Best Interview Outfits For Women

Interview Outfits For Plus Size

15 Ideas | Updated 1 month ago

If you’re a plus-sized woman, finding a professional plus-size interview outfit might be challenging. You may need to go beyond popular retailers for attire options, such as virtual boutiques, thrift shops, and plus-size clothes specialized stores. However, the effort involved is worthwhile since you are, in the end, making a prudent commitment to your career’s future. Choose attractive, well-fitting clothing, irrespective of your size, to ensure that you look and feel good throughout the interview. Plus-sized folks should dress in the same professional clothes as everyone else. Choose clothes that fit your physique rather than a certain number size while searching for interview attire. The most vital factor is that your clothing is comfortable to wear and is not too tight or baggy. You should be able to effortlessly button and zip your buttons and zippers, as well as sit and walk without your garments smushing, clumping, or rolling up. Before the interview, try on your attire. Choose something else if you find yourself continuously tweaking the fit. For every individual, an interview is a significant event, and one cannot afford to appear unappealing on this big day. Here are some of the top trending plus-size interview outfits that you can go with.

Mistake #2 Drop The Flip Flops

Wearing cute shoes is better suited to a night on the town vs. a job interview. In fact, your shoes should not be a topic of discussion during an interview, except when you are applying for a shoe salesperson or fashion designer job. However, one pair of shoes that should never be worn to an interview are flip-flops. Save those for the beach or pool day.

What To Wear To A Job Interview Plus Style Advice From A Fashion Stylist And An Hr Specialist

Everyone knows how stressful interviews can be, and what to wear to an interview for your dream job can be one of the biggest worries. But, fear not, scroll down for some of the best fail-safe interview outfits so you have one less thing to fret over.

RELATED: 16 work outfit essentials: Go back to work in style

First up, we wanted to know what an HR specialist had to say about how to look professional for a job interview. “The most important thing is to be comfortable, smart and give the best impression of yourself,” the HR expert said. “But, obviously make sure your outfit works for the job description, and if in doubt, a monochrome suit can never go wrong.”

Channel VB’s workwear chic in a white shirt and statement suit

From a polished suit to a statement coat, these are the looks guaranteed to make you look and feel confident no matter how shaky you are on the inside. And we promise, once you get the job, you’ll be wearing these pieces on repeat.

As a fashion stylist I’ve seen first-hand just how much the right shoe, dress or shirt can transform people from the inside out. So good luck, take a deep breath, and don’t underestimate the power of a great outfit.

MORE: 12 wardrobe staples for January 2022: The essentials according to a fashion stylist

Don’t Miss: What To Wear On A Zoom Interview

Interview Outfits For Men

No matter what type of job you are applying for, its important to look neat and tidy. Its okay to show a little personality, however, its a good idea to avoid loud clothing choices such as ties with characters or noisy patterns. This section of the guide covers appropriate interview attire for four different types of work environments for both men and women.

Formal Business Environment

Business formal is seen as the standard interview dress code. When you are interviewing for a job with a company that requires business formal, it is critical to get it right.

If you know the company culture would align with business formal then these guidelines can help you dress successfully for your interview.

• Wear a single-breasted, two-piece suit in dark colours.

• The suit you wear should be a solid colour or have small pinstripes.

• White or light coloured dress shirts are best.

• Choose a conservative tie, avoid bow ties or busy patterns.

• Wear dark shoes that are polished and free of scratches or stains.

• Wear matching socks.

• Carry your resume and documents in a briefcase or smart laptop bag.

• Make sure all tattoos are covered and remove any body piercings.

Casual Business Environment

Casual Environment

Worker Environment

What To Wear To A Job Interview In The Summer

Dressing for a job interview in summer requires balance. You need to pick an outfit that will appear polished while allowing you to stay cool and sweat-free. As such, its best to choose garments made from lightweight fabrics. Selecting a skirt or dress will also help you beat the heat while looking sophisticated. Just remember not to show too much skin, or you may risk appearing unprofessional. Also, consider opting for light colours over dark shades to give your look a nice summery feel.

Read Also: What They Ask In Interview

The Three Tiers Of Interview Attire

Now you know you need to be dressed at least one notch above the people you’re interviewing with, but where does that fall on the scale of flip flops to fancy formal?

In my experience, company/interview attire can be broken down into three buckets .

Smart Casual: This dress style is fun and light while still being professional. Choices should be neutral and fit well, but don’t need to be overly formal.

While people at the company maybe dressed more casually, this is the bare minimum for any interview.

Business Casual: We’re not breaking out the full suit here, but we are definitely on the more formal side compared to Smart Casual.

For guys this usually means a sport coat, slacks, and leather shoes. For women, this is a neutral blouse , tailored dress pants, and fancy flats or pumps.

This is the most common style for interview attire.

