Denise, I thnk you will look sharp for all your interviews.  Just put on your confidence---that's most important.

Terri, I just looked into your Lose Hinse album.  Wonderful!!!  I really like that pink print dress.  I am such a warm-blooded person, I can't wear jackets.  That is, not indoors.  I love the jackets you have made, and might have to figure out a way to wear them.

[Terri K]

Um Denise I doubt you want to exploit your cleavage in an interview.   I know Denise and doubt that a wrap dress like that would be the best choice for her in an interview situation.

[frogs2]

Denise - What kind of business / industry will you be interviewing for? The wardrobe suggestions shown are absolutely gorgeous for some, but would be really silly in my engineering world...

[DeniseM]

Ha, Terry, you're so funny. I do have to worry about flashing the old cleavage since I'm a short but busty type of girl (read curvy). I think a wrap dress would work as long as I modify the top to make sure I'm not exposing myself. Thirty years ago someone may have hired me for that, but I think those days are over.

I do love the Princess tank. I wonder if I could shape it a little more so it hangs less straight on me. It looks great on you btw. I love it with the jacket. If it has enough seams I could take the sides in a tad to give it some curve.

Frogs2 I will probably be initially looking in a somewhat conservative environment like a university setting or business, but I'm more of an artsy type myself so I don't want to modify my personal style too much. I used to be a reporter and covered Capitol Hill so that was about as conservative as you can get. I just don't fit into those old clothes at this point.

[Carla]

Um Denise I doubt you want to exploit your cleavage in an interview.   I know Denise and doubt that a wrap dress like that would be the best choice for her in an interview situation.

I was going to bring this up if no one else did.  We short gals (I'm 5' tall, too) have to be extra careful because what is reasonably modest on the rest of you is... well, NOT on us.  Glad you beat me to it, Terri.

[BetsyV]

Denise

I think a dress like the LH one mentioned above is fine especially with some shaping darts, or a sheath dress, with a jacket would be perfect. I have at least met you, and I think a more traditional 2-piece suit, while appropriate and lovely, may make you appear shorter with that horizontal line at the waist. Believe it or not, at least one of the women who interviewed for my job wore a pants suit. The most recent one looked very professional and the suit color was perfect for her.

No wrap dresses for interviews - too unpredictable in any kind of air current even if caused by someone wheeling the supplies cart down the hall. And definitely keep the neckline up; hemline just below the kneecap, above the widest part of your calves.

And no need to stick with navy or black. Wear a color that suits your coloring.

[RuthieK]

I interviewed for my all jobs in pant suits since 2000, this included external roles, and multiple internal moves. I was successful in them all, but maybe that was my skill and personailty rather than the suit.

I am a big fan of them they let you wear more comfortable shoes if you need them, you can change the look by having a different colour of blouse/top. And you are quite covered up so no wondering if you have a hole in your panyhose etc etc

I like a slightly scooped stretch knit tee with 3/4 length sleeves under mine, this leaves the neckline uncluttered without exposing any cleavage at all. I like to add an interesting costume jewellery necklace - the colour and necklace makes the focus be on the face.

For the jacket and pants I choose darker neutral colours with some texture - I have one in black and cream, another in a dark brown check. The jacket and pants matching each other does make a long line which is slimming, leave the jacket unbuttoned, and good luck!

[Terri K]

Here's the line drawing of the Princess Tank Dress.  You can see the seams that allow for shaping.  I like the demure cap sleeve and I wouldn't add any darts.    I saw a beautiful Vera Wang dress from her high end RTW collection that was exactly like this in a stable boucle knit.  TDF

This dress works for any season depending on what fabric you use.   I wore the white textured one with a gray/black/white jacket and my sisters wore black ones - one in a black eyelet and the other stretch black pique - to my father's formal military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery last summer.

 

[jodiwell]

I kind of cringed at the wrap dress suggestion, too, but I think that's because I know what I'd look like in one and it wouldn't be pretty!

I'm frequently part of an interview team and I have observed that if someone is showing "some" skin at an interview, they are likely to show MORE when they start working.  People tend to be much more conservative and professional looking when interviewing.  As beautiful as the wrap dress is, if it can be construed as provacative when YOU wear it, better leave it in the closet because if *I'm* interviewing, I'm going to thing this is just the beginning

That said, candidates who wear something that sets them apart without being too flashy make a better first impression.  I really like the Loes Hinse jacket paired with a skirt or slacks depending on the enviroment you are interviewing for. I think the jacket, slacks, skirt, tank and a blouse or light sweater would be great.  You can display your artistic style with accessories, like a bold bag or shoes.  I love sheaths, too, and in the enviroment you are looking for, that would be a nice choice to round out the wardrobe.

Good luck with your search, I hope you find just the right match soon!

jodi

[Em]

I think a wrap dress would work as long as I modify the top to make sure I'm not exposing myself.

Denise--The quick fix for a wrap that's too low is either to raise the neckline on the pattern piece before you do any sewing, or to wear a cami/tank underneath. 

Can't wait to see the capsule that you come up with!

HTH,
Em

[DeniseM]

Thanks everyone for your terrific suggestions. I'm pondering and will come up with something by the weekend, hopefully. I need to start sewing so I'll actually have something to wear - unlike the girl in that commercial where she goes through airport security naked .  No one would hire me then.

