The Interview Wardrobe For Women

June 20th, 2008

THE INTERVIEW WARDROBE-TOOLS TO SUCCESS

When you meet your interviewer for the time, what impression do you want to give? If you want to say, I'm pretty, wear your favorite frilly blouse. If you want to say, I'm laid-back wear the V-neck sweater you loved in college. If you want to say, I'm more competent, reliable, and professional than any candidate you will interview for this position-in other words, if you want the job-step one is: Invest in suit.
Sharp lines and authoritative stance-a suit says power, reliability, independence. And it can make you feel as confident as you look. Your interview suit-and everything that goes with-is the first tool on your prepare you to buy an interview suit and the business gear to go with it.

WHAT IS AN INTERVIEW SUIT?
Whether you are just starting out or a CEO looking to switch companies, your interview suit must convey a confident, competent "I've got it together" sense of authority. This is best a accomplished with a dark, monochromatic tone (avoid patterns) and a classic cut. That means clean, simple lines around which you will build your entire business wardrobe. Looking sharp doesn't stop once the interview is over-there is always someone for whom you need to look smart.

Shop Smart Suit
Call it the little suit that could. Your interview suit will act as the foundation of your business wardrobe, and you will wear it constantly. This chapter gets down to the nitty-gritty of choosing it well: How a tailored shape and good fabric convey competence; how a neutral color translates to flexibility; how taking your time, choosing a classic, and then having it properly tailored provide the best guarantee that you have spent your money well.

How to Buy an Interview Outfit:

BEST BUY: SUIT SEPARATES
Leave it to the English shopkeeper to discover a new truth. Years ago, Marks & Spencer, the Macy's of London, made a remarkable discovery-not all men were the same proportion. Some are big on top and narrow in the hips, or, as was more often the case, vice versa.
With this eureka moment, the haberdashers launched the concept of suit separates: Pants that fit the waist and a jacket that fit the top, whether the sizes correlated or not. And the concept works even better for women, allowing more flexibility for both size and style. Here is a list of the separates a common business wardrobe will contain

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Color: Neutral colors are versatile and professional.
Black is sophisticated, appropriate all year, and dresses up or down.
Gray, navy, and beige convey competence and easily mix with other clothes.
But beware of brown: It is seasonal, can come off as muddy(not meticulous), and is often incompatible with other colors.

Fabric:The more seasonless the fabric, the longer it will serve you.
1 Choose lightweight wool or wool blends that can be worn throughout the year.

2. A bit of Lycra, polyester, or other microfiber helps a garment retain its shape and increases the longevity of your investment.
3. Avoid knits, jerseys, and nubby tweeds for your first and main suit. They're too casual and more difficult to wear with other wardrobe pieces.
4. Before buying check for wrinkling: Clutch a handful of fabric and release it. If the material winds up in a crumple, it will certainly look that way after your commute to work.
5. Avoid clingy fabrics (some jerseys and knits) and anything with static-chances are no amount of spray will kill it.
6. Pants and skirts in thin fabrics must be lined. If a rearview mirror check displays visible panty lines , move on to the next suit-or buy a thong!

Fit:
Tailoring is mandatory-it's the detail work that will transform your suit from an mass into an emblem of power. But prior to visiting the tailor, certain key details must be checked:
1. Button the jacket. Does it pull? Do you arms move freely in it? Do the bust, shoulder, and rear seams hang well without bunching?
2. Make sure shoulders are not too round, pointy, or boxy. They shouldn't make the statement, you should.
3. Button the pants and find a three way mirror. Do you have a panty line? Is the rear too tight? Does the crotch cling or hang too low? A tailor is a great ally, but a baggy or saggy crotch cannot be fixed. An ill-fitting waistline can be taken in, and occasionally let out, if necessary. Sit. Do you feel comfortable or do the pants pull or does your skirt ride too high? And when you shop for pants or visit the tailor bring the shoes you plan to wear with them to get a proper break at the hem.

Quality/Finish:
1. Scan fabric for unnatural ripples or gatherings, which are often the result of inexpensive material and poor workmanship.
2. Make sure shoulder pads are equally positioned and the same size and that the shoulder line is smooth from end to end, front and back.
3. Buttons should be firmly attached and evenly spaced, with no loose threads.
4. Check seams for taut stitching that is neither loose nor pulled.
5. Lining should be made from a satiny material that allows for body movement.


SHOP SMART: SHIRTS
* Fabric is not so sheer that underwear or body parts are noticeable.
* Collar should not be overly large nor especially small. An average collar should be approximatey21/2 "from the collar point
* Buttons should be bone, mother-of-pearl, or animal horn.
* Avoid frilly collars and sleeves, which tend to flop out from under a jacket.
* Length must be ample enough to stay tucked in, but not so extreme that you're swimming in fabric.
* When cuffs are buttoned, you should be able to move arms comfortably.

Fit:
Should not be too baggy, definitely not tight. Bra line, breast, or nipple definition should not be apparent. Cotton is the most practical fabric and comes in a wide variety of grades and texture:
* Pima: strong, silky, most expensive.
* Sea Island: strong and lustrous.
* Oxford cloth: men's shirting fabric made in a basket weave; considered sporty.

Silk is dressier than cotton.




From – Dress Smart for Women