Business Formal: This is your traditional, conservative business look. Think bankers, lawyers, consultants, etc. We’re talking full suit and dress shoes for both genders. That said, just because it’s formal doesn’t mean it can’t show a bit of your personality!

Again, these examples are just high level overviews to help you quantify the different levels of interview dress code. We’ll dive deeper into specific examples/do’s and don’t for men and women in just a bit.

Interview Attire For Women In A Virtual Environment

Screening interviews often occur over the phone or on a video chat platform. Plus, due to the uptick in remote work during COVID-19, many second and third round interviews are also held virtually. Prior to any virtual interview, look at yourself wearing the outfit in front of your background to test the lighting.

Where to shop: Madewell, Urban Outfitters, Kohls, ASOS, Gap

Read Also: How To Prepare For A Cultural Fit Interview

Dress For The Type Of Job You Want

The type of job youre applying for should also be used as a valuable clue into what your interview attire should look like. If you want to work in a conservative company, a two-piece suit with a simple blouse or dress shirt in classic colors is always the safest option.

On the other hand, an innovative company might consider you a bit too traditional if you were to show up in a business suit, so you should lose the conservative note be it a skirt suit or black pants and replace it with a three-pieces concept where a pair of pants will make a great team with a tailored blouse and a cardigan or a blazer.

If you intend to get a job at a fashion company, you probably find our advice superfluous. Nevertheless, let me remind you that anything goes for fashion companies as long as it is elegant, original, and has a bit of personality that tells a fascinating story about yourself, preferably in bold colors or daring patterns.

Casual Job Interview Attire For Females

The casual job interview attire for females is quite popular among companies who prefer applicants in casual clothes. This means jeans, trousers/skirts, shirts, shorts, T-shirts, and sneakers. The main point here is that these are comfortable clothing items that everyone can afford. It would help if you didnt get too carried away to follow this trend, though, because once youre hired at the company, youd be expected to adhere to their uniform policy.

Also Check: Amazon Machine Learning Engineer Interview

Classic Black Dress With Tights

Black dresses arent just for date night theyre helpful for business formal interviews, too. However, youll want to keep the LBD in the back of your closet for now, anyway.

An interview dress should be cut either right above or below the knee. They should always be paired with tights for a more professional appearance. A higher neckline and chunky/longer sleeves also create a stunning look.

If your dress has tiny sleeves or is sleeveless, you can always toss a fancy blazer over your look.

Proper Coat For Your Sheath Dress

A sheath dress can be a beautiful formal outfit in any season. You can match your sheath dress with a collar neck white inner and wear a coat that matches your dress. For the color, choose something formal like black, white, or grey.

You can carry a black bag and wear black heels with your grey sheath dress.

You May Like: How To Prepare For A Group Interview

Choose Something Youve Worn Before

Wearing something youve worn before can remove a lot of pressure. You dont have to dedicate time to looking for an outfit. You dont have to worry about finding the right pieces, and you already know the outfit is a success.

If the jobs you apply for are all similar, then having one set interview outfit is handy. Just ensure that the items are dry cleaned and neatly pressed.

Select The Right Footwear

If you absolutely detest high heels, do not wear them. It is ok to wear a pair of smart flat pumps.

Your priorities when it comes to selecting the right footwear is that they are:

• Polished, clean and free from scuff marks
• They fit you correctly you do not want to be limping because of blisters
• They look new

If you are wearing a skirt or dress, then flats or court shoes are ideal. If you decide to wear pants, you also have the option to wear ankle boots, which offer more support than court shoes.

There is also the option of wearing any pair of shoes to the location and changing into your heels when you arrive. If you choose to do this, take your bag into consideration.

You dont want to travel in a pair of trainers, only to have them poking out during your interview. Flats usually fit neatly into most bags, and you can even buy specially designed ones that roll up.

Depending on where you are hoping to work, stockings or pantyhose may be worn. A skin-tone pair is recommended, as black can sometimes make an outfit look too heavy.

Stockings may be considered a more traditional item, but they do make your outfit look more polished.

Interview Outfits for Women

Also Check: How To Conduct A Phone Screen Interview

To Carry Everything You Might Need Find The Best Work Bag To Help You Conquer Interviews Assignments And Everything Else Life Throws Your Way When Picking Out Your Perfect Bag Remember That Size Does Matter: You Dont Want To Fold Your Resume Just To Fit It Inside Your Bag The Classic Senreve Maestra Leather Bag Is Roomy Enough To Fit Your Professional Portfolio And A 13 Laptop It Can Be Worn As A Backpack Shoulder Bag Or Crossbody Bag And It Features Seven Pockets So Theres A Place For Everything And Everything Has Its Place

• – Prepare your outfit the night before

Scrambling can add unnecessary stress to your pre-interview routine. When you do the right prep work before a big day, it makes a big difference. Have everything laid out the night before, so you can wake up refreshed and ready to go. Your future self will thank you, and youll be calm, cool, and collected as you sip your morning coffee, reviewing strategies at your preferred pace.