[Terri K]

Hey Denise - I just had to post the link to this photo from the LA Times of what happens to the classic wrap dress when you're not paying attention.  This is petite Julia Louis-Dreyfus in a jersey knit wrap dress at some party.   Nice claret red bra!   That's show biz.

[DeniseM]

Terri: great photo and hey, they're building a movie studio near Boston so maybe I can copy the look when I audition?

I have found a Simplicity pattern that's a pretty princess lined dress and unlined jacket combo that will work if I can do it for 2 yards (the pattern says 2.5 but being short I can probably cheat). I'm thinking of making the jacket in a navy linen and may try the dress in that as well, underlined with silk organza to minimize wrinkles and lined in China Silk. I'm also going to try the LH princess tank and her Retro Jacket and I've got some great fabric on the way from Candlelight Valley for that piece.

I have a rather extensive piece (like 6 yards) of a gorgeous creamy colored silk but duh, I just figured out it also has some lycra. Not a huge amount of stretch but some on the cross grain. Any suggestions for a dress pattern that might work with that? I'd probably have to line it since it's a very lightweight silk. I bought it at G Street eons ago and it's now ripened to perfection.

[Terri K]

I've made a bunch of Loes' Tank Dresses and the tops for all kinds of occasions.   I'm wearing one today in cotton knit - good style and cool for summer.  I've really gotten my money's worth out of that pattern too.  Make it a number of lengths and put a short shirt or jacket on to run an errand.

Not for interviews, but I wanted to post this elegant dress I found on eBay that could be made using either of LH's Tank Dresses (there are two patterns with tops and dresses) .   It is not a two piece outfit but the lace edge at the waist is a nice touch.  The auction says that this dress retailed for $2,185     Loes is fond of using lace overlays like this on her skirts and dresses so this look would be easy to duplicate.

[Brenda]

"ripened to perfection"

[cmarie12]

Denise - you got quite a few wonderful suggestions!  I really like the Lois Hinse dress that TerriK recommended.  Since I was just recently in this position and had to almost totally overhaul my working wardrobe after getting that new job...I can tell you I started with a black jacket, black pants, black straight skirt and if you added a black/white print knit dress like Simplicity 4074 it's a pseudo wrap or a non-wrap, a white button down shirt and a couple of tank tops in several colors you like.  You would be surprised at how many interviews these pieces would take you on and it would be a great starting basis for the new work wardrobe.  Just my thoughts and it will be interesting to learn what you finally decide to make!

[DeniseM]

Thanks, Carolyn: I like the mock wrap look of that dress and I love the skirt with its flirty hemline. I'd do the wardrobe in navy - black is not a good shade for me but the blues and greens are. I also wonder if my silk/lycra would work for this dress. I've got so much of it I could probably outfit a small nation.

Terri that is an awesome dress and you're right, I could do it with the LH dress with a few modifications.

[Terri K]

I got the August 08 Elle Magazine in the mail yesterday.   It has an article written by their Creative Director, Joe Zee about dressing for business and looking professional, titled "9 to 5" on page 90.    He's got some photos of real people going to work with his comments.   It's an interesting and serious article.

On the other hand, their fashion layouts are looking more like "W", which I quit subscribing to because the fashion shoots were posing and dressing these very young models to look like undressed 11 year old girls, not to mention their poorly lighted artsy photos where you can't even see the fashion.   So Elle is trying to compete with that this month by photographing Bottega Veneta garments and accessories (price on request) on bathroom sinks and the back of doors in what looks like some old trailer and the other fashion photos are awful.

[DeniseM]

Can I borrow your chinchillas for my interviews? I'm certain no one could resist me with a couple of adorable fuzzy chinchillas peeping out of my handbag.

[BetsyV]

Oh good idea Denise. Maybe they could be trained to perch on your shoulders,wrap around your neck and be a collar!

[Terri K]

The chins like to ride on shoulders.     My son does that with them all the time because they want to be up high.  They even groom his hair     They were bad today - probably the young one,  and knocked their food bowl down the ramp.    I may put them in Woodley's old condo cage in the basement (real cool down there) and let them roll in their powder.    They like to powder (it's diatomaceous earth) because that's how they clean their coats but they like to be upstairs where they can see and be seen - where the action is.   

[DeniseM]

So far I have one piece finished - a scarf. Can you tell how motivated I am to find a job? I'm going to work on a bra and a muslin for a LH jacket today. Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions.

[karent]

Hmmm, Denise.  A bra and a scarf.  Just what kind of work are you looking for?  K

[vtmartha]

Karen, you must have missed Denise's muslin!    I'm sure it will be stunning.  Mine are unique works of art, complete with ink drawings. 

[DeniseM]

Karent, I saw an ad for a middle aged stripper in what's left of Boston's Combat Zone. Just kidding.

I'm really short on bras at the moment and I can't find any to fit me in the stores. I dug out my info from ASG and am going to try to remember how to make one. Plus, the price of bras is just outrageous for what you get. I promise to wear the jacket over it, and if there's any cleavage showing I'll throw the scarf on.