What to wear for that all important job interview can be such a dilemna at times. But it needn't be if you follow a few simple guidelines. Keep it neat, simple and tailored and go for classic looks like this navy
ladies pinstripe jacket which can easily be worn over a shift dress or with a crisp white shirt and knee length skirt or long trousers.
Pinstripe is a classic material that never goes out of fashion. Ralph Lauren as pictured below used pinstripe in his spring summer 2010 collection so this is a trend that never goes out of fashion but is constantly being re-invented.
photo from
http://www.style.com/ Certainly not suggesting that you wear this top on an interview but just making the point about the perpetual trendiness of pinstripe as you want to look current but not overly fashionista.
Dressing for an interview is probably one of the most important moments of power dressing that there is. Cliches like first impressions count, your first impression can be your last impressions, you have one chance to make a first impression are so appropriate to this moment when you first enter a room with an interview panel and they start assessing you even before you they start questioning you. Sad to say but the interview can be won or lost from this point and not because the panel is fickle but because the time and thought taken in putting yourself together for that interview is the first reflection of you the interview panel gets of your suitability for the job in terms of attention to detail, dress code and more importantly how serious you are about getting that job.
men's navy pinstrip suitWear a simple crisp white shirt with your pinstrip suit or a another suitable plain coloured shirt. If your jacket is already patterned like the pinstripe then stick to a plain shirt so that you are not wearing too much pattern to distract the interviewers from the job at hand which is to get to know you better and evaluate whether you are the best fit or one of the best fits for the job. If they are distracted by your appearance it may be all they remember about you.
red tie
wine tieGo for a
red tie or
wine coloured tie which many politians wear with a dark suit as red draws attention to the lips and they want people to listen to what they are saying so too you want your prospective employers to listen to what your have to say.
Power dressing for ladies
Ladies; to be taken seriously for the job especially when you are competing with male candidates, you must be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with them and be counted. Don't over feminize your appearance by exposing cleavage, wearing short skirts or clothes that are obviously too tight. Stick to knee length skirts or trousers.
jewellery pendant "mermaid"You do not want to be wearing fashion accessories that dominant your outfit. Add a touch of femininity with unobstrusive stud earrings and simple pendant necklaces as shown above which are small and tasteful. Other feminine touches could be the use of a well matched scarf used as a belt in your trousers. Choose fashion accessories that balances your interview outfit and do not overpower your look.
Personal grooming
Attention to detail from your head down to your socks, stocking and shoes is imporatnt. Get a haircut, wash your hair, apply make up, wear shoes appropriate for the outfit in terms of colour and style. Avoid worn out shoes or get the heels or your shoes changed if they are worn out. There is nothing more annoying than the tick tock sound of ladies heels grating as they walk because the heel needs replacing. These are the little things an interview panel remembers but you want them to remember the big things about you which relates to your qualifications, experience and suitability for the job.
brown leather handbagHandbags and briefcases
Ensure that handbags and briefcases also look the part and are not suffering from wear and tear. Ladies no no animal print bags please!!!! While I love giraffe print handbags, the interview room is not the place to show off your keen fashion sense. Keep it classic and conservative and go for quality leather handbags in black or dark brown.
brown leather briefcaseDressing for a job interview is only half the battle, the other half is about what comes out of your mouth. To help you plan, prepare and perform in the interview invest in books on interview questions and answers and search the internet for interview tips.
Knockout Interview Answers: 52 Brilliant Ideas to Clinch Your Dream Job (52 Brilliant Ideas)
You're Hired! Interview: Tips and techniques for a brilliant interview
Today's giveaway is from Portland artist Lisa Golightly of Kiki and Polly. She's offering a large print of the Girl in the Yellow Suit. How sweet is that? The print would add a pop of cheery color to any room, from a foyer to a living room to a nursery. (I'd love to hang it above my desk.)
German photographer Bettina von Zwehl took this photo series of one-year-old babies at an instant of total (rare) concentration. Aren't they gorgeous? Von Zwehl used toys, dvds and eye contact to get the little guys to stay still. "They sat on a table, looking at me, and I took the picture with a long cable release," she says. Since many of the babes were still too wriggly to photograph, it took more than a year to get six final portraits. And the goal of the project? "I was hoping to present each baby as an intelligent human being," she says.
I'm one of the few people out there who don't like regular cake (are you, too?), so I'm always secretly psyched when people serve alternative desserts at their weddings. Brooklyn couple Rae and Noah served a carrot cake with fresh figs! What a cool (and beautiful) idea, don't you think?
These days, nurseries are looking so amazing! I've been flagging inspirational images, such as the nursery of J. Crew creative director Jenna Lyon's baby, above. Aren't the yellow stripes amazing, and who would think to paint a nursery wall black? (Classic crib from Oeuf; and orange Junior Panton chair from DWR.)
A polaroid heart from a grown-up bedroom in Paris...
And sweet details, like the knit blocks in the fireplace, love pillow and teeny yellow boots!
The giant giraffe is amazing, but my eye was immediately drawn to those red frames. What a great way to showcase artwork.
Decorating with maps = inexpensive and inspiring.
This photo is from Moomah's playspace. The white frames mimic a gallery wall, and that friendly bear print is totally amazing. (Does anyone know where to find it? Update: The Moomah bear print is by Jacqueline Schmidt of Screech Owl Design. Thank you, Sarah!)
The shades of blue in this room are lovely and calming, and the Tord Boontje hanging lamp looks magical. What nursery colors or special touches do you like? I'd love to hear... xoxo
Have you told bedtime stories lately? Pregnancy has made me super sleepy, and I've been conking out really early. So a little tradition has started, where Alex will put me to bed. After I brush my teeth, he'll say, “Ready for bed, baby?” and then come into the bedroom, lie down next to me (and my maternity pillow) and tell me funny stories about his childhood, early days in New York or old friends. I don't know how he comes up with them all (every single night!), but it's so cozy falling asleep listening to his deep voice and trying to stay awake to hear the ending. I love you, Alex.
This tandem T-shirt is cute (and true). I'm too pale and British to wear red, but someone should get this. :)
My darlings, what are you doing this weekend? Alex and I are having a Greek dinner tonight (with extra grape leaves) and going to a party tomorrow. I'm excited to squeeze into a purple Gap dress that wraps around my giant belly. Hope you have a wonderful couple days, and here are a few great posts from around the web...
This week has been really busy (as all weeks-after-vacations are), so let's talk about simple pleasures. What are a few of your favorite things? Mine are avocado toast, linen sheets, Alex Baldwin on 30 Rock, and reading magazines in bed. I would love to hear yours. xoxo
Today's giveaway is from Anna Bond from Rifle Paper Co., the amazing boutique stationery shop in Florida. She's offering a set of 50 personalized illustrated notes and calling cards. Get this: Anna will paint 1-2 whimsical portraits (in your likeness, and you can also add your fiance or puppy or whomever, if you'd like) and use hand-drawn lettering. How amazing would it be to have your own adorable cards and stationery?
Speaking of weddings, aren't the rings from Brooklyn shop St. Kilda absolutely beautiful? That pink color is A-OK!
These underwater photos of a bride and groom are so dreamy. They must have had an awesome time taking them (and be good at holding their breaths).