• – Consult a color wheel

Lets say you have a general idea of what outfit would be appropriate for your upcoming interview, but you arent quite sure if the pieces match. Consult a color wheel to confirm if your pieces all coordinate correctly. With a color wheel, you can effectively mix and match colors to your heart’s content by quickly scanning what hue would work best with that top you had in mind. But when in doubt, neutrals are a surefire way to keep it cohesive.

• – Don’t be afraid to be bold

Employers want to see a glimpse of your personality to determine if youre the right fit culturally and professionally. If youre a creative professional who can really improve a company’s graphic design offerings, then show your artistic side with an interesting pair of earrings or a statement dress with ornate details. And even if youre in a more conservative field, a power blazer is another way to stand out in a way thats suitable for the situation.

• – Wear clothes that fit

• – Keep it presentable

• – Aim for a fresh makeup look

Serena Williams Best On

While it seems were all leaning into this mass casualization both in the workplace and at home, it doesnt necessarily extend to prospective new employees, or those within the interview process.

When I started my agency in 1997, it was such a different time, says Elizabeth Harrison, CEO and founder of H& S, who estimates that shes interviewed hundreds of people at all different levels of management, from SVPs to interns. I would say the expectation of how people show up for an interview has evolved. Being neat and well put together is still very important, but whats changed is what connotes neat and put together is a lot wider now.

This evolution of business casual, as well as our societal shift towards greater inclusivity, means that many offices, from corporate to creative, have thrown out a lot of the outdated rules in favor of new ones that reflect our collective push for awareness and acceptance.

As bosses and CEOs, weve had to help educate our junior managers who are hiring for the first time about expanding their preconceived notion of what the right look is because its changed, says Harrison. Not everyone has access to a designer bag or they might be wearing something interesting by a designer that youve never heard of. And you dont have to spend a lot of money to interview well, either you can go to Zara or H& M for more affordable options.

Also Check: Sr Accountant Interview Questions And Answers

How To Know What To Wear

So, you know the kind of impression you want to make, but youre not sure how to make it.

The best thing you can do in preparation for an interview is to gather as much information as you can about the organization.

Research the companys culture, values and norms. Are there pictures anywhere of people in the office? The firms social media profiles and website should have some pictures.

Today, most offices have a business-causal dress code, meaning that things arent as formal as they used to be.

People are often allowed to wear jeans to the office so long as they look smart. But remember, interviews still have a more formal expectation.

Ask around for advice. If you know someone who has interviewed for a role similar to yours, ask what they wore.

If your budget allows, and if the option is available, book an appointment with a personal shopper at your nearest department store so you can get some advice and try on different outfits.

If consulting a personal shopper isnt a possibility, ask a sales assistant for some help and advice.

The internet is full of forums and sites dedicated to helping women find jobs. Indeed.com is a wonderful resource full of interview techniques and advice.

Following the general guidelines below will help remove some of the uncertainty.

The Devil May Wear Prada But It Is Always In The Details

Now, I can go on and on about interview outfits but, in the end, it all comes down to one simple rule:

One simple rule we always follow when helping our clients get ready for interviews is to make sure they are comfortable in their interview clothes. Stay away from new shoes, clothes that require Spanx, oversized or baggy items, and anything else that requires constant adjusting or is restricting your movement. If youre feeling uncomfortable, your face is showing it, and that will definitely not make a good first, second, or even last impression!

Recent Posts

You May Like: Competency Tests For Job Interviews

What Not To Wear In An Interview

Interviews are formal incidents. There are rules. You should avoid wearing certain things for an interview.

• Jeans are not formal.
• Avoid flat sandals, flip flops, and sneakers.
• Outfits that make your undergarments visible.
• Avoid excessive makeup and jewelry.
• Avoid low cut or short blouses.
• Do not wear a sleeveless outfit.
• Nothing glittery.

Interview Attire For Women: What To Wear To A Job Interview

It’s well understood that you only get one chance to make a strong first impression especially during a job interview. While you’ve likely spent dozens of hours perfecting your job application, resume, and writing an eloquent cover letter, it’s incredible how little time job candidates spend on considering interview attire for women.

Considering what to wear to an interview for women can be challenging and time-consuming. Some job candidates understand the importance of selecting interview outfits for women that fit the job. Other applicants are focused solely on selecting a women’s interview outfit that articulates their personality best.

The simple truth is choosing the appropriate interview clothes for women should be carefully considered. It’s a process that should involve research, understanding the company’s culture, and more importantly comprehending the importance of dressing for the career you desire. In short, you should carefully consider the interview dress for women before applying to jobs.

So with all that said, if you’ve wondered what to wear to a job interview for women, this article will provide the details you need. Let’s jump right into the discussion about choosing the best women’s interview outfit.

Don’t Miss: How To Interview Well Over The Phone